Evaluation and Findings Report: Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Hells Canyon Complex (FERC Project Number 1971) May 2019 Northwest Region 700 NE Multnomah St. Suite 600 Portland, OR 97232 Phone: 503-229-5696 800-452-4011 Fax: 503-229-5850 www.oregon.gov/DEQ DEQ is a leader in restoring, maintaining and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land and water. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 401 Water Quality Certification Hells Canyon Complex (FERC Project Number 1971) This report prepared by: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 700 NE Multnomah St Suite 600 Portland, OR 97232 1-800-452-4011 www.oregon.gov/deq Contact: Marilyn Fonseca 503-229-6804 Documents can be provided upon request in an alternate format for individuals with disabilities or in a language other than English for people with limited English skills. To request a document in another format or language, call DEQ in Portland at 503-229-5696, or toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-4011, ext. 5696; or email [email protected]. State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality ii 401 Water Quality Certification Hells Canyon Complex (FERC Project Number 1971) Table of Contents 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Requirements for Certification ............................................................................................................ 1 2.1 Applicable Federal and State Law ............................................................................................... 1 2.2 General Application of State Water Quality Standards ............................................................... 3 2.2.1 Designated Beneficial Uses ................................................................................................. 3 2.2.2 Narrative and Numeric Criteria ............................................................................................ 4 2.2.3 Anti-degradation Policy ....................................................................................................... 4 2.2.4 Total Maximum Daily Loads ............................................................................................... 4 3 Project Information and Summary of Project ...................................................................................... 4 3.1 Applicant Information .................................................................................................................. 4 3.1.1 Name and Address of Project Owner (Applicant) ............................................................... 4 3.1.2 Name and Address of Owner’s Official Representative ...................................................... 5 3.1.3 § 401 Application (Original Application and Supplements) ................................................ 5 3.2 Project Description and Operations ............................................................................................. 5 3.2.1 Waters of the State Potentially Impacted by Project ............................................................ 5 3.2.2 Adjacent Land Use and Ownership...................................................................................... 8 3.2.3 Hells Canyon Complex Project Facilities ............................................................................ 8 3.2.4 Current Operations ............................................................................................................... 9 3.2.5 Proposed Operations .......................................................................................................... 10 4 Beneficial Uses and Water Quality Status of the Snake River .......................................................... 10 4.1 Beneficial Uses in the Snake River ............................................................................................ 10 4.2 Native and Extirpated Fish Species ........................................................................................... 11 5 Threatened and Endangered Aquatic Species in the Snake River ..................................................... 16 6 Water Quality Impairment in the Snake River .................................................................................. 17 6.1 Total Maximum Daily Load for the Snake River ...................................................................... 20 6.1.1 Nutrients, nuisance algae and dissolved oxygen: ............................................................... 20 6.1.2 Pesticides: .......................................................................................................................... 20 6.1.3 Temperature: ...................................................................................................................... 20 6.1.4 Total dissolved gas: ............................................................................................................ 21 7 Evaluation of Compliance with Water Quality Standards ................................................................ 22 7.1 Water Quality Parameters Not of Concern ................................................................................ 22 7.1.1 Bacteria: ............................................................................................................................. 23 7.1.2 Chlorophyll a: .................................................................................................................... 23 7.1.3 pH:...................................................................................................................................... 24 State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality iii 401 Water Quality Certification Hells Canyon Complex (FERC Project Number 1971) 7.1.4 Sediment: ........................................................................................................................... 24 7.1.5 Total dissolved solids: ........................................................................................................ 25 7.1.6 Turbidity: ........................................................................................................................... 25 7.1.7 Toxics – water column: ...................................................................................................... 25 7.2 Water Quality Parameters of Potential Concern ........................................................................ 30 7.2.1 Narrative Standards: Biocriteria and Statewide Narrative Criteria .................................... 32 7.2.2 Dissolved Oxygen: ............................................................................................................. 48 7.2.3 Temperature: ...................................................................................................................... 68 7.2.4 Oil and Grease:................................................................................................................... 91 7.2.5 Total Dissolved Gas: .......................................................................................................... 92 7.2.6 Harmful Algal Blooms: ...................................................................................................... 99 7.2.7 Mercury (Hg): .................................................................................................................. 102 7.2.8 Antidegradation:............................................................................................................... 107 8 Evaluation of Compliance with Sections 301, 302, 303, 306 and 307 of the Federal Clean Water Act ........................................................................................................................................ 110 9 Evaluation of Other Appropriate Requirements of State Law ........................................................ 111 9.1 Department of Environmental Quality ..................................................................................... 112 9.2 Department of State Lands ....................................................................................................... 112 9.3 Department of Fish and Wildlife ............................................................................................. 112 9.4 Department of Water Resources .............................................................................................. 113 9.5 Department of Land Conservation and Development .............................................................. 114 10 Public Comment .............................................................................................................................. 119 10.1 General Topics ......................................................................................................................... 121 10.2 Fisheries ................................................................................................................................... 135 10.3 Biocriteria ................................................................................................................................ 137 10.4 Temperature ............................................................................................................................. 139 10.5 Snake River Stewardship Program .......................................................................................... 146 10.6 Brownlee Operational Component ..........................................................................................