Norfork Lake Chamber of Commerce

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Norfork Lake Chamber of Commerce|
Position Paper – Minimum Flow Reallocation

The Norfork Chamber of Commerce is in support of minimum flows within the White River System as they exist now. Further, the chamber recognizes the need to return the tailwaters of Bull Shoals Dam to a more moderate, consistent flow, as pointed out in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Study of the Draft ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) White River Minimum Flow Study May 2006 as it relates to the Norfork Lake area. Page numbers are referenced to the draft EIS at http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/planning/wrminflow.html 

The purpose of the study was to determine if minimum flow reallocation might have a negative affect on ‘authorized purposes’ of the lakes and rivers, one of which is recreation and public benefit.

“The Corps was directed to complete a study and report to determine if minimum flow reallocations adversely affect other authorized purposes.” (Pg 6)

Those purposes include “recreational and other benefits to the public. The purpose of the proposed action is to provide an operating plan that accomplishes congressionally authorized project purposes while balancing permitted private uses, social and economic needs, and the application of sound environmental stewardship to managed resources.“ (Pg 6 & Pg 81; section 209 of Flood Control Act of 1954)

The EIS authorizes BS-3 (Bull Shoals) and NF-7 (Norfork) and drops with no comment “Beaver, Table Rock, and Greers Ferry Lakes will not implement minimum flows reallocations or operations.” It also says, “Southwestern Power Administration

(SWPA) will calculate losses to the Federal Hydropower interests annually.” (Pg 6-7)

The report and subsequent conversations with corps officials shows that we can expect lower, longer and more frequent low water events and higher high water events.

The EIS “shows significant impact on the minimum pool elevation-frequencies.” (Pg 8)

Increased minimum flow is tied to the power pool and when the bottom of the pool is reached (510 feet) “releases will be halted… and will not be restarted until inflows have recharged the storage.” (553.75 feet) (Pg 35)

Note: Most lake fish habitats are in the 530 – 540 foot range (Pg 84) and need at least 5-10 foot of water to be viable. Lower water would mean a loss of fish habitat and less lake fish and fishing.

We already have a minimum flow. This is a reallocation of lake water to increase the minimum flow. Also, our “'world class' fisheries” (Pg 101) are referred to as ‘sub-optimal’ and that leaving things as they are, was not an option. There is the option of taking no action as was decided on for Table Rock, Beaver and Greers Ferry lakes.

“It was determined that the resulting minimum flow would be much less than released during power generation.” (Pg19) Generation is 100-6000 cfs at 41-58 degrees. (Pg 98) “The existing minimum flows are: 115 cfs below Norfork Dam, 210 cfs below Bull Shoals Dam,” They would increase to “minimum flows of 340 cfs below Norfork Dam, 1000 cfs below Bull Shoals Dam.” (Pg 101)

“2.4      No Action Alternative: To comply with NEPA the “No Action” alternative was also evaluated. This alternative would consist of no change in current minimum flow operations at each reservoir. The only affects associated with the “No Action” alternative is the continuation of the sub-optimal trout fishery habitat below each dam. The “No Action” alternative does not meet the requirements of the purpose and need of the White River Minimum Flow Reallocation Study Report as directed by Congress.” (Pg 38-39)

The report clearly shows that the amount of the minimum flow is not the main problem. The problem is the sometimes massively inconsistent flows of water released by large volume, short duration hydro generation during the summer and fall. This may cause a sudden shock to the fish when they are engulfed by the very cold, lowly oxygenated water.

“None of the designated uses… have been eliminated or are impaired in any of the lakes. Similarly, the fishable/swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act have been attained in all lakes.” (Pg 94)

“The Bull Shoals (3 miles) and Norfork (4.2 miles) tailwaters have been listed on the 2004 Arkansas Water Quality Limited Waterbodies 303(d) list due to violation of the 6 mg/l dissolved oxygen standard. The cause for each listing is DO and the source is shown as hydropower (HP).”(Pg 94)

Hypolimnetic - hy·po·lim·ni·on   n. The layer of water in a thermally stratified lake that lies below the thermocline, is noncirculating, and remains perpetually cold.

“Hypolimnetic water releases from the large hydropower dams in the watershed have greatly impacted the entire White River system. Colder than normal temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels in these releases, mainly in the summer and fall, have been blamed for stressing fish and are thought to have been the cause of fish kills in some tailwaters. Temperature stress and low dissolved oxygen or other water quality problems associated with hydropower generation the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters.” (Pg 95-96)

“The exceptional rainbow trout fishery continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s… (and) was a result of widespread aquatic vegetation, almost continuous moderate flows, and relatively low fishing pressure. In 1963, the number of hydroelectric units supplying Bull Shoals Tailwater was increased from 4 to 8 units making large volume releases of shorter duration possible. The operational changes resulted in increased scouring, destroying both stream substrate and the once extensive aquatic vegetation. These changes caused trout growth rates to decline. The early 1970's... increasing fishing pressure combined with changes in hydropower operations served to prevent most rainbow trout from reaching the sizes present in the 1950s and 1960s.” (Pg 97-98)

So, increased minimum flows will do nothing to mitigate the above stated problems. It will not change the high volume, short duration releases. It will not correct the vegetation loss due to scouring from those releases or the dramatic temperature change. And it does nothing about the increased number of fishermen except promise to bring more trout fishermen to the area.

