Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-563 - Instream resources protection program for the main stem Columbia River in Washington state
Section 173-563-040 - Establishment of instream flows for instream uses
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) In order to protect the quality of the natural environment and provide for preservation of wildlife, fish, scenic, aesthetic and other environmental values, and navigational values, minimum instantaneous flows and minimum average weekly flows are established for instream uses at the following project locations on the main stem Columbia River in Washington state:
|
CONTROL STATION |
RIVER MILE |
MANAGEMENT UNIT |
|
The Dalles Dam |
191.5 |
John Day Dam to Bonneville Dam (Lake Bonneville and Celilo Lake) (River Mile 146.1-215.6) |
|
John Day Dam |
215.6 |
John Day Dam to McNary Dam (Umatilla Lake) (River Mile 215.6-292.0) |
|
McNary Dam |
292.0 |
McNary Dam to Priest Rapids Dam (Lake Wallula and the Hanford Reach) (River Mile 292.0-397.1) |
|
Priest Rapids Dam and upstream (Wanapum, Rock Island, Rocky Reach, Wells, Chief Joseph, and Grand Coulee Dam) |
397.1+ |
Priest Rapids Dam upstream to Canadian Border (River Mile 397.1-745.0) |
(2) Minimum instantaneous flows at the locations listed in WAC 173-563-040(1) are established for instream uses as follows:
MINIMUM INSTANTANEOUS FLOWS - COLUMBIA RIVER PROJECTS
(1,000 cubic feet/second)
|
Chief* Joseph |
Wells & Rocky Reach Rock Island & Wanapum* |
Priest Rapids |
McNary & John Day |
The Dalles |
||
|
Jan |
10 |
10 |
50 |
20 |
20 |
|
|
Feb |
10 |
10 |
50 |
20 |
20 |
|
|
Mar |
10 |
10 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Apr |
1-15 |
20 |
20 |
50 |
50 |
70 |
|
16-25 |
20 |
30 |
50 |
70 |
70 |
|
|
26-30 |
20 |
50 |
50 |
70 |
70 |
|
|
May |
20 |
50 |
50 |
70 |
70 |
|
|
June |
1-15 |
20 |
50 |
50 |
70 |
70 |
|
16-30 |
10 |
20 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Jul |
1-15 |
10 |
20 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
16-31 |
10 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Aug |
10 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Sep |
10 |
20 |
36 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Oct |
1-15 |
10 |
20 |
36 |
50 |
50 |
|
16-31 |
10 |
20 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Nov |
10 |
10 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Dec |
10 |
10 |
50 |
20 |
20 |
|
* |
As provided in WAC 173-563-050(1), the minimum instantaneous flows set forth in this subsection are subject to a reduction of up to twenty-five percent during low flow years, except that in no case shall the outflow from Priest Rapids Dam be less than 36,000 cfs. For the reach from Grand Coulee through Wanapum, minimum instantaneous flows shall be as shown above, or as necessary to maintain minimum flows (subject to low runoff adjustment) at Priest Rapids, whichever is higher. |
(3) Minimum average weekly flows for instream uses are established at the locations listed in WAC 173-563-040(1) as follows:
MINIMUM AVERAGE WEEKLY FLOWS - COLUMBIA RIVER PROJECTS
(1,000 cubic feet/second)
|
Chief Joseph* |
Wells & Rocky Reach* |
Rock Island & Wanapum* |
Priest Rapids |
McNary |
John Day |
The Dalles |
||
|
Jan |
30 |
30 |
30 |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
|
Feb |
30 |
30 |
30 |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
|
Mar |
30 |
30 |
30 |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
|
Apr |
1-15 |
50 |
50 |
60 |
70 |
100 |
100 |
120 |
|
16-25 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
70 |
150 |
150 |
160 |
|
|
26-30 |
90 |
100 |
110 |
110 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
|
|
May |
100 |
115 |
130 |
130 |
220 |
220 |
220 |
|
|
Jun |
1-15 |
80 |
110 |
110 |
110 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
|
16-30 |
60 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
120 |
120 |
120 |
|
|
Jul |
1-15 |
60 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
120 |
120 |
120 |
|
16-31 |
90 |
100 |
110 |
110 |
140 |
140 |
140 |
|
|
Aug |
85 |
90 |
95 |
95 |
120 |
120 |
120 |
|
|
Sep |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
60 |
85 |
90 |
|
|
Oct |
1-15 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
40 |
60 |
85 |
90 |
|
16-31 |
30 |
35 |
40 |
70 |
60 |
85 |
90 |
|
|
Nov |
30 |
30 |
30 |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
|
Dec |
30 |
30 |
30 |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
* |
For the reach from Grand Coulee through Wanapum, minimum average weekly flows shall be as shown above, or as necessary to maintain minimum flows (subject to low runoff adjustment) at Priest Rapids, whichever is higher. As provided in WAC 173-563-050(1), the minimum average weekly flows set forth in this subsection are subject to a reduction of up to twenty-five percent during low flow years, except that in no case shall the outflow from Priest Rapids Dam be less than 36,000 cfs. |
Statutory Authority: RCW 90.54.040, 90.54.050, chapters 90.03 and 90.22 RCW. 82-21-001 and 82-21-007 (Orders DE 82-35 and DE 82-35A), § 173-563-040, filed 10/7/82 and 10/8/82; 80-08-021 (Order DE 80-2), § 173-563-040, filed 6/24/80.
