Fish Study Update March 2011

720 Olive Street, Suite 1900 Seattle, Washington 98101 Phone 206.287.9130 Fax 206.287.9131 www.anchorqea.com

MEMORANDUM To:

Bruce Mackey, ESA Adolfson

Date:

March 10, 2011

From:

Carmen Andonaegui, Anchor QEA

Project:

100705-01.01

cc:

Paul Schlenger, Anchor QEA

Re:

Update on Activities Underway for Chehalis River Fish Study

This memorandum describes the activities underway by the Anchor QEA Team for the Chehalis River Fish Study. Update information is provided on three main topics: field work, data compilation and analysis, and upcoming activities.

FIELD WORK Continuously-logging temperature data loggers (Tidbits) are still deployed at the ten water quality sample locations where they were installed in August 2010. On February 17, 2011, a final download of the data from the Tidbits was completed and final water quality measurements and water samples were collected for use in the water quality analysis and fish effects study. River flow was above 7500 cfs (how much above) during this event. The Tidbit data loggers will be left in place, and when low flow conditions resume, data will be downloaded a final time (how many “final” times will there be?), although the data is not intended for use in the analysis. The Tidbit loggers can be left in place at the Flood Authority’s request, where they will continue to collect data for download by Flood Authority staff in the future (There’s no Flood Authority staff, and soon there will be no Flood Authority). The collection of water quality data and water samples on February 17th was the second of two required high flow sample events for use in the analysis. With the two low flow water quality sampling events conducted in September and October 2010, this completes the collection of water samples and water quality data.

Data collection at low and high flow conditions at the survey locations for IFIM has been completed. A middle flow data collection event is planned for late March or April.

Gravel sampling (surface pebble counts and sub-armor grab samples) has been completed.

Bruce Mackey, ESA Adolfson March 10, 2011 Page 2

DATA COMPILATION AND MODELING A comparison of channel conditions at IFIM survey locations during low flow surveys was compared to channel conditions during high flow surveys (October 2010 and February 2011, respectively) to determine the extent to which interim high flow events have altered the IFIM survey locations. It was determined that an interim analysis of available habitat could be conducted using those channel cross sections which remained relatively unchanged. If an opportunity to re-survey channel conditions during low flow conditions in June or July 2011 (has Anchor QEA been given a contract extension as the Flood Authority goes away June 30?) presents itself and is within the allowable time frame for existing contract deliverables, the additional data could be collected and used to refine the analysis. To date, The PHABSIM model has been run to create a preliminary estimate of probable Usable Fish Habitat Index for three stream reaches. Following further hydraulic model calibration, model runs will be carried out on the lower Chehalis River reaches this week. (Is there a Chehalis River basin map with water sampling locations mapped on it? My assumption is that conditions were not sampled near the location of the proposed dam. I also assume that the Fish Study will not address the fact that the reservoir resulting from proposed dam would inundate primary spawning and rearing salmonid habitat above the dam. My sense is the Fish Study is only assessing potential impacts downstream from the dam.)

Database updates have been completed incorporating the February 17, final water quality sampling event. With data collection completed, development of the CE-QUAL-W2 model for simulating reservoir temperatures has begun. (There should be an analysis of the water pressure throughout the proposed reservoir to determine water pressures that baby fish (eggs – smolt) would be forced to live under) Work has also begun to develop an in-stream temperature model in HEC-RAS for simulating changes in Chehalis River temperatures as a result of the proposed project operation as a flood-control-only facility only and as a multipurpose facility.

Set-up of the HEC-RAS model for use in simulating low flow conditions is nearing completion. Simulating existing conditions, conditions with a flood-control-only facility, and conditions with a multi-purpose facility has begun using the HEC-RES-SIM model.

Analysis of the geomorphic data (sediment and hydrologic data) continues. (There is inadequate data available to analyze this information) Modeling of conditions pre-and post-

Bruce Mackey, ESA Adolfson March 10, 2011 Page 3

Project condition will begin once the HEC-RAS model is fully developed for low flow conditions. Probability statistics have been generated using results of RES SIM model runs.

Efforts to identify and compile existing sources for fish and habitat data and efforts to develop the SHIRAZ model are continuing. This includes determining life histories for the targeted SHIRAZ fish species (i.e. coho salmon, spring Chinook salmon, and steelhead) (What about resident and anadromous cutthroat trout, Spring Chinook, Fall Chinook, Summer Chinook, Chum salmon, Winter Steelhead, Summer Steelhead, Chum Salmon, Bull Trout, resident rainbow trout? by literature review (which literature) and interviews with local biologists (which biologists), coordinating with PHABSIM, CE-QUAL-W2, HEC-RAS, and HEC-RES-SIM modelers to ensure their model results are relevant to the SHIRAZ model, and creating functional linkages between habitat parameters and salmon survival.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES PLANNED Collection of IFIM middle flow data is planned as soon as flows drop to within middle flow range. Target flows for middle range normally do not occur until mid-May according to past flow data; however the hope is that flows will drop early enough to be able to collect data in early spring of 2011.

Temperature modeling for the Chehalis River and the proposed reservoirs will be conducted using the collected water quality data and the HEC-RAS low flow unsteady state model once completed.

Upon completion of the HEC-RAS model, analysis of sediment transport and large woody debris transport will be completed using simulated model runs. The HEC-RAS model will be used to estimate bedload transport and large woody debris loading and transport in the river under existing conditions and under post-Project conditions. The model runs will provide estimates of changes to substrate/aquatic habitat conditions.

Work will continue to compile fish and habitat data and to develop the SHIRAZ model.