CANADIAN COLUMBIA RIVER FORUMCANADIAN COLUMBIA RIVER FORUMU.S. Flood Control and U.S. Flood Control and

Operational PerspectiveOperational PerspectiveJim Barton, Chief of Corps of Engineers Columbia Jim Barton, Chief of Corps of Engineers Columbia

Basin Water Management Division Basin Water Management Division

CANADIAN COLUMBIA RIVER FORUMCANADIAN COLUMBIA RIVER FORUMU.S. Flood Control and U.S. Flood Control and

Operational PerspectiveOperational PerspectiveJim Barton, Chief of Corps of Engineers Columbia Jim Barton, Chief of Corps of Engineers Columbia

Basin Water Management Division Basin Water Management Division

Outline• Background• Operations Management

and Objectives• Current and Future

Studies & Activities • Emerging Issues• Conclusions

Background• Corps of Engineers has 35,000 employees

organized into 8 Divisions, 40 Districts, Headquarters

• Civil Works and Military Mission • Managing over 500 water projects nationwide• Columbia River projects managed from

Northwestern Division office in Portland, Oregon

• Corps is part of U.S. Entity with BPA for Treaty

Project Operating PurposesProject Operating Purposes

4,340 sites at 456 projects4,340 sites at 456 projects375 M visits/year375 M visits/year$15 B to local economies$15 B to local economies

153 projects supply 153 projects supply citiescitiesIncluding Wash. DC Including Wash. DC areaarea

75 projects, 20720 MW 75 projects, 20720 MW capacitycapacity3% of total US electric energy3% of total US electric energy$700M in power sales to $700M in power sales to TreasuryTreasury

12000 miles of inland 12000 miles of inland waterwaywaterway926 harbors926 harbors2.4 M tons of commerce/year2.4 M tons of commerce/year270 M cubic yards dredged/yr270 M cubic yards dredged/yr

383 reservoirs383 reservoirs8500 miles of levees8500 miles of leveesPrevent $6 in damage Prevent $6 in damage for for every $1 every $1 investedinvested

Water storage for fish Water storage for fish and wildlifeand wildlifeWater quality Water quality managementmanagementWetlands and habitatWetlands and habitat

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

HydropowerHydropower

Flood ControlFlood Control

RecreationRecreationWater SupplyWater Supply

NavigationNavigation

AVERAGE ANNUAL RUNOFF

AND USABLE RESERVOIR STORAGE

MAJOR WESTERN RIVER BASINS

0102030405060708090

100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250

Columbia Colorado Missouri RIVER BASINS

MIL

LIO

NS

OF

AC

RE

FE

ET

Average Annual Runoff

Usable Reservoir Storage

Operations Management and Objectives

• Corps coordinates closely with other parties in Corps coordinates closely with other parties in the region to achieve multi-purpose objectivesthe region to achieve multi-purpose objectives

• Flood control objectives are to maintain non-Flood control objectives are to maintain non-damaging levels, system-wide and in local areas damaging levels, system-wide and in local areas

• Reservoirs typically drafted by March-April Reservoirs typically drafted by March-April period based on seasonal runoff volumes period based on seasonal runoff volumes

• Draft provides space to collect snowmelt runoff Draft provides space to collect snowmelt runoff in April-July period, refill by about Julyin April-July period, refill by about July

• Cumulative flood damages prevented ~ $14 Cumulative flood damages prevented ~ $14 billion, $5 B damages prevented in 1996-97billion, $5 B damages prevented in 1996-97

Benefits of Federal Projects (Damages Prevented)

Cumulative Corps Expenditures (Principle plus O&M)

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

$800

$900

Cumulative Benefits

Cumulative Expenditures

Annual Benefits

Flood Damage Reduction

BENEFITS TO COST$6.35 in Benefits

for every$1.00 Invested

Fiscal Year

Bil

lio

ns

of

Do

llar

s19

28

193

2

193

6

194

0

194

4

194

8

195

2

195

6

196

0

196

4

196

8

197

2

197

6

198

0

198

4

198

8

199

2

199

6

200

0

Adjusted to 2000 using Construction Cost Index Adjusted to 2000 using Construction Cost Index

Current & Future Studies and Activities

• System Flood Control Review: Investigate changes to flood control to benefit endangered species.

• Variable and Shifted Flood Control: Implementing options to adjust flood control to meet other needs

• Improved Forecasting Procedures: SOI, etc.

Emerging Issues• Increasing system-wide demand for storage

and flows for fish & wildlife and other purposes– Challenge to satisfy often competing uses– Increasing interest in modifying flood control

and other operations in both countries– Increased development in floodplains may

require more flood control, rather than less

• Implications of potential climate change on operations and flood control

• Aging water resources infrastructure and constrained budgets

April 1 SWE (mm)

Current Climate “2020s” (+1.7 C) “2040s” (+ 2.25 C)

-3.6% -11.5%

Climate Change: Changes in Simulated April 1 Snowpack for the Canadian and U.S. portions of the Columbia River Basin(% change relative to current climate)

-21.4% -34.8%

Conclusions• Increased demand for water resources

makes coordination and integrated planning and operation more essential

• Collaboration between U.S. and Canada to maximize benefits of the Columbia River has tremendous value to both countries

• Columbia River Treaty has proven to be a very effective basis for collaboration between the two countries to achieve mutual benefits