Dworshak Final Environmental Impact Statement

Walla Walla District

	Final Environmental Impact Statement
	September 1975 U.S. Army Engineer District Walla Walla, Washington

DWORSHAK DAM AND RESERVOIR, NORTH FORK CLEARWATER RIVER, IDAHO

( ) Draft (x) Final Environmental Statement

Responsible Office: U, S. Army Engineer District, Walla Walla, Washington

1. Name of Action: (x) Administrative ( ) Legislative

2. Description of Action: The proposed action is the completion, operation, and management of Dworshak Dam and Reservoir, a major multiple-purpose water resource project located in Clearwater County, Idaho. The project has been under construction since 1963 and is 84 percent complete.¹ Construction work remaining is primarily landscape restoration and recreation facilities. Project purposes are flood control and power production, with additional benefits to recreation.

3. a. Environmental Impacts: Impacts of recreation development are earthwork and related construction and maintenance activities to prepare the project to accommodate an increased visitor use. Such visitor-use involves: accommodating concentrations of people engaged in various recreational pursuits, such as boating and fishing; accumulation of litter; disposal of sewage; vegetation management; and other aspects. Project operation involves seasonal reservoir fluctuation and maintenance and variable downstream water releases. Big game impacts and related elk management activities are also noted.

b. Adverse Impacts: Adverse effects on aesthetics and recreation occur with reservoir drawdown. Adverse fishery impacts occur with variable downstream releases and big game is affected with loss of habitat. Other lesser adverse aspects are related to project operation. Creation of the project resulted in loss of 54 miles of river and in landscape scars.

4. Alternatives: A conceptual alternative would be abandonment of the project and restoration of the flowing stream. An operational alternative would involve the maintenance of optimal conditions for a single purpose rather than operation to accommodate multiple use concepts. Possible single uses are for recreation, fishery enhancement, flood control, and power production.

Other alternatives include installation of three additional generator units; construction of a log handling facility, and designation of Dworshak Lake as a national recreation area.

5. Comments Received:

Department of-Interior Agencies Clearinghouse
13th Coast Guard District
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Power Commission
Pacific Northwest River Basin Commission
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
Office of Governor - State of Idaho
Idaho Parks and Recreation Department
Idaho Wildlife Federation
Idaho Fish and Game Department
Clearwater Power Company
Idaho Environmental Council
Orofino Planning Commission
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Clearwater Boat and Diving Club
Gerald Jayne
Idaho Department of Water Resources

6. Draft Statement to Council on Environmental Quality: 22 May 1974

Final Statement to Council on Environmental Quality: 9 DEC 1975

¹Computed on a Federal construction cost basis as of 1 May 1975.

FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
DWORSHAK DAM AND RESERVOIR

PREFACE

This environmental impact statement is prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (Public Law 91-190). Even though construction of Dworshak Dam and Reservoir was begun six years prior to the passage of NEPA, and construction is nearing completion, it is considered essential to review the environmental impact of the operation of the project and to present an environmental impact statement which covers the remaining opportunities and alternatives.

This statement is intended to (1) discuss activities required to complete the initial project development and briefly note future modification potentials, and (2) describe operational and management considerations which have potential beneficial or adverse environmental effects. It is not the intent of the statement to detail the differences between preproject and post project conditions. Where discussion of these differences occurs, it is for the purpose of providing background information.

The environmental impact statement for the Dworshak Project will be periodically reviewed to evaluate ongoing management practices and modification proposals. Interagency and public involvement are an essential and continuing aspect of subsequent environmental impact statement preparation.

Table of Contents

Summary Sheet

Project Map

Table of Contents

Glossary

1. Project Description

a. History of Authorization and Construction

b. Physical Features

Pertinent Data

c. Project Operation

Operational Constraints

Fall Drawdown Requirements

d. Proposed Action

2. Environmental Setting (Pre-Project and Existing Conditions)

a. Regional Geology

b. Climate

c. Topography and Streams

d. Past Floods

e. Water Quality

f. Fish and Other Aquatics

g. Vegetation

h. Wildlife

i. Archaeological and Historical Resources

j. Aesthetics

k. Recreation

l. Transportation

m. Socio-Economic and Cultural Aspects

n. Minerals

3. The Relationship of the Project to Land Use Plans

a. Land Use Maps

4. Environmental Impacts

a. Project Completion

b. Impacts Related to Project Operation

c. Stream and Reservoir Effect

d. Water Quality

e. Log Transportation

f. Fish and Other Aquatics

g. Vegetation and Timber Management

h. Land Use and Real Estate Management

i. Wildlife

j. Historic and Archaeological Resources

k. Socioeconomic Impact

5. Adverse Environmental Effects Which Cannot Be Avoided Should the Project Be Implemented

6. Alternatives to the Proposed Action

a. Abandonment

b. Single Purpose Operational Possibilities

c. Future Modifications

7. The Relationship Between Local Short-Term Uses of Man's Environment and the Maintenance and Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity

8. Any Irreversible or Irretrievable Commitments of Resources Which Would Be Involved in the Proposed Action Should It Be Implemented

9. Coordination With Other Agencies

Exhibits

A Comments and Responses (Pages 9-4 to 9-75)

B Letters (Pages 9-83 to 9-129)

C Archaeology (Article Reprint)

D Operational Recommendations (Idaho Fish and Game)

E Operation Plan Recommendations (Idaho Fish and Game)

F Actual 1974-1975 Operations

G Criteria for Selection of National Recreation Area

H Rules and Regulations Governing Public Use of Water Resource Development Projects

I Plant List

J Wildlife List

K A Brief Chronology of Dworshak Dam

L Newspaper Article and Letter

M 25 August 1972 Letter From Fish and Wildlife Service

Glossary

Acres-foot A unit of volume one acre in surface and one-foot deep. One acre-foot equals 43,560 cubic feet.

Algal Pertaining to or like algae, a group comprising seaweeds, pond scums, and other related plants.

Anadromous Fish that hatch from eggs in freshwater streams, migrate to the ocean to grow to adulthood, and then return to their stream of origin to spawn.

Avian Of or pertaining to birds.

Base Load Continuous operation of generation units to meet a constant demand for electricity.

Benthic Of or relating to the bottom of a body of water.

Board foot A volume of wood one foot by one foot by one inch. MBF and MMBF refer to thousand board feet and million board feet, respectively.

BOD Biochemical oxygen demand: the amount of oxygen needed to support the oxygen consuming organisms in a body of water. A high BOD may cause depletion of dissolved oxygen.

Biological Of or relating to living things.

COD Chemical oxygen demand - the amount of oxygen (in mg) required to oxidize the organic matter in one liter of water.

Cultural Aspects of the advancement of human civilization, including traditions, and physical objects relative of the civilization (i.e., manmade objects).

Downstream migrants Young anadromous fish traveling to the sea. Also called juveniles, smolts, or fingerlings.

Ecosystem A system composed of a community of animals, plants, and bacteria; and the physical and chemical environment with which it is interrelated.

Embayments Water bodies along the edges of the canyon extending into tributaries or side drainages.

Epilimnion The water stratum overlying the thermocline of a lake.

Fetch The expanse of open water which can be affected by the wind.

Fluctuation Changes in flow rates and water levels. In this report, the river fluctuations (downstream) are due to daily and weekly changes in power production and turbine discharge rates or to spillway operation. Major reservoir fluctuations are on a seasonal basis due to annual water storage and release.

Forebay The reservoir immediately upstream of a powerhouse, where the intakes of the turbines (penstocks) obtain water to oeprate the generator units.

Hypolimnion The water in a lake below the thermocline. This water is generally stagnant and homogeneous, and resists mixing.

Igneous Relating to rock formed by heat, usually due to volcanic action.

Lentic Slowly flowing (water), for instance, a reservoir.

Lignin An amorphous polymer related to cellulose which binds the cells of a log together.

Littoral (Noun) The shoreline between the high and low watermarks.

Littoral (Adjective) Of or related to the edge of a water body, extending downward to the limit of rooted vegetation.

Lotic Of or pertaining to flowing water. Opposite of lentic.

Mammalian Of or relating to the class of mammals.

Mean Sea Level (msl) The average level of the sea, used for altitude measurements. Sixteen hundred feet msl means 1,600 feet above the average level of the ocean.

Metamorphic (Rock) formed by high pressures and temperatures over a long period of time, such as slate.

Mitigation Abatement, compensation, or offsetting of an effect. Steps taken to make up for adverse impacts.

Peaking The practice of increasing flows through powerhouse turbines during hours of the day and week when power demands are high. The term "power peaking" is also commonly used.

Natural That which is or would be produced or present without human alteration.

Naturalistic Simulating or approaching the results of nature.

Penstock A gate for regulating the flow of water into the outlet system.

Releases Discharges of water through a control structure or powerhouse. Daily release, annual release, and the like, usually refer to averages for the respective periods.

Restoration In reference to a damsite, alleviation of unnecessary intrusion and making the project blend harmoniously with the existing surroundings.

Riparian Of or related to the bank of a watercourse.

Salmonid Fish of the family Salmonidae, which includes salmon, trout, char, and whitefish.

Significant wave The average height of the highest one-third of all the waves on a body of water. Used to get an idea of the "average height of a high wave."

Slough To slip, or cast off a layer or covering.

Socio-Economic Of or relating to the structure of society and its economic activity.

Tailwater The water immediately downstream of a dam or hydro-electric powerhouse.

Tainter gate A curved barrier which pivots on a horizontal axis in order to regulate spillway releases.

Tannin Any of several astringent phenolic soluble materials found in wood. They are hydroxyl derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons and are leached out when the wood is stored in water.

Thermocline A layer of sharp temeprature drop between a lighter, warmer, more oxygen rich layer of water and a heavier, colder, deoxygenated one. Generally, in the thermocline, the temperature drops at least 1°C for each meter of depth.

Turbidity Thickness or opaqueness of water due to suspended sediment.

Note: The words "reservoir," "lake," and "pool" are used interchanagebly in this report in reference to the impoundment created by Dworshak Dam.

Dworshak Dam and Reservoir is a multi-purpose water resource project at river mile 1.9 on the North Fork of the Clearwater River in Clearwater County, Idaho. The dam and lower portion of the reservoir are within the Nez Perce Indian Reservation and the entire project is in Clearwater County. It is an existing Federal project which has been under construction since 1963. The Dworshak project is 84 percent complete and is an integral part of the comprehensive water resource development plan for the Columbia River and its tributaries. It is designed for flood control and hydroelectric power production with consideration for recreation.

a. History of Authorization and Construction

During the early planning stages for Dworshak Dam and Reservoir the project was referred to as the Bruce's Eddy Project. The name was changed by Congressional action in August 1963, in honor of the late Senator Henry C. Dworshak of Idaho. Other significant events in the history of the studies, planning and construction are chronologically listed below.

House Document 531, 81st Congress, 2nd Session, dated 20 March 1950, titled "Columbia River and its Tributaries, Northwestern United States," proposed a main river system control plan of reservoirs in the Columbia River system and discussed Bruce's Eddy project on North Fork Clearwater River as a potential site in support of that plan.
Review Report (Review of House Document 531) – Middle Snake River and Tributaries (Lewiston to Pittsburg Landing), Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, published as Senate Document 51, 84th Congress, 1st Session, dated 14 June 1955, recommended adoption of Bruce's Eddy project on the North Fork Clearwater River.
Public Law 85-500, 85th Congress, 2nd Session, approved 3 July 1958, provided authority and funds for detailed planning for the Bruce's Eddy Dam and Reservoir.
Authority for construction was contained in Public Law 87-874, approved 23 October 1962, Section 201 of the Flood Control Act of 1962, in accordance with House Document 403, 87th Congress, 2nd Session.
Construction funds were authorized by Public Law 87-880, approved 24 October 1962.
On 23 March 1963, the first construction contract for the project was awarded to develop a detour road at the damsite.
On 20 July 1966, the main dam construction contract was awarded.
On 8 September 1967, the contract for construction of the National Fish Hatchery was awarded by the Corps of Engineers to mitigate the loss of native steelhead trout and resident fishery.
On 4 December 1969, the contract for construction of the Dent Bridge was awarded.
On 7 April 1970, the contract for construction of the powerhouse was awarded.
On 16 July 1970, a contract for construction of Grandad Creek Bridge was awarded.
On 27 September 1971, the river diversion tunnel was sealed, creating the lake behind Dworshak Dam.
On 1 March 1973, due to the demand for power production, Dworshak tielines delivered the first electrical power to the Bonneville power system.
On 15 November 1973, the last variable depth selector gates were placed in operation for downstream temperature control.

In addition to the major items noted, numerous other work has been completed or is underway on the project, such as acquisition of land, clearing of trees from the reservoir, recreation development, and replacement of big game habitat. All of these and other facets are discussed later in this environmental impact statement. The benefit-to-cost ratio is 3.3 to I (as of July 1974) based on the estimated value of power production and flood control and using a 2 5/8 percent interest rate. Quantifiable environmental costs have been included in figuring the benefit to cost ratio. However, nonquantifiable costs are impossible to calculate.

b. Physical Features

Dworshak Dam is a concrete-gravity structure rising 717 feet above the riverbed and contains about 6,500,000 cubic yards of concrete. The crest length is 3,287 feet at elevation 1613 feet msl. It is located 1.9 miles upstream from the mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River. The hydraulic height of the dam (water depth of the lake at the dam) is 632 feet at full pool. A spillway extends down the front of the dam and consists of a concrete chute with two tainter gates. Maximum discharge capacity is 190,000 cfs at normal full pool elevation 1600 feet msl. The dam is equipped with a turbine water intake structure that has selector gates for selective withdrawal of water from various levels of the lake to provide temperature control of released water. The powerhouse encloses the turbine-generator units, assembly area, control room and maintenance facilities. Initial generator installation includes two 90 megawatt generating units and one 220 megawatt generating unit. Vacant generator spaces adjacent to the powerhouse (skeleton facilities) are provided for the possible installation of three additional generator units.

Dworshak Dam creates a long, narrow lake, extending 53.6 miles in the North Fork Clearwater River Canyon when the water is at elevation 1600 feet msl. Prominent arms extend into Elk Creek Canyon and the Little North Fork River Canyon. The water surface area is 16,417 acres at elevation 1600 feet msl (full pool) and 9,050 acres at the minimum pool elevation of 1445 feet msl. The shoreline length is 175 miles at 1,600 feet msl. When full, the reservoir contains 3,453,000 acre-feet of water. The difference between the full and minimum water level elevations is 155 feet providing 2,000,000 acre-feet of usable water storage for flood control and/or hydroelectric power production. Constructed as part of the project development were two bridges. Dent Bridge is located 16 miles upstream from the dam, and Grandad Bridge lies 40 miles upstream.

There are no fish passage facilities at Dworshak Dam, consequently, migrations of anadromous fish are prevented from entering the North Fork Clearwater River. In order to provide for continuation of fish production, the world's largest steelhead hatchery has been constructed on the point of land between North Fork and main stem Clearwater Rivers. The hatchery is equipped to process water as necessary to maintain optimum water temperature and quality in the fish rearing ponds. Capacity of the hatchery is based on an annual production of 336 million young steelhead (smolts) for release in order that 6,000 adults will return annually to the hatchery. Additionally, the hatchery will produce annually, 100,000 pounds of rainbow and cutthroat trout and kokanee for reservoir stocking to provide a good resident reservoir fishery.

The following photographs illustrate the principal features of Dworshak Dam and Reservoir. Additional descriptive statistical data are shown in the tabulation on pages 1-7 through 1-10.

Dworshak Dam

Dworshak Dam

Dent Bridge

These two photographs of the Dent Bridge indicate the depth of the lake at this particular location.
The bottom photograph was taken before the water started to rise.

Dent Bridge

Dworshak Visitor Center

Dworshak Visitor Center

Dworshak Visitor Center, view at night

Pertinent Data

General

River mile 1.9

Drainage area, square miles 2,440

Effective hydraulic height, feet 632

Maximum structural height, feet 717

Overall length at crest, feet 3,287

Streamflow, cfs:

Minimum of record
Mean annual
Standard project flood peaks:

Winter
Spring
Maximum of record
Probable maximum flood 250
5,727

160,000
120,000

100,000
411,000

Streamflow, acre-feet:

Minimum annual
Mean annual
Maximum annual 2,157,000
4,100,000
6,680,000

Project design discharges, cfs:

At pool elevation 1445
At pool elevation 1600:

Spillway
Outlets
Total at elevation 1600
At surcharge elevation 1605 32,290

150,000
40,000
190,000

221,000

Tailwater elevations:

Minimum, discharge 1,000 cfs
Maximum, at discharge 150,000 cfs 968
1,003

First power online 1 March 1973

Estimated Cost

1 May 1975 $312,000,000

Reservoir

Elevations, feet:

Maximum
Normal operating range 1605
1600 to 1445

Storage capacity, acre-feet:

Gross
Usable, flood control and power 3,453,000
2,000,000

Length at elevation 1600, miles 53.6

Shoreline length, miles 175

Surface areas, acres:

At elevation 1600
At elevation 1445 16,417
9,047

Recreation sites, number:

Initial
Ultimate 7
19

Non-Overflows

Type Concrete gravity

Crest elevation 1613

Deck width, feet 44

Concrete volume, cubic yards 6,45,000

Upstream slope Vertical

Downstream slope Vertical to 1560, 1 on 0.8 below

Elevators, number 3

Spillway

Type Gate controlled, with stilling basin

Gates:

Type
Size, width by height, feet
Number Tainter
50 x 56.4
2

Crest elevation 1545

Crane, one, capacity, tons 50

Outlet Works

Water passages:

Number
Type
Size, feet 3
Conduit
12 x 17

Gates, type and number:

Tainter
Tractor (emergency) 3
1

Intake centerline elevation 1362

Powerplant

Initial installation:

Number of units
Nameplate rating, kilowatts:
Two, each
One
Total
3

90,000
220,000
400,000

Ultimate installation:

Number of units
Nameplate rating, KVA:

Two, each
Four, each
Total
6

90,000
220,000
1,060,000

Powerhouse length, feet 428

Turbine type Francis

Turbine ratings, horsepower:

Small units
Large units 142,000
346,000

Generator nameplate ratings, kilovolt amperes:

Small units
Large units 94,737
231,579

Synchronous speed, revolutions per minute:

Small units
Large units 200
128.6

Distributor centerline elevations:

Small units
Large units 969
975

Spacing, feet:

Small units
Large units 47
65

Penstock diameters:

Small units
Large units 12
19

Penstock intake elevations:

Small units
Large units 1,420.68
1,412.70

Gross head, feet 632.5

Rated head, feet 560

Minimum head, feet 477.5

Crane:

Number
Type
Capacity, each, tons 2
Bridge
350

Relocations

Roads, miles:

Highway districts
County
State 2.7
24.3
2,2

Bridges, number 2

Fish Hatchery, Steelhead

Capacity, adult size 6,000

Yearly fingerling release, pounds 480,000

c. Project Operation

The System

Dworshak Reservoir is a major storage project in the Columbia River system. It has sufficient storage to provide regulation for downstream flood control; power generation for use in the Northwest power system; and regulation for water quality, recreation, and other downstream requirements. It is an important part of the Columbia River Basin water resource development. Operation of Dworshak Reservoir in conjunction with the total system of Columbia River reservoirs is essential to meet power system load requirements and to provide regulation of floods on the lower Columbia, lower Clearwater and lower Snake. The power and flood control system, of which Dworshak is a part, is illustrated on the map on page 1-22.

Chart 1. Columbia River and Coastal Basins

All power produced by Federal installations in the Columbia River basin is marketed by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). All of these Federal hydroelectric plants tie into BPA's transmission facilities which are known as the Federal Columbia River Power System, of which Dworshak is a member.

Both the primary and secondary energy output of downstream dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers is increased by the regulation provided by the Dworshak project.

To resolve conflicts in operations, objectives and methods, a framework of priorities and constraints for Dworshak is being established. The criteria are grouped into three levels of constraints as shown on page 1-14.¹

Dworshak Operational Constraints
Level	Degree of Constraint	Operational Items

1	Not to be violated except during emergencies	♦1000 cubic feet per second minimum flow.
		♦700,000 acre feet minimum winter flood control storage space.
		♦Snow-covered area vs. spring flood control.
2	Can be violated with requirements:	♦Rate of change of release.
	♦Consideration of all other alternatives to avoid violation.	♦Schedule of winter flood control evacuation.
	♦Consultation with District Engineer to explain necessity and alternatives.	♦Limitations on fluctuations during fall steelhead season.
	♦Notification of other interested agencies, organizations, and officials or inidividuals, as possible.	♦Evacuation below ability to refill to elevation 1570 by 1 July with 95-percent certainty.
		♦Evacuation below 1570 from 1 June to 1 September.
		♦Evacuation below 1560 from 1 September to 1 November.
3	Can be violated to meet other system needs at the discretion of the North Pacific Division, Corps of Engineers, Portland, Oregon.	♦River fluctuation during spring steelhead fishing season.
		♦Evacuation below ability to refill to 1600.
		♦Evacuation below 1600 from June to 1 September.
		♦River fluctuation during goose nesting.
		♦Streamflow recession during bass spawning.

Recreation

The reservoir is usually filled by July. The actual date that the reservoir reaches elevation 1600 varies from mid-June to late July, depending on the snowpack and precipitation of the previous winter and spring. An attempt is made to keep the lake above elevation 1560 until I November so that fall hunters may use the boat launch facilities but this may not always be possible.

Flood Control

The reservoir is evacuated beginning in September and drawdown continues until I April. This is done so that high flows during the spring can be stored behind the dam and also provides winter flood control. The reservoir refills in the period from April to July, thus catching the high spring flows.

Power Production

Most power at Dworshak is produced during the fall, winter, and early spring, when maintaining a full lake is a high priority. From April to July, discharge is expected to be at least 2,000 cfs for power production purposes.

The visitor's viewpoint overlooks the North Fork Clearwater River and Dworshak Dam
Indian Fishing Rock Marker
Situated in this same area is an Indian Fishing Rock that relocated from an inundated section of the river.

This corresponds fairly well with the regional requirements for power, thus power production is compatible with flood control.

The Dworshak powerhouse has an initial power-producing capacity of 400,000 kw, with a potential for expansion to 1,060,000 kw when the need warrants it.² Dworshak is operated as part of a system under specified agreements. The reservoir levels achieved in any year depend largely upon runoff magnitudes experienced. Under adverse water conditions certain system loads must be curtailed. Future power system development will rely on thermal loads and other resources so that greater drafts of Dworshak will not be necessary.

Summary of Fall Drawdown Requirements Contained in the Dworshak Reservoir Regulation Model
Period	Pool Elev. Max/Min	Release Over Inflow CFS	Fluctuation Permitted	Total Space Acre-Feet	Comment

- 1 Sep.	1600/1570
Sep. - 1 Oct.	1586/1560	4,200 (El. 1600 to 1586)		250,000	Release does not have to be uniform.
- 1 Nov.	/1560				A constraint. Certain procedures of notification and justification will be required prior to violation.
Oct. - 15 Nov.	/1579	1,300 Max. (El. 1586 to 1579)	± 20 percent of weekly average	370,000	Prime steelhead season. Fluctuations are critical.
15 Nov. - 15 Dec.	/1558	5,500 (El. 1579 to 1558)		700,000	Spill required 25 percent of all years with three units available.

