NMFS TFD DEIS Cmts
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Hydropower Team Trip Report (June 18-20, 2003)
APPENDIX A.3 Hydropower Team Trip Report (June 18-20, 2003) UPPER SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN STORAGE INVESTIGATION - PHASE 1 HYDROPOWER ANALYSIS TRIP REPORT - SITE VISITS TO RETAINED SITES June 18 – 20, 2003 INTRODUCTION This field trip report was prepared to document on-site data collection activities in support of an appraisal-level hydropower evaluation of surface storage options under consideration in the Phase 1 Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation. As part of Task 1, Data Collection, field trips were made to three potential Temperance Flat dam locations on the San Joaquin River at river mile (RM) 274, RM 279, RM 286; and at two potential dam sites for off-steam storage reservoirs at Fine Gold Creek and Yokohl Creek. Field trips were also made to the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) hydroelectric facilities likely to be impacted by dams at RM 274, RM 279 and RM 286. The PG&E facilities included Wishon Powerhouse, Kerckhoff Dam, Kerckhoff No: 1 Powerhouse and Kerckhoff No: 2 Powerhouse. The SCE facilities included Big Creek No: 4 Powerhouse, Redinger Dam and Big Creek No: 3 Powerhouse. The PG&E and SCE facilities are all located on the San Joaquin River. Potential dam locations and existing PG&E and SCE facilities were visited as follows: Wednesday, June 18, 2003: RM 286, Big Creek No: 4 Powerhouse, Redinger Dam, Big Creek No: 3 Powerhouse, and Fine Gold Creek. Thursday, June 19, 2003: Kerckhoff Dam, Wishon Powerhouse, Kerckhoff No: 1 Powerhouse, Kerckhoff No: 2 Powerhouse, and Yokohl Creek. -
Temperance Flat Reservoir
Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation Temperance Flat Reservoir Surface Storage Option Technical Appendix to the Phase 1 Investigation Report A Joint Study by: Bureau of Reclamation California Department Mid-Pacific Region of Water Resources In Coordination with: The California Bay-Delta Authority October 2003 Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation San Joaquin River looking downstream towards Millerton Lake Temperance Flat Reservoir Surface Storage Option Technical Appendix to the Phase 1 Investigation Report A Joint Study by: Bureau of Reclamation California Department Mid-Pacific Region of Water Resources In Coordination with: Prepared by: The California Bay-Delta Authority October 2003 Surface Water Storage Option Technical Memorandum TEMPERANCE FLAT RESERVOIR UPPER SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN STORAGE INVESTIGATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................... viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................... ES-1 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1-1 STORAGE OPTIONS SUMMARY.....................................................................................1-1 SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS................................................................1-4 POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS.........................................................................................1-4 RM 274 Options..............................................................................................................1-4 -
NRDC on the 2014 Draft
Natural Resources Defense Council The Bay Institute American Rivers Audubon California California Sportfishing Protection Alliance Friends of the River October 27, 2014 Melissa Harris Project Manager U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Planning Division 2800 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA 95825-1893 Sent via U.S. Mail and via email to [email protected] RE: Comments on the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation Draft Environmental Impact Statement Dear Ms. Harris: On behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Bay Institute, American Rivers, Audubon California, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Friends of the River, and our hundreds of thousands of members and activists in California, we are writing to provide comments on the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“DEIS”). The DEIS fails to adequately assess the potential impacts of constructing and operating new storage at Temperance Flat, and even its flawed analysis demonstrates that the alternatives will result in significant adverse environmental impacts. Yet the document fails to consider feasible mitigation measures to address the significant environmental impacts that are likely to result from the alternatives analyzed in the DEIS. Overall, as documented in detail in the pages that follow, the DEIS fails to comply with the requirements of CEQA and NEPA. In particular, the DEIS: Fails to consider a reasonable range of alternatives; Fails to incorporate climate change into the operational modeling -
Hydropower Technical Appendix
