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(E.3.2-42) Shoreline Erosion in Hells Canyon

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(E.3.2-42) Shoreline Erosion in Hells Canyon Shoreline Erosion in Hells Canyon Gary L. Holmstead Terrestrial Ecologist Technical Report Appendix E.3.2-42 October 2001 Revised July 2003 Hells Canyon Complex FERC No. 1971 Copyright © 2003 by Idaho Power Company Idaho Power Company Shoreline Erosion In Hells Canyon TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. i List of Tables.................................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v List of Appendices .......................................................................................................................... v Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 1 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4 2. Study Area.................................................................................................................................. 5 2.1. Location............................................................................................................................. 5 2.2. Political Boundaries .......................................................................................................... 7 2.3. Land Features .................................................................................................................... 7 2.4. Climate .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.5. Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 9 3. Plant Operations ....................................................................................................................... 11 4. Methods.................................................................................................................................... 12 4.1. Issue Identification .......................................................................................................... 12 4.2. Inventory of Current Conditions ..................................................................................... 12 4.3. Current Condition Analysis and Assessment.................................................................. 13 5. Results ...................................................................................................................................... 14 5.1. Potential for Mass Soil Movements ................................................................................ 14 5.2. Factors Potentially Influencing Soil Erosion and Bank Stability.................................... 16 5.2.1. Climate ................................................................................................................... 17 5.2.2. Upland Ground Cover ............................................................................................ 17 5.2.3. Soil Type ................................................................................................................ 18 Hells Canyon Complex Page i Shoreline Erosion in Hells Canyon Idaho Power Company 5.2.4. Topography ............................................................................................................ 19 5.2.5. Riparian Vegetation Cover..................................................................................... 19 5.2.6. Groundwater Seepage ............................................................................................ 20 5.2.7. Floods..................................................................................................................... 21 5.2.8. Wind-Driven Waves............................................................................................... 21 5.2.9. Boat-Driven Waves................................................................................................ 22 5.2.10. Hydroelectric Operations (River and Reservoir Flows)....................................... 22 5.2.11. Livestock .............................................................................................................. 24 5.2.12. Roads.................................................................................................................... 25 5.2.13. Recreation............................................................................................................. 25 5.3. Current Conditions Inventory ......................................................................................... 25 5.3.1. Weiser Reach.......................................................................................................... 26 5.3.2. Brownlee Reservoir Reach..................................................................................... 27 5.3.3. Oxbow Reservoir Reach......................................................................................... 27 5.3.4. Hells Canyon Reservoir Reach .............................................................................. 28 5.3.5. Downriver Reach.................................................................................................... 29 6. Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 29 6.1. General Findings ....................................................................................................... 29 6.2. Weiser Reach............................................................................................................. 31 6.3. Brownlee Reservoir Reach........................................................................................ 31 6.4. Oxbow Reservoir Reach............................................................................................ 32 6.5. Hells Canyon Reservoir Reach ................................................................................. 33 6.6. Downriver Reach....................................................................................................... 34 6.7. Management Implications......................................................................................... 35 Page ii Hells Canyon Complex Idaho Power Company Shoreline Erosion In Hells Canyon 7. Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................... 36 8. Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................ 36 Hells Canyon Complex Page iii Shoreline Erosion in Hells Canyon Idaho Power Company LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Distribution of shoreline miles by reach and shoreline source in the Hells Canyon Study Area...................................................................................... 43 Table 2. Distribution of shoreline erosion sites by surface area class for each reach in the Hells Canyon Study Area............................................................................ 43 Table 3. Partial characteristics of the shoreline erosion sites in each reach of the Hells Canyon Study Area...................................................................................... 44 Table 4. Summary of cover types present on the 9 sites mapped in the Weiser Reach of the Hells Canyon Study Area. Dominant refers to the cover type covering a majority of the site margins. Associated refers to the cover type covering only portions of the site margins............................................................ 45 Table 5. Summary of cover types present on the 261 sites mapped in the Brownlee Reservoir Reach of the Hells Canyon Study Area. Dominant refers to the cover type covering a majority of the site margins. Associated refers to the cover type covering only portions of the site margins. ..................... 46 Table 6. Summary of cover types present on the 9 sites mapped in the Oxbow Reservoir Reach of the Hells Canyon Study Area. Dominant refers to the cover type covering a majority of the site margins. Associated refers to the cover type covering only portions of the site margins. ............................... 47 Table 7. Summary of cover types present on the 39 sites mapped in the Hells Canyon Reservoir Reach of the Hells Canyon Study Area. Dominant refers to the cover type covering a majority of the site margins. Associated refers to the cover type covering only portions of the site margins. ..................... 48 Table 8. Summary of cover types present on the 60 sites mapped in the reach below Hells Canyon Dam in the Hells Canyon Study Area. Dominant refers to the cover type covering a majority of the site margins. Associated refers to the cover type covering only portions of the site margins. ................................... 49 Page iv Hells Canyon Complex Idaho Power Company Shoreline Erosion In Hells Canyon LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Location of the Hells Canyon Study Area. ........................................................... 51 Figure 2. Köppen climate diagrams for the Weiser, Richland, Brownlee, and Lewiston weather stations, in the Hells Canyon Study Area on the Idaho– Oregon border. .....................................................................................................
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