Fisheries

Due to the importance of water temperature to fish welfare, selector gates have been installed at Dworshak to allow water of varying depths and therefore different temperatures (and dissolved oxygen) to be released. The objective of the operation of these gates is to match the temperature of the Clearwater River just above the North Fork and to maintain an acceptable level of dissolved oxygen.

The minimum flow through the project is limited to 1,000 cfs to maintain adequate fish habitat and water supply for the hatchery. During the evacuation period of 1 October to 15 November, releases of more than 20 percent above or below the previous seven day average will be avoided due to the fall steelhead migration except during freshets or emergency operations.

Downstream Water Uses and Water Quality

As mentioned previously, downstream temperatures are controlled at the project. Minimum volume is set at 1,000 cfs, and maximum rate of change of flow is one-foot per hour at the Peck gaging station located a few miles downstream of the dam. This restriction has been set to protect downstream river uses and facilities. (See Exhibit F for computer simulated flow patterns anticipated from 1974-75 conditions.)

The reservoir is kept full from Jul through September and remains above elevation 1560 until November. Reservoir evacuation takes place until 1 April, usually through production of power. Consideration is given to avoid evacuation of the reservoir below a level which will insure at least a 95-percent probability that it can be refilled to elevation 1570 by July 1. From April 1 to July, discharge is expected to be at least 2,000 cfs for power-production purposes.

Other Operational Facets

Recreation Areas

The Corps of Engineers now has a barge for use in maintaining the recreational areas at Dworshak. The barge makes a circuit of the major recreation sites and mini campsites where personnel pump out the sanitary facilities, empty trash cans, and pick up litter.

Dent Acres and Freeman Creek will have their own sewage lagoons so pumping out chemical facilities will not be necessary.

Timber Management

Production of merchantable timber is not a project purpose but, management of Dworshak project lands, will include removal of selected trees and will involve removal of diseased trees, safety, and other purposes. There will be replanting where necessary to prevent soil erosion and for visual effect.

Log Transport

Navigation is a designated project purpose, which includes the transportation of logs. Several tentative locations on the reservoir have been designated as log dumps though none of these areas have yet been used.

Originally there was to be a log removal facility at the dam. The construction of this facility was planned in three stages so that it could be modified if the projected use changed. After two of the three stages were completed and the pool was raised, local logging interests were canvassed as to their interest in the facility. It was determined that projected use had declined to the point where removal would cost $16 per MBF (thousand board feet) as opposed to the sixty-seven cents originally expected. The log handling was tentatively abandoned due to economic impracticality. However, since that time, energy costs have risen and cheap water transportation for logs is again being considered.

Bruce's Eddy boat ramp has been built on the dam side rather than the far side of the log removal facility. This launching ramp could be used for removal of single logs from 15 September to 15 June and would be closed to public use during that period. Log movement from June 15 to September 15 will be discouraged. In addition, the removal facility for bundled logs will be constructed as originally planned provided local logging interests maintain their interest in using it. From present indications it appears that this facility, if constructed, will be built starting in late 1975 or early 1976.

Single logs could also be removed at a point on Merry’s Bay where an old construction road enters the lake. These logs would then be hauled past the log removal facility and down the left bank to State Highway 7.

d. The Proposed Action

The proposed action with which the statement is concerned is:

continuing operation of the project as it presently exists,
completing scheduled construction and site restoration (including wildlife habitat development),
conducting various management activities, and
developing additional recreation facilities as future needs warrant.

Continuing Operation

Since the project has only been in existence a short time it is expected that small adjustments to the present operational methods will be made on the basis of continuing experience. However, operation is not expected to deviate substantially from the foreseeable framework and criteria.

Completion of Presently Scheduled Activities

Projects now under construction come primarily under the heading of visitors' facilities, recreation development, wildlife habitat development, and site restoration.

The visitors' facilities at the dam are nearly complete with some refinements left to be done. The facilities include a viewpoint, a visitors' building, and extensive interpretive and recreational items in the dam itself. These are included to provide an appreciation of the various facets of project operation and the historical and natural setting of the area. Extensive landscaping is being done to increase the aesthetic appeal of the area and eliminate construction scars.

Visitors' facilities are also provided at the fish hatchery for viewing of egg-taking and fish-rearing activities. Explanatory displays are provided.

Recreational development is only in its initial stages. Big Eddy and Bruce's Eddy are the only major areas where development has taken place. It has a boat ramp, marina, day-use area, and restrooms as will a lease area to the Nez Perce Tribal Council which includes a 150 boat marina and concession building,

Dent Acres has a ramp, a 50-unit camp with water, sewer, electrical hookups at each site, and restroom facilities. Grandad has a ramp, and will have a small day-use area, and chemical toilets. The other areas listed on the land use maps (pages 3-3 to 3-7) will be developed as it is determined that the banks have stabilized.

In addition to larger areas, there are 87 "minisites" located along the shoreline. Each of these consists of one to four tables and fireplaces, a garbage can, and a chemical toilet. Most of these are not accessible by car but can be reached either by boat or from the trail system which will eventually encircle the lake.

At this time two sites are designated for group camp development. These are marked as Dent group camp and group camp three on the land use map. Dent group camp is envisioned as a fully developed complex including a lodge, kitchen, cabins, and trails. After construction this camp will be turned over to an association composed of representatives of interested groups such as Boy Scouts, church groups, and school districts. This association will be responsible for scheduling use of the camp and assessing fees for operation and maintenance. Group camp three would be less developed, probably containing only a water supply and sanitary facilities. There would be no road access but access by trail and by water would be available. Because of the loss of winter range for deer and elk from the project, browse areas are being developed. These areas would be logged and suitable species of low-level plants would be established. Possible areas of development and methods to be used are discussed on pages

Site restoration is an important facet of continuing project development since unsightly construction scars can be detrimental to the recreational value of the project. Extensive planting is to be done at the dam and at other areas of large scale landscape disruption such as borrow areas. Topsoil was salvaged from the area below minimum pool for use in covering scarred areas.

Additional Facilities

There are several facets of the project which may be affected by future needs. Shoreland has been allocated for future recreational development and more facilities may be needed. Improved highway access (by Federal, State or local agencies) could be needed as part of this future development.

Real estate administration will be an important facet of future planning. Granting of easements for roads and powerlines, as well as the reclassification of land uses all fall in this category. Any action involving acquisition of project land by another party for purposes other than those outlined in this statement will be dealt with separately.

Existing Leases From Others to the Corps of Engineers For Dworshak Project
Organization	Reason

Agriculture, Dept of U.S. Forest Service	Access
Hutchens, Harold	Stites Radio Repeater Site
Northern Pacific RR Co.	Project Office Area
Potlatch Forests, Inc.	Snow Gauge Station

Existing Outgrants to Others for Use of Dworshak Lands
Organization	Reason

Bonneville Power Administration (Two Permits)	Trans Line and Access Road
Clearwater Power Co. (Two Permits)	Power Lines
Clearwater Power Co.	115 KV Trans Line
Emery, Douglas E. and Mary T. and Olson Ranch Co.	Access Road
General Tel Co of the NW	Communication Line
Guerney, Edward	Concession Lease (Vending Machines)
Idaho, State of	Access Road
Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho	Park and Recreation
Washington Water Power	110 KV Trans Line
Washington Water Power	Distribution Lines
Bureau of Land Management	Timber Access
U.S. Forest Service	Cooperative Access

Map of Federal system, both existing and under construction.
Map adapted from Bonneville Power Administration Material

This aerial photograph with overlay shows preimpoundment conditions at the damsite and lower reservoir area.

Pool fluctuation under initial conditions - 1980

a. Regional Geology

The headwaters of North Fork Clearwater River and its tributaries originate in a mountainous area underlain by metamorphic rock of the Belt supergroup and igneous granitic rocks of the Idaho Batholith. Rock types underling the drainage basin vary. This is a result of their mode of origin, for example, the Belt series are metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, while the Idaho Batholith is a granitic intrusion. The lavas of the Columbia Plateau occur at various locations in the western part of the drainage basin. These are locally associated with shales between the lavas and the older underlying rocks. The Belt series strata are of Precambrian age; and the Idaho Batholith granites of Mesozoic are intruded into them. Surrounding the intrusive granite is a distinct type of metamorphosed rock known as the Orofino Series. The older formations were uplifted and folded during the period of mountain formation, giving rise to the Northern Rocky Mountains and a mountainous type surface was developed on them. Basalt lava outpourings of Miocene age in the Columbia Plateau locally blocked drainage in the foothills of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Lakebed-type sediments were deposited behind these rock dams and are found below and between the lava sheet near the borders of the mountains. These deposits are known as the Latah Formation. The general distribution of rock types shown on the next page indicates that in the lower course of the river valley the walls are metamorphic rocks in the Orofino Series. Locally there are igneous intrusions with Quartz veins being quite numerous and basaltic dikes less common.

The area surrounding Dworshak dam is relatively stable seismically. Within a distance of 225 airline miles of the dam four earthquakes having an intensity of eight³ and five having an intensity of seven have been recorded.⁴ The Montana earthquake of 1925 centered east of Helena with an intensity of eight and was the most violent recorded in terms of the square miles of area over which the shock was felt. The second largest was the Helena earthquake of 18 October 1935 which also had an intensity of eight and effected 230,000 square miles. All the area in which the intensity of shock was five or greater was confined to Montana. From the available record there is no indication of local earthquake activity near the Dworshak project.

b. Climate and Air Quality

Climate in the Clearwater basin is characterized by mild summers and long cold winters. Snow is common from early fall through late spring. The area is dominated by moist Pacific maritime air masses moving over the area from the Pacific Ocean by prevailing westerly winds. Although these air masses have lost much of their rainfall in passing over mountains further west, they still contain sufficient moisture to yield considerable precipitation. During the winter cold polar air displaces the Pacific maritime air masses, producing clear, cold weather. Mean annual temperatures in the basin range from less than 32 degrees at highest elevations to over 50 degrees at lowest elevations. Seasonal temperatures indicate a fairly uniform pattern, with subfreezing temperatures occurring from October through May and mild temperatures being common during the summer months. The mean annual precipitation averaged over the drainage area of the North Fork Clearwater River is 51 inches but ranges from 24 inches near the river's mouth to nearly 80 inches near the summit of the Bitterroot Mountain Range. Widespread precipitation falls as a result of general storms moving eastward across the basin. In the summer, occasional thunderstorms cause intense precipitation for short periods of time over small areas of the basin.

Prevailing winds-associated with storms in this area are from the West and Southwest. Otherwise, winds exhibit a local pattern characteristic of mountainous regions, being upslope during the day and downslope at night. Winds in the basin are moderate in velocity, occasionally reaching 20 to 30 mph.

The air in the vicinity of Dworshak is clean and clear. There are saw mills with waste burners at Orofino, Konkolville, and other cities and towns in the region which emit wood smoke; however, their impacts on air quality over most of the immediate project area are usually negligible.

c. Topography and Streams

The Clearwater River drains about 9,600 square miles of the central portion of Idaho. It has an average annual runoff of about 11,240,000 acre-feet. The upstream tributaries begin near the summits of the Bitterroot Range and flow generally westward. The eastern and major portion of the basin, including drainage basins of the principal tributaries, are rugged and densely timbered. Major tributaries are the North Fork, Lochsa River, Selway River, and South Fork Clearwater River. The western portion of the Clearwater basin consists generally of barren hills and plateaus intersected by cultivated valleys and high rolling benchlands. The pattern of streamflow in the North Fork Clearwater River is characterized by low flows during April through May or June, and receding flows in late June and July. Occasionally this pattern is interrupted by high flows of short duration caused by rainstorms during the winter months. The magnitude of flows during the spring runoff season varies with the amount of snow pack, temperature, and rainfall. Average annual runoff for the North Fork Clearwater River, regulated by operation of Dworshak Dam, is 4,173,419 acre-feet.

Because of the character of the geologic formations in the drainage area, the relative scarcity of topsoils, and the nature of runoff, the suspended sediment in the Clearwater River is relatively low. Physical evidence indicates there is significant movement of coarse bedload material during high flows but in general the stream is one of the lesser sediment transporting rivers in the region and therefore deserving of its name. Based on measurements of other streams in the region, it is estimated that the average annual sediment load of North Fork at Dworshak will be on the order of 300 acre-feet per year.

d. Past Floods

Floods in the North Fork Clearwater River, near Ahsahka, Idaho with peak discharges in excess of 40,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), have occurred in 12 out of the 40 years of record, from 1926 to 1965. These occurred in 1928, 1932, December 1933, 1936, 1938, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1956, 1957, June 1964, and December 1964. The largest peak flood of record resulted from a prolonged rainstorm and occurred in December 1933. The December 1933 peak discharge at the Dworshak damsite, estimated at 100,000 cfs, was 50 percent larger than any other flood peak recorded.

The resulting peak discharge downstream in the lower Clearwater River near Lewiston was 172,000 cfs, compared to a bankfull capacity of approximately 85,000 cfs. Discharges exceeding 40,000 cfs at Dworshak damsite during this flood had a duration of about three days. The second largest flood on North Fork measured during the 39-year existence of the Ahsahka river gage was on 23 December 1964. The peak flow was 67,900 cfs and resulted from a three-day storm of warm rainfall which combined with melting snow. A period of severe freezing had preceded the rainstorm. The corresponding peak on the main Clearwater was 122,000 cfs. The third largest flood peak of 62,700 cfs occurred in the North Fork in April 1938 and also resulted largely from rainfall. In this case, rainfall was superimposed on the spring snowmelt. The lower Clearwater River flood peak resulting from this occurrence was 134,000 cfs. The fourth largest flood peak in the North Fork was 55,600 cfs in May 1948. The peak flow of 55,600 cfs in this flood was of greater consequence because it combined with the highest flow of record in the upper Clearwater River and produced a flow in lower Clearwater of 177,000 cfs. Also, flows in the North Fork during this flood approximated or exceeded 40,000 cfs for a period of nine days and resulted in flows exceeding bankfull in lower Clearwater River for a period of 16 days.

Pre-Project Views of the North Fork Clearwater River

pre-project view of the North Fork Clearwater River

e. Water Quality

This discussion summarized the pre-impoundment river conditions and reflects general river basin characteristics.

Since there was little human habitation along the North Fork Clearwater River prior to the impoundments, the existence of major sources of domestic nutrients in the river was of little consequence. However, logging activity and animal grazing has been insignificant in terms of their effect on water quality. The soils through which the river flowed are granite or granite gneiss with variable topsoil layers of sandy loam to loam to silty loam. The relatively low pH's of the river water are indicative of these soil characteristics. As a result, waters in the North Fork of the Clearwater River basin are generally soft waters with low alkalinities. Their characteristics indicate a relatively unproductive water of excellent quality. Algal macronutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) are generally low but vary seasonally with snowmelt and rainfall runoff. Inflowing biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is negligible with dissolved oxygen concentrations near saturation levels.

As a further indication of low productivity of the river, collection of drift insects above the confluence of the North Fork and the Clearwater Rivers in the North Fork were low compared to those collected in the main stem Clearwater River. Mayflies and caddis flies made up the bulk of the aquatic invertebrates collected and are indicative of good water quality.

Turbidity in the river varies with runoff amount and physical soil characteristics of the basin. The sources of this area's turbidity are logged areas, roads, and burn areas which will have caused excessive turbidity in the river during snowmelt in the spring and during rainfall periods. This is usually a short-lived condition.

Water temperatures are cool 10 months of the year. Rapid warming occurs in July and the temperature remains near 68 degrees F until late August when a speedy cooling trend takes over. This temperature regime closely parallels that of the main stem Clearwater River.

A study⁵ to determine the extent of desirable clearing in the new reservoir was made prior to impoundment. The study resulted in the following conclusions:

The development of BOD during the first three years after impoundment would not cause a serious reduction in the dissolved oxygen content of the reservoir.
The reservoir was expected to be an oligotrophic (deficient in plant nutrients) body of water with dissolved oxygen content averaging greater than about 8 mg/l after the first three years.
There could be a reduction in the dissolved oxygen content of the bottom (hypolimnion) water without serious problems developing in the reservoir or in the reservoir releases.
By not clearing below elevation 1440, algae production would be increased and a greater fish population can be supported.
The act of clearing, in itself, would cause dislocation of the soils which is detrimental to water quality. As a result of this study, clearing was accomplished to elevation 1440, five feet below minimum operating level. Substantial quantities of merchantable timber were removed from the lower levels of the lake.

Stratification of the reservoir water is monitored by a series of resistance temperature sensors located in the upstream face of the dam. The sensors extend from elevation 1049 to elevation 1574 at 50-foot increments below elevation 1299 and 25-foot increments above elevation 1299. A floating surface sensor monitors reservoir surface temperatures. Digital readout and recorders display reservoir temperatures in the Dworshak control room in addition to digital readout only at McNary control room. The reservoir temperature data and river temperatures from the Canyon inflow gage are on the automated network.

Using the selector gates to control water temperatures of the powerhouse discharges will influence temperatures in the downstream river. In order to check temperatures of discharges passing through the turbines, temperature sensors in each penstock provide continuous readout in the powerhouse control room. The integrated temperatures of water passing through the outlets and spillway are measured by an automated temperature sensor at the downstream fish hatchery and recorded at the site. Temperatures of the main stem Clearwater River upstream of the North Fork at Orofino, Idaho, are automatically recorded at the powerhouse control room. As a verification of how much effect the North Fork discharges have upon temperature of the main stem, another temperature gage at the Peck river gage three miles downstream from the mouth of the North Fork, is equipped for automatic reporting, Water temperatures are also reported automatically from the upstream gaging station, Lochsa River near Lowell.

The chemical quality of Dworshak releases is monitored at the fish hatchery. The Fish and Wildlife Service has the capability to measure oxygen, turbidity, pH, hydrogen sulfide, and other chemical parameters. The Idaho Fish and Game Department also takes periodic samples of chemical quality in the main stem downstream from the North Fork.

Idaho Water Quality Standards require the following:

Total coliform concentrations, where associated with a fecal source, not to exceed a geometric mean of 50/100 ml, nor more than 20 percent of total samples during any 30-day period exceed 200/100 ml.

Fecal coliform concentrations to exceed a geometric mean of 10/100 ml, nor more than 10 percent of total samples during any 30-day period exceed 20/100 ml, or greater than 50/100 ml for any single sample.

Dworshak Reservoir does not have any "fecal sources" at the present time, "fecal source" defined as a sewage treatment plant or sewage facility. Samples examined for fecal coliform have not shown any significant number present in the water. According to A. J. Lingg, Ph. D., Department of Bacteriology and Biochemistry, University of Idaho, in his Interim Report to the Corps of Engineers dated August, 1974, fecal coliforms were detected on one occasion during November, 1973, at RM-35 and in the Little North Fork River, RM 1. 45/100 ml were detected. Dr. Lingg attributes the finding to a combination of: (1) migration of deer and elk across the reservoir; (2) waterfowl usage; (3) high hunter usage; (4) runoff associated with deer and elk moving to lower elevations. Dr. Lingg concluded that that fecal coliform presence does not constitute a serious problem and does not seem to be a problem that can be avoided. Vault toilets are located throughout the reservoir to keep any fecal contamination from entering the reservoir from recreational users. These are complete retention facilities which are pumped out periodically and the waste removed from the reservoir. Dworshak reservoir water and its discharge meet the State of Idaho water quality standard.

Dissolved oxygen will not be less than 6 mg/l or 90 percent of saturation, whichever is greater, and applies to the entire water column during the winter when no stratification is present except the bottom 20 feet, or, after stratification, to the epilimnion and thermocline only.

Since Dworshak Reservoir is a relatively new reservoir, and stabilization of the water column is still continuing, it is difficult to predict exactly how close to the standard the reservoir water will come, however, comparative data from 1973 to 1974 shows that the average saturation of dissolved oxygen in the upper 100 feet of the reservoir averaged approximately 80 percent of saturation, while the bottom 100 feet of the reservoir averaged about 10 percent saturation in 1973, but increased its saturation level to 52 percent in 1974. The levels of dissolved oxygen present in the reservoir at the present time do not meet the standards set for dissolved oxygen in reservoirs, however, with increased stabilization of the reservoir basin, mean oxygen levels in the reservoir are expected to increase.

The pH will not be outside the range of 6.5 to 9.0. pH values measured in Dworshak reservoir measured slightly acid conditions in 1972-1973, however, in 1974 with continued stabilization of the reservoir, pH met the standards at all times. There are no recorded values outside this range, and pH ranges should continue to be well within the standards set by the State of Idaho.

Mean temperature of the reservoir water has been gradually cooling since closure. In 1972, the mean temperature was 51.2°F; 1973, 49.7°F and 1974, 46.0°F. The mean temperature of the free-flowing river averaged approximately 48°F measured at the dam site. Comparison of these temperatures indicates that Dworshak Reservoir will be discharging generally cooler water than what would normally be expected in the free-flowing river. Selector gates installed on the dam will enable the project to discharge water approximating the main stem of the Clearwater River for a significant portion one summer. However, main stem temperatures run higher than what Dworshak Reservoir can discharge during part of the summer, hence, the discharge will be cooler, and will tend to cool down the main stem temperatures. Temperatures standards written by the State of Idaho are not applicable to cooling temperatures, only increasing temperatures.

The turbidity other than of natural origin not to exceed 5 Jackson Turbidity Units, and when the receiving water is greater than 5 JTU, then no discharge either alone or in combination with other wastewater or activity shall cause an increase or more than 5 JTU.

Turbidities in the reservoir are generally much lower than what is observed in the main fork, Clearwater River, and are expected to decrease even further than what has been observed in the past due to stabilization of reservoir banks. The reservoir does exhibit turbidity in the early spring due to runoff entering the reservoir, but it is generally shortlived. The greatest source of turbidity in the reservoir is man-caused, farming, logging and associated activities in the basin. Sloughing of banks has caused persistent turbidity over a period of several weeks, however, the water does clear by summer. Reservoir discharge has met the State of Idaho turbidity standard, and is expected to meet it in the future.

The total concentration of dissolved gas shall not exceed 110 percent saturation.

Gas supersaturation does occur below the Project during periods of spill from the reservoir, violating the State of Idaho water quality standard for total dissolved gas. Studies have been made to determine types of operation to minimize supersaturation, including discharge regimes and operations, ratios of spill to powerhouse water discharge, etc. A monitoring effort is made with each spill to minimize the adverse effects of gas supersaturation.

The University of Idaho research team gathering samples on Dworshak Reservoir.

f. Fish and Other Aquatics

Game fish present in the North Fork of the Clearwater River in the preimpoundment era included steelhead, rainbow, Dolly Varden, cutthroat, and brook trout, chinook salmon, brown bullhead, as well as smallmouth bass and mountain whitefish.

Nongame fish in this stretch of water included the longnose dace, sculpin, redside shiner, northern squawfish, speckled dace, chiselmouth, largescale sucker, bridgelip sucker and Pacific lamprey.