Hydropower Hydropower Technical Appendix UPPER SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN STORAGE INVESTIGATION Initial Alternatives Information Report Hydropower Technical Appendix TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................. 1-1 STUDY AREA.........................................................................................................................1-2 SURFACE WATER STORAGE MEASURES CONSIDERED IN THE IAIR ...........................1-3 ORGANIZATION OF THIS TECHNICAL APPENDIX.............................................................1-3 CHAPTER 2. EXISTING AND FUTURE WITHOUT-PROJECT CONDITIONS......... 2-1 HYDROPOWER BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................2-1 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE................................................................................................2-1 EXISTING HYDROPOWER FACILITIES IN THE UPPER SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN....2-5 Friant Dam and Millerton Lake ............................................................................................2-9 Friant Power Project............................................................................................................2-9 PG&E Kerckhoff Hydroelectric Project ..............................................................................2-10 Kerckhoff No. 2 Powerhouse .........................................................................................2-10 Kerckhoff Dam and Lake................................................................................................2-11 -
Historical and Present Distribution of Chinook Salmon in the Central Valley Drainage of California
Historical and Present Distribution of Chinook Salmon in the Central Valley Drainage of California Ronald M. Yoshiyama, Eric R. Gerstung, Frank W. Fisher, and Peter B. Moyle Abstract Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) formerly were highly abundant and widely distributed in virtually all the major streams of California’s Central Valley drainage—encompassing the Sacramento River basin in the north and San Joaquin River basin in the south. We used information from historical narratives and ethnographic accounts, fishery records and locations of in-stream natural barriers to determine the historical distributional limits and, secondarily, to describe at least qualitatively the abundances of chinook salmon within the major salmon-producing Central Valley watersheds. Indi- vidual synopses are given for each of the larger streams that histori- cally supported or currently support salmon runs. In the concluding section, we compare the historical distributional limits of chinook salmon in Central Valley streams with present-day distributions to estimate the reduction of in-stream salmon habitat that has resulted from human activities—namely, primarily the con- struction of dams and other barriers and dewatering of stream reaches. We estimated that at least 1,057 mi (or 48%) of the stream lengths historically available to salmon have been lost from the origi- nal total of 2,183 mi in the Central Valley drainage. We included in these assessments all lengths of stream that were occupied by salmon, whether for spawning and holding or only as migration cor- ridors. In considering only spawning and holding habitat (in other words, excluding migration corridors in the lower rivers), the propor- tionate reduction of the historical habitat range was far more than 48% and probably exceeded 72% because most of the former spawn- ing and holding habitat was located in upstream reaches that are now inaccessible for salmon. -
AW 20141027 AW TFD DEIS Cmts
Dave Steindorf California Stewardship Director 4 Baroni Drive Chico, CA 95928 530-518-2729 www.americanwhitewater.org [email protected] October 27, 2014 Melissa Harris, Bureau of Reclamation 2800 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA 95825-1893 Sent via electronic mail to: [email protected] Dear Ms. Harris, American Whitewater appreciates having the opportunity to provide comment on the Bureau of Reclamation’s (“Bureau”) Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Project (“DEIS”), which proposes to build the Temperance Flat Dam at river mile 274. Constructing and operating the Temperance Flat Dam would have incredibly high economic, environmental and recreational costs while yielding a small amount of water and doing little to address the extreme drought in California. American Whitewater encourages the Bureau to adopt the No Action Alternative. American Whitewater is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) river conservation organization founded in 1954 with a mission to conserve and restore America’s whitewater resources and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely. With over 5,800 members and 100 locally-based affiliate clubs, American Whitewater represents the conservation interests of thousands of whitewater enthusiasts across the nation. A significant percentage of our members reside in and travel to California for its whitewater resources, and enjoy recreating on the San Joaquin River. As a result, American Whitewater has a direct interest in the outcome of the proposal to construct Temperance Flat Dam. The San Joaquin River’s Values The San Joaquin River between Kerckhoff Dam and Millerton Reservoir is a special place that supports a variety of recreational experiences amidst stunning scenery and a unique geologic background. -
Conserving Ca{Ijornia 'S Wiu{Ije Since 18 70
