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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix-CD-2D - CWRel Attachment G (LIP) 07-15-05Appendix – CD-2D CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 1 July 15, 2005 Attachment G - Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) for the Catawba-Wateree Project PURPOSE The purpose of this Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) is to establish procedures for reductions in water use during periods of low inflow to the Catawba-Wateree Project (the Project). The LIP was developed on the basis that all parties with interests in water quantity will share the responsibility to establish priorities and to conserve the limited water supply. OVERVIEW This Low Inflow Protocol provides trigger points and procedures for how the Catawba-Wateree Project will be operated by the Licensee, as well as water withdrawal reduction measures for other water users during periods of low inflow (i.e., periods when there is not enough water flowing into the Project reservoirs to meet the normal water demands plus maintain reservoir levels within the normal ranges). The Licensee will provide flow from hydro generation and other means to support electric customer needs and the instream flow needs of the Project. During periods of normal inflow, reservoir levels will be maintained within prescribed Normal Operating Ranges. During times that inflow is not adequate to meet all of the normal demands for water and maintain reservoir levels as normally targeted, the Licensee will progressively reduce hydro generation. If reservoir storage continues to be reduced and climatology or hydrologic conditions continue to worsen until trigger points outlined herein are reached, the Licensee will declare a Stage 0 - Low Inflow Watch and begin meeting with the applicable agencies and water users to discuss this LIP. If reservoir storage and climatology or hydrologic conditions reach additional trigger points, the Licensee will declare various stages of a Low Inflow Condition. Each progressive stage of the Low Inflow Condition will call for greater reductions in hydro station releases and water withdrawals, and allow additional use of the available water storage inventory. The goal of this staged Low Inflow Protocol is to take the actions needed in the Catawba- Wateree River Basin to delay the point at which the Project’s available water storage inventory is fully depleted. While there are no human actions that can guarantee that the Catawba- Wateree River Basin will never experience operability limitations at water intake structures due to low reservoir levels or low stream flows, this Low Inflow Protocol is intended to provide additional time to allow precipitation to restore streamflow, reservoir levels, and groundwater levels to normal ranges. The amount of additional time that is gained during the LIP depends primarily on the diagnostic accuracy of the trigger points, the amount of regulatory flexibility the Licensee has to operate the Project, and the effectiveness of the Licensee and the water users in working together to implement their required actions and achieve significant water use reductions. In order to ensure continuous improvement regarding the LIP and its implementation throughout the New License Period, the LIP will be re-evaluated and modified periodically. These re- evaluations and modifications will be as determined by a consensus of the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG). Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 2 July 15, 2005 KEY DEFINITIONS, FACTS, AND ASSUMPTIONS 1. Instream Flows for Recreation – Assume that the New License for the Catawba-Wateree Project will include the prescribed recreational flow releases as listed in Section 3.0 of this AIP. 2. Instream Flows for Aquatic Habitat/Water Quality/Navigation – Assume that the New License for the Catawba-Wateree Project will include the instream flow requirements for Aquatic Habitat/Water Quality/Navigation as listed in Section 4.0 of this AIP. 3. Water Management to Support Water Users - Assume that the New License for the Catawba-Wateree Project will include water management to support water users as listed in Section 5.0 of this AIP. 4. Public Information System – Assume that the Licensee will maintain public information readily available on its website and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system as identified in Section 8.0 of this AIP. 5. Full Pond Elevation – Also referred to simply as “full pond,” this is the level of a reservoir that corresponds to the point at which water would first begin to spill from the reservoir’s dam(s) if the Licensee took no action. This level corresponds to the lowest point along the top of the spillway (including flashboards) for reservoirs without flood gates; and to the lowest point along the top of the flood gates for reservoirs that do have flood gates. To avoid confusion among the many reservoirs the Licensee operates, the Licensee has adopted the practice of referring to the Full Pond Elevation for all of its reservoirs as equal to 100.0-feet (ft.) relative. The