News Release Archive

Federal Managers Exercise Every Option to Protect Northwest Communities

Media Contact: Lynne Brougher, (509) 633-9503, lbrougher@usbr.gov
Venetia Gempler, vmgempler@usbr.gov

For Release: May 27, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bonneville Power Administration to manage flood control operations at Grand Coulee Dam (Lake Roosevelt) to minimize risk to life and property along the Columbia River and into the Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, Wash. areas.

Flows from Lake Roosevelt are being released through Grand Coulee Dam's outlet tubes to create space for the largest snowpack in the Northwest since 1997. A cooler spring has slowed the snowmelt but wetter than normal weather patterns has flood control operations in high gear.

Based on flood control standards established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Reclamation is maintaining lower lake levels to reserve space for the expected spring thaw. "Our first concern is public safety," said Steve Barton the Corps Reservoir Control Chief. "We need to release enough water now to manage the available storage space to ensure adequate room in anticipation of the higher flows expected late in the season."

In addition to maximizing the powerhouse releases, releases through the outlet tubes are required to maintain low lake levels to capture anticipated snowmelt. As water is flowing out of the outlet tubes, air becomes trapped and creates gases (total dissolved gas) harmful to fish. These factors, unique to high-runoff years like this one, are incorporated into the environmental regulations along the Columbia River.

"We have researched all options to minimize the dissolved gas below the dam, including pumping water up to Bank's Lake and maximizing flow through the power plant," said Steven Jarsky, Reclamation's Acting Power Manager at Grand Coulee. Currently, dam operations and flows are being managed to prepare for the coming snow melt.

Reclamation operates Grand Coulee Dam to maximize benefits to all constituents but conditions this year are creating impacts in several areas, among them power generation and fish habitat.

Grand Coulee Dam is located on the Columbia River about 90 miles west of Spokane, Wash. It was completed in 1941 and serves as a multipurpose facility providing water for irrigation, recreation, fish and wildlife, hydroelectric power production, and also flood control.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.