IP.iiii'-~ii State of California - Natural Resources Agency EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CHARLTON H. BONHAM, Director "olllli~liill Central Region 1234 East Shaw Avenue Fresno, California 93710 (559) 243-4005 www.wildlife.ca.gov October 20, 2014 Melissa Harris, Project Manager United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation, Planning Division 2800 Cottage Way, MP-700 Sacramento, California 95825-1893 Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (MP-720/ENV-6.00) Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation (Project) Fresno and Madera Counties Dear Ms. Harris: On September 5, 2014, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) received the above referenced 7,000-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Acting as the federal lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), your agency has prepared and circulated the DEIS to inform cooperating and other public agencies of the potential environmental impacts which could result from Project implementation. The DEIS indicates that the environmental document was prepared consistent with the substance, format, and process requirements of both NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and could therefore be relied upon by the Department in the event we are involved in approving some aspect of the Project. However, the DEIS has not been circulated through the State Clearinghouse as required under CEQA (Section 15205(b)(4)). The Department provided informal comments to your consultant (MWH Americas, Inc. ) on an administrative draft of the DEIS in April 2013. The Department understands that Project approval would allow for the construction and operation of the Temperance Flat Dam on the San Joaquin River approximately 6.8 miles upstream of the existing Friant Dam. -
Troubled Water of the Sierra
Troubled Water of the Sierra By Kerri L. Timmer Edited by Joan Clayburgh Sierra Nevada Alliance www.sierranevadaalliance.org Troubled Water of the Sierra 1 Acknowledgements Many individuals contributed comments, insights, experience and hard work to this report, among them Hannah House Gilan, Lynn Sadler, Bill Center, Kris Haddad, Steve Wald, Bob Kelso, Tom Mooers, Terry Manning and Steve Frisch. Special thanks to Kathy Haberman for formatting and editing this report for publication and Cristi Bozora Creegan for providing copy editing and proofing. Thanks to Mark Russell of Amador Web Works for web page assistance. We gratefully acknowledge Peter Moyle for allowing us to reuse his biotic integrity data. We want to thank the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund which supported the work and production of the report. The authors bear responsibility for any factual errors. Recommendations and views expressed are those of the Sierra Nevada Alliance and do not necessarily represent those of funders, reviewers or others who offered assistance to this report. About the Author Kerri Timmer, sole proprietor of Sierra Connections — Community Action Consulting, is a writer, researcher and communications specialist with 20 years’ professional experience in the fields of business communications, community outreach and government relations. For the past 11 years she has worked exclusively with community interests on natural resource assessment, communications, and organizational development projects. Kerri is trained in meeting facilitation and interest-based negotiation and has sat on a number of boards and advisory committees dedicated to collaborative problem-solving, primarily in the environmental and land use arenas. She also authored a guidebook on establishing collaborative water- shed councils in local communities. -
Temperance Flat Comments
April 21, 2014 Sharon McHale, Project Manager U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Planning Division 2800 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA 95825-1893 Sent via email to [email protected] RE: Comments on Draft Feasibility Report for Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation – Temperance Flat River Mile 274 Reservoir Dear Ms. McHale: On behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Bay Institute, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, and Friends of the River, we are writing to provide comments on the draft feasibility report for the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation - Temperance Flat River Mile 274 Reservoir (“Investigation”). As discussed in detail below, the Investigation is significantly flawed, does not accurately analyze the economic or ecosystem cost and benefits of the proposed project, and fails to comply with federal guidelines for project evaluation. As such, we strongly recommend that the Bureau of Reclamation (“Reclamation”) withdraw the Investigation, and recirculate a valid draft feasibility study once these flaws are addressed. The Investigation evaluates a proposal for Reclamation to construct the Temperance Flat River Mile 274 Reservoir above Millerton Lake/Friant Dam to provide an additional 19-76 TAF of water downstream. Over the past 60 years, Reclamation has conducted a number of studies to assess the feasibility of expanding storage at Friant Dam, including raising Friant dam and adding another dam immediately upstream of Friant dam (e.g. Temperance Flat), and has yet to develop a feasible option.1 It is unclear what new information is available to overturn these previous decisions and spend federal and state funds on a project already deemed infeasible. -
