From: Elizabeth Klein
Sent: Wed Feb 26 08:36:37 2020
To: Dan Huff; Gerald Fisher
Subject: Fw: Willamette River BiOP Update
Importance: Normal
Morning! Do you get these reports?
Elizabeth Klein
City Council
City of Molalla
503-829-6855
From: Kunse, Suzanne <Suzanne.Kunse@mail.house.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 2:37 PM
To: Kunse, Suzanne
Subject: Willamette River BiOP Update
Good Afternoon!
Please find below an updated general summary of the federal actions on the Willamette River BiOp, including federal funding. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to be removed from the list moving forward.
Thank you! SK
2008 WILLAMETTE RIVER BIOLOGICAL OPINION
- 1. DETROIT DAM TEMPERATURE CONTROL TOWER -AND- DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE PROJECTS
The 2008 BiOp requires construction and operation of a downstream fish passage facility -and- a temperature control structure.
- * Link to USACE public presentation at Draft EIS public meetings: Detroit Draft EIS Public Meeting
- * The public comment period on the Draft EIS is closed. The USACE is currently reviewing public comments, addressing them and changing the Draft EIS as appropriate.
- * The USACE anticipates releasing the Final EIS and the Record of Decision in Winter 2021.
- * USACE Project Website: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Willamette/Detroit/fish-passage
- 2. COUGAR DAM DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE PROJECT
The 2008 BiOp requires the construction and operation of a downstream passage facility.
- * The USACE is currently reviewing public comments and completing the remaining environmental compliance requirements for the project. The USACE estimates release of the Final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in Spring 2020.
- * USACE Project Website: www.nwp.usace.army.mil/willamette/cougar/fish-passage
- 3. LOOKOUT POINT DOWNSTREAM FISH PASSAGE PROJECT
The 2008 BiOp requires the construction and operation of a downstream passage facility.
- * Currently in the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (R, M & E) phase. The purpose of R, M and E is to determine best options for downstream fish passage.
- * The earliest decision to proceed with Downstream Passage Design would be 2021.
- 4. WILLAMETTE BASIN REVIEW (WBR) STUDY
The WBR Study was originally authorized by Congress in 1988 through WRDA. In 2015, a Federal Cost Share Agreement was signed between the USACE and the State of Oregon to complete the study to facilitate the re-allocation of approximately 1.6 million acre feet of conservation storage behind Willamette Valley dams for instream flows for fish, municipal and industrial users and irrigation.
- 5. WILLAMETTE VALLEY SYSTEM EIS
Federal NEPA process to review the impact of Operations and Maintenance (O and M) of the 13 USACE dams in the Willamette River Basin, referred to as the “Willamette Valley Project”, and the effects of O and M on salmon and steelhead. The Willamette Valley Project is authorized for: flood risk mitigation, recreation, fish and wildlife (hatcheries, water quality, adult and juvenile passage), water supply, power generation and other authorized purposes.
- * The Willamette Valley System EIS is a distinct and separate federal process than the Detroit Dam EIS, Cougar EA, Lookout Point R, M and E and the Willamette Basin Review Study. The Willamette Valley System EIS will be integrated into the 2008 Willamette River Biological Opinion re-consultation process.
- * Public comment period for WVS scoping phase closed on June 28th, 2019.
- * Link to USACE public presentation at WVS scoping public meetings: June 2019 WVS EIS public meeting presentation
- * The USACE released the Public Scoping document in December 2019: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p16021coll7/id/13051
- * There are no public meetings planned on the Public Scoping document.
- 6. HATCHERY GENETIC MANAGEMENT PLAN (HGMP)
- * The USACE requested evaluation and approval by NMFS of the spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead hatchery programs through the Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans.
- * The Corps and ODFW jointly submitted the HGMP for the rainbow trout program for inclusion in the hatchery BiOp and EIS.
- * The final Biological Opinion(s) are available here: BO Willamette hatcheries May2019 AND Willamette_Chinook_4d concurrence_NMFS_May_2019
- 7. FUNDING UPDATE
Federal funding for salmon and steelhead mitigation work at Detroit Dam, Cougar Dam and Lookout Point Dam is authorized by Congress under Columbia River Fish Mitigation and appropriated each year in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.
- * The USACE submits a capabilities plan to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), outlining what work they would be able to accomplish on each project for the following fiscal year.