There is no information available which fixes the number of steelhead migrating up the North Fork Clearwater River; however, actual counts of fish passage during the five year construction period indicates that 30 percent of the Clearwater River run entered the North Fork. Thirty percent of the average annual count of steelhead from 1958 through 1962 which passed the Washington Water Power Dam amounted to approximately 10,000 fish per year for the five-year period.

The former Idaho state record steelhead, which stood from 1966 to 1973, was taken in the North Fork of the Clearwater River about four miles west of Orofino, an area now inundated by the Dworshak pool.

Aquatic insects commonly developing in the stream bottom were species of mayflies, caddisflies, and black flies.

The filling of the Dworshak Reservoir has changed the fishery from a lotic situation to a lentic or slackwater fishery. The three fish that attract most angler's attention in the reservoir are the rainbow trout, kokanee, and small mouth bass. The Dworshak National Fish Hatchery raises 100,000 pounds of resident fish per year for stocking in the impoundment. The species, number and size of the fish are determined by the Idaho Fish and Game Department. Game fish that have shown up in gill net tests are rainbow, Dolly Varden trout, mountain whitefish, cutthroat trout, kokanee, and wild rainbow trout. Rainbow fingerlings (2 to 5 inches) and fry (1½ to 2 inches) have also been recovered.

Nongame fish that have been recorded in the reservoir are the redside shiner, northern squawfish, large scaled suckers, fine scaled suckers, chiselmouth, sculpin, brown bullhead and Pacific lamprey.

Since 1968 the number of chinook salmon migrating up the Clearwater River has increased. In that year the number of salmon jumped from 469 to 1,010 fish. The count has generally increased since then (except for one year, 1970) and reached 3,476 in 1972. In early 1973 the Washington Water Power Dam on the Clearwater River was removed⁶ as a part of the Lower Granite Lock and Dam project on the Snake River. Due to a reestablished run in the early 1960's, chinook salmon were spawning in the North Fork before construction of Dworshak, There is a sport fishery for chinook in the main Clearwater River.

Both the North Fork and the Clearwater receive angler pressure on steelhead trout, smallmouth bass, and resident trout populations. The steelhead draws the most attention.

An Idaho Fish and Game Department study on the demand for sport fishing in the Clearwater drainage basin estimates that between 9.2 and 10.8 angler days are spent fishing by each fisherman annually. Based on 1966 price levels, each angler day per trip in the lower reaches of the region, within 50 miles of major population centers, costs an average of $10.50 and trips into areas farther than 50 miles costs an average of $14.00 per angler day. In 1965 it was estimated that there were 15,000 fishermen fishing for resident species, an average of 10 angler days each, and spending $10.50 for each angler day, for a total expenditure of $1.5 million annually.

Due to the small population of resident fish, mainly bass, in the Clearwater River reach from Orofino downstream to Lewiston, there is a minimum of fishing for resident fish in this reach of the Clearwater River. Bass fishing was more popular before the dam was built because water temperatures were more conducive to bass reproduction. However, in the reservoir smallmouth bass populations are increasing in size both as individuals and as a population. Recent investigations by the Idaho Fish and Game Department and comments by local anglers have indicated that there is a possibility of an increased resident trout population in the lower Clearwater; however, not enough data has been collected to evaluate these early reports.

In 1965 it was estimated the steelhead trout in the Clearwater River system added $500,000 to the economy of the region. Further estimates indicate that steelhead trout alone may contribute over $1.4 million annually, and if the steelhead trout caught on the Middle Snake River adjacent to the region are added, the value will increase to over $2.5 million by the year 2000.

The table below shows the estimated economic value of steelhead trout for selected years in the Clearwater River drainage.

Economic Value of Steelhead Trout
Year	Value/Fish	Fish Caught	Angler Day/Fish	Fishing Days	Value

1956	$54.75	1,109	7.3	8,100	$60,718
1965	$71.00	7,214	3.8	27,080	$512,194
2000	$100.00	14,428	4.3	62,284	$1,442,800

Estimated Harvest

Year Smallmouth
Bass Rainbow
Trout Summer
Effort

1969 7,123 117 11,556

1970 3,888 948 10,665

1971 1,957 9,626 9,249

1972 2,683 3,109 11,845

1973 1,434 8,670 13,510

Estimated Harvest
Year	Smallmouth Bass	Rainbow Trout	Summer Effort

1969	7,123	117	11,556
1970	3,888	948	10,665
1971	1,957	9,626	9,249
1972	2,683	3,109	11,845
1973	1,434	8,670	13,510

Fish Stocked in Dworshak Reservoir
1973

Fish Number

Catchables 228,000

Fingerlings 237,000

Fry 2,086,000

Adult Steelhead .834

Kokanee 591,000

Smallmouth Bass 50,000

Fish Stocked in Dworshak Reservoir 1973
Fish	Number

Catchables	228,000
Fingerlings	237,000
Fry	2,086,000
Adult Steelhead	.834
Kokanee	591,000
Smallmouth Bass	50,000

Map of kokanee spawning locations in 1973

A fishery worker nets trout and places them into a random sampler at Dworshak National Fish hatchery.
The machine selects 20 percent of the fish which will be marked for study.

Dworshak National Fish Hatchery

Artist's flowchart of the natural life cycle of anadromous fish and the hatchery contribution.

Number of Steelhead Counted Over Lewiston Dam (July - June);
Estimated Effort, Harvest, and Proportion of Steelhead Harvested
During 1969-70, 71-72, and 72-73 Steelhead Fishing Season

Fish Year Fishing
Season Lewiston
Dam
Fish
Count Estimated
Effort
(Hours) Estimated
Harvest Estimated
Percent of
Run Harvest

1969-70 Sep. 15 - Apr. 15 16,131 67,316 2,474 15.3

1970-71 Sep. 15 - Apr. 4 14,600 56,840 2,216 15.2

1971-72 Sep. 15 - Feb. 29 15,273 41,309 1,615 10.6

1972-73 Oct. 1 19,600* 81,262 4,662 23.8

*Estimate based on previous 10-year average of 61.5% passing in fall months.

Number of Steelhead Counted Over Lewiston Dam (July - June); Estimated Effort, Harvest, and Proportion of Steelhead Harvested During 1969-70, 71-72, and 72-73 Steelhead Fishing Season
Fish Year	Fishing Season	Lewiston Dam Fish Count	Estimated Effort (Hours)	Estimated Harvest	Estimated Percent of Run Harvest

1969-70	Sep. 15 - Apr. 15	16,131	67,316	2,474	15.3
1970-71	Sep. 15 - Apr. 4	14,600	56,840	2,216	15.2
1971-72	Sep. 15 - Feb. 29	15,273	41,309	1,615	10.6
1972-73	Oct. 1	19,600*	81,262	4,662	23.8
*Estimate based on previous 10-year average of 61.5% passing in fall months.

g. Vegetation

A wide variety of plant species are found in the North Fork Clearwater River canyon. Most noticeable are the coniferous forest trees.

Dworshak Reservoir is located in the Idaho white pine belt and is near the largest stand of white pine in Western North America. The forest is made up of coniferous species having a moderately high moisture requirement. The forest-cover varies in species directly with the slope orientation, slope gradient, and proximity to the higher mountains. Areas of single species stands are a rarity and are represented primarily on the right bank near the dam by areas of Ponderosa pine on the steeps south-facing slopes and a few minor areas of Douglas fir where burn areas are being reseeded in pure stands.

The protection of the area from forest fires has tended to create mixed stands allowing the shade tolerant species to seed in and develop under cover of the less tolerant species. The pure Ponderosa pine stands have become mixed with Douglas fir. The Douglas fir has become mixed with grand fir and Western red cedar. White pine stands are mixed with grand fir, Douglas Fir, red cedar, and Englemann spruce The drainage bottoms have developed to an apparent climax stand of cedar and grand fir. This type of stand develops through many years of shade-tolerant species, slowly growing up through an existing forest cedar and grand fir. This type of stand develops through many years of shade-tolerant species, slowly growing up through an existing forest canopy.

The major vegetation species are identified in the plant list in Exhibit A. The University of Idaho is presently making a vegetation inventory on the Dworshak Project.

h. Wildlife

The Clearwater River drainage is one of the most important wildlife areas in Idaho and perhaps the nation in terms of the number of big game species and numbers of animals involved. The elk and deer herds located there are nationally known and draw hunters from all over the country. People who are not interested in hunting are also being attracted to this area in increasing numbers to view and photograph the animals in their natural habitat. Additionally, a wide range of nongame species inhabit the area. Big game animals in the North Fork of the Clearwater River basin are elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, black bear, mountain goat, moose, and cougar.

The drainage basin of the North Fork of the Clearwater River, on which the Dworshak project is located, is an important component of the larger Clearwater Basin's wildlife picture. Available comparable data indicated that the North Fork basin supported the second largest elk herd in the Clearwater Basin.

Deer are also an important component of the wildlife resources of the North Fork area. White-tailed deer are found in the entire project and usually winter downstream from Magnus Bay. Some Mule deer scattered throughout the drainage although the main concentrations' are at the upstream portion of the river.

Three species of forest grouse, blue, ruffed and spruce, are also found in the area and sought by upland game hunters. The ruffed grouse is most commonly found in the area surrounding the Dworshak project and is the most common game bird.

Artist's drawing of a hawk carrying a fish.

Where shrub vegetation is located, ruffed grouse predominate. Nongame species, both mammalian and avian, are found in abundance in the North Fork Clearwater drainage. Included as Exhibit B to this report is a partial listing of the area's wildlife with a subjective analysis of their population status. Also found in the exhibit is a list of birds that inhabit the Clearwater National Forest which includes much of the upper part of the North Fork drainage and which should also be indicative of the species found in the Dworshak area prior to impoundment, These listings were provided by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and the U. S. Forest Service, respectively.

Since elk and deer are the most economically important big game species in the lower North Fork of the Clearwater area, a comparatively large amount of population and natural history information has been gathered on these species. Due to their migratory and wintering habits, these species are also the most severely impacted by the Dworshak project.

The dense, coniferous forest type of vegetation which is the climax species in the North Fork of the Clearwater River drainage is not suitable for year-round elk and deer habitat. Elk and both species of deer found in this area depend on deciduous shrub production as food during the winter period. This type of shrub vegetation is not found in a dense coniferous area. In the early 1900's, extensive forest fires swept through the mountainous portions of Idaho, including the North Fork drainage. The upper one-half of the drainage was almost completely burned over. Although a portion of the lower one-half of the drainage was burned, most of this area remained timbered. Following the extensive fires, deciduous shrub species such as willow, red-stem Ceanothus, serviceberry, elderberry, dogwood, and mountain maple grew in abundance. Under these conditions, mule deer increased rapidly and became extremely abundant for a number of years. By 1938 the elk were increasing in number and were competing successfully with the mule deer for the available forage. After 1938, while mule deer were decreasing in number, elk continued to increase until approximately the mid-1950's at which time elk numbers began a slow decline. As a result of continuing plant succession, the deciduous shrub species have been growing out of reach of both deer and elk and are being replaced by conifer timber growth, with the vegetation again tending toward the climax coniferous forest.

The above change in both the vegetative and big game population trends is a simple portrayal of the events as they occurred since the turn of the century. A number of diverse factors are operating to change big game population numbers. Modern fire suppression techniques perhaps have had the greatest impact in holding fires to a minimum. Forestry practices also tend to discourage and prevent natural forest fires. Logging and follow-up slash disposal through controlled burning create openings which tend to add to the big game food supply by allowing the browse species to grow; however, natural burns are often more efficient in producing a greater quantity of browse over a shorter time. Natural burns, which formerly occurred during the hot summer months, were more effective in breaking dormancy of such seeds as red-stem Ceanothus. In addition, logging areas were often found at elevations above that suitable for big game winter range purposes.

Other factors which are now affecting the number and size of the various big game populations in the North Fork drainage include the loss of specific winter range, the adverse effect of human influence, and the development of semi-permanent human dwelling areas such as logging camps and maintenance buildings. The construction of roads also is detrimental to big game habitat. In addition, the natural trend of plant succession, in which the vast brushfields created by past fires are being replaced by coniferous timber, is having an adverse impact on the elk and deer populations.

Wildlife managers believe that the key to elk and deer management in the North Fork Clearwater drainage is the availability of winter range coupled with the need to keep human disturbance at a low level. Historically, both elk and deer have utilized the lower valley bottoms of the North Fork as winter range. Although the movement pattern of individual deer and elk vary, in general, elk move from the high summering areas to the upper portions of the wintering areas with the approach of early winter storms and cold weather. Although the early storms also signal the onset of snow at the higher elevations, deep snow is not needed to initiate the annual migration. Once in the wintering areas the animals tend to remain as high as possible where they can successfully forage in snow depths of two to four feet. As the winter progresses, the animals are forced to move to lower elevations for mobility and sufficient food supplies.

Mule deer have the same general movement patterns and often are found wintering with elk. There does appear to be some competition as mule deer will often winter at elevations above elk. This is usually observed during winters when the snow has compacted and the deer are able to move about on the snow crust more easily than the elk, thus enabling them to disassociate themselves from the wintering elk. During periods of cold weather when the snow is not compacted, the mule deer are forced to winter at the same elevation as elk, but apart from them. The majority of the whitetail deer are found in the area downstream from the mouth of the Little North Fork and tend to winter in the small tributary drainages of the lower section of the main North Fork. As fall approaches, they drift into the lower areas of the North Fork.

Presently, the major elk wintering areas downstream from Thompson's Creek are the Smith Ridge and the area now known as Magnus Bay (formerly called the Camp C Burn above Big Island) with a few elk wintering throughout the length of the river downstream to the confluence with the Clearwater River.

A small concentration of elk winter in Elk Creek a few miles upstream from the mouth. Smith Ridge, the major wintering area, is a relatively steep south-facing slope which was swept by fires earlier in this century and subsequently developed a stand of browse plants. The elevation of this area ranges from approximately 1,600 to 4,000 msl, at the reservoir shoreline. Magnus Bay is a west and south-facing slope which has an elevation range from approximately 1,600 to 3,000 msl, Magnus Bay was an old burn which now consists of deciduous shrubs which grew beyond the reach of both deer and elk. As part of project shoreland management, portions of this area have been rolled, burned, and reseeded with grasses and planted with brush species. Smith Ridge and Magnus Bay have several features in common which have created favorable browse conditions. The south and west-facing slopes tend to have the lowest accumulation of snow. There is a significant elevation difference and both are in former forest fire and/or logging areas. During severe winters, most of the animals are forced onto the lowest part of the south-facing slopes of the winter range. This is particularly true during those winters when cold weather allows the snow to remain soft, covering the food supply on the northern exposures and preventing animals from walking on the top of the snow. Thus, the low-lying, south-facing slopes are critical for winter survival of individual deer and elk. Without these areas, large losses of big game animals could result during severe winters. During mild winters, the snow tends to compact allowing relatively easy movement for elk and deer on northern facing exposures.

A controlling factor in the size and vigor of big game populations, particularly in the North Fork Clearwater drainage, is the condition of the preferred winter food and the amount of winter range available. When changes take place, such as in the amount or nature of vegetation or in snow-type and depth, population fluctuations occur. The permanent removal of winter range as occurs when impoundments are created, removes that particular range from use for the duration.

A second movement pattern which takes place on the winter range also influences the management of these animals. Although there is always a certain movement by animals which is considered to be dispersion, a distinct movement pattern takes place on winter range depending on temperature, snow depth, and snow type. This is the movement of animals across major rivers or tributaries. As indicated above, during certain years when comparatively mild winters cause snows to compact and settle, the animals tend to be dispersed over a wide portion of their winter range. Under these conditions they are often found wintering on northern slopes or wherever they can locate an abundant food supply. However, during severe winters the majority of the animals tend to move to the south-facing slopes. In the lower section of the North Fork drainage, many of the river-crossing areas have been recorded.

During the spring, summer, and early fall months of the year, the big game animals in the North Fork drainage are widely dispersed. Summer range is normally hot a limiting factor and the animals do not tend to concentrate in the comparatively small areas as they do in winter. The extensive logging in the North Fork drainage has had some positive impact in that these activities have opened the forest canopy creating areas where additional big game food supplies are produced.

Wildlife with the Project

Dam construction is essentially complete. The lake is now filled. Impacts upon wildlife populations have already taken place in terms of displacement from preproject habitat. Additional impact is yet to be felt in the area since critical winter range has been eliminated and replacement habitat has not been fully developed or had time to become productive. Should a severe winter occur in the next several years, it is possible that a significant loss of elk and/or white-tailed and mule deer may occur.

Maximum lake elevation at Dworshak is 1600 feet and for all practical purposes this is now the lowest elevation where big game animals can find food and cover in the winter. Most of the area which has been flooded (19,090 acres at normal full-lake elevation) was considered to be winter range for both deer and elk, although not all of this land was considered to be good range. The following table lists the principal habitat or cover-types which were eliminated by the lake:

Cover Type	Acreage

Open coniferous timber	7,202
Dense coniferous timber	6,100
Brush	1,190
Grass	510
Agricultural crops	170
Water and wasteland	1,798
Total	16,417

Dense coniferous timber is not prime big-game habitat, at least in terms of food production, but is valuable as escape cover from both predators and winter winds. Some acreage included in the table is north-facing slope which has little value as winter range during severe winters but which is used during the summer and mild winters. Neglecting the streambed and agricultural area, 15,100 acres of habitat have been lost as a result of filling Dworshak Lake.

The major effect of the Dworshak project on the big game herds of the area is in its reduction of the amount of winter range. White-tailed deer are probably the most severely affected species since they normally spend the critical winter periods below elevation 2000. Since the maximum lake level has been established at 1600 they have lost most (Idaho Fish and Game Department estimates 85%) of their former winter range. Elk are similarly affected although not to the extent of the white-tailed population. During severe winters most of the elk within the Dworshak area remain below elevation 2700. Because much of the elk range is located in the upper lake area, the amount of range lost is minimal in contrast to the white-tail deer which are concentrated in the lower lake area. The deer have lost approximately 660 vertical feet of range (elevation of the natural river at the damsite was approximately 940 msl). The elk have lost approximately 200 vertical feet in their usual wintering grounds (natural river elevation and the confluence of the main North Fork and the Little North Fork was about 1400 msl). Mule deer have been affected about the same as the elk since they tend to range at about the same elevation.

The grouse population was likely reduced due to a loss of the forest openings which they utilize, They are similar to the deer and elk in that they utilize the food produced in old burned or logged areas. Information concerning both pre- and post-project populations of fauna other than deer and elk is lacking, It is quite likely that some of these animals have been affected negatively.

Another aspect of the Dworshak project is its impact upon the seasonal movements of the big game populations. Before impoundment, both deer and elk could cross the river in response to weather and food conditions. There were some preferred crossing points but crossings were made at many locations along the river. The lake impedes crossings at many of these old locations.

Big game in the snow at Dworshak Dam and Reservoir.

There are several suitable wintering sites on the south side of the river near Magnus Bay and Silver Creek where some of the elk which summer on the south side of the river spend the winter months. Elk near the upper end of the lake on the south side, which normally winter in the vicinity of Smith Ridge, may have some difficulty in reaching the north side of the lake.

In the upper part of the lake there are at least two factors which may effect the ability of both deer and elk to cross. Maximum fluctuation of the lake is between 1600 and 1445 msl. Normal years will find the lake at or close to the 1600-foot elevation during the summer months with receding water levels during the fall and winter. Lower water levels will return an area in the very upper reaches of the lake to a normal river condition. Should maximum drawdown (to 1445 feet) occur, and this is extremely unlikely, approximately six miles of stream on the North Fork, and about four miles on the Little North Fork will be returned to river conditions. Because Smith Ridge is located on the north side of the river in the upper reaches of the lake, passage across this stretch should usually be no more difficult than in previous years prior to impoundment. Major crossing points are known to exist in these general areas.

The second factor affecting crossing ability is the ice-cover expected to form on part of the lake surface during most winters. The extent of ice-cover will vary with the severity of the winter, but ice can usually be expected to cover the upper portion of the lake (upstream from Grandad Bridge). Both deer and elk will attempt to cross the lake. Once the ice becomes established it will probably support them; but during the formation period and the time when the ice breaks up, there will be some animals falling through. On the lower and middle reaches of the lake there may be a fringe of ice formed along the shore which may or may not support the weight of a deer. These conditions have already been observed during the first two winters after reservoir impoundment.

Wintering elk at Dworshak (Idaho Fish and Game photograph)

Changes in the reservoir levels as a result of project operation will result in the ice covering being weakened along the shoreline. This will also cause problems for any animals venturing onto the ice since the dropping water levels and weakened ice will increase the chance of fallthrough.

The North Fork drainage contains many lightly traveled roads, basically used by hunters in four-wheel drive vehicles or by logging trucks. Many of the older dirt roads are closed, with their utility as routes to the more inaccessible areas reduced, as they receive little or no maintenance.

Creation of Dworshak Reservoir has increased the ability of greater numbers of people to penetrate into the upper lake. Formerly, logging roads were the only means of getting to these areas which are now easily accessible by boat. The impact of the increased human presence is not quantifiable, but it is known that if harassment of the animals becomes too great, the use of the area by big game will be impaired. Elk are considered to be very intolerant of excessive human contact and are often called "wilderness animals" because of their preference for solitude. White-tail deer are notably tolerant of human contact while mule deer fall somewhere between white-tail deer and elk, Other animals present will probably not be greatly bothered.

It is also possible that hunting pressure may be increased as a result of the improved access to the area.

Wildlife Compensation

As a result of the adverse impact of the Dworshak project upon big game populations, compensation measures have been jointly worked out by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, the Idaho Fish and Game Department, and the Corps of Engineers. The plan is to provide replacement of winter range adjacent to the lake to compensate for the winter range that has been lost. There are three basic components to the management plan that have been developed for wildlife compensation consisting of (1) acquisition of a "Hard core" single-purpose management unit, (2) cooperative agreements with the Idaho State Land Board and Potlatch Corp which have land in an area surrounding the confluence of the Little North Fork and the main North Fork (the "Heezen Block") and (3) management of Dworshak project land not inundated or committed for other uses.

An area of 5,120 acres surrounds the confluence of the Little North Fork; and the main North Fork has been selected as the primary area for intensive, single-purpose, big game habitat development. Development will entail selective and clear-cut timber removal in such a manner as to provide areas where the desired browse species will grow. The south-facing slopes in this area will be the most useful in this regard. The area in the triangle formed by the confluence of the two river, known as Hughes Point, probably has the highest potential for development for browse use since it is an old burn area and has an existing vegetation cover of mixed brush and conifers. A plan of development has been finalized for the Hughes Point area and will be implemented during 1974-75. This will entail logging, burning, and seeding with browse of an area of approximately 900 acres.

Management of the 32,909 acres of "cooperative agreement" lands is much more limited in scope than the management of the "hard core" area. Ownership of this land remains with private industry and state government, both of which are managing their land basically as commercial forest land. Clearcutting and shelterwood silviculture methods will be practiced in this area on short rotation which will reduce the period in which browse species are out of reach of wildlife in any given area. Cuts which are made will be developed to the maximum extent possible for browse production. The management approach will basically be to develop browse areas whenever possible and to influence the location and size of commercial logging operations in such a way as to maximize their beneficial aspects for big game.