Full Pond Elevations for the Catawba-Wateree Project reservoirs are as follows: Reservoir Full Pond Elevation (ft. above Mean Sea Level) Lake James 1200.0 Lake Rhodhiss 995.1 Lake Hickory 935.0 Lookout Shoals Lake 838.1 Lake Norman 760.0 Mountain Island Lake 647.5 Lake Wylie 569.4 Fishing Creek Reservoir 417.2 Great Falls-Dearborn Reservoir 355.8 Cedar Creek Reservoir 284.4 Lake Wateree 225.5 6. Net Inflow – The cumulative inflow into a reservoir, expressed in acre-feet (ac -ft) per month. Net inflow is the sum of tributary stream flow, inflow from upstream hydro development releases (where applicable), groundwater inflow, precipitation falling on the reservoir surface, land surface runoff, and on-reservoir point-source return flows, less the sum of on- reservoir water withdrawals, groundwater recharge, hydro development releases, evaporation, and other factors. Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 3 July 15, 2005 7. Normal Minimum Elevation – The level of a reservoir (measured in feet above Mean Sea Level (msl) or feet relative to the full pond contour with 100.0 ft corresponding to full pond) that defines the bottom of the reservoir’s Normal Operating Range for a given day of the year. If net inflows to the reservoir are within some reasonable tolerance of the average or expected amounts, hydro project equipment is operating properly, and no protocols for abnormal conditions have been implemented, reservoir level excursions below the Normal Minimum Elevation should not occur. The Normal Minimum Elevations for each reservoir are listed in Section 2.0 of this AIP. 8. Normal Maximum Elevation – The level of a reservoir (measured in feet above Mean Sea Level (msl) or feet relative to the full pond contour with 100.0 feet corresponding to full pond) that defines the top of the reservoir’s Normal Operating Range for a given day of the year. If net inflows to the reservoir are within some reasonable tolerance of the average or expected amounts, hydro project equipment is operating properly and no protocols for abnormal conditions have been implemented, reservoir level excursions above the Normal Maximum Elevation should not occur. The Normal Maximum Elevations for each reservoir are listed in Section 2.0 of this AIP. 9. Normal Target Elevation - The level of a reservoir (measured in feet above Mean Sea Level (msl) or feet relative to the full pond contour with 100.0 ft corresponding to full pond) that the Licensee will endeavor in good faith to achieve, unless operating in the Low Inflow or Hydro Project Maintenance & Emergency Protocol. Since inflows vary significantly and outflow demands also vary, the Licensee will not always be able to maintain actual reservoir level at the Normal Target Elevation. The Normal Target Elevation falls within the Normal Operating Range, but it is not always the average of the Normal Minimum and Normal Maximum Elevations. The Normal Target Elevations for each reservoir are listed in Section 2.0 of this AIP. 10. Normal Operating Range for Reservoir Levels – The band of reservoir levels within which the Licensee normally attempts to maintain a given reservoir that it operates on a given day. Each reservoir has its own specific Normal Operating Range, bounded by a Normal Maximum Elevation and a Normal Minimum Elevation. If net inflows to the reservoir are within some reasonable tolerance of the average or expected amounts, hydro project equipment is operating properly, and no protocols for abnormal conditions have been implemented, reservoir level excursions outside of the Normal Operating Range should not occur. Assume that the New License for the Catawba-Wateree Project will include the Normal Operating Ranges for Lake Levels as listed in Section 2.0 of this AIP. 11. Large Water Intake – For the purposes of this Low Inflow Protocol, a Large Water Intake is any intake (e.g., public water supply, industrial, agricultural, power plant, etc.) having a maximum instantaneous capacity greater than or equal to one Million Gallons per Day (MGD) that withdraws water from the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. 12. Public Water Supply – Public Water Supply is used in this document to describe any system owned and/or operated by any governmental or private entity that utilizes waters from the Catawba-Wateree River Basin for public interest including drinking water; residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional uses; irrigation, and/or other public uses. 13. Critical Reservoir Elevation – The highest level of water in a reservoir (measured in feet above Mean Sea Level (msl) or feet relative to the full pond contour with 100.0 ft. corresponding to full pond) below which a large public water supply intake, large industrial Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 4 July 15, 2005 intake, or regional power plant intake located on the reservoir will not operate at its Duke Power-approved capacity. The Critical Reservoir Elevations, as of the revision date of this AIP, are defined below: Reservoir Critical Reservoir Elevation (ft. relative to local datum) Type of Limit Lake James 61.0 Power Production Lake Rhodhiss 89.4 Municipal Intake Lake Hickory 94.0 Municipal Intake Lookout Shoals Lake 74.9 Municipal Intake Lake Norman 90.0 Power Production Mountain Island Lake 94.3 Power Production Lake Wylie 92.6 Industrial Intake Fishing Creek Reservoir 95.0 Municipal Intake Great Falls-Dearborn Reservoir 87.2 Power Production Cedar Creek Reservoir 80.3 Power Production Lake Wateree 88.5 Municipal Intake 14. Total Usable Storage (TUS) – The sum of the Project’s volume of water expressed in acre- feet (ac-ft) contained between each reservoir’s Critical Reservoir Elevation and the Full Pond Elevation. 