Lake Roosevelt A Hot Topic

Decisions to improve fisheries and provide flood control along the lower Columbia River could have major impacts on fishing and recreation on waters behind Grand Coulee Dam, according to members of the Lake Roosevelt Forum.

The Forum, a consortium of community groups, government agencies, Indian tribes and individuals with interests in the 150-mile-long lake, is holding a meeting tonight to explain the possible drawdown scenarios.

Speakers include representatives from the Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, Grant County Public Utilities District, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department and National Marine Fisheries Services.

“This will be the time and place to ask questions about downstream interests determining what happens to our fishing and recreation in Lake Roosevelt,” said Andy Dunau, Forum executive director.

Dramatic drawdowns in 1997 to accommodate a record runoff and provide flood control for the Portland area apparently flushed most of Roosevelt’s trout and kokanee downstream. Moderate drawdowns last year allowed the fisheries to recover somewhat. But other factors are coming into the picture, Dunau said.

Since fall, Roosevelt’s water levels have dropped to provide flows for salmon near Ives Island below Bonneville Dam.

“We don’t quite understand that, since those salmon aren’t on any endangered list,” Dunau said.

Jim Nielsen of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department said the increased flows were requested to expand lower Columbia spawning areas for naturally reproducing fall chinook and chum salmon.

“This is the only successful main stem Columbia spawning we can find for fall chinook other than the Hanford Reach and a few isolated spots,” Nielsen said.

He said the fall chinook are followed by a native run of chum, candidates for listing as an endangered species.

Nielsen said Grand Coulee Dam is the key to water requirements for downstream salmon management.

“But we also know it’s critical for managing water for kokanee spawning in Lake Roosevelt,” he said.

“We’re trying to strike a balance in our recommendations,” he added, noting other factors weigh even more heavily in water management.

The water supply forecast for the Columbia Basin is 110 percent of normal, according to Craig Sprankle of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Grand Coulee Dam.

“That figure can change in a few days, depending on weather,” he said.

This year, the bureau has forecast the lake level to be drawn down to an elevation of 1,220 feet by the end of April. That compares with a maximum drawdown to 1,250 feet last year.

During the floods of ‘97, the lake level was drawn down to the lowest operating level of 1,208, he said.

“We’re concerned about the issues behind the issues,” Dunau said. “When fisheries managers make decisions on water requirements for downstream fish, the Colville and Spokane tribes and people in this region and give input, but there’s no local authority.

“Sometimes, these decisions might be too risky for the kokanee we’re producing in net pens because of the impacts to the upper Columbia from Grand Coulee Dam.”

Commission meeting slated

Fishing and tribal hunting issues will be the focus of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Feb. 5-6 meeting in Olympia.Fish issues to be considered Feb. 5 include:

Adoption of the 1999-2000 sportfishing rules.

Endorsement of the PATH process results as the biological basis for formulating decisions concerning the operation and configuration of the federal Snake River power system.

A briefing on an interagency plan to manage leases and permits for construction of a new pier and sewage discharges at Cherry Point, once the location of Puget Sound’s largest herring stock. That stock is in serious decline.

The commission will be briefed on the results of a feasibility study for mandatory training for bowhunters.

Fish & Game open house

The Idaho department of Fish & Game has scheduled a series of public open-house meetings to review proposed changes for 2000 big game seasons.

Sites are the Senior Citizen’s Center in Grangeville on Feb. 10, the National Guard Armory in Orofino on Feb. 16, the Latah County Fairgrounds pavilion in Moscow on Feb. 17 and the Community Center in Lewiston on Feb. 18. All meetings will run from 5 to 8 p.m.

MEETING TODAY A preview of Lake Roosevelt operations for 1999 will be held today from 3-6 p.m. in the commissioners briefing room of the Lincoln County Courthouse in Davenport.