There are 3,217 acres of Dworshak project lands which are to be committed to wildlife use. These are lands that were acquired as a direct result of the project (e.g., policy dictates that a strip of land or at least 300 horizontal feet be acquired surrounding the lake) and are not committed for other uses such as recreation or log handling. The nature of this land does not lend itself to large-scale habitat development because of its vertical nature; however, it will be possible to develop many small areas all around the lake. Involved in this management may be selective timber cutting, burning, or fertilizing and seeding as site requirements dictate. The recreation site at Magnus Bay, which is much larger than most of these areas, has had some preliminary habitat enhancement performed as an interim measure until recreation development expands. One more site, at Elk Creek was developed in 1973, Over a period of years a series of such small habitat development sites will be provided to benefit both big game and nongame species of wildlife.

Both the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and the Idaho Fish and Game Department have recommended that more land be acquired for single-purpose big game management for compensation of project-caused losses. Their reasoning centers around the inability to manage the "cooperative agreement" lands for wildlife to an extent sufficient enough to offset losses caused by the Dworshak project. The difficulty lies in the-fact that management of the agreement lands is too long-term oriented. The loss of winter range is a current problem; and a conflict exists over production of wildlife versus production of timber. These two goals are to some extent compatible; but due to economic pressures on owners of timber-producing land the loss of winter range exceeds the amount and rate of additional browse development.

The recommendation of the wildlife agencies is to acquire additional winter habitat replacement land in the Smith Ridge area adjacent to the present "hard core" management land. Smith Ridge is now becoming over-mature for browse production and would be ideally suited for habitat manipulation. It has been recommended that 4,500 acres (authorized by the Office of the Chief of Engineers on 15 Mar 74) of Smith Ridge land be acquired for big game management purposes. This acquisition has been approved and the Bureau of Land Management has received a request to trade this land for other federal land. However, an agreement has not been reached with the State Land Board. Acquisition of this land would insure adequate compensation of losses caused to big game populations as a result of Dworshak project construction.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Reptiles and amphibians are slow moving, short ranging organisms when compared to warm-blooded animals such as big game and fur bearers. Elevational changes may have a significant effect on these animals because of the temperature variances associated with altitude. Although cold blooded animals such as lizards and snakes commonly follow their food sources to various elevations, the loss of lower elevation ranges will keep them at higher and therefore colder levels and shorten the period during the year when they are active. There are no designated "endangered species" of reptiles or amphibians present in the Clearwater Basin.

Reptiles

Snake habitat and food sources were diminished when Dworshak Reservoir filled. Although no specific field studies have been made, it is assumed that smaller populations of the same species of snakes are still found in the project area, The types of snakes likely to be found are the Western garter, common garter, racer, and rubber boa. The rising water in the reservoir probably inundated snake denning sites during the winter when the snakes were dormant and would be unable to escape. This could also be assumed to be true in reference to other reptiles and amphibians in the project area.

Lizards that can be expected to inhabit the project area are the western skink, short-horned, and northern alligator lizard. The effects of the reservoir upon lizards is similar to the effects on the snake populations.

Amphibians

The leopard, spotted, tailed, and Pacific tree frogs, are found in the area of concern. Since these animals are extremely localized and do not migrate overland except on occasion, it is likely that individual populations were destroyed when the waters rose. It is also possible that populations will re-establish once the reservoir is filled. The Western toad was a common inhabitant of the North Fork Clearwater River.

Salamanders found in the project area are the tiger, Pacific giant, and long-toed salamanders.⁷

i. Archaeological and Historical Resources

The archeological resources at Dworshak project relate to the early Nez Perce Indian culture. Several archeological investigations have been carried out in the area by crews from the Idaho State University museum under contracts with the National Park Service.

The project was first surveyed in 1961 and excavations were carried out at Bruce's Eddy (Site 10-CW-1) in 1963. By the close of the 1963 season it was clear that the proposed Dworshak Lake area probably contained more archaeological resources than was previously expected. An ethnographic survey of the Clearwater Valley and a survey of the Clearwater Valley as part of a northern Idaho reconnaissance indicated that the Clearwater Valley had been heavily settled during late prehistoric time with can average density of one site every one-half mile in the valley, Subsequent investigations indicated substantial time depth.-for human prehistory in the Clearwater Valley with an estimated age of 10,000 years. In 1968 the remnants of an archaeological site at the Dworshak Fish Hatchery location were excavated. (Site 10-CW-5). This site appeared to be similar in content to the Bruces's Eddy site on the opposite side of the North Fork and lent strength to the appearance of a common late prehistoric pattern in the Clearwater drainage basin.

In 1970 and 1971, the archeological resources were again studied, with all known and potential sites identified as shown on the following map.⁸ The findings at the several sites which have been excavated have added to the knowledge and sociocultural activities of the early Nez Perce peoples. (Additional information is presented as Exhibit C.)

Historically, the Nez Perce tribe was organized in a manner similar to the other tribes of the Plateau culture. There was no head chief for the whole tribe.⁹ It held in common only a language, social customs, religion, and some sense of common purpose. It was an association of independent bands each having one or more permanently-located winter camps, invariably at a good fishing site on a side stream.

Nez Perce Designs

Map of the Dworshak Reservoir Project 1970-71, Idaho State University

Each band had several leaders. These men, whose authority was strictly limited, usually gained their prominence through the display of ability. Having the power of suggestion but rarely of command, their position depended upon the continued success of their skills as war leaders, hunting chiefs, or administrative heads. Another group having power within the band was the "tewats," medicine men, who claimed to have contact with the world of spirits. Real authority lay with the male head of each family whose word was law within his family and who met in council with his peers to decide the band's common affairs. Only rarely did a woman have a voice in the council.

While these democratically inclined bands were rarely large and their villages were small, these sites were often imposing. Besides the small circular pit houses of thatch, there were extensive multi-family "long houses" of poles and mats.

The food of the Nez Perce Indians was varied and plentiful, yet its procurement required much effort and time. Fish, particularly salmon, and plant roots, especially the famous camas root, were the basis of the diet. With the acquisition of the horse, the Indians made extended expeditions to the plains east of the Bitterroots in search of buffalo.

In appearance and manners, the Nez Perce were an impressive tribe. Of medium stature, they had well-formed bodies and handsome features. Nez Perce women were considered by early settlers to be exceedingly pretty. Possessing integrity of character, honesty, and an unbelievable patience when wronged, the Nez Perce faithfully honored treaties of friendship.

Their contributions to the material culture of the Northwest are still not understood. Fifty years ago the predominant theory was that the Nez Perce were merely borrowers from the coastal and plains Indians to the West and East. Current studies have shown that the Nez Perce perfected the superb bow made from the horn of the mountain sheep, were skilled in basketry, particularly the manufacture of the flat wallet, and produced high-quality stone implements and dishes. They were also responsible for the development of the Appaloosa, and became skilled horsemen.

The influence of white civilization was felt in the Nez Perce country before the first whites ever arrived. When Lewis and Clark crossed the Bitterroots on the Lolo Trail in 1805, they learned these Indians had already sent a delegation eastward in search of guns. The Nez Perce had learned of this strange new weapon in their contacts with tribes to the East.

On their westward journey in 1805, Lewis and Clark spent over 20 days among the Nez Perce. From the Lolo Trail the explorers rode across Weippe Prairie and down to the Clearwater River to a place now called Canoe Camp. Here they fashioned dugouts from logs and, caching supplies and turning over their horses to the care of the Indians, paddled down Clearwater and the Snake on their way to the Pacific.

In the following spring the explorers returned and spent considerable time among the Nez Perce at Long Camp in the Kamiah valley while they waited for the snow to melt on the Lolo Trail.

For the next 30 years the Nez Perce played their role in the glorious era of fur trade empires. Many a mountain man took as his wife a lissome daughter of the tribe.

Through these contacts, the Nez Perce learned the white man's ideas about religion. Convinced the great secrets such as gun powder and writing had come to the whites because of their religion, the Nez Perce decided to accept Christianity.

Late in the autumn of 1863 the Reverend Henry Spalding and his wife Eliza, the first missionaries to settle among the Nez Perce and the first white family in Idaho, established their mission in the Lapwai valley.

From the Spaldings' endeavors, agriculture and Christianity got a firm start. The missionaries established the first printing press and produced the first books in the Pacific Northwest. From their teachings, many of the Indians learned to read and write.

It was the missionaries who introduced the Nez Perce to the Indian agents and to the laws and rules of the United States Government. Starting with the Code of Laws introduced in 1842, the Nez Perce began their long lesson in how to live with treaties.

The first major treaty with the Nez Perce was signed in 1855. The treaty council was one of the most colorful and largest Indian assemblies in the Pacific Northwest.

Historical Map of the Nez Perce country, taken from <EM>A Survey of the Recreational and Tourism Resources in the Nez Perce Country,</EM> Armour Research Foundation for th eBureau of Indian Affairs, 1963.

Gold

Artist's drawing of a pick and mining pan.

Until 1860, the Nez Perce had been successful in thwarting would-be prospectors from entering the reservation. But in the fall of that year an adventurer, E. D. Pierce, managed to penetrate the wilderness of upper Orofino Creek. There, just a few miles from Weippe Prairie where Lewis and Clark first met the Nez Perce, he discovered gold. Other discoveries quickly followed. The boom towns of Pierce, Orofino, Elk City, and Florence quickly dotted the landscape. It became apparent the treaty of 1855 was no longer an effective instrument.

In June 1863, United States commissioners arrived at the newly-established Fort Lapwai, and negotiations commenced. A new treaty, greatly reducing the size of the reservation, was drawn up and signed by Chiefs Lawyer, Timothy, Jason, and other "treaty" chiefs. Those who refused to sign were called the "nontreaty" bands.

Out of this deepening division came misunderstandings which eventually let to the Nez Perce war of 1877. The war was comprised of a series of skirmishes, beginning in the spring of the year in the Clearwater region and ending that October on a bleak landscape in Montana called Bear Paw. Many of the leading fighting chiefs such as Looking Glass were killed. Some escaped into Canada, while others surrendered.

The next 70 years saw the Nez Perce country rapidly develop. There was still gold to be taken from the diggings, but the miners were now nearly all Chinese. The missionaries, both Protestant and Catholic, were still present.

By the beginning of this century, Idaho's contribution to the nation's lumber industry was becoming increasingly important. Large sawmills were located up and down the Clearwater in almost every town. The deep hum of these mills is the sound of the economic heartbeat of the country today.

On the North Fork of the Clearwater at the proper time of year there was a bustle of activity as one of the nation's last great log drives got under way. When the water level of the river was exactly right, huge cranes moved waiting mountains of logs into the river. The jumbled logs move silently down the river, now twisting through a narrow neck of white water, now slowing perceptibly in a glassy pool. But this era has ended with the completion of Dworshak Dam. The lumber industry will continue, but the birling expert will soon be seen only at county fairs.

A former event--logs being placed on the river bank in anticipation of the log drive
to come with high spring flows on the North Fork.
Logging operations removed large quantities of
lumber from the river basin in this manner in years past.

Past human activity in the reservoir area left its unique mark on the land, such as this split rail fence.

The Wanagan is a floating diner. Crews logging the North Fork's hillsides would be forced to work to the point where the chow boat was tied up if they wanted to eat dinner that night.

Use of the wanagan ended with the last of the river log drives.

j. Aesthetics

Before impoundment, the free flowing North Fork offered aesthetic characteristics associated with mountain streams. Overriding the visual effects of specific logging and recreational activities was the sense of place, a strong and obvious realization that one was in a natural setting. The area was dominated by the river and its canyon in a large scale natural setting, disrupted slightly since a road, some cabins and logging activities were present. But the greenery of the forest and the perpetual movement of the stream were the main factors in maintaining an air of aesthetic easiness along the North Fork.

Aesthetics are subjective and are absorbed to a varying degree by each individual. While the song of birds may be picked out over the babble of the stream by one person, the notes may go unheard by another who is more interested in the river.

In the evaluation of aesthetic qualities of natural, vis-a-vis modified landscapes, it is desirable to note relevant features which influence aesthetic impression and human interest. The factors may be divided into three groups: physical features, biological features, and human interest factors:¹⁰

Physical Factors

River width, depth, velocity, variability, and pattern

Extent of flat water and irregularity of shoreline

Ratio of valley or canyon height to width

Bed material and bank variation

Erosion of banks

Biologic and Water Quality

Water color and turbidity

Floating material

Algae

River fauna

Pollution evidence

Land flora:

Valley

Hillslope

Diversity

Condition

Human Use and Interest

Number of occurrences of trash and litter

Accessibility:

Individual

Mass use or crowding

Local scene

Vistas

View confinement

Land use

Utilities

Degree of visual change

Land scar recovery potential

Urbanization

Special views

Historic features

Misfits

It is all of these biological, physical and ethereal values that comprise the aesthetic makeup of an area, as perceived by each individual. In considering the pre-project condition in light of the aesthetics factor, a judgment can be made in favor of a strong, positive visual impression.

Considering the same factors with the reservoir condition, both positive and negative aesthetic aspects can be identified. In terms of the natural aesthetic qualities, a reservoir with bordered forested slopes can afford a beautiful mountain setting for the outdoor recreationist provided that two conditions are met: (1) the viewer must be out of sight of the dam and other areas of intensive human development and (2) the reservoir must be at near-full capacity so the bare banks are not discordantly visible in order that the setting can retain pristine-like qualities. For some people, a fishery that offers the angler both the chance to catch fish and the chance to catch large fish can enhance the aesthetics of the situation through anticipation. Such natural aesthetic qualities are generally regarded as intrinsic to the landscape, in contrast to the man-made, or extrinsic, values.

Some viewers may enjoy an aesthetic experience in observation and use of the man-made project elements, such as the dam, visitor facilities, fish hatchery, and recreation areas. The degree to which these elements may be positive aesthetic features depends in large measure upon the architectural qualities (design sensitivity) and maintenance practices associated with each constructed feature. The site restoration practices and degree of integration with the natural landscape also has a bearing on the aesthetic whole of the extrinsic elements.

"There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot…" -- Aldo Leopold

k. Recreation

Boating and Related Activities

Dworshak Reservoir has 54 miles of quiet water in a timbered, mountainous setting with bays and tributaries and attracts boaters on trips of a day or an entire vacation. Launching facilities are primitive in nature. There are 83 boat access "mini-recreation sites."

Swimming

The water quality and temperature makes Dworshak a good place to swim. While most of the shoreline is steep and rugged, some pots would allow for beach development. There are no formal swimming areas on the reservoir. But, promising swim beach sites are at Freeman Creek, Elk Creek, Dent Acres and Big Eddy.

Picnicking

At several locations on the reservoir, terrain and forest make attractive picnicking sites. Dent Acres and Freeman Creek recreation area will offer such situations with convenient road access.

Camping

Potential camping areas are much like the proposed picnic areas. Large campgrounds with road access are planned at Dent Acres and Freeman Creek (also Magnus Bay over private logging roads). Camping areas with boat access include Elk Creek, Magnus Bay, and Hughes Point.

Related Recreational Facilities

Many of the recreation facilities in the region are similar to those offered at recreation sites on Dworshak Reservoir. The facilities shown on the following page are within 4 travel distance zones and are listed according to administrative responsibilities Forest Service, Corps of Engineers, National Parks Service, Idaho State Parks, county, and other recreation areas. Two types of recreation will compete with the recreational use of the Dworshak project. One is camping at the Forest Service campgrounds and the second is composed of water-oriented sports, particularly in the Lower Granite and Little Goose Reservoirs and the lakes of northern Idaho.

Status of Recreation Facility Construction

At the present time (1975) Big Eddy, Bruce's Eddy and Grandad Creek Boat Launch recreation areas have been constructed. There are 83 boat access mini-camps along the reservoir shoreline and a group camp at Dent Acres is being designed. The camp will be constructed by the Corps and operated by a group camp commission. Work is presently under way on the Dent Acres, Grandad and Big Eddy recreation areas and the Freeman Creek site is in the late design stage. Initial recreation development will be completed about 1976. Future expansion and development of recreation sites will be based on the increase in visitors and weighed against other natural resource management plans. Under the provisions and requirements of Public Law 89-72, the Federal Water Project Recreation Act, as implemented by the Corps of Engineers, the future recreation development will necessitate cost-sharing by some non-Federal agency. An exception to this requirement exists for those areas within the National Forest boundary where the U. S. Forest Service may undertake future development. Also, should the Dworshak project in the future be designated as a National Recreation Area (see the discussion of alternatives on page 5-4 and Appendix G) then the non-Federal participation in future recreation development would not be needed.

Below are the actual visitor use figures for 1974.

Area	Vehicles Total To Date	Number Of Persons To Date	Camp	Picnic	Boat	Fish	Hunt	Sightsee	Ski	Swim

Big Eddy	31902	132068	10884	20754	96228	52699	2234	14444	12497	21508
Viewpoint 2	18939	75551	0	2530	0	0	0	75551	0	0
Visitor Building	16626	64004	0	188	1478	349	0	63220	0	0
Mini-Sites	1612	7312	7336	1500	6998	2085	1694	0	2110	3732
Dent Acres	3356	13920	6086	5495	9546	3789	1864	306	2454	8845
Powerhouse	10367	40115	0	0	0	0	0	23944	0	0
Freeman Creek	686	2450	1753	476	455	899	105	102	267	1252
Bruce's Eddy Ramp	1720	8474	817	2484	8474	2701	0	0	2489	3730
Total To Date	85208	344694	26876	33427	123179	62522	5897	177567	19817	39067

Following is a list of future recreation development.

Recreation Areas	Total Acres	Approximate Year of Construction Start

Lower Reservoir Group
Group Camp Area 2	143	1978
Little Bay	758	1990
Cedarwood	456	2000
Group Camp Area 3	85	1992
Clearview	232	1985
Middle Reservoir Group
Group Camp Area 5	102	1991
Ladds Creek	250	2018
High Flat	497	1999
Evans Creek	330	2028
Upper Reservoir Group
Boehls	138	1978
Homestead Creek	271	1978
Benton Butte	303	2023
Butte Creek	417	1976
Mill Creek Homestead	343	2018
Total	10,338

l. Transportation

The regional major highway net is illustrated on the following page. Direct access to the project will be over the Lewis and Clark Scenic Highway, U, S. Highway 12 between Lewiston, Idaho, and Missoula, Montana. Main highways connecting with Highway 12 are U. S. Highways 95 and 195. Traffic flow over these highways at present is considered much less than that over major "tourist paths." Much of the north-south traffic between western Canada and the 11 western states is over U. S. 95, although much of this traffic will probably be absorbed by Interstate 15 (U.S. 91) upon its completion. At present, most of the east-westbound traffic, which during the summer months includes many vacationing tourists, travels either Interstate 80 (U.S. 30) through Boise, or Interstate 90 (U.S. 10) north through Spokane. These inter-state highways carry nearly four times the volume of traffic as U.S. 95 and 12 times that of U.S. 12. Predominantly, the tourists using these interstate highways are seeking destination points such as the Olympic Mountains, Mount Rainier, Yellowstone National Park, etc. Because of the historical significance of the Lewis and Clark Highway, the Nez Perce National Historical Park, and the recreation, hunting, and sightseeing potential of Dworshak, this area can become a destination point for many visitors who normally would take the more direct route of Interstates 80 and 90.

County, highway district, private and public logging roads serve the immediate project area. Prior to project construction, the Ahsahka-Elk River road followed the right bank of the North Fork Clearwater River on or near the canyon floor from Ahsahka to the mouth of Elk Creek, where it left the river and proceeded to Elk River. This was the main road within the project which has now been relocated to cross the reservoir at Dent Bridge. The other relocated crossing is at Grandad Creek. Other roads serving the area are all either private or public logging roads. Road access is the major factor in many parts of the area and no shoreline access exists in some reaches of 10 miles and more. Two small private airstrips, one at Big Island and one at Larson Bar, once provided access for hunters and fishermen as well as emergency landing facilities for private and fire protective district planes flying in the area but these have since been inundated by the reservoir. The airfield nearest to the project handles only light planes and is located in the Orofino-Riverside area. Rail service for freight is available to Orofino and Ahsahka, and is used primarily for log handling.

Major Traffic Patterns Related to Dworshak Dam and Reservoir

m. Socioeconomic and Cultural Aspects

Long-term trends in an area's economic base are a significant determinant of its social character. In the five counties around the Dworshak project-Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis, and Nez Perce-agriculture and the timber industry composed the dominant resource-oriented economic base. This is documented by the fact that 2/3 of the 8.6 million acres of land in the area is forested with 57 percent of that being commercial and noncommercial forest land. Cropland accounts for another 12 percent; grazing and pasturing, 12 percent; barren land 18 percent; and urban and other uses, 1 percent.

As has been typical since the late 1940's farm employment in the area has declined, while the size and efficiency of the farms has increased. As a result, many of the small communities in the area have decreased in size as the demand for their people-oriented services has declined. Farm employment is expected to decline further, from 2885 in 1970 to 1819 in 2000. Reliance on agriculture has declined in the area, with the result tending toward a more stable economy because of diversification.

Forest resources account for 81.5 percent of the regional manufactures. The largest timber-related firm is Potlatch Corporation, Lewiston, which employs over 3,629 people. The firm is involved in logging, milling, planning, veneer and plywood, pulp and paper, tissue, and presto-logs. Increased costs in road building, brush disposal, and clean-up required on U.S. Forest Service Land has raised costs above those at which smaller operators can economically operate so that lumber industry trends resemble those of agriculture, with increased emphasis on the larger operators.

Thus, the Clearwater region is experiencing a shift of employment, becoming increasingly centered in and around urban areas. Unemployment has been periodically high, resulting in the area being declared an economically depressed area, eligible for assistance under the provisions of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965.

Other industries contributing to the economic base of the region include food processing, stone and clay products, machine and equipment manufacture, and manufacture of small arms ammunition and accessories.

The unemployment rate in the five counties range from a low of 5 percent in Nez Perce County because of its economic diversification to 15.3 percent in Clearwater County, which reflects the seasonal effects of lumber industry. Although these workers are season ally unemployed, their annual earnings are generally above the poverty level,¹¹ as exhibited in the chart below.

Area	Unemployment Rate, 1970	Percent Families Below Poverty Level, 1970

Clearwater County	15.3%	7.5%
Idaho County	10.2%	13.4%
Latah County	6.2%	8.8%
Lewis County	10.6%	8.8%
Nez Perce County	5.0%	10.2%
State of Idaho	5.2%	10.9%
From U.S. Census

The labor force is projected to increase and be restructured from agriculture and forestry. Major expansion is anticipated in manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, business (including tourist and recreation services), and local government services. Increased productivity, continued urbanization, expansion of regional exports in finished and semi-finished goods, basic resources, and increased consumer markets are expected to be the basis for an increased labor force.

