Save Our Wild Salmon - Hot Water Report 2018

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Lower Snake and Columbia River Hot Water Report, week seven. This weekly report presents the conditions on the Lower Snake and Columbia Rivers via graphs, analyses, and stories. We have been tracking the rivers as they become too hot for migrating salmon, as well as the return of each individual salmon species.

In 2015, extreme water temperatures killed upwards of 300,000 salmon in the Columbia Basin. Extinction is looming for wild Snake River salmon and steelhead, with myriad threats facing these dwindling stocks. As each salmonid species journeys through the Columbia and Snake, we will highlight its unique attributes and discuss how different species respond to increasing river temperatures. We’ll also hear first-hand from scientists, tribal fishers, guides, and citizens on the Columbia and Snake rivers throughout the summer.

Will you be on the river this summer? Do you have a story or photo you would like to share? Please send them to Jacob Schmidt

If, in the course of your river trips this summer, you come across a dead sturgeon, remember to contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Hot Water Report is a project of the Save Our wild Salmon Coalition, with assistance from Idaho Conservation League, Columbia Riverkeeper, Idaho Rivers United, Friends of the Clearwater, and Washington Sierra Club.

Check out previous Hot Water Reports here.

READING THE DATA

The daily mean temperature at the forebay (upstream reservoir) of each dam is represented in the solid lines, while the 10 year average (2008-2017) for each reservoir is represented by the dashed line of the same color. The dotted line across the top of the graph represents the 68° survival threshold for juvenile salmon. The longer temperatures remain above 68° and the farther the temperatures rise above 68°, the more severe the effects, including: increased metabolism, increased susceptibility to disease, reduced fecundity (reproductive potential), and/or death.

If you are unfamiliar with the location of the Lower Snake and Lower Columbia dams, you can find them on this map.

Temperatures at the lower two of the four Lower Snake River dams have remained stable, with daily highs remaining above the 68 degree survival threshold. While air temperatures have dipped slightly in the past week, we are still seeing highs in the 90s throughout the northwest. Along with summer heat comes demand for power to run AC units. In response to this demand, Idaho Power runs more water through the turbines at Hells Canyon dam, warming the waters above Lower Granite Dam almost daily during these hot months. This is clearly evidenced by the steep spikes in the red line on the graph above. As discussed in previous reports, cool water from above the Dworshak dam--which was released to ease pressure on sockeye--is being reserved for the upcoming steelhead run. Note that the temperature variability at the upstream dams is not reflected downstream, due to the equalizing effect of slackwater reservoirs.

While temperatures at the lower four Snake River dams have plateaued, temperatures at three of the four lower Columbia dams are, on average, lower than they were last week. The Dalles Dam just upstream from Bonneville (represented above in green) was the only dam of the four to register an overall increase in temperature. The fishing closure around the mouth of the Deschutes River remains in place to protect the lone refuge of cold water in the reservoir formed by the Dalles Dam. New fishing restrictions meant to protect the early return of wild steelhead are now in effect for the entire length of the Lower Columbia from the river’s mouth near Astoria to the Tri-Cities.

WEEKLY HIGH TEMPERATURES 8/16 - 8/23

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While fire and drought persist throughout much of the northwest, temperatures at all lower Columbia dams except The Dalles have begun to fall. Nonetheless, temperatures at all Lower Columbia/Snake dams remain well above the 68 degree threshold.

Temperature data included in these reports come from the USGS Current Conditions for Washington State and the Fish Passage Center. Graphs and tables were assembled by SOS Staff on 23 August 2018 with the latest data.

2018 Columbia-Snake Basin Adult Salmon Returns – year-to-date

Sockeye Salmon

The final sockeye of this year are navigating their way up the Salmon River and into the Stanley Basin, site of Redfish Lake, Sawtooth Hatchery, and the terminus of their 950 mile, 6500’ journey from the sea. According to counts from Idaho Fish and Game, 62 Snake River sockeye have returned to the Stanley Basin as of 22 August. Of these, 10 of were wild origin, and the remaining 52 were hatchery reared fish. All but one of these 62 returned to Redfish Lake, with the one outlier headed back to either Pettit or Alturas Lake.

New Links

IFiber One: Entire State Drying Out Under Drought Like Conditions

Oregon Whitewater: Snake River at Hells Canyon

Spokesman: Salmon, steelhead fisheries on Columbia restricted

Past Links

NW Sportsman: COLUMBIA AT DESCHUTES MOUTH, LOWER HALF MILE OF TRIB CL Idaho Fish and Game: Sockeye

Lonesome Larry

Times of London: Scottish Heatwave is Disastrous for Salmon Industry

WSU: Demand factored into Columbia River Basin’s future

Columbia Basin Bulletin: With Run Downgrade, Summer Chinook Fishing Below Bonneville Dam Ends Early; Sockeye Above Forecast

Columbia Basin Bulletin: Corps Second Spill Report to Court Details Impacts of High Flows

Hatch Magazine: Trout and Water Temperature: How Hot is Too Hot?