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Home My WebLink AboutORAC Letter to FERC - Filing of Request for FERC Action Menchaca, Clarissa From: Cook, Holly Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2018 10:36 AM To: Menchaca, Clarissa Cc: 'Larry Grundmann' Subject: Letter to Ferc Attachments: hcook053118103048.pdf Clarissa; Please distribute to BOS. Thank you. &04 Cli ifooh Executive&.5.5"tard to 8upelcvaot 6111 i2onne4 53OL538-6,834 OROVILLE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE P.O. BOX 528 OROVILLE, CA 95966 May 31, 2018 Filing of Request for FERC Action In the matter of LAKE OROVILLE DAM FERC PROJECT 2100 by OROVILLE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Ms. Kimberly Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, Northeast Washington, DC 20426 3 Dear Members of the Commission; Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee (ORAC)was created By FERC in 1994 in response to failure of the licensed operator for Project 2100,the California Department of Water Resources, (DWR) to live up to its license proscribed recreation mitigation obligations since it began operations in 1965. As part of its obligations to the recreating public it represents,ORAC, at an officially noticed and properly conducted meeting on May 4, 2018 in Oroville CA, adopted a motion on a vote of 6 for, 2 nays and 2 abstentions(with all of the positive votes coming from the recreating public entities'authorized ORAC representatives) as follows: "ORAC shall immediately,either through DWR,or itself directly,ask FERC to order that the Feather River Center[FRC)plans,as outlined in this letter and presented at the February 2, 2018 Meeting of ORAC be implemented as an immediate recreation construction project,the first phase of which is construction of additional facilities at the South Forebay to accommodate program expansion. Given the experience of how DWR treats recommendations of ORAC with which it disagrees, ORAC is hereby itself filing this recommendation. While the improvements requested herein by ORAL are fairly significant,they pale in comparison to the facilities promised by DWR and ordered by FERC as part of the original licensing process in DWR's bulletin 117-6, dated December 1966.The community has spent over 50 years trying to get these promised facilities and believe now is the time for it to be finally done! Page 1 of 6 A confluence of two events is the primary force that mandates action now: -The Feather River Center(FRC),the entity that operates the existing forebay aquatic facilities, has been working successfully to attract the recreating public to the Forebay resources. Using its own funds,the FRC recently completed a comprehensive facilities plan to better serve the public;and, -Secondly,the closure of so many of the main lake access facilities in the wake of the Spillway incident has driven the recreating public to seek out opportunities in the Forebay and Afterbay areas of the project only to find these were scarce indeed and what did exist,totally inadequate. The fact that the Fourth of July Celebrations,for years held in the main body of the reservoir above the dam,had to be moved(because of the ongoing Spillway reconstruction)to the Forebay only served to emphasized to the recreating public how lacking in facilities these areas a re. This request by ORAC for an order from FERC to have adequate facilities constructed in this area is based on those events,investigations and plans. The Thermalito Forebay State Recreation Area as a principal part of the Lake Oroville project, has unique qualities that attract water-sport activities that differ from the main reservoir. Located on the valley floor close to Oroville city limits and between two main travel corridors of the Sacramento Valley,the Forebay Lakes receive their water from the main lake outflow. The relative size,shape,stable waterline and smooth valley floor breezes along with ease of accessibility make these lake-park areas attractive to thousands of visitors who enjoy kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and competitive rowing training.These environmentally low impact sports fit with the area that is also home to nature-based programs for thousands of school- aged and adult participants each year. Along with growing State University and Community College activity interest,the Forebay system holds unique potential in the north state for recreational growth that can bring substantial economic activity into Oroville City and Butte County from the entire state and beyond. The Feather River Center is a recently incorporated non-profit collective of recreation and educational user groups operating at the Thermalito Forebay State Recreation Area.They team with environmental education programs to host outdoor experiences,organize rowing and sailing regattas with lessons,while highlighting water&boating safety;all are open to the public at large. The Feather River Center partners include Table Mountain Rowine Club, Butte Sailing Club. California State University Rowing Club,and Outdoor Education for All.The FRC is a single management entity for all these established organizations and is the sole concessionaire to California State Parks forthese group activities at both the North and South Forebay Lakes. Due to the success of all the programs in recent years,the current Park facilities and structures have reached their maximum usable capacity.And,as noted earlier,in the wake of the Spillways incident the lack of facilities has only been emphasized to the recreating public.To overcome current shortcomings and meet foreseeable quality growth,the Feather River Center has Page 2 of 6 fostered support for requesting building a new Aquatic Education Center and Docks.This new main Aquatic Center building(see attachments)at the North Forebay is modeled to provide meeting spaces and outdoor programs along with operational headquarters.The current Aquatic warehouse supports rowing club boats and equipment while sailing activities are ` conducted through an outdoor