Klamath River Expert Panel FINAL REPORT Scientific Assessment of Two Dam Removal Alternatives on Resident Fish April 11, 2011 Prepared by: David Buchanan Mark Buettner Dr. Thomas Dunne Dr. Greg Ruggerone With the assistance of: (formerly PBS&J) THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE FUNDING AGENCY (U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE). 1211 SW 5th Avenue Suite 790, Portland OR, 97204 | Phone 503-222-7275 | Fax 503-274-6547| The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the funding agency (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Secretarial Determination .........................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Expert Panel ....................................................................................................................................................................1 1.3 Review Process ..............................................................................................................................................................5 1.4 Panel Role and Nature of Report ............................................................................................................................6 2.0 Background .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Life Histories ...................................................................................................................................................................9 2.1.1 Sucker Species in the Klamath Basin ..................................................................................................9 2.1.2 Redband/Rainbow Trout ...................................................................................................................... 16 2.1.3 Bull Trout ..................................................................................................................................................... 24 2.2 Alternatives .................................................................................................................................................................. 25 2.2.1 Conditions with Dams (Current Conditions) ............................................................................... 25 2.2.2 Condition without Dams and with KBRA (Proposed Action) ............................................... 26 2.3 Questions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.1 General Questions .................................................................................................................................... 27 2.3.2 Suckers-Specific Questions .................................................................................................................. 30 2.3.3 Redband/Rainbow Trout-Specific Questions .............................................................................. 32 2.4 Hydrology and Geomorphology .......................................................................................................................... 32 2.4.1 Upper Klamath Lake Inflows ............................................................................................................... 33 2.4.2 Upper Klamath Lake Levels ................................................................................................................. 35 2.4.3 Channel Habitat in Upper Klamath Lake Tributaries ............................................................... 35 2.4.4 Channel Habitat Downstream of Keno Dam ................................................................................. 37 2.4.5 Future Habitat under the Proposed Action: Short-Term and 50-Year Prospect ......... 38 2.4.6 Flow Regimes under the Proposed Action: Short-Term and Long-Term ........................ 39 2.4.7 Short-term Effects of Sediment Release ......................................................................................... 40 2.4.8 Long-term Effects of Sediment Release .......................................................................................... 41 2.5 Temperature Regime and Water Quality ........................................................................................................ 42 2.5.1 Water Quality Upstream of Keno Dam ............................................................................................ 42 2.5.2 Water Quality Downstream of Keno Dam ..................................................................................... 43 2.6 Climate Change ........................................................................................................................................................... 44 2.6.1 Climate Change Impacts ........................................................................................................................ 46 3.0 Impacts on Resident Fishes Upstream of Keno Dam ................................................................................. 47 3.1 Suckers............................................................................................................................................................................ 47 3.1.1 Hydrology Effects ..................................................................................................................................... 47 3.1.2 Water Quality Effects .............................................................................................................................. 49 3.1.3 Habitat Quantity Effects ........................................................................................................................ 52 3.1.4 Habitat Quality Effects ........................................................................................................................... 53 3.1.5 Non-Native and Re-Introduced Species Effects .......................................................................... 54 3.2 Headwater Redband/Rainbow Trout ............................................................................................................... 57 3.2.1 Hydrology Effects ..................................................................................................................................... 57 3.2.2 Water Quality Effects .............................................................................................................................. 57 3.2.3 Habitat Effects ............................................................................................................................................ 58 3.2.4 Population Level Effects ........................................................................................................................ 58 3.2.5 Genetic Effects ........................................................................................................................................... 59 3.3 Lake/River Redband/Rainbow Trout............................................................................................................... 59 3.3.1 Hydrology Effects ..................................................................................................................................... 59 3.3.2 Water Quality Effects .............................................................................................................................. 60 3.3.3 Habitat Effects ............................................................................................................................................ 62 3.3.4 Population Level Effects ........................................................................................................................ 62 3.3.5 Genetic Effects ........................................................................................................................................... 63 3.4 Bull Trout ....................................................................................................................................................................... 63 3.5 Other Resident Fish ................................................................................................................................................... 64 Klamath River Expert Panel Resident Fish Page i April 11, 2011 The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the funding agency (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 4.0 Impacts Downstream of Keno Dam.................................................................................................................. 65 4.1 Suckers............................................................................................................................................................................ 65 4.1.1 Short-Term Effects of Dam Removal ............................................................................................... 65 4.1.2 Long-Term Effects of Dam Removal ................................................................................................ 65 4.2 Redband/Rainbow Trout ......................................................................................................................................