15. Remaining Usable Storage (RUS) - The sum of the Project’s volume of water expressed in acre-feet (ac-ft) contained between each reservoir’s Critical Lake Elevation and the actual reservoir elevation at any given point in time. 16. Storage Index (SI) – The ratio, expressed in percent, of Remaining Usable Storage to Total Usable Storage at any given point in time. 17. Target Storage Index (TSI) – The Storage Index based on the Project reservoirs being at their Normal Target Elevations. The following table lists the Target Storage Index for the first day of each month: Month Target Storage Index (%)* Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec * Target Storage Indices for other days of the month are determined by linear interpolation. Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 5 July 15, 2005 18. U.S. Drought Monitor - A synthesis of multiple indices, outlooks, and news accounts that represent a consensus of federal and academic scientists concerning the drought status of all parts of the United States. Typically, the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates intensity of drought as D0-Abnormally Dry, D1-Moderate, D2-Severe, D3-Extreme, and D4-Exceptional. The website address is http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html. The following federal agencies are responsible for maintaining the U.S. Drought Monitor: § Joint Agricultural Weather Facility (U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) § Climate Prediction Center (U.S. Department of Commerce/NOAA/National Weather Service) § National Climatic Data Center (DOC/NOAA) 19. U.S. Drought Monitor Three-Month Numeric Average – If the U.S. Drought Monitor has a reading of D0-D4 as of the last day of the previous month for any part of the Catawba- Wateree River Basin that drains to Lake Wateree, the Basin shall be assigned a numeric value for the current month. The numeric value shall equal the highest Drought Monitor designation (e.g., D0 = 0, D4 = 4) as of the last day of the previous month that existed for any part of the Catawba-Wateree River Basin that drains to Lake Wateree. A normal condition in the Basin, defined as the absence of a Drought designation, would be assigned a numeric value of negative one (-1). A running average numeric value of the current month and the previous two months will be monitored and designated as the U.S. Drought Monitor Three-Month Numeric Average. 20. Normal License Project Flows – The amount of water expressed in ac-ft per month that is needed for downstream water requirements and needed to maintain Normal Target Elevations for each Project reservoir. These Normal License Project Flows do not include normal bypassed flows or the portion of recreation flows that are greater than other downstream water requirements. For the purposes of this Low Inflow Protocol, the Normal License Project Flows are the sum of each hydro development’s flow (in ac-ft per month) that is dedicated to: § Providing downstream flow requirements including the portion of recreation flows that are less than other downstream flow requirements, plus a 5 percent contingency for these flows to ensure the Licensee remains in compliance with the New License. plus (+) or minus (-) § Adjusting the volume of water needed each month to maintain Normal Target Elevations for each hydro development. Because of varying target elevations, Normal License Project Flows will increase in months when target elevations rise and decrease in months when target elevations decline. The following are the Normal License Project Flows for each month: Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 6 July 15, 2005 Month Normal License Project Flows for the Catawba-Wateree Project (ac-ft/month) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec These Normal License Project Flows may be adjusted during the New License Period based on changes to bathometric surveys for the Project. 