Cushman Hydro Project Public Meeting Cushman Fire Hall Dec. 6, 2018
Reservoir Operations Florian Leischner Fish and Habitat Biologist
Cushman Reservoirs Cushman dams were built in 1924-30 New Cushman license in 2010 New 38-year license includes elements to: re-establish anadromous salmon into reservoir and the upper NF Skokomish River basin manage reservoir shoreline and debris monitor the reservoir and fisheries manage the reservoir levels
Reservoirs at a Glance Cushman Reservoir: Storage Kokanee Reservoir: Regulation
Reservoirs at a Glance Cushman Reservoir: Storage 4,010 acres Kokanee Reservoir: Regulation 150 acres
Reservoirs at a Glance Cushman Reservoir: Storage 4,010 acres Storage Kokanee Reservoir: Regulation 150 acres Regulate Cushman Powerhouse #2 / Hood Canal
Reservoirs at a Glance Cushman Reservoir: Storage 4,010 acres Kokanee Reservoir: Regulation Cushman Powerhouse #2 / Hood Canal 150 acres Storage 260 ft max depth Regulate 450,000 Acre*feet 7,500
Reservoirs at a Glance Cushman Reservoir: Storage 4,010 acres Storage Kokanee Reservoir: Regulation 150 acres Regulate Cushman Powerhouse #2 / Hood Canal
Reservoirs at a Glance Cushman Reservoir: Storage 4,010 acres Kokanee Reservoir: Regulation 150 acres Cushman Powerhouse #2 / Hood Canal Additional water into North Fork 1. For salmon and habitat according to license 2. Reservoir safety - spill
Reservoir Elevation (ft) Reservoir management Lake Kokanee 485.00 480.00 475.00 470.00 465.00 460.00 Water elevation requirement Lake Kokanee surface elevation 455.00 450.00
Cushman Reservoir surface elevation (ft - Tacoma datum) Reservoir levels management 738 ft 735 725 715 Lake level pre-license (mean daily 1995-2012) 705 Full reservoir 695 685 9/29 10/29 11/29 12/29 1/29 2/28 3/31 4/30 5/31 6/30 7/31 8/30 9/30 Month
Cushman Reservoir surface elevation (ft - Tacoma datum) Reservoir levels management 738 ft 735 725 Memorial Day weekend Labor Day weekend 715 Lake level pre-license (mean daily 1995-2012) Minimum requirement 705 Full reservoir 695 685 9/29 10/29 11/29 12/29 1/29 2/28 3/31 4/30 5/31 6/30 7/31 8/30 9/30 Month
Cushman Reservoir surface elevation (ft - Tacoma datum) Reservoir levels management 738 ft 735 725 715 Lake level pre-license (mean daily 1995-2012) Lake level post license (mean 2012-2018) 705 Minimum requirement Full reservoir 695 685 9/29 10/29 11/29 12/29 1/29 2/28 3/31 4/30 5/31 6/30 7/31 8/30 9/30 Month
Cushman Reservoir surface elevation (ft - Tacoma datum) Reservoir levels management 738 ft 735 725 715 705 Lake level during reporting period Oct 1, 2017 - Sep 30, 2018 Lake level pre-license (mean daily 1995-2012) Lake level post license (mean 2012-2018) Minimum requirement Full reservoir 695 685 9/29 10/29 11/29 12/29 1/29 2/28 3/31 4/30 5/31 6/30 7/31 8/30 9/30 Month
Reservoir management debris management
Reservoir management debris management
Reservoir management debris management
Reservoir management debris management
Reservoir monitoring Operation/hydrology Water quality Biology Fisheries
Reservoir monitoring - hydrological In Out Storage Snow pack Current inflow Weather predictions Inflow daily/weekly/seasonal Storage reservoir level Output River levels Generator status
Reservoir monitoring water quality
Reservoir monitoring - biological
Reservoir monitoring - fisheries
Questions?
