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Welcome to our OPEN HOUSE BC HYDROS COLUMBIA OPERATIONS
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COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN
Columbia River is the fourth largest in North America and the
most powerful.
Canada has 15% of the basin area. The Canadian portion of the
basin is mountainous, with much snow. On average, it produces
30-35% of the run-off for the entire basin. During flood years
Canada has produced as much as 50% of the flows recorded at
Portland.
Most hydropower production, and need for flood control is in the
USA. The best storage dam sites are in Canada.
COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY Canada United States
Required to construct the Mica, Arrow and Duncan storage
reservoirs on the Columbia River system.
Required to pay Canada 50% of the estimated value of future
flood control benefits in the U.S.
Required to operate these reservoirs for optimum power
generation and flood control downstream in both countries.
Required to deliver to Canada 50% of the increased power
capability at downstream U.S. plants due to upstream regulation
this is called the Downstream Benefit.
Canada did not turn over control of its reservoirs to the U.S.
Rather, the Treaty requires specific operations for specific
conditions.
Permitted to construct and operate the Libby project on the
Kootenai River flooding some Canadian land, but also providing
power and flood control benefits for Canada.
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Mica Dam
Both countries realize significant flood control and power
benefits from the Treaty.
U.S. paid Canada for 50% of the U.S. flood control benefits
provided by Treaty reservoirs until 2024.
Canada receives its 50% share of electricity benefits directly
from the U.S., typically worth between $100 to $150 million per
year depending on the electricity market and water supply. Called
the Downstream Benefit, this goes directly to the B.C.
government.
Treaty has a minimum term of 60 years. It can be terminated by
either country with 10 years notice.
Canada will continue to provide a minimum amount of flood
protection (Called Upon Flood Control) for U.S. as long as the
Canadian dams exist.
COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY 2014 REVIEW The Province is currently
consulting with Basin residents during its review of the
Columbia River Treaty. Website:
www.gov.bc.ca/ColumbiaRiverTreaty
COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY BENEFITS
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Non-Treaty Storage Agreement (NTSA) Non-treaty storage is
additional water stored in Kinbasket Reservoir not
coordinated under the terms of the Columbia River Treaty.
New long-term Non-Treaty Storage Agreement (NTSA) executed April
2012 to coordinate use of 5 million acre feet of non-treaty
storage. Agreement expires September 2024 with early termination
provisions. Short term Bridge Agreement in place from September
2011 through March 2012.
Water transactions by mutual agreement on a weekly basis. All
flow changes made at the Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam.
Canadian benefits of the new NTSA Power benefits estimated over
$50 million to BC Hydro from September 2011
to September 2015.
More control of BC Hydro reservoirs. In 2012, BC Hydro used NTSA
agreement to reduce Hugh L. Keenleyside dam outflows by 50,000 to
60,000 cubic feet per second during a critical three week period
and provide additional downstream flood protection to Castlegar and
Trail.
Greater system flexibility to meet existing Columbia Water Use
Planning objectives.
2014/15 Non-Power Uses Agreement Protects Canadian fish (trout
and whitefish) during spawning.
Protects U.S. salmon during spawning migration.
BC Hydros operation of our Columbia facilities is governed by
the terms of the Columbia River Treaty that sets out strict rules
for water releases over the Canadian/U.S. border.
Periodically, the Treaty Operating Committee negotiates other
(supplemental) operating agreements when there are mutual benefits
to modify water releases specified by Treaty terms.
COLUMBIA OPERATING AGREEMENTS
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2015 RAINFALL Winter precipitation fell largely as rain due to
warmer than normal temperatures:
Resulting runoff directly entered reservoirs and passed through
the system as prescribed by Columbia River Treaty.
More winter rainfall resulted in below normal spring snowpack
with very low snowpack in the southern part of the Columbia
basin.
Spring precipitation (April and May) was below normal.
Cumulative Monthly Precipitation for Arrow, Duncan, and
Revelstoke
The red line indicates the average cumulative precipitation for
each month in the 2014-2015 water year and the blue line shows the
actual precipitation.
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OPERATING CONDITIONS Based on snowpack levels Near to below
normal in the
Upper Columbia and the Kootenay region.
Well below normal in the U.S.
Water supply forecast assumes average rainfall from May through
September.
May water supply forecast (February to September 2015) as % of
normal
Kinbasket Reservoir 95%
Revelstoke Reservoir 96%
Arrow Lakes Reservoir 99%
Duncan Reservoir 99%
Kootenay Lake 97%
Entire Columbia Basin (April - August)
72%
2014 & 2015 BC SNOWPACK
2014 2015
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WATER SUPPLY FORECAST COLUMBIA BASIN
Forecast determines Arrow Lakes Reservoir discharges under the
Columbia River Treaty.
Significantly below normal forecast triggers additional
releases.
Additional Arrow releases result in lower summer water levels
(happening this year).
The water supply forecast for the entire Columbia River Basin
has steadily declined since January 2015 from about average to
currently 72 per cent of normal.
Fourth driest year in 55 years of record.
Very low forecast throughout the entire U.S. portion of the
basin.
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EXPECTED 2015 OPERATIONS Arrow Lakes Reservoir Expected maximum
level is between 1,423 feet and 1,428 feet in late
June/early July. Normal full pool is 1,444 feet (licence
maximum). In 2014, the peak water level was 1,440.6 on July 3.
Below average Arrow Lakes Reservoir water level forecast due to
a number of factors: o Mild winter (lower than normal electricity
demand) meant less
generation from Mica/Revelstoke dams and lower than normal
inflows into Arrow.
o Higher than average late spring releases called for by
operating agreements with U.S. in response to dry conditions:
Columbia River Treaty Proportional Draft Provisions triggered
during very dry years. Accounts for ~15 feet draft from Arrow.