21. Critical Flows – The minimum flow releases from the hydro developments that may be necessary to: a. prevent long-term or irreversible damage to aquatic communities consistent with the resource management goals and objectives for the affected stream reaches; b. provide some basic level of operability for large water intakes located on regulated river reaches; and, c. provide some basic level of water quality maintenance in the affected stream reaches. Since the Normal License Project Flows are needed for downstream water requirements and needed to maintain Normal Target Elevations for each Project reservoir, the Critical Flows are related to and expected to be lower than the Normal License Project Flows required by the New License. For the purposes of this LIP, it is assumed that the Critical Flows are as follows: a. Linville River, Paddy Creek and/or the Catawba River Bypassed Reach below the Bridgewater Development: ____ cubic feet per second (cfs) total. b. Catawba River below the Oxford Development: ____ cfs c. Catawba River below the Lookout Shoals Development: ____ cfs d. Bypassed Reach at the Mountain Island Development: ____ cfs Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 7 July 15, 2005 e. Catawba River below the Wylie Development: ____ cfs f. Great Falls Bypassed Reaches (Long and Short) at the Great Falls-Dearborn Development: ____ cfs total. g. Wateree River below the Wateree Development: ____ cfs h. Leakage flows at the remaining Project structures. Leakage flows are defined as the flow of water through wicket gates and other Project structures at each development when the hydro units are not operating. 22. Drought Storage Considerations – When operating under Stage 0-4 of this LIP, the Licensee will be allowed to raise the reservoirs to levels above the Normal Maximum Elevation when water is available. 23. Recreation Flow Reductions - Since all recreation flow releases must be made by either releasing water through hydroelectric generation or through flow releases that bypass hydro generation equipment, reductions in Normal License Project Flows will impact recreation flow releases. 24. Organizational Abbreviations – Organizational abbreviations include the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR), North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). 25. Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) – Membership on the CW-DMAG is open to one or two representatives from each of the following organizations: a. NCDENR (including - Division of Water Resources and the Division of Water Quality) b. NCWRC c. SCDNR d. SCDHEC e. USGS f. Each Owner of a Large Water Intake located on one of the Catawba-Wateree Project reservoirs or the main stem of the Catawba-Wateree River g. Each Owner of a Large Water Intake located on any tributary stream within the Catawba-Wateree River Basin that ultimately drains to Lake Wateree h. Licensee (CW-DMAG Coordinator). The CW-DMAG will be tasked with working with the Licensee when the LIP is initiated. This team will meet as necessary to foster a basin-wide response to a Low Inflow Condition (see Procedure section of this LIP). The CW -DMAG will meet annually during the month of April to review prior year activities, discuss data input from Large Intake Owners, and discuss other issues relevant to the LIP. The Licensee will maintain an active roster of the CW- DMAG and update the roster as needed. Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 8 July 15, 2005 During the New License Period, the CW-DMAG will be tasked with reviewing and updating the LIP. In order to ensure continuous improvement of the LIP and its implementation throughout the New License Period, the LIP will be re-evaluated and modified periodically. These re-evaluations and modifications will be considered at least once every five (5) years. Modifications must be approved by a consensus of the participating CW-DMAG members. Approved modifications will be incorporated through revision of this LIP. During this process the CW-DMAG may appoint an ad hoc committee to address issues and revisions relevant to the LIP. Issues such as sediment fill impact on reservoir storage volume calculations, and substitution of a regional drought monitor for the U.S. Drought Monitor, if developed in the future, are examples of items that may be re-evaluated. The Licensee will prepare meeting summaries of all CW-DMAG meetings and will make these meeting summaries available to the public. 26. Water Withdrawal Data Collection and Reporting – All owners of Large Water Intakes located on Project reservoirs shall, on an annual basis, report daily and average monthly metered water withdrawals (in MGD) to the Licensee. The Licensee will maintain a database of this information including the Licensee’s own non-hydro water use records (i.e. water uses due to thermal power generation). These annual withdrawal summaries shall be due by January 31 of each year for the preceding calendar year. 27. Reclaimed Water System – Any system using wastewater that has been treated to reclaimed water standards and is re-used for a designated purpose (e.g. industrial process, irrigation). 28. Drought Response Plan Updates – All Large Water Intake Owners will review and update their Drought Response Plans (or develop a plan if they do not have one) to ensure compliance and coordination with this LIP, including the authority to enforce the provisions outlined herein. 