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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.08.20 Email from FERC - PGE under P-2107, Poe Project, FERC No. 2107-CA, RE Fish and BMI Monitoring Plan - Request for Approval 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Enclosure 1 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Attachment A Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 POE BYPASS REACH FISH AND BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE MONITORING PLAN Prepared by: Pacific Gas & Electric Company 3401 Crow Canyon Road San Ramon, CA 94583 November 2019 © 2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan POE FERC PROJECT NO. 2107 DRAFT POE BYPASS REACH FISH AND BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE MONITORING PLAN SECTION 1.0................................................................................................................................1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................1 SECTION 2.0.................................................................................................................................3 Goals and Objectives....................................................................................................................3 2.1Fish Population Monitoring ....................................................................................3 2.2BMI Community Monitoring ..................................................................................3 SECTION 3.0.................................................................................................................................4 Study Area.....................................................................................................................................4 3.1Fish Population Monitoring Sites ...........................................................................4 3.2BMI Monitoring Sites .............................................................................................7 SECTION 4.0...............................................................................................................................10 4.1Fish Population Monitoring ..................................................................................12 4.1.1Survey Methods ........................................................................................12 4.1.2Analysis.....................................................................................................15 4.2Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring ................................................................16 4.2.1Survey Methods ........................................................................................16 4.2.2Analysis.....................................................................................................18 SECTION 5.0...............................................................................................................................19 Reporting and Plan Revisions ....................................................................................................19 5.1Reporting...............................................................................................................19 5.2Plan Revisions .......................................................................................................19 SECTION 6.0...............................................................................................................................20 References....................................................................................................................................20 Table of Contents Page i November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1. Map the Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107. ..............................2 Figure 3-1.General map locations of fish population monitoring site locations. ....................6 Figure 3-2.General locations of BMI population monitoring sites in the Poe Bypass Reach. ....................................................................................................................8 Figure 3-3.General locations of BMI population monitoring sites in unregulated reaches...................................................................................................................9 LIST OFTABLES Table 3-1. General Global Positioning System coordinates of Poe Bypass Reach fish population monitoring sites and descriptions. .......................................................5 Table 3-2. General Global Positioning System coordinates of Poe Bypass Reach BMI community monitoring sites, descriptions, and reach type. ..................................7 LIST OF ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1. FERC Article 401 – Commission Approval, Reporting, Notification, and Filing of Amendments Attachment 2. FERC Appendix A –SWRCB Water Quality Certification Condition 13 – Tributary Access Attachment 3. FERC Appendix B –ForestService 4(e) Condition No 23. Part 6. Tributary Access Table of Contents Page ii November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan SECTION 1.0 Introduction On December 17, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a new license for Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E or Licensee) Poe Project, FERC Number (No.) 2107 (Project). The new license incorporates State of California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) Conditions into the license articles in Appendix A (SWRCB 2017) and United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service) 4(e) Conditions (Forest Service 2018) in Appendix B. This document, Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan (Plan), presents the plan to comply with fish population and benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring required by SWRCB WQC Condition 9 and Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 25 which were also incorporated into FERC License Article 401 (FERC 2018). The relevant FERC Article 401 requirements applicable to this plan are included in Attachment 1. Similarly, SWRCB Condition 9 and Forest Service 4(e) Condition No.25 are included in Attachments 