NTSA Dry Release Provision - triggered during the lowest 20% of
water conditions for salmon migration in the lower Columbia
River. Bonneville Power Administration requested the dry release
provision on May 8, 2015. Although this will result in ~4 feet of
draft from Arrow by July 1, more water is currently stored under
the NTSA (~21 feet at Arrow) than will be released.
o Summer releases for fish Flow Augmentation Storage - 1 million
acre foot (equivalent to ~8
feet) at Arrow was stored in January to meet Canadian and U.S.
fish objectives under the Non Power Uses agreement. This stored
water is expected to be released across June and July to benefit
fish. This has no impact on the July month end elevation, but a
deeper draft from Arrow reservoir is expected to occur when the
water is released in June resulting in lower than normal June
reservoir levels.
Note that the actual summer water levels depend on Upper
Columbia generation, market, load and inflow conditions.
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Arrow Lakes Reservoir
EXPECTED 2015 OPERATIONS
Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam
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EXPECTED 2015 OPERATIONS Kinbasket Reservoir Mica/Revelstoke
generation ran harder than normal from March to May for
system requirements and to help support Arrow water levels.
Kinbasket Reservoir is not expected to fill this year and the
expected maximum
water level is between 2,465 feet and 2,475 feet in August 2015.
In 2014, the peak level was 2,473.7 feet on November 9.
Additional water releases from Mica dam are possible depending
on inflow conditions.
Actual levels depend on market, electricity load and
inflows.
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EXPECTED 2013 OPERATIONS
Revelstoke dam outlets
Revelstoke Dam Discharges Minimum flow of 142 cubic metres per
second (5,000 cubic feet per second)
from dam required under Columbia River Water Use Plan. Expect to
benefit fish and fish habitat. In 2015, occasional small volume
spills at Revelstoke dam during low demand
periods to maintain minimum flow and/or Revelstoke Reservoir
water levels.
Revelstoke Reservoir Typically BC Hydro maintains water level
within 1.5 metres (5 feet) of full pool
water level of 573.0 metres (1,880 feet) to maintain head at
Revelstoke dam. Expect to operate reservoir above normal minimum
operating water level of
571.5 metres (1,875 feet) for remainder of recreation
season.
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Revelstoke Forebay
EXPECTED 2015 OPERATIONS
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Reservoir water levels are very difficult to forecast due to the
unpredictability of weather patterns, inflows, domestic load demand
and electricity prices.
HOW TO STAY INFORMED Sign up to receive regular reservoir email
updates and biannual summary of BC
Hydros Columbia Operations
Reservoir level information through bchydro.com
Reservoir level phone line: 1-877-924-2444
Contact a BC Hydro Community Relations Representative:
Mary Anne Coules Jen Walker-Larsen Castlegar Revelstoke
250-365-4565 250-814-6645 [email protected]
[email protected]
CONDITIONS CHANGE
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ADDING TWO NEW GENERATING UNITS BC Hydro is currently working to
install the
sixth generating unit at Mica Generating Station. The new fifth
generating unit has been completed.
Each generating unit will provide approximately 500 megawatts of
capacity during peak demand periods.
New turbines manufactured in Germany and transported over 18,000
kilometres to Mica Dam.
More than 1,500 individual workers have been hired so far to
help with project work.
MICA PROJECTS
AGING SWITCHGEAR EQUIPMENT REPLACED BC Hydro has replaced Micas
gas-
insulated switchgear equipment that delivers electricity from
Micas underground generating units to the above-ground transmission
lines.
Lowering Mica 5 turbine into place.
Loading new turbine at port of Rotterdam
Install new switchgear at Mica switchgear building
NEW CAPACITOR STATION A new series capacitor station needed
to
deliver the additional power generated to BC Hydros grid was
constructed near Seymour Arm.
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BC HYDRO CONSIDERING SIXTH UNIT AT REVELSTOKE DAM Based on
current electricity load forecasts,
BC Hydro expects Revelstoke Unit 6 will not be needed until
about 2029.
If the future does not unfold as we expect, additional resources
may be needed sooner. As a contingency, BC Hydro has started
planning work to allow the Revelstoke Unit 6 Project to be
constructed as early as 2020 if it is needed.
The sixth generating unit would add approximately 500 megawatts
of capacity to BC Hydros system.
A new series capacitor station west of the Summerland area and
upgrades to the Nicola substation would also be needed in order to
reliably deliver the additional generation.
BC Hydro has convened a Revelstoke Unit 6 Core Committee to help
identify project impacts and recommend mitigation measures.
REVELSTOKE UNIT 6
Penstock installation for Revelstoke Unit 5 Project
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Approved in 2007, the Columbia River Water Use Plan calls for a
large number of monitoring programs and projects to be implemented
on the mainstem Columbia River from Kinbasket Reservoir downstream
to the Canada/United States border over 12 years.
Programs and projects expected to benefit recreation, wildlife,
fish, vegetation, and archaeology.
Revelstoke area projects/programs: Revelstoke dam minimum flow
to benefit fish
and fish habitat
Kinbasket and Revelstoke Reservoir productivity study
Annual juvenile sturgeon releases and white sturgeon
research
Monitoring of shorebird, waterbird, and songbird use of Arrow
Lakes Reservoir and drawdown zone
Revelstoke wildlife enhancement projects
Revelstoke Western painted turtle study
Monitoring of amphibians and reptiles in drawdown zone
Monitoring of tributary access in Arrow Lakes Reservoir for
spawning fish
COLUMBIA RIVER WATER USE PLAN
Shelter Bay sturgeon release
Baby Western painted turtle
Willow flycatcher nest
Retrieving Columbia River sampling equipment
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