Mid-Columbia Hourly Coordination Agreement. The hydroelectric projects on the mid-Columbia River were built between 1930 and 1967, with the first project (Rock Island Hydroelectric Project) being completed in 1932. Grand Coulee, the main storage facility on the river, was completed in 1942. The Rocky Reach Project did not commence operation until 1961, while the last project on the mid-Columbia, the Xxxxx project, was completed in 1967. Until 1974, each of these projects operated independently, following demand signals by drafting and filling their reservoirs. Prior to the Hourly Coordination Agreement, each project peaked (i.e. generated the daily maximum power which results in releasing the highest daily volume of water through the turbines) at different times to meet the requirements of its power purchasers. As the Xxxxx Project peaked, water then moved down to the Rocky Reach Project which, by the time it arrived, did not need to peak, resulting in spill at the Project. The Xxxxx Project, on the other hand was left drafted with insufficient inflow to refill until the next day or late evening. This uncoordinated operation resulted in a number of problems, ranging from inefficient power management to an inability to meet certain flow requirements for fish. Specifically, uncoordinated project operation led to:
1. Large headwater fluctuations at each project associated with each operator’s independent attempts to meet load and purchaser demand at an individual project;
2. Large fluctuations in flow below Priest Rapids Project as a result of the uncoordinated drafting and filling of reservoirs being operated in an uncoordinated manner (typically, the reservoirs would draft during the weekend and then gradually fill early in the week as flows from the upstream federal reservoirs increased to meet Monday morning loads). The resulting lag left the lower Columbia short on water early in the week, potentially affecting spawning habitat, particularly in the Hanford Reach;
3. Loss of potential energy due to head loss, increased spill, and inefficient use of plant capabilities;
4. An inability to meet any fish protection flow requirements below Priest Rapids project;
5. Additional drafting of already low reservoirs to meet the 36,000 cfs minimum flow at Priest Rapids Project required by the Department of Energy for the Hanford Reach (related to cooling water for the Hanford Nuclear Reservation). The mid-Columbia projects use the same water as it moves down the river and are intrinsically interdependent. Beca...