29. Relationship Between the LIP and the Hydro Project Maintenance & Emergency Protocol (HPMEP) – The HPMEP outlines the general approach the Licensee will take under certain emergency and equipment failure and maintenance situations to continue practical and safe operation of the Project, to mitigate any related impacts to license conditions, and to communicate with resource agencies and the affected parties. Under the HPMEP, temporary modifications of minimum flow releases and the reservoir level operating ranges are allowed. Lowering levels of Project reservoirs caused by situations addressed under the HPMEP will not invoke implementation of this Low Inflow Protocol (LIP). Also, if the LIP has already been implemented at the time that a situation covered by the HPMEP is initiated, the Licensee will typically suspend implementation of the LIP until the HPMEP situation has been eliminated. The Licensee may, however, choose to continue with the LIP if desirable. 30. Human Health and Safety and Electric System Integrity are of Utmost Importance – Nothing in this protocol will limit the Licensee’s ability to take any and all lawful actions necessary at its hydro projects to protect human health and safety, protect its equipment from major damage, protect the equipment of the Large Intake Owners from major damage, and ensure the stability of the regional electric grid. It is recognized that the Licensee may take the steps that are necessary to protect these things without prior consultation or notification. 31. Consensus – Consensus is reached when all CW-DMAG members can ‘live with’ the outcome or proposal being made. The concept of consensus is more fully described in the Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 9 July 15, 2005 Catawba – Wateree Hydroelectric Project Relicensing – Stakeholder Team Charter (dated February, 2004). Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 10 July 15, 2005 PROCEDURE The Trigger Points Outlined in this Procedure Section are Preliminary. Final Trigger Points will be Determined as other Relevant Information is Finalized (e.g. Critical Flows, Normal License Project Flows, CHEOPS Analyses). During a Low Inflow Watch or a Low Inflow Condition (as defined below), the Licensee and other water users will follow the protocol set forth below for the Catawba-Wateree Project regarding communications and adjustments to hydro releases, bypassed flow releases, minimum reservoir elevations, and other water demands. The adjustments set forth below will be made on a monthly basis and are designed to equitably allocate the impacts of reduced water availability in accordance with the purpose statement of this LIP. Reclaimed water systems will not be subject to the restrictions outlined in this Procedure. Insert Trigger Point Summary Table Stage 0 - Low Inflow Watch: The Licensee will monitor the Storage Index, the U.S. Drought Monitor, and USGS gage #’s 02145000 (South Fork Catawba River at Lowell, NC), 02137727 (Catawba River near Pleasant Gardens, NC), 02140991 (Johns River at Arneys Store, NC), and 02147500 (Rocky Creek at Great Falls, SC) (collectively called “Monitored USGS Gages”) on at least a monthly basis and will declare a Stage 0 - Low Inflow Watch if any of the following conditions occur: a. Storage Index is below the Target Storage Index, but greater than 90% of the Target Storage Index, at the end of the previous month while providing the Normal License Project Flows and normal bypassed flows for the previous month. b. The U.S. Drought Monitor Three-Month Numeric Average has a value greater than or equal to 0. c. The sum of the actual rolling six-month average streamflows at the Monitored USGS Gages is equal to or less than 75% of the sum of the long term rolling six-month average streamflows for that period. When a Low Inflow Watch has been declared, the Licensee will activate the CW-DMAG, including the initiation of monthly meetings or conference calls to occur on the second Tuesday of each month. These monthly discussions will focus on: § Proper communication channels between the CW-DMAG members. § Information reporting consistency for CW-DMAG members, including a storage index history and forecast (at least a 90-day look back and look ahead) from the Licensee, a water use history and forecast (at least a 90-day look back and look ahead) from each water user on the CW-DMAG, stream flow gage and groundwater monitoring status from the state agencies and USGS, and state-wide drought response status from the state agencies. § Refresher training on this LIP. Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 11 July 15, 2005 § Overview discussions from each CW-DMAG member concerning their role and plans for responding if a Low Inflow Condition is subsequently declared. Stage 1 Actions: 1. The Licensee will declare a Stage 1 Low Inflow Condition (LIC) and activate the CW -DMAG if the: a. Storage Index is at or below 90% of the Target Storage Index, but greater than 80% of the Target Storage Index, at the end of the previous month while providing the Normal License Project Flows and normal bypassed flows for the previous month. . (To Be Verified with NME) and either of the following conditions exist: b. The U.S. Drought Monitor Three-Month Numeric Average has a value greater than or equal to 1. c. The sum of the actual rolling six-month average streamflows at the Monitored USGS Gages is equal to or less than 70% of the sum of the long term rolling six-month average streamflows for that period. 