Pre-Application Document Barber Dam Hydroelectric Project
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PRE-APPLICATION DOCUMENT BARBER DAM HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC NO. 4881 Submitted by: Fulcrum, LLC Subsidiary of Enel Green Power North America, Inc. 100 Brickstone Square, Suite 300 Andover, MA 01810 and Ada County, Idaho 200 W. Front Street Boise, Idaho 83702 November 30, 2018 Barber Dam Project FERC No. 4881 Pre-Application Document TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... v ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................... vi 1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 2.0 PROCESS PLAN AND SCHEDULE (18 CFR §5.6 (D)(1)) ............................................. 3 2.1 Traditional Licensing Process ................................................................................. 3 2.2 Authorized Agent .................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Proposed Communications Protocol ....................................................................... 5 2.3.1 Mailing Lists ............................................................................................... 5 2.3.2 Document Distribution................................................................................ 5 2.3.3 Sensitive Information .................................................................................. 5 2.3.4 Meetings ...................................................................................................... 6 3.0 PROJECT LOCATION, FACILITIES, AND OPERATION (18 CFR §5.6 (D)(2)) ......... 7 3.1 Project Location ...................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Project Facilities ...................................................................................................... 7 3.2.1 Embankment Dam ...................................................................................... 7 3.2.2 Spillway .................................................................................................... 10 3.2.3 Impoundment ............................................................................................ 10 3.2.4 Powerhouse and Intakes ............................................................................ 10 3.2.5 Tailrace ..................................................................................................... 11 3.2.6 Transmission Line ..................................................................................... 11 3.3 Project Lands ........................................................................................................ 11 3.4 Current Project Operations ................................................................................... 11 3.5 Other Project Information ..................................................................................... 12 3.5.1 Current License Requirements .................................................................. 12 3.5.2 Summary of Project Generation ................................................................ 13 3.5.3 Current Net Investment ............................................................................. 14 3.5.4 Compliance History .................................................................................. 14 3.5.5 Proposed Project Operation ...................................................................... 14 3.5.6 Dependable Capacity ................................................................................ 15 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE IMPACTS (18 CFR §5.6 (D)(3)) .............................................................................................................. 16 i November 30, 2018 Barber Dam Project FERC No. 4881 Pre-Application Document 4.1 General Description of the River Basin ................................................................ 16 4.1.1 Topography ............................................................................................... 16 4.1.2 Climate ...................................................................................................... 18 4.2 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................. 18 4.2.1 Geology ..................................................................................................... 18 4.2.2 Soils........................................................................................................... 20 4.2.3 Seismicity .................................................................................................. 22 4.3 Water Resources ................................................................................................... 26 4.3.1 Hydrology and Streamflow ....................................................................... 26 4.3.2 Sedimentation ........................................................................................... 28 4.3.3 Water Quality Standards ........................................................................... 28 4.3.4 Total Maximum Daily Loads .................................................................... 29 4.3.5 Existing Water Quality Data ..................................................................... 30 4.3.6 Water Use .................................................................................................. 32 4.4 Fish and Aquatic Resources .................................................................................. 39 4.4.1 Existing Aquatic Habitat and Fish Communities ...................................... 39 4.4.2 Essential Fish Habitat ............................................................................... 43 4.4.3 Effects of Project on Temporal and Spatial Distribution and Any Associated Trends ..................................................................................... 43 4.5 Wildlife and Botanical Resources ......................................................................... 43 4.5.1 Wildlife Resources .................................................................................... 43 4.5.1 Botanical Resources and Habitat Types ................................................... 52 4.6 Wetlands and Riparian and Littoral Habitat ......................................................... 52 4.7 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species .......................................................... 56 4.7.1 State and Federally Listed Species Habitat Requirements ....................... 57 4.8 Recreation and Land Use ...................................................................................... 57 4.8.1 Recreation ................................................................................................. 57 4.8.2 Land Use ................................................................................................... 60 4.9 Aesthetics and Visual Resources .......................................................................... 62 4.10 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................ 63 4.10.1 Project History .......................................................................................... 63 4.10.2 Cultural Sites ............................................................................................. 64 4.10.3 Tribal Resources ....................................................................................... 67 ii November 30, 2018 Barber Dam Project FERC No. 4881 Pre-Application Document 4.11 Socioeconomic Resources .................................................................................... 67 5.0 PRELIMINARY ISSUES AND STUDIES LIST (18 CFR § 5.6 (D)(4)) ........................ 70 5.1 Issues Pertaining to the Identified Resources ....................................................... 70 5.1.1 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................... 70 5.1.2 Water Resources Issues ............................................................................. 70 5.1.3 Fish and Aquatic Resources Issues ........................................................... 70 5.1.4 Wildlife and Botanical Resources Issues .................................................. 70 5.1.5 Wetlands and Riparian and Littoral Habitat Issues ................................... 71 5.1.6 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Issues ................................... 71 5.1.7 Recreation and Land Use Issues ............................................................... 71 5.1.8 Aesthetics and Visual Resources Issues ................................................... 71 5.1.9 Cultural Resources Issues ......................................................................... 71 5.1.10 Tribal Resources ....................................................................................... 72 5.1.11 Socioeconomic Resources Issues .............................................................. 72 5.2 Potential Studies or Information Gathering .......................................................... 72 5.3 Relevant Comprehensive Waterway Plans ........................................................... 73 6.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................