Application for Water Quality Certification Pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act OAR 340-048-0020 and ORS 468B.040 Prospect No. 3 Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-2337) Jackson County, Oregon Prepared for: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 700 NE Multnomah, Suite 600 Portland, OR 97232 Prepared by: PacifiCorp 925 South Grape Street, Building 5 Medford, OR 97501 February 2018 Application for Water Quality Certification Prospect No. 3 Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-2337) TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... II LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................... V LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... V ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................. VI 1.0 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 GENERAL PROJECT AND APPLICATION INFORMATION ..................................... 2 2.1 PROJECT OWNER AND AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE ............................. 2 2.2 PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION........................................................... 2 2.3 CONTIGUOUS PROPERTY OWNERS .................................................................... 4 2.4 WATERS AFFECTED OR POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT ...... 6 2.5 DOCUMENTS FILED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS APPLICATION ................ 6 2.6 FERC PUBLIC NOTICES AND OTHER SUPPORTING INFORMATION ............ 8 2.6.1 FERC Notices ............................................................................................... 8 2.6.2 FERC’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process ................... 11 2.6.3 FERC’s Section 10(j) Determinations ........................................................ 12 2.7 LAND USE COMPATIBILITY ................................................................................ 13 3.0 CURRENT AND PROPOSED PROJECT FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS .......... 14 3.1 EXISTING PROJECT FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS ..................................... 14 3.1.1 Existing Project Facilities ........................................................................... 14 3.1.2 Existing Project Operations ........................................................................ 16 3.2 PROPOSED PROJECT FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS ................................... 17 3.2.1 Proposed Project Facilities .......................................................................... 17 3.2.2 Proposed Project Operation ........................................................................ 18 3.2.3 Proposed Environmental Measures............................................................. 18 4.0 OVERVIEW OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE PROJECT AREA .......................... 21 4.1 HYDROLOGY CONDITIONS IN THE PROJECT AREA ..................................... 21 4.1.1 Incoming Flows .......................................................................................... 21 4.1.2 Bypassed Reach Flows ............................................................................... 22 4.2 WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS IN THE PROJECT AREA ............................. 23 4.3 PROJECT IMPACTS TO WATER QUALITY ........................................................ 25 5.0 CLEAN WATER ACT COMPLIANCE ........................................................................... 27 5.1 SECTION 301—EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS ......................................................... 27 5.2 SECTION 302—WATER QUALITY RELATED EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS .... 27 5.3 SECTION 303—WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS ................................................................................................................. 27 5.4 SECTION 306—NATIONAL STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE ..................... 28 5.5 SECTION 307—TOXIC AND PRETREATMENT EFFLUENT STANDARDS ... 28 6.0 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS COMPLIANCE ...................................................... 29 6.1 ANTIDEGRADATION POLICY ............................................................................. 29 6.1.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................... 29 Page ii February 2018 Application for Water Quality Certification Prospect No. 3 Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-2337) 6.1.2 Discussion ................................................................................................... 32 6.2 STATEWIDE NARRATIVE CRITERIA ................................................................. 32 6.2.1 General ........................................................................................................ 32 6.2.2 Discharge of Wastes ................................................................................... 32 6.2.3 Log Handling .............................................................................................. 33 6.2.4 Sand and Gravel Removal .......................................................................... 33 6.2.5 Road Building and Maintenance ................................................................. 33 6.2.6 Development of Fungi ................................................................................ 34 6.2.7 Tastes or Odors ........................................................................................... 34 6.2.8 Bottom or Sludge Deposits ......................................................................... 35 6.2.9 Discoloration, Scum, Oily Sheens, et. al .................................................... 35 6.2.10 Aesthetic Conditions ................................................................................. 35 6.2.11 Radioisotopes ............................................................................................ 36 6.3 BACTERIA................................................................................................................ 36 6.3.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................... 36 6.3.2 303(d) List ................................................................................................... 37 6.3.3 Discussion ................................................................................................... 37 6.4 BIOCRITERIA .......................................................................................................... 37 6.4.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................... 37 6.4.2 303(d) List ................................................................................................... 38 6.4.3 Discussion ................................................................................................... 38 6.5 DISSOLVED OXYGEN ........................................................................................... 38 6.5.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................... 38 6.5.2 303(d) List ................................................................................................... 39 6.5.3 Discussion ................................................................................................... 39 6.6 NUISANCE PHYTOPLANKTON GROWTH ......................................................... 41 6.6.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................... 41 6.6.2 303(d) List ................................................................................................... 42 6.6.3 Discussion ................................................................................................... 42 6.7 PH (HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION) ......................................................... 42 6.7.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................... 42 6.7.2 303(d) List ................................................................................................... 43 6.7.3 Discussion ................................................................................................... 43 6.8 TEMPERATURE ...................................................................................................... 44 6.8.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................... 44 6.8.2 303(d) List ................................................................................................... 45 6.8.3 Discussion ................................................................................................... 45 6.8.4 Proposal....................................................................................................... 47 6.9 TOTAL DISSOLVED GAS ...................................................................................... 47 6.9.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................... 47 6.9.2 303(d) List ................................................................................................... 47 6.9.3 Discussion ................................................................................................... 47 6.10 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS .............................................................................. 48 6.10.1 Applicable Standard .................................................................................