2. The Licensee will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 1 LIC declaration: a. Reduce the Normal License Project Flows (NLPF) by 15% of the difference between NLPF and Critical Flow. These reduced Normal License Project Flows are referred to as Stage 1 Minimum Project Flows. b. Reduce the normal bypassed flows in all bypassed reaches by 15% of the difference between the normal bypassed flows and Critical Flow. These reduced bypassed flows are referred to as Stage 1 Bypassed Flows. c. Reduce the recreation flows by 15%. d. Reduce the Normal Minimum Elevations by one foot, except not to levels below the Critical Reservoir Elevations. These elevations are referred to as the Stage 1 Minimum Elevations e. Update its website and IVR messages to account for the impacts of the LIP on reservoir levels, usability of Duke Power public access areas, and recreation flow schedules. f. Provide weekly updates to owners of Large Water Intakes information about lake levels, meteorological forecasts, and inflow of water into the system. 3. Owners of public water supply intakes will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 1 LIC declaration: a. Notify their water customers of the low inflow condition through public outreach and communication efforts. Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 12 July 15, 2005 b. Request that their water customers implement voluntary water use restrictions, in accordance with their drought response plans, which may include: § Reduction of lawn and landscape irrigation to no more than two days per week (i.e. residential, multi-family, parks, streetscapes, schools, etc). § Reduction of residential vehicle washing. At this level, the goal is to reduce water usage by approximately 3-5% from the amount that would otherwise be expected. The baseline for this comparison will be generated by each entity and shall be based on existing conditions (i.e. drought conditions). For the purposes of determining ‘the amount that would otherwise be expected’, each entity may give consideration to one or more of the following: § Historical maximum daily, weekly, and monthly flows during drought conditions. § Increased customer base (e.g. population growth, service area expansion) since the historical flow comparison. § Changes in major water users (e.g. industrial shifts) since the historical flow comparison. § Climatic conditions for the comparison period. § Changes in water use since the historical flow comparison. § Other system specific considerations. c. Provide a status update to the CW-DMAG on actual water withdrawal trends. Discuss plans for moving to mandatory restrictions, if required. 4. Owners of Large Water Intakes, other than those referenced in item 3 above, will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 1 LIC declaration: a. Notify their customers of the low inflow condition through public outreach and communication efforts. b. Request that their customers conserve water through reduction of water use, electric power consumption, and other means. Stage 2 Actions: 1. The Licensee will declare a Stage 2 Low Inflow Condition (LIC) and notify the CW-DMAG if the: a. Storage Index is at or below 80% of the Target Storage Index, but greater than 70% of the Target Storage Index, at the end of the previous month while providing the Stage 1 Minimum Project Flows and the Stage 1 Bypassed Flows during the previous month. . (To Be Verified with NME) and either of the following conditions exist: b. The U.S. Drought Monitor Three-Month Numeric Average has a value greater than or equal to 2. Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 13 July 15, 2005 c. The sum of the actual rolling six-month average streamflows at the Monitored USGS Gages is equal to or less than 55% of the sum of the long term rolling six-month average streamflows for that period. 2. The Licensee will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 2 LIC declaration: a. Reduce the NLPF by 35% of the difference between the NLPF and Critical Flow. These reduced flows are referred to as Stage 2 Minimum Project Flows. b. Reduce the normal bypassed flows by 35% of the difference between the normal bypassed flows and Critical Flow. These reduced bypassed flows are referred to as Stage 2 Bypassed Flows. c. Eliminate recreation flows at this stage and all subsequent stages. d. Reduce the Stage 1 Minimum Elevations by one additional foot (two feet total below normal), except not to levels below the Critical Reservoir Elevations. These elevations are referred to as the Stage 2 Minimum Elevations. e. Update its website and IVR messages to account for the impacts of the LIP on reservoir levels, usability of Duke Power public access areas, and recreation flow schedules. f. Provide bi-weekly (once every two weeks) updates to owners of Large Water Intakes with information about lake levels, meteorological forecasts, and inflow of water into the system. 