Between 1940 and 1960, people were steadily leaving the Clearwater area for the coast to work in ship and aircraft construction as well as in light industry. This trend slowed in the late 50's, being replaced by internal movement toward the urban areas within the region, primarily Lewiston. Between 1960 and 1970, the population in the five counties increased by 8,147. If Latah County was excluded from this data because of effects of growth at the University of Idaho at Moscow and because the major population center (Moscow) is some distance from the Dworshak construction site, the population increase is 5,184 in the four remaining counties. Over half of this immigration has been directly the result of construction activity, with the remaining increase due to increased employment in the trade and service industries that support the needs of construction.

The birth rate in the area is expected to stabilize at 17 per 1,000 population. The death rate will probably stabilize near 7.8 per 1,000.

One measure of the socioeconomic well being of a community is reflected by the level of education of its citizens and their desires and abilities to become better educated. The proximity of the University of Idaho and its research facilities is helpful in this regard, although there is a tendency for the young people starting their working years to leave the area to seek careers elsewhere. Only in Clearwater County is the median education level below 12 years.

Population and Significant Employment Counties of Dworshak Region
Item	Clearwater	Idaho	Latah	Lewis	Nez Perce

Population
1950	8,217	11,423	20,971	4,208	22,658
1960	8,548	13,542	21,170	4,423	27,066
1970	10,871	12,891	24,891	3,867	30,376
Employment
1950	2,517	3,946	7,236	1,457	27,066
1960	2,496	4,411	8,141	1,507	9,582
1970	3,474	4,159	9,202	1,273	11,145
Agricultural Employment
1950	415	1,521	1,580	548	1,374
1960	240	1,131	1,344	399	924
1970	291	868	798	306	749
Lumber and Wood Manufacturing
1950	1,005	624	813	282	1,252
1960	989	944	837	345	1,303
1970	751	818	606	158	924
Construction
1950	120	192	394	59	736
1960	76	204	451	66	658
1970	675	268	383	58	888

Major City Population (Division)	Orofino	Grangeville	Moscow	Kamiah	Lewiston¹
1950	1,656	2,946	10,599	1,050	16,928
1960	2,471	5,670	11,183	1,423	22,696
1970	3,883	5,294	14,146	1,625	26,355
¹This includes both Lewiston and Lewiston Orchards in 1950-1970.

Social Characteristics, 1970

Item Clearwater Idaho Latah Lewis Nez Perce

Percent Children 7-13 In School 96.00 98.04 99.20 96.30 98.10

Percent Persons 16-17 In School 92.40 95.10 99.80 98.90 92.70

Median School Years Completed (25 and over) 11.70 12.10 12.50 12.20 12.30

Families With Own Children Under 6 Years 758.00 933.00 1,676.00 218.00 2,126.00

Population

Households 3,350.00 3,845.00 7,676.00 1,246.00 9,973.00

Population per household 3.15 3.24 2.89 3.06 3.02

Families 2,809.00 3,160.00 5,789.00 1,021.00 7,921.00

Ratio Employed to Families 1.22:1 1.20:1 1.26:1 1.14:1 1.17:1

Males 5,595.00 6,611.00 13,115.00 1,979.00 15,016.00

Females 5,276.00 6,280.00 11,776.00 1,888.00 15,360.00

Births (1966) 166.00 227.00 468.00 50.00 445.00

Birthrate/1000 (1966) 18.02 15.05 20.03 10.07 15.06

Deaths (1966) 61.00 113.00 157.00 37.00 284.00

Deathrate (1966) 6.07 7.07 6.08 7.09 9.09

Median Age 27.06 28.04 23.08 30.08 28.02

Number Residing in State of Birth 45.07 60.08 49.09 62.03 51.07

Percent Moved into County After 1958 27.07 30.03 33.08 27.03 31.08

Total Population 10,871.00 12,891.00 24,891.00 3,867.00 30,376.00

Marital Status

Married Men (14 and Over) 2,761.00 3,051.00 5,584.00 988.00 7,278.00

Married Women (14 and Over) 2,714.00 3,035.00 5,592.00 983.00 7,361.00

Race

Non-Whites 167 358.00 360.00 108.00 963.00

Indians 132.00 196.00 69.00 94.00 880.00

Other 35.00

The age and sex distribution of the population plays an important part in the social and economic health of the region. Forty percent of the total population is under 19 years of age. The proportion of the population between 19 and 64 years of age is 51 percent with the remaining numbers being over retirement age. The median age of the people in the region is 27.5 years. The male population slightly exceeds the female population, but the percentage of females in the area is increasing. The total percentages of younger people is also increasing. These trends will continue as the younger, more mobile group becomes stabilized in the social patterns and economy of the region. The older age groups will continue to retire in the region and move from the scattered farms to the developed communities for goods and services. Retired persons in the region are expected to increase to over 10 percent of the total population.

The Indian population of the region, which is nearly 70 percent of the non-white racial group, accounts for 1371 members. The U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs is attempting to increase Indian family income and housing. The total contribution of the Indian to the economic base of the region is small but is increasing. The largest contribution comes from the landholdings of the tribal council which are administered by lease to local farmers and foresters. The Indian culture certainly adds to the regional social atmosphere, especially with respect to tourist interest, influence on regional art, literature, and tradition.

Health care through the region varies. All the counties have hospitals, but because of economic constraints there are differences in the extent of local facilities available. Some of the small communities do not have a local doctor. Many sick or injured must be transported elsewhere for treatment.

Government

Government structure, policies and programs influence socioeconomic conditions. The small communities and counties do not hamper growth and development. Funds used for operation of the county governments are derived from taxation of real and personal property and an inventory tax on items such as cattle and timber. In turn, the amount of these monies to a great extent determines the social services which can be provided at the local level.

The ability of local government bodies to procure funds for local improvement projects in many areas of the region is an indication of the people's desire or willingness for growth and development. The people of the region in local elections have for the most part approved bond issues and other funding requests, and have indicated a willingness and a desire to forego present spending to provide for future needs. It is noted, however, that with respect to Dworshak project, the local governments do not have sufficient means to provide new access road construction or undertake operation of Dworshak public recreation areas.

o. Minerals

No mineral surveys have been made in this area by the U.S. Geological Survey or the Federal Bureau of Mines. Therefore, little is known of the mineral potential in the North Fork drainage (see also response to comment number 8 of the Department of the Interior on page 9-7. However, several Kyanite leases are in force near Smith Ridge.

Artist's drawing of recreation (picnic table, campfire, family).

Land Use

Most of the lands in the project region are devoted to forestry uses, either under management by private corporations or administered by public agencies. Major land holders are the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Land Board, Northern Pacific Railroad, and Potlatch Corporation. A number of small private individual tracts are also found in the region. Merchantable timber production comprises the largest land use.

To illustrate, prior to project development, land use in the project area involved the following approximate totals:

Cropland or Improved Grazing
Unimproved Grazing
Cut Over Timber
Merchantable Timber
Reproduction Timber
River Bed
Other

670 acres
900 acres
2,800 acres
20,000 acres
17,000 acres
2,200 acres
100 acres

As part of the project, a land use plan has been developed for guiding the development and management of the shorelands surrounding the reservoir. The plan involves public recreation areas, group camping areas, fish and wildlife areas, and log handling access areas. In development of this plan, which is periodically reviewed and updated, the aim is to provide for shoreland use compatible with the natural resources and values. The current shoreland use plan is shown on the following maps.

Plate 2. Land Use Map, River Miles 0 to 18

Plate 3. Land Use Map, River Miles 18 to 38

Plate 4. Land Use Map, River Miles 38 to 55

Land Use Classification

Acres Total
Acres
Per
Site Category
Total

Initial Future

Project Operation

Right bank, Dworshak Dam
450

Left bank, Dworshak Dam
784

Subtotal
1,234 1,234

Public Recreation

Bruce's Eddy
16 0 16

Big Eddy
166 0 166

Canyon Creek
106 0 106

Freeman Creek
630 612 1,242

Elk Creek
318 929 1,247

Dent Acres
1,036 0 1,036

Magnus Bay
403 822 1,225

Grandad Creek
150 0 150

Hughes Point
424 0 424

Little Bay
0 758 758

Cedarwood
0 456 456

Clearview
0 232 232

Ladds Creek
0 250 250

High Flat
0 497 497

Evans Creek
0 330 330

Homestead Creek
0 271 271

Boehls
0 138 138

Benton Butte
0 303 303

Butte Creek
0 417 417

Milk Creek Homestead
0 343 343

Group Camp Area No. 1
299 0 299

Group Camp Area No. 2
0 143 143

Group Camp Area No. 3
0 85 85

Group Camp Area No. 4
0 118 118

Group Camp Area No. 5
0 102 102

Subtotal
3,532 6,806 10,338 10,338

General Access 10,687

Public Port Terminal (Public Log-Handling Facilities)

Site A
74

Site B
44

Site C
54

Site D
35

Site E
27

Site F
25

Site G
36

Site H
20

Site I
56

Site J
32

Site K
23

Sikte L
29

Subtotal
455 455

Industrial Use and Access (Private Log Dumps

Site AA
142

Site BB
47

Site CC
65

Subtotal
254 254

Fish and Wildlife

Acquired for project operation
3,217

Acquired for mitigation (big game food area)
5,150

To be acquired for big game
4,500

Subtotal
12,867 12,867

Grand Total
31,157

Non-project wildlife lands covered by joint management agreement between owner and
Idaho Fish and Game Department 33,838

Land Use Classification
	Acres	Total Acres Per Site	Category Total
Initial	Future

Project Operation
Right bank, Dworshak Dam			450
Left bank, Dworshak Dam			784
Subtotal			1,234	1,234
Public Recreation
Bruce's Eddy	16	0	16
Big Eddy	166	0	166
Canyon Creek	106	0	106
Freeman Creek	630	612	1,242
Elk Creek	318	929	1,247
Dent Acres	1,036	0	1,036
Magnus Bay	403	822	1,225
Grandad Creek	150	0	150
Hughes Point	424	0	424
Little Bay	0	758	758
Cedarwood	0	456	456
Clearview	0	232	232
Ladds Creek	0	250	250
High Flat	0	497	497
Evans Creek	0	330	330
Homestead Creek	0	271	271
Boehls	0	138	138
Benton Butte	0	303	303
Butte Creek	0	417	417
Milk Creek Homestead	0	343	343
Group Camp Area No. 1	299	0	299
Group Camp Area No. 2	0	143	143
Group Camp Area No. 3	0	85	85
Group Camp Area No. 4	0	118	118
Group Camp Area No. 5	0	102	102
Subtotal	3,532	6,806	10,338	10,338
General Access	10,687
Public Port Terminal (Public Log-Handling Facilities)
Site A			74
Site B			44
Site C			54
Site D			35
Site E			27
Site F			25
Site G			36
Site H			20
Site I			56
Site J			32
Site K			23
Sikte L			29
Subtotal			455	455
Industrial Use and Access (Private Log Dumps
Site AA			142
Site BB			47
Site CC			65
Subtotal			254	254
Fish and Wildlife
Acquired for project operation			3,217
Acquired for mitigation (big game food area)			5,150
To be acquired for big game			4,500
Subtotal			12,867	12,867
Grand Total				31,157
Non-project wildlife lands covered by joint management agreement between owner and Idaho Fish and Game Department	33,838

This section summarizes the environmental aspects associated with completion of construction, and in greater detail, identifies the major criteria, constraints, and objectives with respect to environmental relationships involved in project operation and management.

a. Project Completion

Nearly all of the remaining construction related to (1) landscape restoration and visitor facilities at the dam (2) completion of planned initial recreation area development, and (3) development of wildlife habitat. The work involved in the large job of dam building and the steep terrain of the construction site have resulted in considerable damage to the natural landscape. Great scars exist which will be very difficult to restore to a suitable condition. Further, other actions have occurred, such as disposal of excess or reject sand in a ravine on the left bank downstream from the dam, landslide problems on the right bank near the viewpoint, and the large expanse of exposed quarry make the restoration effort a complex and difficult endeavor. Topsoil has been obtained from the reservoir area prior to impoundment and has been set aside for use in the restoration and landscape work. Earth re-shaping of the various construction area is planned to provide a more naturalistic appearance and a basis for planting and seeding. Since the rock quarry presents little opportunity for regrading, the restoration treatment there will be placement of topsoil and planting of trees on the rock ledges in a planned informal fashion, generally as sketched below.

Artist's drawing of Dworshak before construction, during construction, and after restoration.

Artist's drawing of the Dworshak quarry restoration plan

The objective of the landscape restoration program at the dam is the re-establishment of a self-sustaining naturalistic system. The only high-intensity planting will be small, defined areas at the viewpoint and visitor center. The bulk of the restoration effort will be directed toward naturalization of the scarred landscape. Native plant material growing on an undisturbed site is an indication of nature in balance. Plants again taking hold in natural succession are indicative of a-resolution between construction impacts and the site. It is anticipated that after the early years of treatment and care, the restored landscape will be largely self-sustaining, with only occasional overall management operations needed, such as disease control and dead tree removal.

It is recognized that the existing construction impacts can only be moderated overtime, using and aiding the inherent resiliency of the natural vegetative systems. As the restoration matures, the overall effect should improve, along with a general easing of site maintenance requirements.

Impacts Related to Completion of Recreation Facilities

As described in the preceding section, recreation areas are to be developed on project shorelands. These areas will occupy 10,338 acres of land, with a varied intensity of facilities construction. High use areas will involve a nearly complete alteration of existing terrestrial conditions to provide pavement, grass, and trees. Other major portions of designated recreation areas will be left in a relatively undisturbed condition as peripheral buffer zone and "natural" landscape.

Aerial photo of the Grandad Bridge Launching Site and associated construction.
The construction scars are a result of the relocation of the road,
and will be tempered by seeding and planting of vegetation.

Certain land areas affected by placement of facilities, such as parts of the Freeman and Dent Acres sites have in the past been altered from former natural conditions and previously used for private ranching and homestead purposes. Other sites such as Big Eddy and Grandad Creek involve placement of facilities on constructed fill areas which were created for this purpose using excess earth and rock materials from relocated road construction.

The plan for each recreation facility is in itself an environmental design which will provide social and outdoor experiences for the public. In keeping with this format it is intended that, in the detailed design, construction, and operational effort, attention be given to several important environmental quality aspects. These include (1) Minimizing disturbance to existing hillside slopes and vegetative cover. This is intended to be accomplished by careful selection of grading criteria to provide, in so far as possible, naturalistic design and to define "off-limits" areas where contractor entry and visitor use vehicular traffic is unnecessary and hence prohibited, (2) Seeding and planting for restoration of landscape maintenance practices to reduce erosion and/or improve aesthetic conditions, (3) Careful consideration in power service planning to avoid obtrusive poles and transformers, and prompt cleanup and disposal of litter and other waste. Waste and sewage facilities at the recreation areas will be designed and installed consistent with applicable pollution control standards. Garbage and litter collected in recreation areas will be deposited in established city or county disposal areas, or in an appropriate manner at another approved disposal site. (4) Careful planning and installation of park signs to provide information and guidance without visual clutter. Harmonious architectural treatment of all park buildings and other structures is also important.

Provision of grasses, additional trees, and shrubs will increase the vegetative productivity of the recreation sites and will provide conditions suitable for songbirds and other species tolerant to frequent human presence during the recreation season. Wild birds and animals may frequent the recreation areas during the winter months as a result of reduced human influence.

With or without developed recreation areas, the shorelands and the lake will be used by the citizenry for leisure time outdoor activities. Development of refined recreational areas will encourage and accommodate increased usage and degree of user agglomeration. The general social-psychological impact of such grouping is difficult to simply assess as the density-quality relationship for recreational experiences is largely a matter of personal conditioning, situation expectations, and use convenience. High attendance levels at existing recreational areas at other projects suggest that large numbers of the general public do not insist upon solitude for an enjoyable recreation experience. Those who do wish to recreate at other than the developed areas are free to do so on the more remote Dworshak shorelands, particularly with almost unlimited mobility on the lake by use of boat access. There are many areas available for this type of use.

Marina development is complete at Big Eddy, as planning studies continue. The marina will include eating and fueling facilities and limited sales of general supplies and equipment and possibly rental cabins. Other marinas may be developed at other sites as future need may warrant. Marinas will be equipped with waste handling facilities to avoid water pollution from boat holding tanks. Waste discharge regulations for boat operators are being adopted by State and Federal pollution control agencies.

Vehicle and boat traffic and noise generated by the recreation activities will be highest near boat launching ramps and parking areas. Where possible these facilities are separated from picnicking, camping, and swimming areas to minimize these adverse effects. Motorboats will create noise, oil spills, and a hazard to swimmers; however, designated swimming areas will be marked to minimize the possible user conflict.

During the initial phases of recreation facilities construction and/or expansion, controls will be required to minimize adverse effects. The environmental protection specifications of work contracts will include requirements such as dust control, avoidance of damage to trees, and prevention of oil spills or other such pollution.

Operation of recreation areas involves several environmental aspects: regulation of boats and the related aspects of marine toilets; operation and maintenance of parks including facilities repair; solid waste disposal; sewage collection and treatment; vector control; traffic control; and safety patrol emergency service. These items are expanded in the following sub-paragraphs.

Marine Toilets

It is anticipated that some of the boats to be moored on Dworshak reservoir will have marine toilets. Owners and users of such boats will be required to operate in a safe and sanitary manner and abide by such anti-pollution regulations as may be published and placed in effect by the Department of the Army, as well as comply with state requirements. Use of improper and unapproved marine toilet facilities constitutes a potential source of pollution. Inspection and enforcement can result in the removal from the lake of boats with inadequate facilities. Section 312 or the Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments Act of 1972 will require holding tanks on all boats with marine toilets in the near future. In anticipation of the need for sanitary disposal stations for boats with holding tanks, it is planned to install at least two of these stations on Dworshak Lake, one at Big Eddy and another at Dent Acres. Another may be added at Freeman Creek.

Recreation Facilities Repair

The objective will be to keep park areas in a quality state of operation and repair.

Disposal of solid waste

Visitation to Dworshak reservoir is expected to increase steadily over the years as facilities are completed, and therefore, the volume of solid waste from the parks to be disposed will continue to increase, perhaps at a greater rate than the increase in visitation. Unless recycling trends improve, the use of disposable bottles and containers will increase the volume of solid waste per person. Executive Order 11507 as implemented by the Corps provides that if the use of existing approved disposal is unavailable, a state-approved landfill can be established on Government-owned land. The adverse effects of the disposal of solid waste include the commitment of land that must be cleared and prepared for landfill, the possible contamination of ground water and the unknown effects of long-term burial of solid waste on the environment. The solid waste from the project is and most likely in the future will continue to be taken to the sanitary landfill used by the City of Orofino.¹²

A study was conducted for the Corps of Engineers concerning various methods of waste disposal. This study concluded that in areas of high recreation density, larger containers (such as 2 or 3 cubic yard rectangular cans) were more economical and had several operational advantages. Larger containers require less frequent emptying, and can be handled more efficiently by automated equipment such as front-end loader compactor trucks; also, being larger, they are less susceptible to damage or ransacking by bears. In more remote locations, such as the mini-sites, the smaller conventional cans are more appropriate.

Garbage from the larger recreation areas will be picked up' by truck and hauled to Orofino, while garbage from the mini-site will most likely be compacted on the service barge and then loaded on trucks at the dam or at one of the recreation sites.

The tugboat Tysor and the work barge used to carry heavy equipment around the reservoir.

The tugboat Tysor and the work barged used to carry heavy equipment around the reservoir.

The small work boat used for trash pickup and smaller maintenance jobs.

Sewage Collection and Treatment

As a result of a study conducted in 1973 on various possibilities for waste disposal at Dworshak, it has been planned to build two sewage disposal facilities initially at recreation sites. These will be located at Dent Acres and Freeman Creek. These two facilities would be of the sewage lagoon type. Sewage from the other recreation sites would be stored in holding tanks. These tanks would be pumped on a regular basis, and the sewage would be transported by barge to Dent Acres or Freeman Creek for treatment.

A sewage lagoon system consists of one or more sealed ponds. Sewage is pumped into the lagoons, solid matter settles out, organic matter decomposes, and the water evaporates. If the plant is adequate in size, evaporation and inflow occur at the same rate. This system has an advantage in that evaporation occurs most readily in the summer, coinciding with high visitor use at the recreation facilities. Conversely, during the winter, the system does not work as well, but there is less sewage.

Sludge will have to be removed every several years and disposed of. This is commonly done by drying it, and sterilizing it, placing it in a landfill. No contamination of ground water will take place since the lagoons will be sealed.

The present sewage disposal system at the dam will be connected to the Ahsahka system to accommodate wastes from Big Eddy and the visitor center during periods of high use. Fish wastes from the hatchery could be disposed of in several ways. The sanitary wastes will probably be piped to the Ahsahka system. Plans for fish hatchery wastes are still being formed but may also be piped to Ahsahka.

Until other facilities are built, sewage at Big Eddy will continue to be piped to the treatment facility at the dam, and sewage from viewpoint number two will continue to be disposed of via the existing septic tank and drain field.

Plate 23. Survey of potentially dangerous landslides

The effects of drawdown at Dworshak are shown here.
Exposed soil will wear until more stable soils of angles of repose are reached.

Vector Control

Proper sanitation and litter control, such as screened toilets and regular solid waste collection in the parks, will provide for effective control of flies, mosquitoes, ticks, rats, and other prominent disease vectors. Fluctuation of the lake and wind and wave action will assist in eliminating most mosquito breeding areas. Some mosquitoes may come from moist areas near side drainage tributary creeks and spring outflows. Insecticides and herbicides may be used when needed under established Federal and state controls.

Traffic Control

Roads in the parks are necessary for access. It is desirable that these roads follow the contour wherever possible and trees and rock outcrops be preserved where possible. Traffic control in the parks restricts wheeled vehicles to authorized roads and parking areas thereby reducing damage to grass and trees. This control is accomplished largely by design and by strategically placed trees, large rocks, and grade differentials.

Safety Patrol and Emergency Service

Law enforcement and emergency service is provided by the personnel from the county sheriff's office who patrol the reservoir by boat, and by project Corps of Engineers employees. Emergency search and rescue is provided by the Clearwater Sheriff's Posse and the Clearwater Boat and Diving Club. Boating safety inspections are conducted by the Dworshak Coast Guard Auxiliary.

b. Impacts related to Project Operation

The success of the reservoir and recreation facilities in fulfilling public demand is highly dependent on lake level during the summer season. Lake levels directly affect boat launching and docking. Each recreation area is adversely affected as decreasing water levels expose the wash line and separate the facility from the water. Recreation area development eliminates big game habitat.

Lake elevation affects the launching ramps in two ways. First, all the ramps except Big Eddy have lower limits and once the lake elevation exceeds this limit, the ramp is no longer functional. Second, all the ramps at Dworshak lie on a 14 percent grade. Each decrease of one foot in lake elevation will result in up to ten additional feet of ramp a boater must back down to load and unload a boat. At lake elevation 1550 a boater would have to back his boat trailer down more than 350 feet of boat ramp. This will not only slow the unloading and loading process down excessively, but may tax the maneuvering skill of many drivers.

