Operational Planning. Each year, an annual operating plan (commencing August 1 and concluding July 31) is drawn up for the entire Columbia River basin. The plan is developed by representatives from each 3 The PNCA critical period is calculated on the projected recurrence of the lowest sequence of streamflows in the 50-year record used in PNCA studies. It used to be the adverse streamflows between September 1928 and February 1932. Currently the critical period is between September 1936 and February 1937. participating utility under the auspices of the Northwest Power Pool, which also helps coordinate transmission concerns. Each PNCA party is responsible for submitting annual data about its projected load and hydraulic resources. For example, the Treaty Entities’ DOP for the Canadian Storage Projects is considered as part of this broader management program for the entire river system carried out under the PNCA. Studies conducted during plan development determine system firm energy load carrying capability (and required levels for each storage reservoir to assure meeting firm load); energy exchanges among PNCA participants; headwater benefits; and rights and obligations of each party for use of headwater project storage. During real-time operations, twice-monthly studies called the “Actual Energy Regulation” are used to change system operation and update draft rights in response to new streamflow forecasts. Though the PNCA’s purpose is coordinated use of resources for power generation, it operates within a framework of other obligations previously committed to by the various parties. Individual project licenses or federal authorizing legislation may impose requirements for use of a certain amount of each project’s power, or could mandate water levels for navigation, flood control, water supply, recreation, and fish protection. In addition, other nonpower requirements (NPRs) can affect individual project operations as reservoir owners attempt to comply with regional processes such as the Northwest Power Planning Council’s salmon recovery program. Individual projects may also be committed to other fish and wildlife agreements that require specific project operations. Power optimization takes place only after NPRs are accommodated. Non-power uses of the river are further discussed under the 2000 Federal Biological Opinion described below.
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