- * OMB, via the President’s Budget, requests appropriations for USACE projects and retains final decision on funding of specific projects.
FY 2020
For FY 2020, beginning October 1st, 2019, the USACE submitted the following capabilities to the OMB as it relates to these Willamette River fish mitigation projects:
- * $37.9 million for Cougar Downstream Fish passage design and construction
- * $7 million for Detroit Downstream passage design work
- * $2.6 million for Lamprey passage studies
- * $ 12.61 million for Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (R, M & E) for the entire Willamette Basin
The OMB, via the President’s Budget, requested $0 from Congress for Cougar Dam, Detroit Dam and Lamprey passage studies for FY 2020. The OMB, via the President’s Budget, requested $12.61 million from Congress for RM&E
- * On June 13th, 2019 the House of Representatives passed the Energy and Water Appropriations, with USACE construction funding appropriated at $2.34 billion for FY20, an increase of $154 million above FY19 funding and an increase of $1.17 billion above the President’s Budget request.
- * On September 12th, 2019 the Senate passed the Energy Water Appropriations bill out of committee, with USACE construction funding appropriated at $2.798 billion, an increase of almost $615 million above FY19 funding.
- * Both the House and the Senate have passed a Continuing Resolution through December 20, 2019.
- * Energy and Water appropriations for FY20 was signed by President Trump on December 20th, 2019. An additional $2.68 billion was included for USACE construction funding.
- * While funding for the USACE’s FY 2020 construction budget was decided by Congress in the appropriations process, an increase in overall appropriations funding for the USACE construction budget did NOT guarantee funding for the Detroit Downstream Passage, Cougar Downstream Passage or Lamprey studies projects.
- * In mid-February, OMB released FY2020 funding allocations for USACE projects. OMB did not allocate funds for the Detroit Downstream Passage or Cougar Downstream Passage. OMB allocated $20 million for Lamprey passage studies.
- * The USACE has limited leftover FY2019 funds that could be applied to Detroit Downstream Passage and Cougar Downstream Passage.
FY 2021
For FY 2021, beginning October 1st, 2021, the USACE submitted the following capabilities to the OMB as it relates to these Willamette River projects:
- * $12.1 million for Willamette projects authorized under Columbia River Fish Mitigation
The OMB, via the President’s Budget, requested $6.3 million from Congress for Willamette projects authorized under Columbia River Fish Mitigation for FY 2021.
Other Funding notes:
The Columbia River Fish Mitigation Plan also requires a cost share from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for capital projects, including the Detroit Temperature Control Tower and Downstream Fish Passage projects at both Cougar and Detroit. Current cost share allocations:
- * Cougar Dam Downstream Fish Passage:
- * Capital projects: U.S. Treasury – 77%; BPA – 23%
- * Detroit Dam Temperature Tower and Downstream Fish Passage:
- * Capital projects: U.S. Treasury – 59.5%; BPA – 40.5%
Of note:
The FY2020 House Energy and Water Appropriations bill included the following report language:
“Cost Allocation Studies.—The Committee has heard concerns that the cost allocation studies for some projects within the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) are several decades old and may not reflect current benefits provided by such projects. The Committee directs the Corps, Reclamation, and the Bonneville Power Administration to jointly develop an outline for conducting cost allocation studies for relevant projects within the FCRPS. The outline shall include, at a minimum, a prioritized list of projects for which cost allocation studies should be conducted, scope necessary to perform a study, a list of other authorized purposes at each project identified for a study, any regulatory or other constraints, and appropriate timelines and estimated costs for each identified study. The agencies shall be prepared to brief the Committee not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act on this outline.”
- * On August 1, 2019, Congressman Newhouse, Simpson and Congresswoman Herrera Beutler sent a letter to BPA, USACE and Bureau of Reclamation asking for outline to review cost share allocation on the FCRPS: Aug 1, 2019 Letter
- 8. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE
Congressional Contacts:
Congressman Kurt Schrader: Suzanne.kunse@mail.house.gov
Congressman Peter DeFazio: Edward.mcglone@mail.house.gov
Congressman Earl Blumenauer: liv.brumfield@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici: ali.mayeda@mail.house.gov
Senator Ron Wyden: fritz_graham@wyden.senate.gov
Senator Jeff Merkley: Stacey_jochimsen@merkley.senate.gov