LRBM-Pulse Calculator Refinement

Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)

Research
Project ID013 20 SA
Recovery DomainsSnake River
Start Date12/12/2020
End Date07/01/2022
Year2020
StatusCompleted
Last Edited02/27/2024
 
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Description    


The mainstem Lemhi River, above the Hayden Creek confluence is prime salmonid habitat. Maintaining salmonid habitat requires periodic high discharges that 1) flush the overlying fine sediment from the armored layer, and 2) mobilize bed materials to restore and enhance riffle habitat. The Lemhi Settlement Agreement, addressing the high-water diversion applications, includes a provision requiring a pause in high flow withdrawals creating a minimum stream flow event (MSFE) in the upper Lemhi River. To provide technical support for the MSFE in the Lemhi Settlement Agreement legislation, the LRBM-Pulse Calculator was developed in Microsoft EXCEL. The calculator was used to determine the discharge required to achieve the aquatic habitat goals, compute the quantity and availability of supplemental discharge (ASD), determine favorable periods to conduct an MSFE, and identify potential flooding threats downstream. The computations and supporting data in the original LRBM-Pulse Calculator have been revised into a community version and provided water and natural resources managers in the Lemhi Basin.



Seven presentations were given in reference to the Lemhi Settlement and the Lemhi River Basin Model (LRBM)-Pulse Calculator. Documents produced are available upon request from abbie.gongloff@osc.idaho.gov, and include:

1. Lemhi Settlement Minimum Stream Flow_Final.pdf

2. LRBM-PulseQ-Community.xlsm

3. LRBM-PulseQ-Calculator User Guide.pdf

4. Lemhi Flushing Flow General Overview-06.pdf

5. LemhiPulseQ-Results 201203__v01.pdf

6. LRBM-PulseQ-Community.xlsm

Project Benefit    


This work builds upon the development of LRBM and its input/output products by IDWR and Centered Consulting International, LLC (CCI), which are available for the USBWP Technical Team and stakeholders to understand hydrologic conditions and evaluate proposed alternatives in the Lemhi River Basin. The LRBM-Pulse Calculator accompanies the LRBM-Habitat Tool; a tool which links LRBM output to HSI equations, as well as juvenile abundance, temperature, and redd count data, to provide a better understanding of habitat conditions along the mainstem Lemhi River. LRBM-Pulse

Calculator summarizes water availability from catchment inflow from tributaries, quantifying historic diversions in each tributary, and providing guidelines for conducting a pulse flow event. As input to the calculator, the sediment characterization provides insight into source and location of fine sediment deposition in the upper Lemhi River, as well as estimates on the magnitude and duration of flows required to remove the fine sediment to mitigate the problem. Finally, through working with stakeholders on developing the Lemhi Settlement, trust in the LRBM is being developed. This trust can provide a valuable platform for formulating and discussing management alternatives with key stakeholders in the Lemhi Basin on future habitat and restoration management opportunities.

Accomplishments

Metric Completed Originally
Proposed

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$24,066
State$26,807
Report Total:$50,873


Project Map



Worksites

WS-1    


  • Worksite Identifier: WS-1
  • Start Date: 01/01/2021
  • End Date: 07/30/2022
Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

  • Basin: Salmon (170602)
  • Subbasin: Lemhi (17060204)
  • Watershed: Eighteenmile Creek (1706020403)
  • Subwatershed: Lower Eighteenmile Creek (170602040304)
  • State: Idaho
  • Recovery Domain: Snake River
  • Latitude: 44.6822
  • Longitude: -113.3547

ESU

  • Snake River Basin Steelhead DPS
  • Snake River Spring/Summer-run Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • E.0 Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)
    •      . . E.0.a RM&E Funding 50,873.00
    •      . . E.0.b
      Complement habitat restoration project
      None
    •      . . E.0.c
      Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment.
      None
    •      . . E.0.d.1 Number of Cooperating Organizations 1
    •      . . E.0.d.2
      Name Of Cooperating Organizations.
      Idaho Department of Water Resource: Idaho Water Resources Board
    •      . . E.0.e.1 Number of reports prepared 4
    •      . . E.0.e.2
      Name Of Report
      1. Lemhi Settlement Minimum Stream Flow_Final.pdf - computations and findings supporting the minimum stream flow event analysis 2. MSFE Monitoring Guidelines 3. MSFE Implementation Plan (in development) 4. LRBM_PulseQ Calculator User Guide
    •      . . E.2 ResearchY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . E.2.a Research Funding 50,873.00
      •      . . . . E.2.b.1 Modeling and data analysisY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.2.b.1.a
          Key issues addressed by modeling and data analysis research
          LRBM-PulseQ Calculator (community version) has been developed along with a user manual.