A Review of Fish Passage Provisions in the License Application for the Hells Canyon Complex August 2003 Prepared For Idaho Rivers United And American Rivers By Ken Witty S.P. Cramer and Associates S.P. Cramer & Associates, Inc. 600 NW Fariss Road Gresham, OR 97030 www.spcramer.com S.P. Cramer & Associates, Inc. Hells Canyon Complex August 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 HISTORIC PROSPECTIVE ................................................................................................................. 1 PASSAGE AT THE HCC ................................................................................................................ 1 PROPOSED DOWNSTREAM DAMS ............................................................................................ 1 LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAMS .................................................................................................... 2 LOWER SNAKE RIVER COMPENSATION PLAN ..................................................................... 2 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN FISHERY AGENCIES AND IPC ............................ 2 ANADROMOUS FISH RUNS IN THE SNAKE RIVER ............................................................... 2 ADEQUACY OF PASSAGE STUDIES .............................................................................................. 3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ................................................................................................. 3 PASSAGE SCENARIOS.................................................................................................................. 4 Fish Passage Alternatives ............................................................................................................. 4 UPSTREAM PRODUCTION POTENTIAL ................................................................................. 10 Anadromous Smolt Production Potential.................................................................................... 10 Quantification of Habitat for Anadromous Fish above HCC ..................................................... 13 DOWNSTREAM SURVIVAL ....................................................................................................... 14 Survival at Dams ......................................................................................................................... 14 Mixed-Stock Fisheries Impacts................................................................................................... 16 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IPC HATCHERY AND PASSAGE PROGRAMS ...................... 17 FISH STOCKS................................................................................................................................ 17 Suitable and Available Stocks .................................................................................................... 17 Use of Listed Species .................................................................................................................. 17 PRESENCE OF COHO SALMON ................................................................................................ 19 CONNECTIVITY OF BULL TROUT, WHITE STURGEON, AND OTHER ENDEMIC SPECIES OF FISH ......................................................................................................................... 19 Bull Trout .................................................................................................................................... 19 White Sturgeon ........................................................................................................................... 20 Endemic Species of Fish ............................................................................................................. 20 PATHOGEN AND INTRA-SPECIFIC INTERACTION CONCERNS ....................................... 20 Pathogens .................................................................................................................................... 20 Intra-specific Interaction ............................................................................................................. 21 PACIFIC LAMPREY PASSAGE .................................................................................................. 21 MEASURE OF SUCCESS ......................................................................................................... 21 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUESTS ................................................................................. 22 ANADROMOUS FISH PASSAGE AT THE HCC ....................................................................... 22 Background Information ............................................................................................................. 22 The Recommended Study ........................................................................................................... 22 Basis for this Information Request ............................................................................................. 23 Who Should Conduct and Participate in the Study ..................................................................... 23 Objectives and Methodologies for the Study .............................................................................. 23 i S.P. Cramer & Associates, Inc. Hells Canyon Complex August 2003 Acceptance by the Scientific Community................................................................................... 23 How will the Information be Useful in Furthering Resource Goals ........................................... 24 Length of Study........................................................................................................................... 24 Why Study Objectives Cannot be Achieved with Available Data ............................................. 24 HABITAT SURVEYS FOR PRODUCTION OF COHO SALMON ............................................ 24 Background Information ............................................................................................................. 24 The Recommended Study ........................................................................................................... 25 Basis for this Information Request ............................................................................................. 25 Who Should Conduct and Participate in the Study ..................................................................... 25 Objectives and Methodologies for the Study .............................................................................. 25 Acceptance by the Scientific Community................................................................................... 25 How the Information will be Useful in Furthering Resource Goals ........................................... 25 Length of the Study ..................................................................................................................... 25 Why Study Objectives Cannot be Achieved with Available Data ............................................. 26 CONNECTING ENDEMIC RESIDENT FISH POPULATIONS ................................................. 26 Background Information ............................................................................................................. 26 The Recommended Study ........................................................................................................... 26 Basis for this Information Request ............................................................................................. 26 Who Should Conduct and Participate in the Study ..................................................................... 26 Objectives and Methodologies for the Study .............................................................................. 26 Acceptance by the Scientific Community................................................................................... 27 How will the Information be Useful in Furthering Resource Goals ........................................... 27 Length of Study........................................................................................................................... 27 Why the Study Objectives Cannot be Achieved with Available Data ........................................ 27 CONNECTING AND RESTORING POPULATIONS OF WHITE STURGEON ....................... 27 Background Information ............................................................................................................. 27 The Recommended Study ........................................................................................................... 28 Basis for this Information Request ............................................................................................. 28 Who Should Conduct and Participate in the Study ..................................................................... 28 Objectives and Methodologies of the Studies ............................................................................. 28 Acceptance of the Scientific Community ..................................................................................