STATEMENT OF WORK

PACIFIC NORTHWEST HYDROPOWER DATA BASE AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE


Part A General
A.l Goal of this Contract
The objective of this contract is to obtain technical assistance for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to (1) coordinate with other participating agencies the maintenance of the data base portion of the Pacific Northwest Hydropower Data Base and Analysis System (NWHS); (2) perform the maintenance of the data base portion of the NWHS; (3) coordinate and perform the NWHS data base review; (4) prepare and utilize the System 1032 data base management tools and software instruction sets to support data base maintenance, data base review, hydropower supply estimates, Protected Areas designations, and data listings; (5) provide for technical training and outside technical consultation to assure successful performance of data compilation, data entry and file organization on the NWHS; (6) assist with application of the -Hydropower Supply algorithm; (7) maintain logbooks of contacts and activities; (8) prepare and provide project status, progress and technical reports; (9) advise and assist BPA program personnel in their efforts to pursue a broadening of the recognition of and support for the NWHS.
A.2 Background
The region has prepared hydropower supply estimates since passage of the Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act in 1980.  Early power supply forecasts were based on various approximations of theoretical hydropower potential (12,000-34,000 MW).  Professional judgment was used to determine a "realistic" estimate of developable hydropower potential (400-4,000 MW).  The 1986 Power Plan projected an estimate of about 200 MW of hydropower that could be obtained by development of sites having existing dams, diversions, or other water control structures.  Supply Curve estimates for 1989 indicated approximately 500 average megawatts available, at costs of 6 cents per kilowatt-hour or less, outside Protected Areas.  Developable hydropower potential estimates are partitioned by season, geographic location, size, or other characteristics which could limit or prevent hydro project completion.
As part of its continuing program to improve assessment of hydroelectric development potential and protect critical habitats of Northwest rivers, the Northwest Power Planning Council (Council) and BPA began simultaneous evaluation and assessment studies in 1984 of (1) potential hydropower sites, and (2) of characteristics of Northwest streams that would be affected by hydropower development.
Potential hydropower sites in the region have been identified, mapped, and described in a cooperative study by the Council, BPA, and North Pacific Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) called the Northwest Hydropower Data Base and Analysis System (NWHS).  Development of the NWHS spanned 1984 to 1987, and cost the region about $3 million.  The data base portion of the NWHS consists of site-specific data on hydropower projects currently in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing/exemption process and existing projects and previously identified sites without current or previous FERC status.  These latter projects and sites consist of (1) existing Federally owned power projects (not subject to FERC jurisdiction); (2) existing Federally owned non-power projects with power potential; (3) existing non-Federal dams and other water control structures with power potential, but which have not been proposed for development through an application filed with FERC; and (4) undeveloped sites for which power potential has been previously studied.  The data base contains location, cost, and performance information describing some 4,500 hydropower proposals and projects in the Pacific Northwest, that have been submitted to the FERC for permitting and licensing.  It also includes information for some 2,000 sites identified in the Corps National Hydropower Survey (NHS), with additional sites being added from state water resource agency records (primarily irrigation diversions).  Associated with the site data base are computer algorithms for estimating project capacity, energy production, and cost where such estimates are not available from project developers.

The Council and BPA have also completed the Pacific Northwest Rivers Study (Rivers Study) to evaluate and assess the significance of river resources in Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington.  The result is a classification of river resources by stretch of river.  The data has been amalgamated in the Northwest Environmental Data Base maintained by the Council and BPA from the four individual state data bases; BPA has also developed a Generating Resources Data Base (c. 1989-1993) which has augmented the NWHS.

The future of regional energy forecasting activities and the Council's Fish and Wildlife Program are part of discussions related to the Regional Review and the Transition Board's continuing efforts to help define life after energy deregulation.  For the foreseeable future, maintenance of the NWHS will continue to be a BPA responsibility.
A.3 Location of Project
The work in support of this project will be primarily performed at BPA Headquarters in Portland, Oregon.  Because of the cooperative involvement of the Council and the Corps, some work may also be performed at their respective Portland offices.  Although no significant travel is anticipated in the performance of this project's work, the possibility exists some infrequent travel to other locations within the four state region may occur for the purpose of obtaining additional, specific hydro project information or visitation to project sites.