3. Owners of public water supply intakes will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 2 LIC declaration: a. Notify their water customers of the continued low inflow condition and movement to mandatory water use restrictions through public outreach and communication efforts. b. Require that their water customers implement mandatory water use restrictions, in accordance with their drought response plans, which may include: § Limiting lawn and landscape irrigation to no more than two days per week (i.e. residential, multi-family, parks, streetscapes, schools, etc). § Eliminating residential vehicle washing. § Limiting public building, sidewalk, and street washing activities except as required for safety and/or to maintain regulatory compliance. At this level, the goal is to reduce water usage by approximately 5-10% from the amount that would otherwise be expected (as discussed in Stage 1 above). c. Enforce mandatory water use restrictions through the assessment of penalties. d. Provide a status update to the CW-DMAG on actual water withdrawal trends. Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 14 July 15, 2005 4. Owners of Large Water Intakes, other than those referenced in item 3 above, will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 2 LIC declaration: a. Continue informing their customers of the low inflow condition through public outreach and communication efforts. b. Request that their customers conserve water through reduction of water use, electric power consumption, and other means. Stage 3 Actions: 1. The Licensee will declare a Stage 3 Low Inflow Condition (LIC) and notify the CW-DMAG if the: a. Storage Index is at or below 70% of the Target Storage Index, but greater than 60% of the Target Storage Index, at the end of the previous month while providing the Stage 2 Minimum Project Flows and the Stage 2 Bypassed Flows during the previous month. (To Be Verified with NME) and either of the following conditions exist: b. The U.S. Drought Monitor Three-Month Numeric Average has a value greater than or equal to 3. c. The sum of the actual rolling six-month average streamflows at the Monitored USGS Gages is equal to or less than 40% of the sum of the long term rolling six-month average streamflows for that period. 2. The Licensee will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 3 LIC declaration: a. Reduce the NLPF by 90% of the difference between the NLPF and Critical Flow. These reduced flows are referred to as Stage 3 Minimum Project Flows. b. Reduce the normal bypassed flows by 90% of the difference between the normal bypassed flows and Critical Flow. These reduced bypassed flows are referred to as Stage 3 Bypassed Flows. c. Reduce the Stage 2 Minimum Elevations by one additional foot (three feet total below normal), except not to levels below the Critical Reservoir Elevations. These elevations are referred to as the Stage 3 Minimum Elevations. d. Update its website and IVR messages to account for the impacts of the LIP on reservoir levels, usability of Duke Power public access areas, and recreation flow schedules. e. Provide bi-weekly updates to owners of Large Water Intakes with information about lake levels, meteorological forecasts, and inflow of water into the system. 3. Owners of public water supply intakes will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 3 LIC declaration: Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 15 July 15, 2005 a. Notify their water customers of the continued low inflow condition and movement to more stringent mandatory water use restrictions through public outreach and communication efforts. b. Require that their water customers implement increased mandatory water use restrictions, in accordance with their drought response plans, which may include: § Limiting lawn and landscape irrigation to no more than one day per week (i.e. residential, multi-family, parks, streetscapes, schools, etc). § Eliminating residential vehicle washing. § Limiting public building, sidewalk, and street washing activities except as required for safety and/or to maintain regulatory compliance. § Limiting construction uses of water such as dust control. § Limiting flushing and hydrant testing programs, except to maintain water quality or other special circumstances. § Eliminating the filling of new swimming pools. At this level, the goal is to reduce water usage by approximately 10-20% from the amount that would otherwise be expected (as discussed in Stage 1 above). c. Enforce mandatory water use restrictions through the assessment of penalties. d. Encourage industrial/manufacturing process changes that reduce water consumption. e. Provide a status update to the CW-DMAG on actual water withdrawal trends. 4. Owners of Large Water Intakes, other than those referenced in item 3 above, will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 3 LIC declaration: a. Continue informing their customers of the low inflow condition through public outreach and communication efforts. b. Request that their customers conserve water through reduction of water use, electric power consumption, and other means. Stage 4 Actions: 1. The Licensee will declare a Stage 4 Low Inflow Condition (LIC) and notify the CW-DMAG if the: a. Storage Index is at or below 60% of the Target Storage Index at the end of the previous month while providing the Stage 3 Minimum Project Flows and the Stage 3 Bypassed Flows. (To Be Verified with NME) and either of the following conditions exist: b. The U.S. Drought Monitor Three-Month Numeric Average has a value of 4. Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 16 July 15, 2005 c. The sum of the actual rolling six-month average streamflows at the Monitored USGS Gages is equal to or less than 30% of the sum of the long term rolling six-month average streamflows for that period. 2. The Licensee will: a. Reduce the Stage 3 Minimum Project Flows and the Stage 3 Bypassed Flows to Critical Flows. b. Reduce the Stage 3 Minimum Elevations to the Critical Reservoir Elevations. c. Establish a meeting date and notify the CW-DMAG within 5 days following the Stage 4 LIC declaration. d. Continue to update its website and IVR messages to account for the impacts of the LIP on reservoir levels, usability of Duke Power public access areas, and recreation flow schedules. e. Provide bi-weekly updates to owners of Large Water Intakes with information about lake levels, meteorological forecasts, and inflow of water into the system. Note: In a Stage 4 LIC, the Remaining Usable Storage in the reservoir system is small and can be fully depleted in a matter of weeks or months. Also, it is very likely that groundwater recharge will cause reservoir levels to drop at an increasing rate. For these reasons in the Stage 4 LIC, the Licensee may not be able to ensure that releases from its hydro developments will meet or exceed Critical Minimum Flows or that reservoir elevations will be greater than or equal to the Critical Reservoir Elevations. 3. Owners of public water supply intakes on the CW-DMAG will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 4 LIC declaration: a. Notify their water customers of the continued low inflow condition and movement to emergency water use restrictions through public outreach and communication efforts. b. Restrict all outdoor water use. c. Implement emergency water use restrictions in accordance with their drought response plans, including enforcement of these restrictions and assessment of penalties. d. Prioritize and meet with their commercial and industrial large water customers and meet to discuss strategies for water reduction measures including development of an activity schedule and contingency plans. e. Prepare to implement emergency plans to respond to water outages. At this level, the goal is to reduce water usage by approximately 20-30% from the amount that would otherwise be expected (as discussed in Stage 1 above). Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 17 July 15, 2005 4. Owners of Large Water Intakes on the CW-DMAG, other than those referenced in item 3 above, will complete the following activities within 14 days after the Stage 4 LIC declaration: a. Continue informing their customers of the low inflow condition through public outreach and communication efforts. b. Request that their customers conserve water through reduction of water use, electric power consumption, and other means. 5. The CW-DMAG will: a. Meet within 5 days after the declaration of the Stage 5 LIC and determine if there are any additional measures that can be implemented to: (1) reduce water withdrawals; (2) reduce water releases from the Project; or (3) utilize additional reservoir storage without creating more severe regional problems. b. Work together to develop plans and implement any additional measures identified above. Recovery from the Low Inflow Protocol 1. Recovery from the LIP will simply reverse the same staged approach as noted above, except that: a. All the trigger points identified above for declaring the lower numbered stage must be met or exceeded before returning reservoir levels and flows to that LIC stage, Low Inflow Watch, or Normal Conditions. b. The following groundwater level trigger points must also be attained before returning reservoir levels and flows to that LIC stage, Low Inflow Watch, or Normal Conditions: USGS has reviewed available well records and has determined that there are some wells with an adequate period that can be used for this process and has also determined that additional wells are needed in order to include ground water as part of the recovery. Groundwater Trigger Points for Returning to: Groundwater Monitor Stage 3 Stage 2 Stage 1 LIW Normal #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 Catawba-Wateree Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) DRAFT CWRel Attachement G (LIP) 07-15-05 18 July 15, 2005 #9 #10 2. The NCDENR, SCDNR, SCDHEC, USGS and the Licensee will determine when attainment of the groundwater trigger points for recovery is reached. 3. The Licensee will directly notify the CW-DMAG members within 5 days following attainment of all the trigger points necessary to recover to a lower stage of the LIP, Low Inflow Watch, or Normal Conditions. 4. The Licensee will update its website and IVR messages to account for the impacts of the LIP on reservoir levels, usability of Duke Power public access areas, and recreation flow schedules.