Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region

Upper Columbia Alternative Flood Control and Fish Operations Environmental Impact Statement and Records of Decision

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The Upper Columbia Alternative Flood Control and Fish Operations Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed long-term VARQ operations at Hungry Horse and Libby dams was completed in April 2006. The Corps of Engineers was the lead agency in the preparation of the document and Reclamation was a cooperating agency.

The VARQ flood control plan is one of several actions recommended by NOAA Fisheries Service and USFWS in their biological opinions to improve river and reservoir conditions for several ESA-listed species in the Columbia River Basin including bull trout, Kootenai River sturgeon, and anadromous steelhead and salmon. The VARQ plan reduces the amount of space required for flood control at Hungry Horse and Libby dams. The net result is a more normal spring flow regime that benefits listed species and increases the likelihood of full reservoirs and water supplies for summer flow needs.

Reclamation's ROD for operations at Hungry Horse Dam was issued in August 2009. The Corps issued a ROD for Libby Dam Flood Control and Fish Operations in June 2008.