Klamath River Hydroelectric Project FERC No. 2082 Flows and Recreation Phase I Report for Upper River Segments PacifiCorp Portland, Oregon May 2002 Copyright © 2002 by PacifiCorp Reproduction in whole or in part without the written consent of PacifiCorp is prohibited. USR021420025.DOC USR021420025.DOC CONTENTS Section Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................1-1 1.1 STUDY GOALS .................................................................................................1-1 1.2 STUDY OBJECTIVES.......................................................................................1-1 1.3 REPORT ORGANIZATION..............................................................................1-2 2.0 METHODS ....................................................................................................................2-1 2.1 EXISTING LITERATURE.................................................................................2-1 2.2 INTERVIEWS ....................................................................................................2-1 2.3 RESOURCE RECONNAISSANCE...................................................................2-2 2.4 INTEGRATING INFORMATION.....................................................................2-3 2.4.1 Developing Flow Evaluation Curves ...................................................2-3 2.4.2 Assessing Project Impacts....................................................................2-5 2.4.3 Information Limitations .......................................................................2-6 3.0 STUDY AREA...............................................................................................................3-1 3.1 RIVER AND RESERVOIR SEGMENTS..........................................................3-1 3.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BASIC HYDROLOGY................................3-3 3.2.1 Project Facilities...................................................................................3-3 3.2.2 Basic Hydrology of the Upper Klamath Project ..................................3-5 4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION BY SEGMENT........................................................4-1 4.1 LINK RIVER ......................................................................................................4-1 4.1.1 Recreation Opportunities......................................................................4-1 4.1.2 Flow Requirements ..............................................................................4-3 4.1.3 Project Effects......................................................................................4-5 4.1.4 Future Study Needs and Options..........................................................4-6 4.2 KENO REACH...................................................................................................4-7 4.2.1 Recreation Opportunities......................................................................4-8 4.2.2 Flow Requirements ..............................................................................4-9 4.2.3 Project Effects....................................................................................4-12 4.2.4 Future Study Needs and Options........................................................4-13 4.3 J. C. BOYLE BYPASS REACH.......................................................................4-14 4.3.1 Recreation Opportunities....................................................................4-15 4.3.2 Flow Requirements ............................................................................4-16 4.3.3 Project Effects....................................................................................4-18 4.3.4 Future Study Needs and Options........................................................4-19 4.4 HELLS CORNER.............................................................................................4-20 4.4.1 Interview Sample Profile....................................................................4-23 4.4.2 Recreation Opportunities....................................................................4-24 4.4.3 Flow Requirements ............................................................................4-28 4.4.4 Project Effects....................................................................................4-40 4.4.5 Future Study Needs and Options........................................................4-40 4.5 COPCO NO. 2 BYPASS REACH....................................................................4-41 © May 2002 PacifiCorp USR021420025.DOC Page i Section Page 4.5.1 Recreation Opportunities....................................................................4-43 4.5.2 Flow Requirements ............................................................................4-43 4.5.3 Project Effects....................................................................................4-44 4.5.4 Future Study Needs and Options........................................................4-44 4.6 SUMMARY OF RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND FLOW REQUIREMENTS......................................................................................4-44 5.0 REFERENCES..............................................................................................................5-1 Appendixes A Interview List............................................................................................................... A-1 B Interview Format..........................................................................................................B-1 C Additional Hells Corner Information for Recreating Planning................................... C-1 Tables 1 Summary of September 2001 Fieldwork......................................................................2-3 2 Summary of River Segments........................................................................................3-2 3 Summary of Lakes and Reservoirs on Upper Klamath River ......................................3-2 4 Summary of Hydroelectric Facilities on Upper Klamath River...................................3-3 5 Summary of Guidebook Recommendations for Hells Corner boating.......................4-30 6 Responses to Hells Corner Trip Timing Questions ....................................................4-38 7 Summary of Acceptable and Optimal Ranges for Upper Klamath Opportunities .....4-45 Figures 1 Map of Project Area and Recreation Segments............................................................3-1 2 Schematic Drawing of Upper Klamath Hydroelectric Facilities..................................3-4 3 Average Daily Flows on Keno Reach..........................................................................3-8 4 Days With Hells Corner Flows Lower Than 1,400 Cfs..............................................3-11 5 Days With Hells Corner Flows Higher Than 1,700 Cfs.............................................3-12 6 Days With Hells Corner Flows Higher Than 2,800 Cfs.............................................3-12 7 Map Of Link River .......................................................................................................4-2 8 Flow Evaluation Curves for Boating and Angling on Link River................................4-4 9 Map of Keno Reach......................................................................................................4-7 10 Flow Evaluation Curves for Boating and Angling on Keno Reach............................4-10 11 Map of J. C. Boyle Bypass Reach..............................................................................4-15 12 Flow Evaluation Curves for Boating and Angling on J. C. Boyle Bypass Reach......4-17 13 Map of Hells Corner Reach........................................................................................4-22 14 Annual Boating Use on Hells Corner Reach..............................................................4-27 15 Flow Evaluation Curves for Hells Corner Fishing and General Recreation .............4-29 16 Flow Evaluation Curves for Standard and Challenge Opportunities on Hells Corner...........................................................................................................4-34 © May 2002 PacifiCorp USR021420025.DOC Page ii Section Page 17 Flow Evaluation Curves and Range Bars for Hells Corner Boating Opportunities ..............................................................................................................4-35 18 Flow Evaluation Curves for Range Bars for Hells Corner Boating (Rafts Vs. Kayaks)......................................................................................................4-36 19 Number of One-Day and Overnight Commercial Trips on Hells Corner..................4-39 20 Map of Copco No. 2 Bypass Reach and Fall Creek Area ..........................................4-42 © May 2002 PacifiCorp USR021420025.DOC Page iii PacifiCorp Klamath River Hydroelectric Project Flows and Recreation—Phase I Report for Upper Segments 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Klamath River flows southwest out of Oregon’s Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) approximately 220 miles to the Pacific Ocean near Klamath, California. The upper 64 miles of the river (from the outlet of UKL to Iron Gate Dam) are generally considered the Upper Klamath River; it features five distinct river segments defined by the location of various hydroelectric facilities (dams, reservoirs, or powerhouses). The facilities are operated by PacifiCorp as the Klamath River Project (FERC 2082); PacifiCorp is applying to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a license to