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On April 29, 2004 PG&E, on behalf of the 2105 Licensing
Group, filed with the FERC the April 22, 2004 Settlement
Agreement and a transmittal letter for Project 2105.
This marks a significant milepost in the Project 2105 licensing process. While
not all issues are resolved and not all participants signed the agreement, the 2105 Committee
believes that the Settlement Agreement achieves many of the 2105 Committee’s
ultimate goals for Lake Almanor and the Feather River
downstream of the lake.
The agreement addresses Project 2105 reservoir lake levels,
stream flows below project dams, water quality monitoring, wildlife habitat enhancement,
and recreation enhancements.
The issue of shoreline erosion at Lake Almanor is not addressed1 in the
Settlement Agreement and remains an unresolved
issue. Boating and swimming safety on Lake Almanor is addressed in a
separate agreement.
It is assumed that the principles agreed to by the Parties
in the Settlement Agreement will ultimately be incorporated into PG&E's new FERC license for Project 2105.
Lake Levels
Under the agreement, PG&E will be required to operate Lake Almanor to
specified lake levels during the summer months.
The agreed to minimum lake levels represent a compromise reached by the Parties
and strike a balance between lake levels and
required releases below Canyon Dam. PG&E's technical studies indicate that the lake
levels will, on average, be no less than what has occurred over the past 20 years.
In Normal and Wet years, the lake will be no less than elevation 4485 feet between June 1 and August 31. During Dry years, the lake will be no less than 4483 feet on May 31 and no
less than 4480 feet between June 1 and August 31. In Critically Dry years, the lake will be no less than 4482 feet on May 31 and no less than 4480 feet between June 1 and August 31. The type of water year
2(e.g. Dry or Normal) depends on the predicted seasonal inflow into Lake Oroville and is defined
as the Water Year Type.
The minimum lake level may be temporarily reduced in the event of
1) an Emergency, 2)
Multiple Dry Years or
3) a Temporary
Modification if, for example, substantial maintenance or repair work is need
on Project facilities.
The maximum lake level will continue to be 4494 feet. PG&E will continue to
meet between March 15 and
May 15 annually with
a committee appointed by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors.
Stream Flows
Fish Flows
Fish flows in the Seneca Reach and Belden Reach will be significantly increased under the
Settlement Agreement. PG&E currently releases 35 cubic feet/second (cfs3) year around into the Seneca Reach and, for the Belden Reach, PG&E releases 140 cfs from the last Saturday in April to Labor Day and 60 cfs for the rest of the year. Under the
agreement, the Seneca Reach fish flow will be increased to
between 60 cfs and 150 cfs depending on month and
Water Year Type. The average annual volume of fish flow released from Lake Almanor into the Seneca Reach will change from 25,339 acre-feet to 64,431 acre-feet, an increase of 39,092
acre-feet
Fish flow in the Belden Reach will be increased to between 75 cfs and 235 cfs depending on the month and
Water Year Type. No current fish flows below Butt Valley Dam are required and none are required under the
agreement, however, PG&E will be prohibited in reducing any leakage or other flows now occurring below the dam.
Pulse Flows:
In January, February, and March of Wet or Normal years, PG&E will be required to release
pulse flows in both the Seneca and Belden Reaches for the purpose of improving and preserving the aquatic conditions in each reach. The pulse flow releases will result in river flows of about 1200 cfs for a period of 12
hours and will be ramped
in accordance with the Settlement Agreement.
Recreation Flows:
Within 6 months of issuance of the new Project 2105 FERC license, PG&E will establish a "Recreation River Flow Technical Review Group4" (TRG) for the purpose of evaluating whether or not recreation river flows will be established in the Belden Reach. If the TRG
determines that the recreation test flows should be conducted, and if the test
flows are ultimately successful, then PG&E will be required to release 650 cfs or 750 cfs (depending on
Water Year Type) during the day on one or
more weekend days during July, August, September, and October.
The number of release days each year may be adjusted up or down depending on how many boaters take advantage of the recreation flow releases in the prior year. PG&E may postpone recreation flow releases in the event of an
Emergency.
Water Quality Monitoring
PG&E will be
required to conduct ongoing water quality monitoring of project waters to ensure
that water quality standards are met and to identify any trends in water quality
conditions that may occur over time that may require remediation. The list
of constituents to be monitored includes metals, minerals, nutrients, and
bacteria. Within three months of issuance of the new Project 2105 FERC
license PG&E must develop plans to study and monitor:
PG&E must prepare an annual water quality report and must
consult with the State Water Regional Control Board, the Regional Water Quality
Control Board, and other Water
Quality Parties to analyze the annual water quality data. The annual
report will be reviewed and discussed in a discussion group consisting of
PG&E, aquatic resources management agencies and Water Quality Parties
between April 15 and April 28 each year.
Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
Within 12 months of issuance of the new Project 2105 FERC
license PG&E will prepare a Wildlife
Habitat Enhancement Plan in consultation with the Forest Service, Fish and
Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, State Water Resources
Control Board, and Plumas County.
The Plan will be designed to protect a variety of
sensitive biological resources primarily through fencing and vehicle exclusion
measures. PG&E's initial investment will be limited to $20,000 (in
2005 dollars) and an ongoing annual maintenance cost of $5,000 (2004 dollars).
Recreation Enhancements
Within one year of issuance of the new Project 2105 FERC
license PG&E must make final the Draft UNFFR Recreation Resource Management
Plan ("RRMP") that was filed as part of PG&E's Project 2105 FERC
filing. The RRMP describes the development of recreation
facilities at both Lake Almanor and Butt Valley reservoir that will be
constructed over the next 13 years. The recreation
facilities include new and refurbished camp sites, picnic areas, beaches,
and a boat launch. Camp sites will serve a variety of uses including
conventional campsites, RVs and group camping. Camping facilities will be
constructed or refurbished to current standards including the Americans with
Disability Accessibility Guidelines. The PSEA Swim Beach
at Pratville will be improved and named the "Marvin Alexander Beach"
after Marvin Alexander, an original founder of the Lake Level Committee,
longtime summer resident of Lake Almanor and a Project 2105 Committee member. PG&E
and the Forest Service ("FS") will share the costs on a 40/60 basis
for improvements to FS-owned
facilities at the Almanor Family Campground, Almanor Group Campground,
Almanor Amphitheater, Almanor Picnic Area, and Almanor Beach. The
improvements at these facilities will occur over an expected 13 year period and
will cost PG&E $5 million (in 2004 dollars).
PG&E will contribute matching funds up to a maximum of
$300,000 to Plumas County for construction of a non-motorized recreation trail
across lands owned by PG&E on the south side of Lake Almanor as a
continuation of the Lake Almanor Regional Trail to the East Shore Campground.
The county will repair and maintain the trail including any repairs for damages
that may be caused by PG&E raising and lowering the water in Lake Almanor.
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