Fisheries Andrew Ollenburg Cushman Fish Facilities Manager
Production Goals Species Sockeye Spring Chinook Winter Steelhead Life stage at release Subtotal Total Potential Adult Returns Fed Fry (May) 200,000 2,000,000 22,200 Fed Fry (June) 1,000,000 Fed Fry (Sept) 800,000 Fingerling 300,000 375,000 1,388 Yearling 75,000 Smolts 15,000 15,225 675 Adults 225 Coho Smolts 10,000-35,000 500-1,750
Fish Releases from Cushman Spring Chinook Coho Steelhead Sockeye BY14 131,028 BY13 402 BY16 8,543 BY16 241,943 BY15 280,016 BY14 5,723 BY17 6,351 BY17 387,438 59,616 BY15 9,744 BY16 297,693 BY16 9,972 78,035 BY17 323,816 TOTALS 1,170,204 25,841 14,894 629,381
Spring Chinook Homecoming 140,000 eggs hatched and reared at Long Live the Kings Lilliwaup Hatchery in 2014 131,000 juveniles released into the North Fork Skokomish River in 2016
Adult Chinook 113 returning adults captured in 2018
Sorting for Eggtake
Here come the eggs! 100,000 eggs harvested
Next Generation All hatched, starting to grow! All partners thrilled, first step, huge milestone
Fisheries Chris Noyes Natural Resources Biologist
Sockeye Salmon Program Work with partners to establish a sockeye run in the Skokomish River 500,000 eyed eggs/year for five years Baker Lake stock under agreement with Puget Sound Energy and approval of co-managers Early stages of program
Question 1 Q: How many sockeye fry have been released into Lake Cushman to date? A. 102,650 B. 496,702 C. 616,021 (Correct answer) D. 2,000,000
Sockeye Salmon Program Work with co-managers to establish a sockeye run in the Skokomish River 500,000 eyed eggs/year for five years Baker Lake stock under agreement with Puget Sound Energy and approval of co-managers Early stages of program 616,021 sockeye fry in Lake Cushman since June 2017
Hold adults 1 to 6 months Take eggs Incubate 3 months Rear for 1 month to 2 years PROGRAM COMPONENTS Ocean (1 to 3 years)
Why We Use the Reservoir Life history Adapted to lake environments Habitat 4,000+ acres, 23+ miles of shoreline Food source Productivity surveys since 2013 How much and what kind of food?
What Happens Now? Establish Sockeye Program Broodstock Adult returns Kokanee Fishery Whatcom to Baker stock transition Size, timing, abundance Angler Surveys Starting 2019 Monitor fish collections Adaptive Management Program Improvements Juvenile survival, adult collection, brood stock
Adult Returns Establish Program Adult Fish Trap Base of Cushman Dam No. 2 In operation since 2015
Question 2 Q: What is the difference between sockeye and kokanee? A. Size B. Life history C. Genetics D. All of the above (correct answer)
Sockeye and Kokanee Kokanee Smaller, non-migrating form of sockeye Reported plants in Lake Cushman between 1936 1983 Whatcom stock Sockeye Migrate as smolts in May/June First fry plant in June 2017 Baker stock
Juvenile Fish Passage How do fish get from the lake to the ocean??
Question 3 Q: How do fish get from the lake to the ocean? A. They swim B. Uber (correct answer) C. The Juvenile Fish Collector on Lake Cushman D. Mason Transit Route 11
Juvenile Fish Passage Juvenile Fish Collector In operation since 2015 System Survival Fish Collection Efficiency
Juvenile Fish Passage - Monitoring System Survival Survival from release at head of reservoir to below Cushman Dam No. 2 Performance goal of 95% (minimum 75%) System Survival (%) Coho Sockeye 2015 18 -- 2016 18 -- 2017 31 -- 2018* 48 35 *Preliminary
Juvenile Fish Passage - Monitoring Fish Collection Efficiency % of fish that approach the Juvenile Fish Collector that subsequently enter Performance goal of 95% Fish Collection Efficiency (%) Coho Sockeye 2015 33 -- 2016 37 -- 2017 54 -- 2018* 61 40 *Preliminary
Adult Fish Passage Cushman No. 2 Powerhouse Tailrace Monitoring Little Falls
Questions?
Wildlife and Lands Bret Forrester Wildlife and Lands Manager Wynnae Wright Shoreline & Lands Coordinator Keith Underwood Natural Resources Manager 51
Cushman Wildlife Lands
Cushman Wildlife Lands
Elk Forage Fields 75 acres constructed Monitoring elk use during each season Up to 200 acres to be built depending on use
Elk Forage Fields
Snag Creation 300 snags created Habitat for cavity-nesting birds Dow Mountain and Brown Creek vicinity
Timber Thinning 200 acres thinned Promote mature forest development Increase habitat diversity Lake May, Homan Flats and Brown Creek parcels
Wood Duck Nest Boxes
Cushman Resort Property Currently closed while we develop a plan for managing the site Evaluating options for providing public recreation at the site Targeting 2020 recreation season reopening
Staircase Road Recreation Sites
Staircase Road Recreation Sites
Staircase Road Recreation Sites
Shoreline Use Permitting How does Tacoma Power manage the Lake Cushman shoreline? What is a Shoreline Management Plan? QUESTIONS? Wynnae Wright, Shoreline and Lands Coordinator (253) 441-4180 wwright@cityoftacoma.org
Shoreline Use Permit Area
Shoreline Use Permitting
Shoreline Use Permitting BEFORE
Shoreline Use Permitting AFTER
Shoreline Use Permitting BEFORE
Shoreline Use Permitting AFTER
Shoreline Use Permitting BEFORE
Shoreline Use Permitting AFTER
Shoreline Use Permitting 56% Permit Status 18% 15% 11% No structures or uses Permit inprocess Permitted No permit (out of compliance)
Staircase Road Improvements
Open Q&A