Boat service docks also have lower limits of operation. Low lake elevation could result in loss of service or, in some areas without docks, could require a steep hike over unstable terrain from the docks or beach areas to the recreation site. Recreation sites with access by boat only have been designed to accommodate boating, camping, and picnicking. Scattered throughout the reach of the reservoir are 83 remote recreational sites, accessible by boat only. These sites include 205 picnic-camping units served by picnic tables, camp fireplaces, chemical toilets, garbage receptacles, access trails, and graded tent sites. Recreation sites planned for future development with boat access only are Group Camp No. 4 (lower reservoir group), Ladd's Creek (middle reservoir group), and Homestead Creek (upper reservoir group). Lowering the reservoir below elevation 1550 results in loss of boat handling docks and could result in loss of service from the boat access sites.

Swimming areas with developed beaches will suffer from low reservoir elevation. Lowering the lake level results in reducing the size of the wading and swimming area, and may strand the entire swim area above the water surface, forcing swimmers to swim outside protected areas or to abandon swimming activities entirely. Since sand beaches require large relatively flat areas, it is unlikely that any beaches will be developed with sand below elevation 1585 or 1590. Therefore, in years when the reservoir does not reach these elevations, full use of the beach during the swimming season will not be possible. During the relatively infrequent periods of low lake levels, concessionaired development and success will be jeopardized.

Concessionaires will require high water-levels during the recreation season to insure an efficient and profitable business. This will result in greater use of the reservoir and more customers for the concessionaires. Without assurance of adequate lake levels, concessionaire development and success will be highly questionable.

During the fall hunting seasons, hunters will benefit from lake elevations that are high enough to keep boat launching ramps operational. This will allow them access by boat to the productive hunting areas surrounding the lake, particularly those in the upper reservoir campsites for camping to the extent that reservoir drawdown conditions permit during the fall hunting period.

The operation of Dworshak project will result in a variety of environmental impacts noted below:

Geology and Topography - On shoreland areas, lake fluctuations and recurring earth saturation will result in shoreland sliding and bank erosion.

Ordinarily these are the generally flat areas between the steeper, more mountainous terrain. These flatter areas are generally associated with poorly indurated shales and consist or relatively deep deposits of clays. These have hummocky topography, seep areas, and ponded water typical of landslides. Some of these places show little or no evidence of recent movement but others show fresh slide scarps, cracks, and other signs of recent movement.

The occurrence of major earth settlement caused by saturation from the reservoir is expected to be most pronounced during the first several years of reservoir operation. Soils should then stabilize to a more routine bank erosion due primarily to wave action.

The granitic base soils that are predominant in this area are highly susceptible to surface erosion, and a long with steep slopes, created ideal conditions for erosion. All unsurfaced roads and trails will be designed with the rolling grade concept, rather than long-sustained grades; trails will be constructed with log or metal pipe water bars in place, and roads will be built with an outslope surface. These design techniques will keep surface runoff from collecting and running at length down roads or trails, thus reducing erosion. Soil erosion from present project land is primarily from old logging roads and skid trails that enter the reservoir. These require outsloping, water bars, and vegetation.

c. Stream and Reservoir Effect

Creation of the reservoir eliminated 54 miles of freeflowing North Fork river and several miles of tributary streams and provides 16,417 surface acres of flat water at the full reservoir condition. In lieu of river-type pools and rapids, the visual effect is one of a deep lake with a calm or wavy surface. In as much as the region is subject to only moderate winds, the potential for high waves on the reservoir is low. The maximum effective fetch of wind over the reservoir would be 1.1 miles from wind N 850 E. The significant wave and highest one percent of wave heights for various wind speeds from the direction of maximum effective fetch are as follows:

Wind Speed (mph)	Occurrence	Significant Wave (feet)	Highest One Percent (feet)

20	infrequent	0.9	1.4
40	rare	1.9	3.0
60	very rare	2.9	4.6

Such wave conditions should not cause problems with boater safety.

d. Water Quality

Water quality impacts are significant primarily as related to habitat conditions for fish and other aquatics. Some of these aspects (primarily nutrient and biological relationships) are described in the environmental setting section. Water quality as related to pollution by industrial, chemical, and other such waste is a minor consideration. Gas and oil residues and exhausts are generated from boats on the reservoir, could create localized problems, especially since 344,694 people visited Dworshak in 1974 and 123,179 were boaters.

During high flows, water entering the lake is quite turbid. As the dam releases the flows over a period of time, this silt-bearing water is released over a longer period than it was prior to the impoundment. Thus turbidity is present downstream in the lower Clearwater River for a longer period of time each year, as releases are made at the dam.

Floating debris collection on the reservoir will be accomplished by a system of collection booms and a floating plant for handling the collected material. In addition to the booms, it is expected that some material will have to be collected by patrolling. The removal procedure would depend upon method of disposal. The most economical method is to hold material over an area where it will be beached as the reservoir is drawn down. The beached material would be dozed into piles and burned either by open or high heat burning box methods in conformance with state and local air quality regulations. Other disposal methods such as landfill, chipping, accelerated decomposition, and processing for commercial use are to be investigated. Some of the wood debris may be left to be picked up as driftwood for campfire use at recreation sites.

Water quality in the reservoir must, of necessity, be divided into two general time frames; the period immediately after dam closure which lasts from 5 to 10 years, and the period after stabilization of biological, physical, and chemical factors lasting through the life of the project.

Initially, as has been shown by a present postimpoundment study, the water quality in the reservoir will resemble that of a lake with deteriorating water quality or accelerating eutrophication. Algal productivity will increase as newly inundated land is leached of nutrients, sloughing occurs, rich vegetable matter is decomposed, and final construction activities on the reservoir are continued.

Over the long term, water quality in the reservoir is difficult to predict due to unknown variables and their impacts. These variables include: increased development of the shoreline and adjacent areas; increased inhabitation of the area; development of upstream towns and the adequacy of associated waste treatment; logging, agricultural and road building practices in the area; waste disposal practices; the amount of sloughing; assumption of adequate log clearing from the reservoir area, and the operation of the dam's selector gates.

Shoreline sloughing is a noted factor at Dworshak.
Sloughing is caused by soil saturation and, in turn, causes problems with turbidity.
Some areas will take years to stabilize.

Algal assessments performed with Dworshak algal populations indicate that the nitrogen levels in the reservoir may not be great enough to support blooms of algae, while phosphorous concentrations are adequate to support algal blooms. As yet, not enough data has been compiled to predict the trends of increases or decreases in nutrient concentrations in the lake. Nitrate nitrogen, however, has shown increases during a blue-green algal bloom in the late summer of 1972.

Dissolved oxygen concentrations in the upper 200 feet of the impoundment during 1972 ranged from 11.6 mg/l in May to a low of 3.6 mg/l in September. Average dissolved oxygen concentrations for April through November for this layer of water was 8.8 mg/l dissolved oxygen. Water below 200 feet generally has maintained dissolved oxygen concentrations of 4 to 8 mg/l dissolved ox gen. Since September 1972, the hypolimnetic water at River Mile 3, 50 to 100 feet above the bottom, has become deoxygenated, and hydrogen sulfide is present 20 to 50 feet off the bottom. This relatively small amount of deoxygenated and hydrogen sulfide water is being monitored at the present time to determine the extent of the layer and the effects on the reservoir fishery and power releases. The dissipation of this layer of water will be contingent upon complete turnover of the reservoir in the fall and/or spring. The year 1972-1973 did not see complete mixing, and as a result the deoxygenated layer was not dissipated. Turnover of the reservoir water could not be expected every year due to variable weather conditions. However, complete mixing may occur under conditions of prolonged cool, windy weather. The relative small volume of low oxygen water will probably not exert a significant oxygen demand on the upper waters when mixing does occur.

Temperature patterns or stratification in the lake will parallel those characteristic of other deep reservoirs with an actively mixing epilimnion, a thermocline and hypolimnion. Surface temperatures will range from 70 to 75 degrees F while hypolimnetic water will remain from 40 to 45 degrees F.

Algal productivity can be expected to gradually increase during the first few years of reservoir operation. Blue-green algal blooms will occur on occasion as additional nutrients are added to the water. Concurrently, zooplankton, the food for trout and other fish, will be maintained at relatively high levels.

Projecting into the future, Dworshak Reservoir should begin to show a gradual decline in productivity as readily decomposable vegetable matter breaks down, nutrient inputs are stabilized and logs are cleared from the reservoir. With occasional reservoir turnover, the hypolimnetic areas will still show low oxygen conditions but probably not fall to 0 mg/l every year and should not have a hydrogen sulfide build-up.

Average temperature and dissolved oxygen, North Fork Clearwater River Mile 19, Idaho, Summer 1973

Dworshak Dam and Reservoir Average Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen
North Fork Clearwater River Mile 19, Idaho
Summery 1973

Generalized temperature profile in Dworshak Reservoir

Typical temperature pattern, North Fork Clearwater River Mile 12.5 (prior to reservoir impoundment)
Typical Temperature Pattern
North Fork Clearwater River Mile 12.5
(Prior to reservoir impoundment)

A danger does exist where the lake, in its first few years of existence does not completely mix, and becomes chemically as well as thermally stratified. This additional resistance to mixing would be due to large concentrations of salts in the hypolimnion. This process would take years to develop. No long-range trends have yet been established, however.

The operation of the selector gates will enable the project to release water at a temperature generally close to that of the main stem Clearwater River. Temperature studies have shown maximum differences in temperatures of 8 degrees F could occur during late July and early August and may reach higher temperatures, up to 12 degrees F difference under power peaking operations at full generating capacity. Restrictions will be implemented to negate effects of release water temperature differences on resident and migrating fish and other organisms inhabiting the river.

e. Log Transportation

Log transportation can have adverse effects on water quality. While no field research is known to be available on effects of logs in moving water, extensive laboratory research has been done. In addition, pollution studies have been conducted on log holding ponds. These are obviously the limiting case for this type of water quality problem, since the logs are held for up to a year in a pond with very little water exchange.

It has been found that logs stored in water leach tannins, lignins, and other organic substances into the water. The quantity leached increases with log surface area, temperature, water circulation and length of time that the logs remain in the water. Quantity of pollutants also varies with the type of log, being greater for Ponderosa pine than for Douglas fir.

Oregon State University13 has conducted laboratory tests on Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir logs and estimated that a fully barked log 30 feet long, 2 feet in diameter, and floating half-submerged for 35 days would create 331 grams and 403 grams of chemical oxygen demand for Douglas fir and Ponderosa Pine, respectively. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of the quantity of oxidizable pollutants released. COD differs from BOD in that BOD takes into account only those pollutants which can be biologically oxidized. Oregon State University14 conducted tests on Oregon log ponds and found that COD averages 3 to 4 times as great as BOD, indicating that a large quantity of the pollutants released are not degradable. Tannins falls in this category. Using the Graham and Schaumburg statistics, a log raft consisting of 200 2-foot by 30-foot Douglas fir logs, a total of 226 MFB, would contribute a COD of 66.2 kg. Since this would be concentrated primarily in the vicinity of the logs, if could become a significant amount. However, after dispersion throughout the reservoir, this COD is insignificant (on the order of 10-10 mg/liter).

Leached chemicals also caused discoloration of water, though in a volume of water the size of Dworshak lake this would be unnoticeable except possibly in the log raft itself. Small debris such as twigs and bard will be present, and these could have an adverse aesthetic effect if present in sufficient quantities. The only area liable to be significantly affected is the log storage area adjacent to the dam, and impacts will-be present there only if logs are left for long periods of time in the water. Impacts at log dump sites are noted on page 4-4.

f. Fish and Other Aquatics

The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Idaho Fish and Game Department are presently stocking cutthroat trout in the reservoir.

There is an expanding population of redside shiners in Dworshak Reservoir. These fish are highly valuable as a forage fish; however, the trout taken in gill nets and by other methods have not been utilizing the shiners to a great extent. There is reason to believe that smallmouth bass might fill a niche in the Dworshak Reservoir ecological system. These fish prey effectively on forage fish and have been stocked in the reservoir. The effect of smallmouth bass on the trout population is being monitored by the Idaho Fish and Game Department.

Planting of Trout in Dworshak

The following number of rainbow trout were stocked in 1973.

Trout
200,000	2 fish/lb.	at Big Eddy and Dent Bridge
900,000	100 fish/lb.	at Dent Bridge
240,000	40 fish/lb.	at Dent Bridge
1,500,000	100 fish/lb.	throughout reservoir
2,840,000	Total Trout Stocked

Kokanee
450,000	250 fish/lb.

Fish Stocked in Dworshak Reservoir in 1973

Fish	Number

Catchables	228,000
Fingerlings	237,000
Fry	2,086,000
Adult Steelhead	0.834
Kokanee	591,000
Smallmouth Bass	50,000

By early May 1973, Dworshak Hatchery workers had stripped approximately 28 million eggs from returning steelhead, 10 million were stripped to other state and Federal hatcheries. Additionally, about 3,000 unspawned adult steelhead were transported upstream on the main stem Clearwater River and released.

Exactly 834 steelhead spawned at the hatchery were released into Dworshak Reservoir. Shortly thereafter, some were observed running up tributary streams where they may have spawned the few eggs that remained within their bodies.

Breakfast Creek, a tributary of the Little North Fork, has been stocked with kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon). These fish usually mature in 3 years. Inspections show that some spawning is taking place.

The winter season for steelhead trout on the Clearwater River downstream from Dworshak Reservoir, January 1 to March 15, received an excellent rating in 1973. The fine fishing was attributed mainly to stocking from the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery. Fisheries biologists have voiced concern that the news of fishing success will spread and draw large numbers of anglers into this particular stretch of water. Since some steelhead running the river are completely wild fish, a concentrated angling effort may harvest greater numbers of wild fish in proportion to hatchery fish, eliminating this strain of steelhead.

Clearwater River Steelhead Fishery

The Clearwater River steelhead fisher in 1974 extended from 21 September until 27 October when the extremely low numbers of fish necessitated an emergency closure to allow as many adult steelhead as possible to reach the spawning grounds and hatcheries to perpetuate the run.

A catch-and-release type sport fishery for steelhead will be permitted in the Clearwater River in 1975, beginning on 1 October. This fishery will be monitored closely and the length of the season will depend on the numbers of fish and the success of this type of fishery. The 1975 adult steelhead run into the Snake River system is, to date, lower than the 1974 run which was a historic low run.

The former Idaho state record steelhead was caught in the now inundated
portion of the North Fork of the Clearwater. The fish weighed 29 lb. 8 oz.
The new record is a Dworshak Hatchery Fish caught in 1973 in the Lower Clearwater.

A study conducted on sport-caught fish during the 1972 Lewiston (Idaho) Jaycee Steelhead Derby, indicated that many of the steelhead being caught in the Clearwater and Snake Rivers were of Dworshak Hatchery origin. The results of the study are listed below:

Size of Fish	Dworshak Fish	Non-Dworshak Fish	Percentage of Dworshak Fish

Over 20 pounds	1	3	25.0%
15 - 20 pounds	39	6	86.7%
10 - 15 pounds	13	6	68.4%
5 - 10 pounds	2	3	40.0%
Under 5 pounds	1	2	33.0%
Total	56	20	73.7%

Warm water releases from Dworshak Reservoir as believed to be one of the reasons for the excellent downstream steelhead fishing. Steelhead do not bite readily at temperatures below 42 degrees. Water released from the reservoir was a few degrees above that mark.

Returning steelhead find their way to their place of birth through the use of various homing devices. Any reduction in dissolved oxygen in the water that might be brought about by a change in release from Dworshak Reservoir may repel migrating steelhead. Steelhead have been known to react negatively to a change of one part per million in dissolved oxygen.

No fishing is allowed in the North Fork of the Clearwater River for a distance of 300 feet downstream from the dam. However, fishing is allowed from this point downstream to the highway bridge and is then closed again on the remainder of the North Fork to its confluence with the Clearwater River.

Any releases from Dworshak Reservoir will not only directly affect the fish and fishing in this stretch of the North Fork but will also modify river levels on the Clearwater River.

These flow changes will have an effect on the operation of boats in the river. Boat fishing for steelhead trout is the most popular and effective method of angling for this fish. Wading fishermen and bank fishermen will also have their maneuverability modified by fluctuation flows.

The temperature regime in the river below Dworshak has been changed so that warmer temperatures are experienced in the winter and cooler temperatures exist in the spring and summer. The affect on smallmouth bass has been a delay in their spawning time and a shortening of their growing season. Although the temperature regime below the dam is suitable for smallmouth bass, the fishery has declined because these fish are less productive and slower growing. The affect on smallmouth bass has been accompanied by an increase in the productivity and growth rate of trout. The new temperature regime is ideal for trout, therefore, anglers will be fishing for larger trout, steelhead and small bass instead of catching larger bass, steelhead and smaller trout.

Smallmouth bass spawn in the lower Clearwater River below the North Fork each year. The time of spawning varies from year to year; it may be as early as mid-June or as late as mid-July. To avoid stranding the spawn above water, it is desirable to minimize river fluctuations on lower Clearwater River for about a two-week period. Operation of the project for this purpose will be coordinated with Idaho Fish and Game Department and could take precedence over short-term power operations.

From I October to 15 November, special regulation is required for the fall steelhead fishery. Because of the reservoirs on the lower Snake and Columbia Rivers, the steelhead harvest has been nearly eliminated below Lewiston. There is evidence that large stream flow fluctuations below Dworshak Dam may significantly reduce the downstream steelhead harvest. Presently, this problem is under study through the Fishery Engineering Research Program. Since the Corps of Engineers has constructed and financed operation of the worlds largest steelhead hatchery at Ahsahka to mitigate losses of steelhead above Dworshak Dam, and extreme streamflow fluctuations during October and November would greatly reduce the steelhead harvest, the mitigation efforts will be largely wasted if severe fluctuations were allowed then. Releases during the 1 October to 15 November period will be restricted because of the adverse effect of high flows on the steelhead harvest. The reservoir will be uniformly evacuated to elevation 1579 from 1 October to 15 November to provide an additional 119,000 acre-feet of space. During this period, any release fluctuation of more than 20 percent above or below the weekly average will be avoided, except during freshets or emergency power situations.

Rainbow and cutthroat trout from the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery
are expected to offer substantial action to anglers

In addition to the fall steelhead season when restraints are necessary, consideration will be given to reducing daily fluctuations from 15 February to 15 April for spring steelhead and from 25 April to 30 June for spring chinook.

A major fishery impact now under intensive study is the nitrogen supersaturation conditions which occurs in the water as it passes over the spillway during the periods of high flow. Recognized as a major problem since 1968, this condition occurs when air is entrained in the water falling over the spillways and carried into the deep stilling basin below. The gaseous nitrogen which makes up 80 percent of the air, combines with water under pressures. As the water flows to the surface downstream and pressure is reduced, the water becomes supersaturated with gas. Fish take in the excess nitrogen which then passes through the body tissue and circulatory systems, causing bubbles to appear on the gills and under the skin when the fish approach the surface. This can directly result in death to the fish or create open sores which are subject to infection. Extensive studies are underway at projects in the Columbia-Snake River system to overcome this problem.

Dissolved gas supersaturation measurements have been made at Dworshak for discharges varying from 600 cfs to 22,000 cfs.

From the data obtained it appears that flows up to about 10,000 cfs can be passed without exceeding 120 percent saturation. These are flows released from the regulating outlets and passed through the stilling basin. When the powerhouse flow of 10,000 cfs is added, with presumable 100 percent nitrogen saturation, the resulting mixed flow should have a nitrogen content of about 110 percent at a total release of 20,000 cfs. Based on regulation studies it has been found that the 110 percent saturation level can be met without resorting to structural change of the Dworshak dam spillway. Proper regulation of the reservoir releases can and will provide the best means of controlling nitrogen supersaturation.

In 1972, nitrogen levels above 120 percent occurred for about three months. There was no evidence of nitrogen injury to adult steelhead fish brought into the Dworshak hatchery, nor were any reports received of injured fish in the river below. This is probably due to two factors: the dilution of North Fork flows by the main stem below the confluence; and the relatively short distance from the confluence to the dam through which the adult migrant fish must swim.

g. Vegetation - Timber Management

In the conduct of a shoreland forest management program, the effort is to seek and provide an environmental balance between the social demands of the using public and the requirements of wildlife for winter forage. The general goals to be attained at Dworshak are listed in order of priority:

Visual beauty as viewed from within the timber stand and from the lake.
Forest sanitation and thrift.
Wildlife habitat and forage.
Recreation access.
Safety.

Timber volume production, the least important. This bears virtually no consideration but is mentioned to place it in its proper perspective. Methods and impacts related to achieving these goals are summarized:

Visual Beauty

Some of the features of the canyon shoreline are hidden from view from the lake by timber. An instance of this type is the basaltic Cliff on the left bank in the vicinity of River Mile 15. The view of this cliff can be improved by removal of a viewing zone. Other visual features of an adverse nature may need an element of vegetation shielding to screen some of the roads and logging areas on non-project lands which tend to detract from the naturalistic atmosphere generally experienced on the reservoir.

Also of importance are the "vista" view and the "near scene" view as passage is made along a road or trail. Emphasis can be made of project assets by vegetation removal or allowing see-through situations. Clearing for large vast vistas would not be done except on a limited basis at structured visitor areas. The removal would be made with care and the cleared zones would be replanted to low ground cover.

Forest Sanitation and Thrift

The forest zone experiences insect and disease attacks which build up periodically to epidemic proportions. Listed here are some of the offending insects in Northern Idaho.¹⁵

Mountain Pine Beetle (Denroctroctonus Ponderosae)
Fir Bark Beetle (Denroctonus pseudotsugue)
Larch Case Borer (Culeuphora laricella)
Fir Engraver Beetle (Scolytus ventralis)
Douglas Fir Tussock Moth (Hemerocampa Pseudotsugata)

Close surveillance will be required to remove or treat¹⁶ attacked or diseased trees as they occur and not after the tree has died and served as a brood host. In general, a well-managed forest is healthy and disease resistant. In order to maintain thrift in a forest, stand density must be controlled by thinning in younger stands. This will accomplish three objectives; release for thrifty growth; provide ground cover with forage value for wildlife; open the stand for visual and walking pleasure for the recreationist. Most thinning on the project will be done by hand and/or horse transport in order to minimize unwanted soil and other vegetation disturbance.

Wildlife Habitat and Game Forage Development

The North Fork Clearwater supports a considerable number of big game animals. The ability of the reservoir shorelands to support these animals during the winter months can be improved by manipulating the forest and brush canopy. Many deciduous brush browse areas have matured to the point that the animals cannot reach the required forage. These areas will require cutting and in some cases, burning to encourage sprouting and root shooting. Other areas will require supplemental plantings of forage-type species. The forest canopy can be manipulated by the use of small two-to-five acre clearcuts with a narrow zone of thinned timber on the perimeter. These measures will supplement the ability of the area to support wildlife and improve visual experiences. Wildlife observation posts can be readily incorporated into these areas from both land and the lake. The end result of these small clear cuts will, be a small meadow-like clearing creating a pleasing floral variety.