boat house yard and picnic area. No formal offices or meeting rooms exist.A new Aquatic Center with offices, large classroom,equipment storage and locker/shower areas will enhance all training, equipment rental and competitive regatta events. A Community Sailing Center(see attachments)is proposed for the underdeveloped South Forebay.A detailed plan is being designed for this facility to be built on the non-environmentally protected open ground adjacent to the existing boat ramp. (*No alteration to the engineered levee system is required.)Along with enlarged dock development,the central 60'x 60'building with expansive secure Boat Yard will easily accommodate the boat and trailer parking that now crowds the North Forebay park.The Center will provide proper safe training room for sailing students with the added ability to host community events. Kayak&paddleboard rentals and future powerboat operation training can enhance the Park's income potential of this South Forebay development. Connecting the North and South Lake areas is an engineered levee on the south bank side that forms the lakes.Currently a service road,development of a Biking and walking pathway between the two parks is recommended. It is an excellent opportunity for observing activity on the water.This paved pathway will engage spectator involvement and will inspire healthy exercise through "walk-in"access from the surrounding neighborhood and schools. The California State University Chico and Table Mountain Rowing Clubs have grown their competition programs and are poised to host exciting collegiate and masters level invitational rowing competitions from western states.The special conditions of the N. Forebay can attract major rowing regattas.To provide for potentially large crowd events,the Feather River Center is designing a classic 2000-meter sprint race course for team competitions_This will require some modification to the north bank of the North Forebay for straight lanes and a spectator Venue that will also seat crowds for Qroville's 4th ofJuly Fireworks at the Forebay. Specific facility improvements include: The North Forebay park is traditionally the more trafficked area with its main entry directly off highway 70.The Aquatic Center with offices is best suited there as the park is also the location of the large warehouse of rowing and equipment rental activity.School group nature hikes and community ecology programs are also based at the North Forebay. Infrastructure needs include: o Grading of building site o Underground utilities and water supply o Widen existing main boat launch and added docks o Additional public restrooms and picnic areas Page 3 of 6 o ADA accessibility pathways o Swim area improvements o North shore Rowing Regatta spectator venue The South Forebay park is currently in need of completing major initial development. Large barren gravel areas surround minimal park amenities of one primitive restroom next to the picnic table area.Other than the paved entrance road,there are no.paved parking or sidewalk areas.The one boat launch ramp is hundreds of yards away amidst open graveled acreage that has no organized parking. Underground utilities and sewer are non-existent. Infrastructure needs include: o Grading for building site and boatyard o All utilities&water o Paving for roadways, paths and parking areas o Security and street lighting o Public restrooms o ADA accessibility pathways o Enlarged dock capacity to existing launch ramp o Additional single lane launch ramp(near west end of picnic area) o Swim beach improvements with kayak launch o Pedestrian pathway to North Forebay park Drawings and plats to help visualize some of the described facilities are attached as follows • General Facilities Map • South forebay sailing center proposed layout Forebay Improvements,North and South Forebay Lakes These ORAC recommended improvements,while fairly comprehensive,are significant less than those originally promised by DWR in its December 1966 bulletin 117-6 and are long,long overdue for the recreating public. Further,the recent repeated and extended low water levels in the main reservoir of Lake Oroville are driving more of the recreating public to the Forebay and Afterbay areas. Finding lack of facilities there will only portend they won't be back-meaning only DWR is satisfied. ORAL requests that FERC respond quickly and positively to this well-reasoned request for an order requiring DWR to construct the facilities generally in accord with the plans outlined herein. Page 4 of 6 Thank you for your kind and earnest attention to this request. If you have any questions, Tease contact us at the above address. Sincerely, Kevin Zeitler, ORAL Chair cc: see below Attachments ORAC Members US Senator Dianne Feinstein 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 San Francisco Office One Post Street Suite 2450 San Francisco, CA 94304 US Senator Kamala Harris 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 San Francisco Office 333 Bush Street Suite 3225 San Francisco, CA 94104 Assemblyman James Gallagher District Office 1130 Civic Center Blvd. Yuba City, CA 95993 District Office 2060 Talbert Drive Suite 110 Chico, CA 95928 Capitol Office State Capitol Suite 2158 Page 5of6 i Sacramento, CA 94249 i I Senator Jim Nielsen j District Office 2635 Forest Avenue Suite 110 Chico, CA 95928 Capitol Office State Capitol Room 2068 Sacramento, CA 95814 Congressman Doug LaMalfa 322 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20151 District Office 2862 Olive Highway Suite D Oroville, CA 95966 Congressman John Garamendi 2438 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 District Office 795 Plumas Street Yuba City, CA 95991 Oroville City Council 1735 Montgomery Street Oroville, CA 95965 Butte County Board of Supervisors 25 County Center Drive Oroville, CA 95965 Page 6 of 6 ----_..............._.......................... ......................................._........ ..................................................._............. 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