Wash. Admin. Code § 173-563-040

Current through Register Vol. 24-20, October 15, 2024

Section 173-563-040 - Establishment of instream flows for instream uses

(1) In order to protect the quality of the natural environment and provide for preservation of wildlife, fish, scenic, aesthetic and other environmental values, and navigational values, minimum instantaneous flows and minimum average weekly flows are established for instream uses at the following project locations on the main stem Columbia River in Washington state:

CONTROL STATION	RIVER MILE	MANAGEMENT UNIT
The Dalles Dam	191.5	John Day Dam to Bonneville Dam (Lake Bonneville and Celilo Lake) (River Mile 146.1-215.6)
John Day Dam	215.6	John Day Dam to McNary Dam (Umatilla Lake) (River Mile 215.6-292.0)
McNary Dam	292.0	McNary Dam to Priest Rapids Dam (Lake Wallula and the Hanford Reach) (River Mile 292.0-397.1)
Priest Rapids Dam and upstream (Wanapum, Rock Island, Rocky Reach, Wells, Chief Joseph, and Grand Coulee Dam)	397.1+	Priest Rapids Dam upstream to Canadian Border (River Mile 397.1-745.0)

(2) Minimum instantaneous flows at the locations listed in WAC 173-563-040(1) are established for instream uses as follows:

MINIMUM INSTANTANEOUS FLOWS - COLUMBIA RIVER PROJECTS

(1,000 cubic feet/second)

		Chief* Joseph	Wells & Rocky Reach Rock Island & Wanapum*	Priest Rapids	McNary & John Day	The Dalles
Jan		10	10	50	20	20
Feb		10	10	50	20	20
Mar		10	10	50	50	50
Apr	1-15	20	20	50	50	70
	16-25	20	30	50	70	70
	26-30	20	50	50	70	70
May		20	50	50	70	70
June	1-15	20	50	50	70	70
	16-30	10	20	50	50	50
Jul	1-15	10	20	50	50	50
	16-31	10	50	50	50	50
Aug		10	50	50	50	50
Sep		10	20	36	50	50
Oct	1-15	10	20	36	50	50
	16-31	10	20	50	50	50
Nov		10	10	50	50	50
Dec		10	10	50	20	20

*

As provided in WAC 173-563-050(1), the minimum instantaneous flows set forth in this subsection are subject to a reduction of up to twenty-five percent during low flow years, except that in no case shall the outflow from Priest Rapids Dam be less than 36,000 cfs. For the reach from Grand Coulee through Wanapum, minimum instantaneous flows shall be as shown above, or as necessary to maintain minimum flows (subject to low runoff adjustment) at Priest Rapids, whichever is higher.

(3) Minimum average weekly flows for instream uses are established at the locations listed in WAC 173-563-040(1) as follows:

MINIMUM AVERAGE WEEKLY FLOWS - COLUMBIA RIVER PROJECTS

(1,000 cubic feet/second)

		Chief Joseph*	Wells & Rocky Reach*	Rock Island & Wanapum*	Priest Rapids	McNary	John Day	The Dalles
Jan		30	30	30	70	60	60	60
Feb		30	30	30	70	60	60	60
Mar		30	30	30	70	60	60	60
Apr	1-15	50	50	60	70	100	100	120
	16-25	60	60	60	70	150	150	160
	26-30	90	100	110	110	200	200	200
May		100	115	130	130	220	220	220
Jun	1-15	80	110	110	110	200	200	200
	16-30	60	80	80	80	120	120	120
Jul	1-15	60	80	80	80	120	120	120
	16-31	90	100	110	110	140	140	140
Aug		85	90	95	95	120	120	120
Sep		40	40	40	40	60	85	90
Oct	1-15	30	35	40	40	60	85	90
	16-31	30	35	40	70	60	85	90
Nov		30	30	30	70	60	60	60
Dec		30	30	30	70	60	60	60

*

For the reach from Grand Coulee through Wanapum, minimum average weekly flows shall be as shown above, or as necessary to maintain minimum flows (subject to low runoff adjustment) at Priest Rapids, whichever is higher. As provided in WAC 173-563-050(1), the minimum average weekly flows set forth in this subsection are subject to a reduction of up to twenty-five percent during low flow years, except that in no case shall the outflow from Priest Rapids Dam be less than 36,000 cfs.

Wash. Admin. Code § 173-563-040

Statutory Authority: RCW 90.54.040, 90.54.050, chapters 90.03 and 90.22 RCW. 82-21-001 and 82-21-007 (Orders DE 82-35 and DE 82-35A), § 173-563-040, filed 10/7/82 and 10/8/82; 80-08-021 (Order DE 80-2), § 173-563-040, filed 6/24/80.