Recreation Access

Recreation access (including roads, trails, and space for facilities) will involve clearing, planting, and management of shoreland vegetation. Such clearing will require careful planning and forestry work methods to preserve resource values adjacent to the roads, trails, and within recreational areas. In order to lessen environmental impact, cleared areas which are disturbed by construction or tree removal activities (such as earthwork adjacent to access roads) will have restorative vegetation provided through seeding and planting. This would be required on project constructed features as well as right-of-way easements for logging roads, etc. Proper drainage and reseeding will be required to minimize surface erosion.

Safety

This item is primarily concerned with snags and trees with exposed roots in the public areas. Generally, tree removal will consist of merely felling a tree and cutting for camp wood.

Timber Volume Production

This is not a vegetation management goal for Dworshak shoreland; however, in the course of tree removal for other purposes, some saw log production will be available.

In order to develop the boat-in recreation sites, the road access recreation sites classed as future development, remote minicampsites, foot access trails, and allow for disease control, wildlife habitat, and removal of unsafe trees, an estimated 7,000,000 board feet of saw logs annually will be produced in excess of requirements for reservoir operations. The proximity of the timber to the reservoir and the terrain type requires the use of horses to skid the logs to the lake for tug transport to a log removal zone near the dam.

The required skid trails for log removal could be designed and maintained as a part of the foot trail system. This would provide access to the developed areas, soil erosion control of the disturbed area, and restrict the grade at which the trail may be constructed. A rubber-tired skidder may be required to transport logs from areas located in more remote areas from the reservoir.

Planting of conifers on the reservoir land will be minimal, primarily concerned with healing construction scars and accenting recreation development rather than establishing new stands of timber.

Planting of browse and forage species may be done employing various techniques, including hand planting, burning and clearing. Hand planting of nursery grown browse species would be used in lieu of burning where possible in the development of wildlife habitat and forage areas. Some burning may be carried out in suitable areas. Slash resulting from clearing operations will be piled and used for camp wood or burned under environmentally acceptable conditions.

Forest Fires

Forest fire hazards are of serious concern in the Clearwater basin and will have major impact upon development, management, and use of the reservoir and its shorelands. Over the years the State of Idaho, land owners, timber management interests, and Federal agencies have, developed plans, practices, and procedures for protection of the timber resource against the ravages of fire. These efforts have been consummated in the creation of the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association, a cooperative fire prevention and suppression organization recently placed under the official control of the State of Idaho. This organization is under contract to provide fire protection for Dworshak project shorelands managed by the Corps of Engineers. Project personnel are aware of the fire hazards, knowledgeable about alarm and communication procedures, and proficient in on-the-spot prevention and fire suppression measures and techniques.

In order to reduce the man-made fire potential, public camping will be restricted to designated areas where developed facilities, ground cover, and other measures will provide minimized fire hazards. When exceedingly dry conditions exist, public access in the timbered areas may have to be restricted as happened in 1973.

h. Land Use - Real Estate Management.

Shoreland use will be governed according to a land use allocation plan. Lands may be made available under lease agreement to other public agencies and organizations to further intended public use activities. In addition, real estate management activities involve issuance of easements, and other outgrants for roads, powerlines, and other such uses of project land requested by other agencies, private companies, and individuals. Each proposed outgrant is reviewed¹⁷ concerning its environmental impact and provisions are usually included in the easement document which require environmental treatment measures such as erosion control, seeding, and aesthetic concerns. Occasionally location changes are required to lessen environmental impact. When a proposed activity is found to be unacceptable the requested outgrant is denied. The environmental impacts of the activities conducted under outgrants are usually the same type of impacts described herein for various other shoreland resource management activities: vegetation clearing, erosion control, healing construction scars as a result of placement of roads and utilities, and visual impact.

On selected recreation lands, concessions will be established under real estate agreement to accommodate public need for boating services such as rental, moorage, and gas sales. Cabins for short-term rental may be provided through concession lease, particularly when considering the future potential for reservoir-associated recreation. Any outgrants for concessions would be monitored on a regular basis to insure compliance with the lease requirements, including environmental control provisions.

No project shorelands will be made available for sale or lease for construction of private cabins. This policy has been adopted to: (1) insure an ample and uncluttered, naturalistic landscape for public enjoyment; (2) avoid potential environmental degradation from a variety of sewage septic tanks, utility distribution lines, access roads, and site grading on difficult terrain in proximity to the reservoir; and (3) preclude problems of equity which would occur if a limited number of cabin sties were made available for lease or sale. Individuals inquiring about cabin sites have been encouraged to contact owners of private land adjacent to or near the Federally-owned shoreland. The project land is generally available for public pedestrian trail access and use, but no private trails or roads to the water will be allowed.

Marking the Dworshak project boundary with survey monuments will be carried out to aid in real estate administration and shoreland management.

i. Wildlife

The greatest single impact of the Dworshak project on the wildlife population is the loss by inundation of approximately 15,000 acres of deer and elk winter range. This range was generally located along the river and up to an elevation of about 2700 feet msl. With the lake level established at 1600 feet msl, much of this former natural winter range has been lost.

Impact upon the white-tailed deer population, which has existed in the lower end of the project area, is extensive. Due to the lack of winter range (estimates by wildlife agencies indicate 85 percent white-tailed range has been lost) the Fish and Wildlife Service has estimated the present population level will be cut by approximately 58 percent. The deer, will make a gradual adjustment to the amount of available winter range until their numbers equal that which can be sustained by the remaining range.

Increased harassment of wildlife due to the ease of boat access can also be an impact of the project. In future years, should more recreation sites be developed, there will be local increases in the human contact with animals because of the influx of recreationists to these areas. The improvement of road access to serve these recreation areas would also increase general access to the area crossed by the road with the potential to cause even more harassment to wildlife populations. The remaining white-tailed deer will probably not be adversely affected by this harassment factor since they are quite adaptable to human presence. Both mule deer and elk, however, are relatively intolerant of human influences, and could be adversely affected by an influx of people to the upper lake area.

Increased hazards to both deer and elk have arisen as a result of the ice formation on the lake and the barrier effect which the lake imposes on seasonal animal movements. Special hazards exist for deer and elk when they venture out onto the lake ice during periods of initial freezing and before a major ice breakup. At these times the strength of the ice is low and animals frequently fall through. When they break through it is sometimes impossible for them to regain either the shore or ice strong enough to support their weight with the end result being their death by drowning. Several instances of this were documented in the first winter of project operation but it is not expected to occur in the future.

Large numbers of deer and some elk have concentrated along the edge of the lake during the winters since project operation began. Accompanying the deer and elk has been a large concentration of predators, mostly coyotes, which have been preying upon the concentrated animals, especially the deer. This killing of the deer is undoubtedly not a new phenomenon since deer have always concentrated along the river during the winter and the predators have always followed them.

Without some form of compensation the big-game herds which inhabit the area influenced by the ~Dworshak project would become depleted. As has already been discussed, the major reason for this adverse impact is the loss of natural winter range. Accordingly, a plan has been devised to compensate for the adverse effects of the Dworshak project. (See pages 2-18--2-25) For this reason, there is not expected to be a loss of either mule deer or elk as a result of the project. The loss of white-tailed deer has already been discussed. No compensation is planned for loss of these animals because there are very few areas where winter range for them could be developed. The habitat manipulation at Magnus Bay and Elk Creek will lessen the impact of the loss of the white-tailed deer.

A portion of the ruffed grouse population will also be lost as a result of the Dworshak project. As with the case of the white-tailed deer, it is not likely that full restoration of grouse habitat will be possible since they are highly dependent upon logged or burned areas in the forest. Over a period of time, during which development of compensation lands and project lands are proceeding, a number of areas will be created which will be used by the grouse. Additionally, closed roads and other open areas will be planted with clover which will be of use to the birds. Although preproject population levels may not be achieved, some partial replacement will be made.

Under the present compensation plan, natural winter range for mule deer and elk will be replaced with winter range managed and controlled by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Through intensive management of the selected winter rangeland, it will be possible to increase the "carrying capacity" of the remaining land from its natural capacity to a level at which enough browse is produced to offset that lost by inundation. A major amount of winter habitat management will take place on the single-purpose, "hard core" wildlife management areas located around the confluence of the main North Fork Clearwater and the Little North Fork.

Two white-tailed deer negotiate the ice cover on frozen Dworshak Reservoir in 1971.
(Idaho Fish and Game Department photograph)

The management of the wildlife compensation lands will have impacts other than just increasing the capability of the area to support elk and mule deer. The intensive management will involve both selective and clearcut tree removal, burning of logging slash and old brushfields, and fertilizing and reseeding a fairly extensive area along the upper end of the lake. Environmental impacts of this work will range from the adverse aesthetic impacts associated with clearcut logging to creation of air pollution by the burning operations. Some nutrient enrichment of the lake is likely where fertilizing of areas is done to promote brush growth as well as increasing sediment transport into the lake and its tributaries wherever it is necessary to construct logging or other management roads.

The wildlife compensation plan amounts to a single-purpose management operation for the benefit of big game. Though some people would view this as less than desirable, there is no feasible alternative to providing compensation for wildlife losses that would otherwise be caused by the project. When considered in the context of the whole Dworshak project, the commitment of the management lands to single-purpose use for wildlife, simply becomes one more aspect of a large-scale, multipurpose, water resources development project.

There are not expected to be significant impacts upon populations of species other than those just mentioned. Some reductions in populations of nongame birds and furbearers is likely to occur since the species which inhabited the inundated area have been forced into habitat that is either already used to capacity or is unsuited to the species' needs. As a result, the total number of each of these species has likely been shifted downward. Other game animals such as black bear, moose, and mountain goats, are not expected to be affected by the project. There are no known rare or endangered species inhabiting the area that has been or will be affected by the Dworshak project.

Wildlife habitat, approximately 100 acres, has been lost because of road construction, recreation area construction and landslides.

j. Historic and Archeological Resources

There are no important historical values affected by this project.¹⁸ The archeological resources have been investigated, with excavation of the most promising sites, and inundation of other identified sites not excavated. Presently there is a proposal under consideration that would initiated a on project archeological study.

k. Socioeconomic Impact of the Project

The Dworshak project, during the construction period, has effected a marked social impact both in terms of numbers of people and activities. Many of the construction workers resided in the local area temporarily and have since left. Some of the smaller communities and Clearwater County have particularly noticed the departure of the workers because of the ratio of construction workers to the total population. Operation and maintenance personnel, approximately 25 people, have increased the basic employment level over what it would have been without the project, but does not compensate completely for the loss of the construction crews.

About 25 percent of the construction crew commuted to the site from Lewiston. Orofino housed 59 percent while 12 percent came from Clarkston and 4 percent from Kamiah. The effect of the construction withdrawal from that city has not been great, though, because of Lewiston's diversified economy and level of employment in other industries. Growth in Lewiston is expected to continue as a result of the completion of the Lower Granite Lock and Dam, which will bring barges up the Snake River of Lewiston.

The project has brought a needed boost to Indian employment. The Big Eddy Marina and concession, located 1.5 miles upstream from the dam, is operated by the Nez Perce Tribal Council under a lease from the Corps of Engineers. It is expected that the marina and concession will reflect the Indian culture.

The Dworshak powerhouse can produce approximately 400,000 kilowatts of power, making the region a power exporter. However, the power supply is not expected to lure many industries to the region, but can act as a stabilizing factor in regional growth.

The new social dimensions created as a result of project construction and operation have been and are reflected in a variety of ways, including schools, community services, civic organizations, and associations and community atmosphere. While limbering continues to be a major focus in shaping community atmosphere. the addition of large dam construction provided a new and stimulating topic for community attention. Now that construction is nearly completed, this attention has shifted to public use of the dam and lake, primarily for tourism and recreation activities.

With increasing disposable income, increased leisure time, higher population, and greater mobility, the value of recreation is expected to more than triple by the year 2000. Unless the current gasoline problem alters the trend towards greater recreation involvement, the Dworshak project will receive increasing use.

It is estimated that there will be 150,000 recreation days of use of the Dworshak reservoir by 1980. The new marina and the reservoir will greatly increase boater use from the current 1,610 registered boats in the region now.

The curtailment of these recreational activities during the winter months will probably cause seasonal unemployment in the area. Summer travel over the highways in the area now is three times that of the winter travel. It is feasible that the increased employment because of recreational activities will benefit mainly the younger student population looking for a summer job. Wintertime recreational use of the area is increasing however, because of the interest in snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

Increased facilities, increased access, and increasing water areas with recreational features forecast a bright future for the tourism and recreation industry in the regional economy. It has the greatest potential for becoming the mains of the regional economic growth.

Landscape scars, equipment operation, and periodic increases in river turbidity have been unavoidable effects which occurred during project construction. The major construction activities are for the most part completed. Some continued earthwork and related equipment operation effects will be unavoidable in development of recreation facilities.

An unavoidable impact was the loss of the free-flowing North Fork Clearwater River over the 54-mile reservoir length. Reservoir fluctuation on an annual basis is in some ways an unavoidable adverse impact to those project uses requiring a close shoreland-water relationship. From a flood control or power production viewpoint, the reservoir drawdown is not an adverse effect.

Shoreline erosion and major bank slippage, which may occur with reservoir filling and drawdown, is an unavoidable adverse condition, affecting aesthetics and localized water turbidity conditions.

The existence of the project generates public visitation and recreation use, with unavoidable visitor accommodation and control requirements. This aspect may be considered adverse in the sense that public health and safety measures are essential, vandalism and littering may occur, and certain areas of high public concentration may create deterioration of resource and use values.

The project has unavoidably changed the river fishery to a reservoir fishery. Lake fluctuations limit to some extent the reproductive and bottom food capability of the reservoir with respect to some fish species.

The fluctuating levels of the reservoir would appear to have little effect on the movement of fish within the impoundment. Dworshak Reservoir is deep enough so that severe warming trends are not likely to occur in the summer months. Thus, the fish would be able to find cool, oxygen laden water at some depth and not be forced to run into any of the feeder streams.

Another chemically related problem that could arise in the reservoir involves hydrogen sulfide. This gas has formed in the lower portion of the reservoir. Should water containing hydrogen sulfide be released downstream it would be devastating to the aquatic life, especially fish. However, the lowest portion of the reservoir that water could be released from is the 259-foot depth. Should hydrogen sulfide form, it would most likely do so at a greater depth.

A major unavoidable impact of the project is the loss of approximately 15,000 acres of deer and elk winter range. It is possible to replace the browse which was located on this land but the land itself is not replaceable.

Compensation for project-caused losses will entail intensive management of replacement lands where no management was previously necessary.

Loss of approximately 58 percent of the white-tailed deer population in the Lower North Fork drainage is also unavoidable. There are no areas where suitable replacement habitat can be found so their loss is not compensable.

Loss of a segment of the ruffed grouse population is also unavoidable. For the grouse, as for the white-tailed deer, there is not any suitable replacement habitat available, at least in the short-run time period. It may eventually be possible to approximate the numbers of grouse present before the river was impounded through management but this will certainly not take place in the immediate future.

Loss of both deer and elk by drowning will be an unavoidable project impact. Icing conditions are expected to occur on part of the reservoir every year and consequently some animals may be lost because of it. The same is true for any increase in deer losses to predators caused from increased predator mobility on the reservoir ice as a result of project construction.

There have almost certainly been losses of both non-game avian and mammalian species as a result of the Dworshak project, Since no estimate of their preproject numbers is available, their decline cannot now be accurately measured although some degree of loss is acknowledged.

To insure the success of the wildlife compensation plan, additional unavoidable adverse environmental impacts will occur. Associated with the planned logging to provide open browse-producing areas will be the adverse aesthetic impact associated with both clearcut and selective logging methods. Involved in this will be temporary, small scale, ground surface scarring and limited road construction. Subsequent to the logging, the area will be slashed and then burned to promote maximum browse growth. This part of the work will cause some air pollution as a result of the burning of the slash. Any fertilization of the areas to promote browse growth will also cause nutrient enrichment of the lake waters. All phases of the mitigation plan will cause some degree of soil erosion with subsequent impact of sediment input to the lake. All possible methods to minimize these adverse environmental impacts which will result from the wildlife compensation plan will be utilized; however, some short-term degradation of the area will undoubtedly occur.

Log dump sites are those areas which may be developed for entry of logs on the lake, or where logs may be temporarily stored prior to rafting to the dam. When these sites are developed, they will present an aesthetic impact to the individual who sees them, particularly from a boat. In addition, roads and staging areas may generate earth scars and erosion. Because of the machinery used there, the log dumps will at times be noisy and the activity of moving the logs around will be an intrusion.

Several miles of tributary streams to the North Fork of the Clearwater were also lost to inundation. Many of the tributaries were fishable waters.

It should be noted that alternatives a and b are largely academic since the project was built and is not operated as a multipurpose project, and no extensive modifications are currently planned or anticipated. Future alternatives of a more feasible nature are included in subparagraph c.

a. Abandonment

It would be possible to remove the dam now and try to restore the area to preproject conditions. This would be very expensive and the initial investment would have been wasted. An alternative power source would have to be found as well as an alternative method for abating flood damage. Many of the habitat disturbances caused by the project would remain and additional disruption would result from the removal procedure. The alternative of removing the project is not under consideration at this time.

b. Single-purpose Alternatives

Fishery enhancement power production, navigation or recreation, could be singled out as the project purpose.

Fishery enhancement could be achieved in several ways. The most obvious alternative would be to remove the dam and continue operation of the hatchery. Considerable anadromous fishery enhancement could be achieved because natural spawning grounds as well as artificial propagation would be used. Removal of the dam is discussed above.

By leaving the dam in place, the reservoir could be operated as a resident fish production area. For optimum fishery conditions the reservoir would probably be kept at a constant level, thus seriously impeding flood control and power production.

Since the hatchery can be operated independently of the dam, if an alternative power source can be found, the alternative operational possibilities for the dam have no real bearing on the operation of the hatchery.

The dam could be operated only for flood control. This type of operation would result in reservoir levels and releases similar to those found now, except the reservoir would probably begin emptying later, cutting into the late summer-early fall recreation use. Without deliberate regulation of releases for temperature and dissolved oxygen level control, downstream fishery conditions would suffer.

If power production were the primary purpose of the project, extreme water fluctuations would be likely to occur downstream, especially with additional generators. In the future, more emphasis will be placed on use of hydroelectric projects for peaking purposes. Much of the year the maximum possible turbine flow greatly exceeds the inflow to the lake. This drawdown would be steady and gradual. Again, lack of control on water temperature and oxygen content would be detrimental to downstream water quality.

The Dworshak project could be operated as a recreation area only. This would necessitate keeping the pool full throughout the year. Thus both flood control and power production would be impaired. As one aspect of recreation, fish could be stocked in the reservoir as is now done. Operation of the project for recreation only would be unfeasible economically unless some kind of fee were charged.

c. Future Modifications

Other operational aspects of the lake could be incorporated along with the aspects already present. In some cases this could be done without serious interference with the present project priorities.

It would be possible to incorporate irrigation as a project purpose. The height of the reservoir would facilitate the piping of water to lower elevations without a great deal of pumping. However, the rugged topography is not compatible with large-scale irrigated agriculture, so irrigation was not included as a project purpose.

Originally it was planned to include log-handling facilities near the dam as part of the project. At that time it was estimated that a handling facility with an annual capacity of 87 MMBF would be large enough to handle projected use and still be economically feasible. However, after communication with local logging interests, it was found that interest in the facility had declined and projected use would only be 35 MMBF which soon declined to 7 MMBF. Thus, at that time it was determined that a log-handling facility was not economically feasible. Recently, interest by logging organizations has been renewed and the entire proposal is being restudied. It seems likely now that the facility will, in fact, be built for an annual capacity of 100 MMBF.

From consideration of the current energy situation, it seems possible that installation of the additional three units could take place in the future, bringing the total plant output to 1.06 M watts. The installation of these units would intensify the difficulties already present concerning water level fluctuations, and a downstream reregulating dam would probably be necessary. Installation of these units has not been authorized. A separate environmental impact statement would have to be prepared as part of any future studies leading to authorization of additional power units.

There is some possibility that Dworshak could be designated as a National Recreation Area. The criteria for this designation are given in Exhibit G. At some future time this could be considered to facilitate full use of the project's recreational potential.

One advantage to National Recreation status is that cost sharing in recreational development is not required. Thus, development could take place without placing a great financial burden on the limited capacities of local interests.

Future alternatives also include the possibility for changes in land use classification. This would have the effect of increasing, decreasing or relocating the impacts of that land use. However, it would not lead to any new impacts not already considered. No drastic changes in the types of land use present are expected.

An alternative program could be developed for shoreland uses, either giving priority to a single land use or rearranging the designated mix of uses to different sites. On those shorelands where present development has involved substantial financial investments, the opportunity for change in land use is less than on "undeveloped" shorelands. Financial commitments notwithstanding, it would be possible to designate all Dworshak shorelands for public recreation use only; or for wildlife use only; or for log handling and timber production use only. Such action would be to the detriment of the uses eliminated, but would certainly maximize the management potential for the single use selected. Although such an alternative in concept could be applied, it should be noted that not all Dworshak shorelands have the same physical attributes and use potentials. Impacts stemming from major changes in land use could have significant consequences. Generally, the impacts previously discussed for recreation, logging, or wildlife would be more pronounced for the particular alternative use which would be dominant.

Alternative management policies and techniques could be adopted. Some basic policies which have been developed are presented in the Federal Register (Title 36, Code of Federal Regulation, Chapter III, Part 327 - Rules and Regulations Governing Public Use of Water Resources Development Projects Administered by the Chief of Engineers, included as Exhibit H.)

Various topics covered include:

Policy (safe recreation and nondiscrimination)
Motor Vehicles
Vessels
Aircraft
Swimming
Picnicking
Camping
Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping
Sanitation
Fires
Control of Horses, Dogs, Cats, and Pets
Restrictions (visitor use hours)
Explosive, Firearms, other Weapons and Fireworks
Public Property
Abandonment of Personal Property
Lost and Found Articles
Advertisement
Commercial Activities
Permits
Unauthorized Occupation of Lands
Special Events
Unauthorized Structures
Special Recreation Use Fees

Alteration of the general policies prescribed for these topics could be changed to provide a different basis for a public use management program. Even within the framework of the present Federal Register publication, certain alternative land management practices can be undertaken, such as more or less care of recreation facilities, increasing manipulation of vegetation, and similar aspects. In general, alternative management policies and practices would have environmental effects of consequence to the particular item changed (such as visual impact related to timber management changes) but the overall effect of project operation would only moderately be influenced by alternative shoreland management activities.

Graphic of section 7 title, The Relationship of Short-Term Uses of Man's Environment to Long-Term Productivity

Many of the construction scars generated as a part of project construction are short or intermediate-term with natural vegetation resiliency and the restoration program gradually overcoming the scarred condition. A long-term effect will remain in rock cut areas such as the quarry and along the Big Eddy Road where the-rock surface precludes face revegetation or extensive scar restoration treatment. Over an, extended time period, the weathering processes on the exposed rock result in a somewhat naturalistic outcrop as a more informal surface replaces the markedly uniform and straight rock cut areas.

With respect to the reservoir, the numerous possibilities of operational procedures at Dworshak create a complex situation when looking at short-term use in relation to long-term productivity.