They’re plan is to take something “good” and potentially make it “better”. The report shows what a great trout fishing area we have here but then it goes on to say that if we would stop raising and lowering the flows so much that it has the “potential” to be better. The same thing can be said of the lake. If they would just stop raising and lowering the lake level during spawning season, we would have better fishing, better recreation and better economic potentials.

“Since the mid 1980's the brown trout fishery has become increasingly more prominent due to the production of many large brown trout including the former world record caught in 1989 from the Norfork River. (Pg 97-98) There is little doubt that a significant number of trout fishermen enjoy these 'world class' fisheries. Numerous sport fishing magazines have described the Corps tailwaters as some of the best trout fishing streams in the world. The current all tackle world record brown trout was caught in the Greers Ferry tailwater in 1992. In 1987, Barnes and Hudy indicated that more trophy size brown trout exist per mile in some reaches of the White River than any other river in the world. It is important to keep in mind that the-life expectancy of naturally occurring trout is on the average 4 to 8 years.” (Pg101)

“However, these good fisheries are far short of the fishery, stream ecology, recreationand economic potentials that could be realized with increased minimum flows.” (Pg 101)

The report does not guarantee a result. It just promises an increased potential but at what cost to the current trout fisheries and lake fisheries? That is not adequately explored or explained in this report.

The following figures and estimates can be confusing but in short they say that a $170 million estimated annual state wide trout business MAY POTENTIALLY increase by $7 million annually.

“Arkansas' White River supports a (state wide) trout fishing industry valued at more than $170 million per year,” according to the AGFC website.

“The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (UAF) was contracted to estimate the economic benefits of increased minimum flows…The most conservative revised estimate for tailwater recreation benefits is more than $3.4 million. The most optimistic revised value for tailwater benefits is over $21 million. SWL has chosen to use the mid-point value from the conservative set of CV benefits. The average annual value of this benefit is $7,043,400.” (Pg 175-176) This is for the whole White River Study Area.

Potential annual benefits from Norfork tailwaters range from 789,000 (Pg 25) to 1.3 million if “the trout stream miles below Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes are shared and were computed by splitting the river miles below the confluence of the Norfork and White Rivers.” (Pg 176)  

Table 4.8-1 Potential Recreational Benefits From Tailwaters.

That’s the same as making the Norfork 6 times longer (29 miles instead of 4.7 miles) to improve the benefits to cost ratio and only shorting Bull Shoals ½ of 30% of its b/c ratio (29 miles of 89 miles). (Pg 99)

Compare that to the fact that lasts year Baxter County tourism alone, was valued at $167 million and that one fishing tournament on one lake over one weekend has an ACTUAL increase to the area of over $1 million and it is easy to see why we need to be careful not to sacrifice our lakes for our rivers.

April 26, 2006 •• By CHANDRA HUSTON Bulletin Staff Writer. The annual Bass Cat Owners Invitational Tournament brings more than anglers to the Twin Lakes Area. Eddie Majeste, executive director of the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce, said the tournament nets more than $1 million for the area. "It brings in a phenomenal amount of money," he said.

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism reports that for 2005, Baxter County showed $167,193,769 in total travel expenditures

The report appears to grossly underestimate the value of Norfork Lake by reporting total sales within a 30 mile radius as only $35 million.  Baxter County alone was $167 million plus Fulton, Ozark, Izard, Martin and Howell Counties. 

“Table 3.5-10: Discretionary Data for Norfork Lake

Source: Value to the Nation web site at www.CorpsResults.us.

$29.67 million in visitor spending within 30 miles of the Corps lake.

$35.29 million in total sales.

- $17.78 million in total income.

- Supported 1,011 jobs in the local community surrounding the lake.” (Pg 83)

“The in lake recreation activities” and benefits in this study are limited to looking at only Corps facilities and those facilities amenities are not correct so the numbers derived from them are probably also not correct. (Pg 19 and Pg 86)

Several other items were not considered in the report such as:

What is the possible impact on recreation, the lake fish and the marinas during low water years?

February 6, 2006 •• By GEORGE JARED Bulletin Staff Writer. Twin Lakes Area businesses are bracing for the potential economic hit Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes' low water levels may produce during the tourist season this summer and the effects of flood plain control and hydroelectric power generation.

What is the positive and negative economic impact to lake area businesses? 

Why were lake resorts, lake marinas, lake guides and lake area support businesses not included in a comprehensive economic impact study? 

Remember, “The Corps was directed to complete a study and report to determine if minimum flow reallocations adversely affect other authorized purposes.” (Pg 6)