Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project Relicensing

As part of the Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project relicensing, John Blum was Project Manager and Principal Fisheries Scientist for the environmental studies required under the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP).

Blum Environmental Consulting staff conducted extensive water quality/quantity, fisheries, and instream flow assessments for the relicensing effort.  John also managed the relicensing process for all other natural science investigations, including licensing negotiations and participated in the negotiations for the Project.

Anadromous fish that are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are being transported up the Cowlitz River to the project area.  John managed and assisted in the development of the necessary study plans with the agencies involved in the relicensing. 

Services Provided

  • Mr. Blum managed and conducted an analysis of barriers to upstream migration in Lake Creek, tributaries to Packwood Lake, and other streams within the project boundary for both anadromous and resident species. Anadromous spawner surveys in Lake, Snyder and Hall creeks, side channels of the Cowlitz River, and several other streams in the project area were conducted. 
  • An investigation of potential entrainment of resident rainbow trout at the project intake was conducted using gillnets, underwater video cameras, and current meters.  The aim of the entrainment study was to evaluate fish behavior around the intake screens and the potential for entrainment and to determine if the project was causing the entrainment or if it was downlake drift from tributary spawners at the head of Packwood Lake.
  • An instream flow study was conducted using the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology on Lake Creek and the project tailrace slough, near the Cowlitz River; habitat for Chinook and Coho Salmon, and Steelhead, Rainbow, and Cutthroat Trout were modeled in both areas. The results of these studies were used to negotiate instream flows for the Project.
  • John managed and participated in the fish population assessments in all project areas, including on Forest Service lands in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Goat Rocks Wilderness Area; the studies involved assessing population dynamics, run timing, species composition and distribution.  Studies also included the assessment of effects of lake drawdown on fish population in Packwood Lake tributaries.  Hydroacoustics were employed to estimate the Rainbow Trout population in Packwood Lake and were used to determine entrainment effect on the population.
  • Fish salvage and relocation efforts involving ESA-listed species during annual maintenance shut down.
  • Terms of the new license were negotiated and agreed upon with the natural resource agencies and tribes, and a mitigation plan was developed for the new license.