Upper San Joaquin Basin Storage Investigation
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IX 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 OCT 3 \l {'.i;, David G. Murillo Regional Director Bureau ofReclamation, Mid-Pacific Region 2800 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA 95825-1898 Subject: Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Fresno and Madera Counties, California [CEQ# 20140260] Dear Mr. Murillo: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for · the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation. Our review and comments are pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, Council on Enviromnental Quality regnlations (40 CFR Pa.tis 1500- 1508), and our NEPA review authority under Section 309 of the Clean Air Act. This DEIS tiers from the CALFED Record ofDecision signed in 2000, at1d analyzes one of the five surface water storage studies reconm1ended in the 2000 ROD, a dam and reservoir at Temperance Flat River Mile 274. The DEIS evaluates five action alternatives that vary in tetms of the cai-ryover storage targets of Temperance Flat Reservoir at1d Millerton Lalce, allocation and conveyance routing of water among various users, and intake feature configurations. We understand that Reclamation plans to identify a preferred alternative in the Final EIS. Based on our review ofthe DEIS, we have rated all the Action Alternatives and the document as Environmental Objections - lnsiifficient Information (EO-2). Please see the enclosed "Summary of EPA Rating Definitions." Our rating is based on the project's significant impacts to aquatic resources and water quality. The DEIS identifies that the project would impact 245 acres ofwaters ofthe United States, 9 miles ofriverine habitat, and 5,757 acres of oalc woodland; however, the DEIS does not identify or discuss sufficient mitigation for these impacts. -
Fish Bulletin 179. Contributions to the Biology of Central Valley Salmonids. Volumes 1 & 2
UC San Diego Fish Bulletin Title Fish Bulletin 179. Contributions to the Biology of Central Valley Salmonids. Volumes 1 & 2. Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6sd4z5b2 Author Brown, Randall L Publication Date 2001-09-01 eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California State of California The Resources Agency Department of Fish and Game FISH BULLETIN 179 CCCOOONONNNTTTTRRRRIIIIBBBBUUUUTTTTIIIIOOOONNNNSSSS TTTOTOOO TTTHTHHHEEEE B IIIOIOOOLLLLOOOOGGGGYYYY OOOFOFFF C EEENENNNTTTTRRRRAAAALLLL V AAALALLLLLEEEEYYYY S AAALALLLMMMMOOOONNNNIIIIDDDDSSSS VOLUME 1 Edited by Randall L. Brown Department of Water Resources Sacramento, California 2001 This bulletin is not copyrighted. If reproduced elsewhere, such as by photocopying, the authors, editor, and the DFG would appreciate receiving an appropriate acknowledgment. The free mailing list is on an exchange basis and is limited by budgetary considerations to libraries, scientific institutions, and conservation agencies. Individuals may obtain copies of this bulletin by submitting a check or money order in the amount of $25 per copy (includes sales tax and shipping cost) made out to the California Department of Fish and Game and mailing it to: Department of Fish and Game Fiscal and Administrative Services 1416 Ninth Street, 12th Floor Sacramento, California 95814 Telephone: (916) 653-6281 Fax: (916) 653-4645 State of California The Resources Agency Department of Fish and Game FISH BULLETIN 179 CCCOOONONNNTTTTRRRRIIIIBBBBUUUUTTTTIIIIOOOONNNNSSSS TTTOTOOO TTTHTHHHEEEE B IIIOIOOOLLLLOOOOGGGGYYYY OOOFOFFF C EEENENNNTTTTRRRRAAAALLLL V AAALALLLLLEEEEYYYY S AAALALLLMMMMOOOONNNNIIIIDDDDSSSS VOLUME 1 Edited by Randall L. Brown Department of Water Resources Sacramento, California 2001 Contents Preface v Dedication vii In Appreciation xi Acknowledgements xiii Foreword xv Contributing Authors xvii Central Valley Steelhead 1 Dennis R. -
Big Creek Hydroelectric System Alternative Licensing Process
INITIAL INFORMATION PACKAGE for the BIG CREEK HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE LICENSING PROCESS May 2000 Prepared By SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON An EDISON INTERNATIONALSM Company INITIAL INFORMATION PACKAGE for the BIG CREEK HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE LICENSING PROCESS May 2000 Prepared By SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON An EDISON INTERNATIONALSM Company With Assistance From BIG CREEK HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEM INITIAL INFORMATION PACKAGE ALTERNATIVE LICENSING PROCESS Copyright, 2000, Southern California Edison Company. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, elec- tronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Southern California Edison Company. LAKE THOMAS A. EDISON’S WATERSHED TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. V LIST OF TABLES..............................................................................................................VII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................. IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ ES-1 1.0 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................1-1 1.1 ORGANIZATION OF THE IIP .......................................................................1-5