2 and 3, respectively. The attachments omit language in conditions pertaining specifically to amphibian monitoring, since a separate plan addresses this requirement. The Plan was developed in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Forest Service, and the SWRCB staff (hereafter “Agencies”). This Plan is intended to meet the requirements of SWRCB WQC Condition 9 and Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 25. In Section 4.0 - Methods, and Section 5.2 - Reporting Schedule, there are provisions for consultation and changes to the monitoring locations, methods and schedule. Any future modifications to the final plan must be approved by the SWRCB Deputy Director, the Plumas National Forest, Forest Supervisor, and FERC before implementation. The Poe Project is located in the North Fork Feather River Basin, which contains extensive forested lands and is sparsely populated. The “Poe Reach” or “Poe Bypass Reach” is the section of the North Fork Feather River (NFFR) from Poe Dam downstream to Poe Powerhouse (Figure 1-1). Waters of the Poe Project include the Poe Reservoir, a 7.62-mile-long bypassed reach, and the Big Bend Reservoir, which serves as the after bay for the project. The Poe powerhouse and Big Bend Reservoir are located just upstream of Lake Oroville, the primary storage reservoir for the Feather River Project No. 2100. Page 1 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Figure 1-1. Map the Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107. Page 2 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan SECTION 2.0 Goals and Objectives 2.1 Fish Population Monitoring The goal of the Poe Bypass Reach fish population monitoring is to collect fish population information from the three sections of the NFFR Poe Bypass Reach under the new license-required instream flows with the objective to provide information on the fisheries population response to the new license required minimum instream flows. Specific objectives are as follows: 1. Determine trends in composition, size/age distribution, relative abundance, and biomass for all species and Condition Factor (K) for trout, a target fisheries species. 2. Compare data collected during sampling blocks to document status of the fish community, including any identified response to the change in Project operations or enhancement. 2.2 BMI Community Monitoring The goal of the Poe Bypass Reach BMI community monitoring is to collect BMI community information from the three sections of the NFFR under the new license-required instream flows with the objective to characterize the BMI community response to the new license required minimum instream flows. Specific objectives are as follows: 1.Evaluate BMI community indices using California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) (CDFW and Southern California Coastal Water Research Project 2015), as specified in the SWRCB 401 WQC Condition 9. 2.Document trends in the macroinvertebrate community structure metrics within reaches, between reaches, and in comparisons between sampling blocks. 3.Compare data collected during sampling blocks to document status of the BMI community as described in the SWRCB 401 WQC Condition 9, including any identified response to the change in project operations or enhancement. Page 3 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan SECTION 3.0 Study Area The study area for the fish population and BMI community monitoring includes the North Fork Feather River (NFFR) from Poe Dam downstream to Poe Powerhouse (Poe Bypass Reach). Monitoring sites were chosen to include a variety of habitats (riffle, run, glide, pool, cascades, etc.) located in upper, middle, and lower sections of the Poe Bypass Reach. The Poe Bypass Reach of the NFFR is 7.62 river miles (RM) and extends from Poe Dam to Poe Powerhouse. From Poe Dam downstream, the upper section begins off as a wide, low-gradient channel to a point immediately downstream from the mouth of Flea Valley Creek, covering an approximate distance of 1.01 RM (5,350 feet). At this location, the river enters a narrower, steeper canyon section dominated by bedrock canyon walls and large boulders; this middle section continues for an estimated 2.53 miles RM (13,360 feet) to Bardee’s Bar. The lower section of river, from Bardee’s Bar to Poe Powerhouse, opens to a wider, low-gradient channel with long pools, runs, and pocket-water habitats separated by short sections of riffles and/or cascades; this lower section, is approximately 4.08 RM (21,560 feet). All three sections of the reach are dominated by large pools, which tend to be shorter and deeper in the narrower, middle canyon section, and longer and wider in the upper and lower sections. 3.1 Fish Population Monitoring Sites Electrofishing and snorkel survey sites will consist of 3 sites (Table 3-1; Figure 3-1); the sites are made up of shallow riffle-run complexes that could be electrofished to detect smaller individuals of the populations and run/glide complexes that can be snorkeled to detect larger individuals of the populations. The Poe Dam site (Site PD-F) is the upstream-most site; it is approximately 150 meters below the dam. The Poe Dam site is comprised of a cascade/riffle/run complex that transitions into a run/glide. The Bardee’s Bar fish population monitoring site (Site BB-F) is the middle site; it is comprised of a cascade/riffle/run/glide complex. The downstream-most site, closest to the Poe Powerhouse, is Poe Beach (Site PB-F); this site is comprised of riffle/run habitat that transitions into a glide/pool habitat. Page 4 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Table 3-1.General Global Positioning System coordinates of Poe Bypass Reach fish population monitoring sites and descriptions. Approximate Upstream a Location Site ID Site Description (UTM NAD 83) Easting Northing PD-FBelow Poe Dam10S 0640304407661 BB-FBardee’s Bar10S 06322814403580 PB-F Poe Beach 10S 0631333 4399175 a Actual upstream and downstream will be identified and recorded during first monitoring event for all subsequent monitoring Page 5 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Figure 3-1. General map locations of fish population monitoring sites. Page 6 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan 