See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266241247 Spillimacheen Project Water Use Plan Article CITATIONS READS 0 64 4 authors, including: Michael Mcarthur Guy Martel BC Hydro BC Hydro 5 PUBLICATIONS 70 CITATIONS 14 PUBLICATIONS 456 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: le Growth rate and influence of predation territoriality in juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Article Influence of Movement by Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Parr on Their Detection by Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) View project All content following this page was uploaded by Michael Mcarthur on 13 August 2015. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Spillimacheen Project Water Use Plan Assessment of Rampdown Duration to Minimize River Stage Change During Full Plant Outages Reference: SPNMON-1 Final Report Study Period: 2009 M. McArthur, G. Martel, J. Berdusco, M. Marrello BC Hydro, Environmental and Social Issues May 10, 2010 Spillimacheen Water Use Plan SPNMON-1 Final Report May 10, 2010 Assessment of Rampdown Duration to Minimize River Stage Change During Full Plant Outages (SPNMON-1) M. McArthur1, G. Martel1, J. Berdusco2 and M. Marrello3 May 10, 2010 Authors affiliations: 1. Environmental and Social Issues, BC Hydro, Burnaby, BC 2. BC Hydro, Cranbrook, BC 3. BC Hydro, Castlegar, BC BC Hydro Page 2 Spillimacheen Water Use Plan SPNMON-1 Final Report May 10, 2010 Table of Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................8 1.0 Background .......................................................................................................8 1.2 Description of Operations................................................................................10 1.3 Objective .........................................................................................................11 1.4 Management Questions ..................................................................................11 1.5 Management Hypothesis.................................................................................11 2.0 Methods...............................................................................................................12 2.1 Approach .........................................................................................................12 2.2 Literature Review ............................................................................................12 2.3 Field work ........................................................................................................13 2.4 Analyses..........................................................................................................17 3.0 Results ................................................................................................................17 3.1 Literature Search.............................................................................................17 3.2 Stage monitoring .............................................................................................21 4.0 Discussion...........................................................................................................35 5.0 Recommendations ..............................................................................................39 Literature Cited................................................................................................................40 Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................43 Appendix I Habitat Photos……………………………………………………………………… BC Hydro Page 3 Spillimacheen Water Use Plan SPNMON-1 Final Report May 10, 2010 List of Tables Table 1. Operational constraints for planned outages for Spillimacheen generation flows. ........................................................................................................................................10 Table 2. Sources and search terms used for collection of information during the literature review, Spillimacheen rampdown rate study...................................................................12 Table 3. Spillimacheen River sampling stations descriptions. Refer to Figure 2 for stations locations. Start and end dates & times apply to level loggers only....................16 List of Figures Figure 1. Location of Spillimacheen Generating Station ...................................................9 Figure 2. Approximate location of stations for Spillimacheen monitoring study. .............15 Figure 3. Transects at Stations 3 (left) and 4 (right) in side channels adjacent to the Spillimacheen River, October 22, 2009. Refer to Figure 2 for locations. .......................17 Figure 4. Water discharge data from the Spillimacheen River, October 19 to October 25, 2009. Data from WSC station # 08NA011. Red circle encloses the approximate duration of the rampdown study....................................................................................................22 Figure 5. Water Survey Canada data for the Spillimacheen River (Station 1, Figure 2) on October 22, 2009. ...........................................................................................................22 Figure 6. Spillimacheen water levels and temperatures recorded by level loggers at Stations 1-3, October 21-22, 2009. Bars and shaded areas indicate duration of rampdown. Refer to Figure 2 for locations of stations.....................................................27 Figure 7. Staff gauge water levels of Spillimacheen side channels (lines are substations, m from left bank), Stations 4 and 3, measured on October 22, 2009. Dashed lines enclose rampdown duration............................................................................................28 Figure 8. Water temperature and level for the Kootenay River at Fort Steele WSC gauge, October 19-25. ....................................................................................................29 Figure 9. Water and air temperature for the Kootenay River at Fort Steele WSC gauge, October 19-25. ................................................................................................................29 Figure 10. Air and water temperature for the Kootenay River at Fort Steele WSC gauge, October 21-23, 2009. Note that axes are different from Figure 8. .................................30 Figure 11. Wetted widths for Spillimacheen sampling transects, October 22, 2009. ......31 Figure 12. Water velocity at Spillimacheen River sampling Stations 2-4, October 22, 2009. ...............................................................................................................................33 Figure 13. Dissolved oxygen concentration in the Spillimacheen River, Station 3, during the October 22 rampdown...............................................................................................34 BC Hydro Page 4 Spillimacheen Water Use Plan SPNMON-1 Final Report May 10, 2010 SPNMON - 1 STATUS of OBJECTIVES, MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS and HYPOTHESIS Objective Management Questions Answer to management Management Study conclusion question Hypothesis Provide information to establish 1. How does rampdown 1: Provided that the rampdown Ho: The proposed minimum The null hypothesis (Ho) is that the two hours rampdown duration during outages at the is carried in the prescribed two rampdown duration (two hours) rejected and the alternative protocol (duration and rate) for SPN influence downstream hours, the main stem river stage for planned outages at the (H1) is accepted as the planned generation station river stage during the periods downstream is minimally SPN does not mitigate adverse rates of change of the shutdowns is acceptable to of low river flows? influenced. downstream river stage measured parameters were minimize impacts to fishes changes on fish and fish such that no adverse effect downstream of the habitat. on fishes or fish habitat Spillimacheen Generating could be observed. Station (SPN) 2. Does rampdown 2: No. The main stem margins immediately downstream of the appeared deep enough ( > 30 SPN dewater habitat suitable cm of residual depth) and no for fish spawning or result in signs of egg deposition nor of stranding fishes or deposited suitable spawning ground were eggs? observed in either of the two side channels. No stranded fishes were observed either. BC Hydro Page 5 Spillimacheen Water Use Plan SPNMON1 Final Report May 10, 2010 Executive Summary This study examined the effects of a two hours rampdown rate specified for planned outages at the Spillimacheen Generation Station (SPN). The SPN is located on the Spillimacheen River, about five (5) km from the confluence of the river with the Columbia River. Fall and winter river flows are typically less than plant capacity (no spill) and a sudden loss of flow from the SPN can cause an abrupt and significant decrease in stage and discharge in the river channel downstream of the station. This decrease in stage and discharge persists until the headpond surcharges and spills water into a canyon (diversion channel) to offset the reduced plant discharge. The main objective of the study was to provide information to establish that the two hours rampdown protocol (duration and rate) for planned generation station shutdowns was acceptable to minimize impacts to fishes downstream of the Spillimacheen Generating Station.