Laserfiche WebLink
1. Hydroelectric Impacts <br />Hydroelectric modeling required a cooperative effort among the USFWS, the Bureau of <br />Reclamation, the Western Area Power Authority (Western), and Stone and Webster <br />Consultants, Inc. Utilizing the hydrographs and taking into consideration the alternative <br />depletion frameworks, the Bureau of Reclamation modeled the potential effects of flow <br />requirements for the endangered fishes on monthly hydroelectric generating capacity in the <br />Upper Basin. Western used the data generated by the models to estimate the changes in the <br />amount of marketable power. Finally, Stone and Webster Consultants, Inc. input the data into <br />a model framework that yields the net effects of the change in the power system. <br />2. Recreation Impacts <br />A recreation survey was developed that also relied upon the hydrographs. Outdoor planners <br />in the seven States and a variety of Federal agencies were asked to assess the impacts of <br />potentially modified operating plans on recreational activities. Three versions of the survey <br />were generated to meet the needs of different recreation units along the rivers. These were: <br />(a) units outside critical habitat areas but impacted by flow changes; (b) units including <br />critical habitat areas that may be impacted by flow changes; and, (c) units including critical <br />habitat areas that may not be impacted by flow changes. <br />3. Agricultural Impacts <br />To assess whether current and future planned agricultural depletions could be met with <br />existing water resources in the relevant scenario, existing State agricultural data and the <br />biological flow recommendations were determined. In cases where adequate flows could not <br />be achieved, the purchase of Upper Basin agricultural water rights was assumed. <br />4. Municipal and Industrial Impacts <br />The flow recommendations may, in isolated cases, affect future municipal water acquisitions. <br />However, it was assumed that municipalities would, in fact, acquire the needed water through <br />the acquisition of agricultural water rights. Thus, the impacts appear as foregone agricultural <br />production. <br />I-24 <br />