Services:

Bear River Hydroelectric Project Long-term Monitoring of Flow Fluctuations in the Black Canyon

Issue:

In December 2003 PacifiCorp received a new operating license for the Bear River Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 20) located in southeast Idaho. The new license includes a condition requiring PacifiCorp to implement periodic whitewater flows and study the biological effects associated with the variable flow regimes.

Solution:

The whitewater releases occur at the Grace Hydropower Facility in the 6.2 mile reach known as the Black Canyon between Grace Dam and the Grace powerhouse. OASIS developed the Bear River Black Canyon Monitoring Study to examine the effect of the variable flow regime on the river channel shape, substrate and aquatic biota. Specifically the Black Canyon Monitoring Plan includes investigation of: 1) Macroinvertebrates-population trends, diversity and community indices; 2) Organic Matter Ash-Free Dry Weight (AFDW); 3) Periphyton-chlorophyll concentration and biomass; 4) Fisheries-population trends, community composition, fish condition; 5) Filamentous Algae-density; and 6) Channel Morphology-shape and substrate composition. The monitoring effort comprises four study reaches. Reach 1, partially regulated by Bear Lake, serves as the reference reach. Reaches 2, 3 and 4, subject to the whitewater flow regime below Grace Dam, serve as the experimental reaches.

Results:

The monitoring study spans six-years of data collection and is currently underway.

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