July 27 Libby Dam
update
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July 27, 2011 |
On 27 July at 11 a.m. MDT, outflows from Libby
Dam were increased from 11 kcfs to 14 kcfs. This
increase was made to target Koocanusa Reservoir
elevation of at or near 2449' at the end of
August, and then maintain that elevation through
the end of September, while passing minimum bull
trout flows. Outflow of 14 kcfs will likely be
held for at least a week or longer.
This outflow adjustment was coordinated today at
TMT,
http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/tmt/. The
adjustment was made in anticipation of the
Kootenai Tribe of Idaho's forthcoming System
Operation Request (SOR) to have low flows in
September for construction of sturgeon habitat
enhancement on the Kootenai River near Bonners
Ferry. The SOR will likely be presented for
approval at TMT's August 3rd meeting.
Current Koocanusa Reservoir elevation is
2451.7'.
Current Koocanusa Reservoir inflow is ~19 kcfs.
The reservoir has been filling at less than half
a foot per day - increased outflow will reduce
refill rate to only several inches per day. Peak
pool elevation is currently projected to be in
the first to second week of August, with an
elevation of 2453'-2455'.
The Northwest River Forecast Center creates
daily forecasts for short term projections
throughout the Kootenai and Columbia River
Basins. These forecasts can be updated multiple
times in a day and can be updated at anytime as
conditions change. Links to those projections
can be found below:
Short term forecasts for Libby Dam elevations
and inflows can be found here:
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=LYDM8
Short term forecasts for Libby Dam releases can
be found here:
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=KBDM8
Short term forecasts for Bonners Ferry can be
found here:
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=BFEI1 |
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