Short-term use designed solely for one consideration could be detrimental to the long-term productivity of other concerns. For example, stored water might be released on a short-term (seasonal) basis to meet power demands in one of the areas served in this electrical service area. While this water release would be beneficial on the short-term basis of electrical usage, it could be detrimental to fish populations because of water velocities which would flush fish eggs and young fish downstream. The destruction of a large segment of any one-year class due to this type of water release will show up in the fishery resource populations for many years. In other words, there will be a year class of fish missing.

Any drastic effects that occur to the adult populations of fish downstream in the Clearwater would be harmful to the total fishery. The loss of adult fish, through extreme depression of water temperatures due to releases could destroy spawning populations, thus losing the fish on a long-term (life cycle) basis.

The construction of Dworshak Dam and Reservoir has inundated 54 miles of the North Fork of the Clearwater River. The stream fishing that was afforded by this large segment of free-flowing river has been lost.

The Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is mitigating for loss of the fish by stocking steelhead and other game fish. It is impossible to create new rivers for anadromous fish to enter, so loss of this resource (the free-flowing river) is a long-term effect with respect to natural fish productivity.

Construction of the Dworshak project has caused a long-term loss of approximately 15,000 acres of Wildlife habitat which is not replaceable. The non-game species of wildlife which inhabited this area will probably be lost. The white-tailed deer population which inhabited the lower portion of the North Fork of the Clearwater will be reduced in number to a level at which the remaining land can provide support. Whitetail deer can be mitigated for by habitat manipulation on the lower reservoir, and this should be done in conjunction with development of recreation areas and on low-density recreation lands. Both elk and mule deer populations in the long run probably will be maintained at about their present population as a result of a habitat management program which has been designed to provide replacement habitat. In the short run it is possible that some loss in population may be sustained as a result of the time lag between inundation of parts of their historic winter range and the replacement by managed lands. Natural succession in the North Fork drainage has been gradually decreasing the amount of habitat available for both elk and deer. With the planned management program it is possible that habitat for these species may be preserved longer than if natural processes are allowed to continue.

The project has eliminated the log drives which once occurred on the river, and has reduced the forest land area available for long-term commercial timber production. Production of timber is not a project management goal, although some incidental logging of merchantable timber will be carried out as part of other management objectives.

Impact on timber production is also a factor on those lands acquired (or included in the various agreements) for elk management. Some overall decreases in long-term timber production (with amounts depending upon the agreements and management plans) is anticipated in the areas involving elk browse development.

Public recreational use areas on the project will provide initial outdoor recreation facilities with potential for expansion. As social trends generate more leisure time and interest in general outdoor recreation activities, the project can provide important future opportunities on a major scale, perhaps to the extent of becoming a national recreation area. All project shorelands, except those which may be used for log handling, will be retained in public ownership to be used for public access to the waterfront.

These shorelands will be managed to provide a long-term public open space corridor along both sides of the canyon, and compliment public use of the large land areas of Clearwater National Forest where Dworshak project and National Forest lands lie adjacent along the upstream segments of the reservoir.

The short-term socioeconomic impact related to construction workers has mostly occurred and declined. The long-term effects resulting from new permanent residents, operation personnel, and recreation visitors remain and will likely increase on a long-term basis. Community atmosphere and events are expected to continue to reflect recreation and tourism opportunities associated with Dworshak Reservoir, Nez Perce National Historic Park, the Lolo Trail Highway, and related attractions. Hunting and fishing activities on the Dworshak project and in the surrounding wilderness, forests, and management areas will be long-term socioeconomic events. Sales of boats and associated general recreation equipment, supplies, and services are expected to increase.

Long-term human productivity in the form of power production is an increasingly important element.

For the three-unit initial generator installation at Dworshak, consisting of two 90,000 kw and one 220,000 kw units, total annual cost would be $11 million and annual benefits $34.5 million, for a benefit-to-cost ratio of 2.9 to 1. Of the total initial project cost of $312 million, $260 million will be reimbursable power costs based upon a project life of 100 years and an interest rate of 2-5/8 percent, which was the Federal discount rate in effect at the time Dworshak Dam was authorized. The three generators are capable of producing enough electric power to light a city about the size of Boise, Idaho. This is a renewable resource dependent upon the annual hydrologic cycle in contrast to fossil fuel electric plants which require use of fixed resource commodities. In the long run it is anticipated that a combination of hydroelectric and thermal (nuclear, or fossil fuel) plants will be required to serve electric power needs, with increasing emphasis on the thermal plants for baseload and use of hydroelectric plants for peaking.

In considering the long-term power aspects, the potential exists for installation of three additional generator units at the Dworshak powerplant to produce more power to serve peak demands. Full operation of these three additional generator units would entail more severe downstream river fluctuations (up to seven feet total fluctuation as compared to three feet with the present installation) and could involve creation of a reregulation dam on the main stem Clearwater River.¹⁹ A part of the long-term outlook for providing electrical energy for the Pacific Northwest is the relative mix of hydroelectric and thermal production and the possible advance in technology.

With advances in production technology in future years, it may be feasible to further constrain the plant operation at Dworshak to favor some of the other water use values; however, over the short-run period, the three unit powerplant and the water stored at Dworshak will be essential to meeting electrical energy needs as part of the Bonneville Power Administration system. This is especially true in dry years and during power peaking periods.

As previously noted, a principal long-term effect has been the impoundment of the flowing stream. Most streams surrounding Dworshak in the Clearwater River Basin are still in a free-flowing state. No major new impoundment are planned. Several potential damsites are still available in the Clearwater Basin, but any future environmental evaluations and Congressional action. The Clearwater River Basin 'now contains two wild rivers-- the Selway and the Middle Fork--designated under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The southwest and south are the scenic Hells Canyon and the Salmon River regions. This latter region contains one designated wild river--the Middle Fork Salmon--with the main part of the Salmon River now under a wild river study. In terms of long-range regional environmental diversity, the Dworshak project is an increment which both adds to and detracts from the range of alternatives. The project results in the only major water body in the Clearwater-Bitterroot region affording opportunities for flat water activities in addition to those activities now associated with the nearby flowing streams and the wild rivers. The impoundment reduces river-associated diversity in the immediate project location inasmuch as a 541 mile length of North Fork Clearwater River has been committed for long-term development.

A measure of productivity, both in the short and long-term context can, to some degree, be subjectively ascertained in terms of quality as well as quantity. As increased numbers of impoundments are created, the scarcity of flowing rivers increases the value of the remaining free-flowing streams. The dynamics of a river and the scenic appeal of unspoiled nature symbolize a measure of quality. On the other hand, the magnitude of man's technological ability as expressed at Dworshak is staggering, and to some people it is very impressive.

There are people who value a free-flowing river more than they value a reservoir. To these people, be they fishermen or naturalists, or both, the enjoyment afforded by the 54-mile segment of the North Fork of the Clearwater River has been lost.

From a naturalist point of view, the long-term productivity of the canyon has undergone many changes with project construction. Plants and natural settings have been lost. While there is more water available for recreation, part of the year the shoreline is bare and unappealing.

While there are subjective values to be derived from a reservoir, they cannot wholly replace the naturalistic personality of strength and motion of the flowing river. The more nearly that shoreland management activities can approximate the workings of nature (based on natural, ecological relationships) the better the success at providing quality values for public enjoyment of the Dworshak project.

Graphic of section 8 title, Irreversible or Irretrievable Commitments of Resources

While the construction of the project is considered an irreversible and irretrievable commitment,²⁰ the operation and management criteria and techniques are reversible in that they may be changed in the future to reflect new project needs, improved technical and management methods, etc. Certain physical limitations of the project may be considered irreversible in the sense that it would be very difficult to make alterations. Such aspects as maximum and minimum lake levels are governed by location (elevation) of outlet works. Some natural phenomena place limitations on operation such as the rate of reservoir inflow which determines lake levels.

The major irreversible action, impoundment of the lake, has already occurred.

The option of future generations to use the dam and reservoir area for a different type of development of use has been essentially eliminated. The results of certain earthwork activities and the inundation of specific historic, geologic, and unrecovered archeological features is irreversible and irretrievable. Also involved is loss of steelhead spawning areas, loss of river-associated fishing opportunity in the 54-mile reach, and loss of any other recreational activity dependent upon the river conditions in the project area. Elimination of the log drivers on the river is an irreversible effect.

The commitment of labor and materials required for construction, operation, and management of the project is also considered irreversible and irretrievable.

Throughout all phases of project investigations, planning, design, and construction, coordination has occurred with a wide variety of governmental units, organizations, and individuals. Continued coordination to involve view of Federal, state, and local agencies, as well as organizations and private groups, will be required to obtain maximum benefits from the multiple-purposes of the project.

As an example of past coordination efforts, a public meeting was held at the Orofino Armory Building on 6 May 1969 where about 175 people met to review and consider the reservoir shoreland use plan. Reservoir land use planning procedures were explained and a tentative plan presented, along with mention of road access, concession leases, private boat docks, big-game management, fish hatchery and fish stocking. Statements were then received from representatives of the various groups in attendance.

In general, the plan as presented was acceptable to those attending. Adverse comments were made by several groups relating to expediting acquisition of lands in the upper reservoir area for mitigation of losses from flooding of big-game feed areas. Some plan changes pursuant to ideas expressed at the hearing or submitted later by mail were incorporated into the development plans. The following is a list of the agencies, organizations, and groups who were represented or involved in the meeting and submitted verbal comments or written material.

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Parks Service, Western Region
U.S. Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Northwest Region (now part of Environmental Protection Agency)
Idaho Department of Parks
Idaho Wildlife Federation
Idaho Wildlife Federation, District 1
Idaho Wildlife Federation, District 2
Idaho Fish and Game Department
Idaho Environmental Council
Northern Idaho Wilderness Committee
Moscow Wildlife Association
Clearwater County Board of Commissioners
Orofino Planning Commission
Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs
Lewiston-Clarkston Wildlife Club
Sacajawea Council of Camp Fire Girls
Potlatch Forests, Inc. (now Potlatch Corporation)

Other agencies, organizations, or groups who also were represented at the meeting but who did not submit written or oral statements are listed as follows:

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service
Idaho Department of Public Lands
Idaho State Hospital North
Clearwater County Road Department
Clearwater Power Company
Clearwater Conservation Club
Clearwater County Civil Defense
Idaho County Light and Power Company
Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association
Association of Northwest Steelheaders
National Wildlife Federation
Orofino Chamber of Commerce
School District 171
Lutheran Church, Orofino
Clearwater Tribune
Lewiston Morning Tribune
Spokane Chronicle

Coordination efforts of a more informal nature have been a routine part of the creation of the project, and presentations on the subject have been given to interested groups. For example, in March 1971 a presentation on Dworshak environmental impacts was given to about 60 people at a meeting of the Clearwater Historical Society. Also in the fall of 1973, two public meetings were held to discuss water releases during the steelhead fishing season. The meetings were held in Orofino and Lewiston.

Comments on the draft were requested but not received from:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
Department of Transportation
Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service
Idaho Department of Environmental Protection and Health
Idaho Department of Public Lands
Idaho State Hospital North
Clearwater County Planning Commission
Clearwater County Road Department
Clearwater Conservation Club
Clearwater County Civil Defense
Idaho County Light and Power Company
Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association
Clearwater Historical Society
Northern Idaho Wilderness Committee
Moscow Wildlife Association
Clearwater County Board of Commissioners
Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs
Lewiston-Clarkston Wildlife Club
Sacajawea Council of Camp Fire Girls
Potlatch Corporation (formerly Potlatch Forests, Inc.)
Association of Northwest Steelheaders
National Wildlife Federation
Orofino Chamber of Commerce
School District 171
Lutheran Church, Orofino
Clearwater Tribune
Lewiston Morning Tribune
Spokane Chronicle
Tri-State Steelheaders, Inc.
Northwest Steelheaders Council
Nez Perce Tribal Council
Native American Rights Fund
Sierra Club - Northern Rockies Chapter
National Audubon Society - Chapter
Cheney Environment Center
League of Women Voters

The comments and responses follow.

Footnotes:
¹These are criteria based on a reservoir regulation manual.
²This action of additional generator installation would require a reregulating dam downstream, and would need future Congressional authorization and ufnding; and would need specific analysis of environmental effects which would be contained in a future revision of this impact statement or a separate new statement. No such action is presently planned.
³Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
⁴Data from U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey publications.
⁵Conducted under contract with the University of Idaho.
⁶The dam was removed by the Corps of Engineers.
⁷The reptiles and amphiibans section of the statement is based in part on informal discussions with Dick Wallace, Ichthyolotgist and professor of herpetology at the University of Idaho.
⁸Map taken from Interim Report to the National PArk Service Archaeology in Dworshak Reservoir, 1970-71, by E.H. Swanson, Jr., and D. Corliss, Idaho State University Museum.
⁹This was one cause of some of the treaty difficulties with the U.S., since a treaty signed by a Nez PErce leader was not, in their eyes, necessarily binding on anyone else.
¹⁰List adapted from L.B. Leopold, Quantitative Comparison of Some Aesthetic Factors Among Rivers, Geological Survey Circular 620, 1969.
¹¹Poverty level as defined by Social Security Adminsitration, 1969. The range is from $1,487 for a 65-year-old female unrelated individual living on a farm to $6,116 for a non-farm family with a male head and seven or more persons in the household. The average level for a non-farm family of four is $3,745.
¹²This landfill site is privately owned.
¹³Graham and Shaumburg
¹⁴Jack Hoffbuhr
¹⁵Reference: Report 71-46, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Region Division of State and Private Forestry Insect and Disease Report, Appendix I.
¹⁶Dworshak staff will continue to be active in the Northern Rocky Mountains Forest Pest Action Council to keep abreast of developments both in actions by pests and developments being made in pest control systems, including chemical treatment and resultant effects.
¹⁷A "statement of findings" is prepared for each outgrant issued, which summarizes environmental considerations. In the event of significant adverse impacts, an environmental impact statement will be prepared unless the topic is covered in this overall environmental statement for the project.
¹⁸Sentence taken from letter of 9 May 1969 from National Park Service.
¹⁹In November 1970, a public meeting was held in Lewiston to obtain public opinion on water resource management alternatives for the lower segment of the Clearwater River. The preponderance of testimony presented at the 1970 meeting was in opposition to a regulating dam on the lower Clearwater River; thus it is unlikely that a reregulating dam will be recommended in the foreseeable future. Also, the Idaho governor and some of the states' congressional representatives do not favor such construction. The three additional generators at Dworshak powerplant and any reregulating dam (commonly called the Lenore Dam) would require Congressional authorization and funding and, if such were ever considered, would be subject to new and detailed investigations and environmental studies. Any reregulation studies would have to reflect the major impact to the program of the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery and the related prime steelhead fisheries of the lower Clearwater River.
²⁰It is technologically possible to breach the dam to restore the flowing river; however, in terms of present project objectives, financial investiment, and environmental impoacts, the existence of the project may be regarded as a fixed commitment of very long duration.

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erik.s.peterson@usace.army.mil

( ) Draft	(x) Final Environmental Statement
Responsible Office: U, S. Army Engineer District, Walla Walla, Washington
1. Name of Action: (x) Administrative	( ) Legislative

A	Comments and Responses (Pages 9-4 to 9-75)
B	Letters (Pages 9-83 to 9-129)
C	Archaeology (Article Reprint)
D	Operational Recommendations (Idaho Fish and Game)
E	Operation Plan Recommendations (Idaho Fish and Game)
F	Actual 1974-1975 Operations
G	Criteria for Selection of National Recreation Area
H	Rules and Regulations Governing Public Use of Water Resource Development Projects
I	Plant List
J	Wildlife List
K	A Brief Chronology of Dworshak Dam
L	Newspaper Article and Letter
M	25 August 1972 Letter From Fish and Wildlife Service

Acres-foot	A unit of volume one acre in surface and one-foot deep. One acre-foot equals 43,560 cubic feet.
Algal	Pertaining to or like algae, a group comprising seaweeds, pond scums, and other related plants.
Anadromous	Fish that hatch from eggs in freshwater streams, migrate to the ocean to grow to adulthood, and then return to their stream of origin to spawn.
Avian	Of or pertaining to birds.
Base Load	Continuous operation of generation units to meet a constant demand for electricity.
Benthic	Of or relating to the bottom of a body of water.
Board foot	A volume of wood one foot by one foot by one inch. MBF and MMBF refer to thousand board feet and million board feet, respectively.
BOD	Biochemical oxygen demand: the amount of oxygen needed to support the oxygen consuming organisms in a body of water. A high BOD may cause depletion of dissolved oxygen.
Biological	Of or relating to living things.
COD	Chemical oxygen demand - the amount of oxygen (in mg) required to oxidize the organic matter in one liter of water.
Cultural	Aspects of the advancement of human civilization, including traditions, and physical objects relative of the civilization (i.e., manmade objects).
Downstream migrants	Young anadromous fish traveling to the sea. Also called juveniles, smolts, or fingerlings.
Ecosystem	A system composed of a community of animals, plants, and bacteria; and the physical and chemical environment with which it is interrelated.
Embayments	Water bodies along the edges of the canyon extending into tributaries or side drainages.
Epilimnion	The water stratum overlying the thermocline of a lake.
Fetch	The expanse of open water which can be affected by the wind.
Fluctuation	Changes in flow rates and water levels. In this report, the river fluctuations (downstream) are due to daily and weekly changes in power production and turbine discharge rates or to spillway operation. Major reservoir fluctuations are on a seasonal basis due to annual water storage and release.
Forebay	The reservoir immediately upstream of a powerhouse, where the intakes of the turbines (penstocks) obtain water to oeprate the generator units.
Hypolimnion	The water in a lake below the thermocline. This water is generally stagnant and homogeneous, and resists mixing.
Igneous	Relating to rock formed by heat, usually due to volcanic action.
Lentic	Slowly flowing (water), for instance, a reservoir.
Lignin	An amorphous polymer related to cellulose which binds the cells of a log together.
Littoral (Noun)	The shoreline between the high and low watermarks.
Littoral (Adjective)	Of or related to the edge of a water body, extending downward to the limit of rooted vegetation.
Lotic	Of or pertaining to flowing water. Opposite of lentic.
Mammalian	Of or relating to the class of mammals.
Mean Sea Level (msl)	The average level of the sea, used for altitude measurements. Sixteen hundred feet msl means 1,600 feet above the average level of the ocean.
Metamorphic	(Rock) formed by high pressures and temperatures over a long period of time, such as slate.
Mitigation	Abatement, compensation, or offsetting of an effect. Steps taken to make up for adverse impacts.
Peaking	The practice of increasing flows through powerhouse turbines during hours of the day and week when power demands are high. The term "power peaking" is also commonly used.
Natural	That which is or would be produced or present without human alteration.
Naturalistic	Simulating or approaching the results of nature.
Penstock	A gate for regulating the flow of water into the outlet system.
Releases	Discharges of water through a control structure or powerhouse. Daily release, annual release, and the like, usually refer to averages for the respective periods.
Restoration	In reference to a damsite, alleviation of unnecessary intrusion and making the project blend harmoniously with the existing surroundings.
Riparian	Of or related to the bank of a watercourse.
Salmonid	Fish of the family Salmonidae, which includes salmon, trout, char, and whitefish.
Significant wave	The average height of the highest one-third of all the waves on a body of water. Used to get an idea of the "average height of a high wave."
Slough	To slip, or cast off a layer or covering.
Socio-Economic	Of or relating to the structure of society and its economic activity.
Tailwater	The water immediately downstream of a dam or hydro-electric powerhouse.
Tainter gate	A curved barrier which pivots on a horizontal axis in order to regulate spillway releases.
Tannin	Any of several astringent phenolic soluble materials found in wood. They are hydroxyl derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons and are leached out when the wood is stored in water.
Thermocline	A layer of sharp temeprature drop between a lighter, warmer, more oxygen rich layer of water and a heavier, colder, deoxygenated one. Generally, in the thermocline, the temperature drops at least 1°C for each meter of depth.
Turbidity	Thickness or opaqueness of water due to suspended sediment.
Note: The words "reservoir," "lake," and "pool" are used interchanagebly in this report in reference to the impoundment created by Dworshak Dam.

General
River mile		1.9
Drainage area, square miles		2,440
Effective hydraulic height, feet		632
Maximum structural height, feet		717
Overall length at crest, feet		3,287
Streamflow, cfs:
	Minimum of record Mean annual Standard project flood peaks: Winter Spring Maximum of record Probable maximum flood	250 5,727 160,000 120,000 100,000 411,000
Streamflow, acre-feet:
	Minimum annual Mean annual Maximum annual	2,157,000 4,100,000 6,680,000
Project design discharges, cfs:
	At pool elevation 1445 At pool elevation 1600: Spillway Outlets Total at elevation 1600 At surcharge elevation 1605	32,290 150,000 40,000 190,000 221,000
Tailwater elevations:
	Minimum, discharge 1,000 cfs Maximum, at discharge 150,000 cfs	968 1,003
First power online		1 March 1973

Reservoir
Elevations, feet:
	Maximum Normal operating range	1605 1600 to 1445
Storage capacity, acre-feet:
	Gross Usable, flood control and power	3,453,000 2,000,000
Length at elevation 1600, miles		53.6
Shoreline length, miles		175
Surface areas, acres:
	At elevation 1600 At elevation 1445	16,417 9,047
Recreation sites, number:
	Initial Ultimate	7 19

Non-Overflows
Type		Concrete gravity
Crest elevation		1613
Deck width, feet		44
Concrete volume, cubic yards		6,45,000
Upstream slope		Vertical
Downstream slope	Vertical to 1560, 1 on 0.8 below
Elevators, number		3

Spillway
Type	Gate controlled, with stilling basin
Gates:
	Type Size, width by height, feet Number	Tainter 50 x 56.4 2
Crest elevation		1545
Crane, one, capacity, tons		50

Outlet Works
Water passages:
	Number Type Size, feet	3 Conduit 12 x 17
Gates, type and number:
	Tainter Tractor (emergency)	3 1
Intake centerline elevation		1362

Powerplant
Initial installation:
	Number of units Nameplate rating, kilowatts: Two, each One Total	3 90,000 220,000 400,000
Ultimate installation:
	Number of units Nameplate rating, KVA: Two, each Four, each Total	6 90,000 220,000 1,060,000
Powerhouse length, feet		428
Turbine type		Francis
Turbine ratings, horsepower:
	Small units Large units	142,000 346,000
Generator nameplate ratings, kilovolt amperes:
	Small units Large units	94,737 231,579
Synchronous speed, revolutions per minute:
	Small units Large units	200 128.6
Distributor centerline elevations:
	Small units Large units	969 975
Spacing, feet:
	Small units Large units	47 65
Penstock diameters:
	Small units Large units	12 19
Penstock intake elevations:
	Small units Large units	1,420.68 1,412.70
Gross head, feet		632.5
Rated head, feet		560
Minimum head, feet		477.5
Crane:
	Number Type Capacity, each, tons	2 Bridge 350

Relocations
Roads, miles:
	Highway districts County State	2.7 24.3 2,2
Bridges, number		2

Fish Hatchery, Steelhead
Capacity, adult size		6,000
Yearly fingerling release, pounds		480,000