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Title: Idaho Water Rental Pilot Project Probability/Coordination Study Resident Fish and Wildlife Impacts Phase III, 1996 Annual Report.

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/671966· OSTI ID:671966
 [1]
  1. Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Boise, ID (United States)

Phase 3 began in 1995 with the overall goal of quantifying changes in resident fish habitat in the Snake River Basin upstream of Brownlee Reservoir resulting from the release of salmon flow augmentation water. Existing data, in the form of weighted usable area versus flow relationships, were used to estimate habitat changes for white sturgeon (Acipenser transinontanus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Snake River between C.J. Strike Dam and Brownlee pool. The increased flows resulted in increased habitat for adult and juvenile white sturgeon and adult rainbow trout. But, the flows have failed to meet mean monthly flow recommendations for the past three years despite the addition of the flow augmentation releases. It is unlikely that the flow augmentation releases have had any significant long-term benefit for sturgeon and rainbow trout in the Snake River. Flow augmentation releases from the Boise and Payette rivers have in some years helped to meet or exceed minimum flow recommendations in these tributaries. The minimum flows would not have been reached without the flow augmentation releases. But, in some instances, the timing of the releases need to be adjusted in order to maximize benefits to resident fishes in the Boise and Payette rivers.

Research Organization:
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Sponsoring Organization:
United States. Bonneville Power Administration.
DOE Contract Number:
1993BI02390
OSTI ID:
671966
Report Number(s):
DOE/BP-02390-2; R&D Project: 199106700; ON: DE98005884; CNN; TRN: 99:000580
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Dec 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English