3.2BMI Monitoring Sites There is a total of six BMI monitoring sites; three sites in the regulated Poe Bypass Reach and three reference sites in unregulated reaches (Table 3-2; Figure 3-2 and Figure 3-3). The unregulated reaches include: The East Branch of the North Fork Feather River and two reaches on the Middle Fork Feather River. The three unregulated reaches have also functioned as references to BMI monitoring on the Rock Creek-Cresta Project (PG&E 2002). The Poe Bypass Reach monitoring sites include: Poe Dam (Site PD-B; upstream-most project site), Bardee’s Bar (Site BB-B; middle site), and Poe Beach (Site PB-B; downstream-most site). Table 3-2. General Global Positioning System coordinates of Poe Bypass Reach BMI community monitoring sites, descriptions, and reach type. a Approximate Upstream Location (UTM NAD 83) Site ID Site Description Reach Type EastingNorthing PD-B Below Poe Dam Regulated 10S 064030 4407661 BB-B Bardee’s Bar Regulated 10S 0632281 4403580 PB-B Poe Beach Regulated 10S 0631333 4399175 East Branch of North Fork EB-B Unregulated 10 S 0664699 4431124 Feather River Millsap Bar on Middle Fork MB-B Unregulated 10 S 0648328 4396628 Feather River Stag Creek on the Middle Fork SC-B Unregulated 10 S 0664463 4406400 Feather River a Actual upstream and downstream will be identified and recorded during first monitoring event for all subsequent monitoring. Page 7 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Figure 3-2. General locations of BMI population monitoring sites in the Poe Bypass Reach. Page 8 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Figure 3-3. General locations of BMI population monitoring sites in unregulated reaches. Page 9 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan SECTION 4.0 Methods The monitoring and reporting schedule in this Plan establish different block lengths from that presented in the SWRCB WQC Condition 9 and the Forest Service 4(e) Condition 25 but meets the requirements of timing and frequency of monitoring identified in the conditions. The Block Periods and Monitoring Years are defined in Table 4-1. The monitoring locations, methods and schedule will be reviewed and agreed-upon at the end of each Block period. Any proposed changes must be approved by the Deputy Director, the Plumas National Forest, Forest Supervisor, and FERC before implementation. Fish population and BMI monitoring will occur in license years 2, 3, 4 of Block 1; in license years 6, 8, 10 of Block 2; and in license years 16, 18, 20 of Block 3 (Table 4-1). Per SWRCB 401 WQC Condition 9, unless otherwise approved by the SWRCB and Forest Service, monitoring will continue every 5 years for the remainder of the license term and any license extensions. This is illustrated in Blocks 4 and 5 of Table 4-1. Monitoring will occur in the late summer and early fall months, to avoid impacts to sensitive life stages of the foothill yellow-legged frog (FYLF), and effects of elevated summer temperatures. To facilitate instream sampling, and provide for personnel safety, streamflow may need to be reduced. PG&E may reduce streamflows defined in, and in accordance with any other requirements of, SWRCB WQC Condition 1, Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 23, and FERC License Article 401(c) to implement this monitoring Plan under the following conditions: 1. Monitoring will occur between September 15 to October 15, with a goal to complete monitoring by the end of September, whenever possible; 2. Monitoring streamflows will be no less than 55 cfs; 3. Reduced streamflow shall not exceed 10 consecutive days; 4. Up and down ramping rates during this period will be limited to no more than 100 cfs per hour; 5. Reduced streamflow may only be commenced if no whitewater boating flow releases have occurred for seven consecutive days; Each year that monitoring occurs, PG&E shall provide the agencies with the specific proposed schedule at least 45 days prior to monitoring. Agencies will have 15 days to comment on the schedule, and if any agency proposes an alternative schedule, PG&E will convene a conference call with all agencies to develop a revised schedule. If the State of California declares a drought in Butte County or if consecutive Critically Dry water years are experienced, PG&E will consult with the CDFW, Forest Service and the SWRCB staff Page 10 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan to determine if deferral of monitoring is necessary. In the event monitoring is deferred, the schedule will be adjusted and documented in the annual report. The block date periods will not be changed. The new schedule will be approved by the Forest Service, the SWRCB staff and the SWRCB Deputy Director during review and approval of the annual report. As provided in Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 23 and SWRCB WQC Condition 2, a Critically Dry water year isbased on the Department of Water Resources annual forecast of unimpaired runoff of the Feather River at Lake Oroville reported in the May Bulletin 120 (i.e., less than 2,505 TAF inflow to Lake Oroville). SWRCB 401 WQC Condition 9 also requires the Licensee to provide a description of possible circumstances that may affect monitoring and if those circumstances are caused by Project operations. There are many unpredictable circumstances beyond PG&E’s control that may affect the ability to monitor (e.g., extreme weather events, natural geomorphic processes, wildfires, chemical spills, non-project anthropomorphic factors, etc.). Of those circumstances that may be caused by Project operations, the most common include: inability to decrease flows for surveys, and construction on critical infrastructure, which may delay the ability to conduct the surveys. Page 11 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Table 4-1. Poe Bypass Reach Fish Population and BMI MonitoringSchedule. Block PeriodMonitoring Years BlockID (License Years) (License Years) Block 1 1-5 2, 3, 4 Block 26-10 6, 8, 10 Block 3 11-2016, 18, 20 Block 4*21-3025, 30 Block 5*31-4035, 40 *Note: Unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Director, the Licensee shall implement biological monitoring at least every fiveyearsfollowingthefinal monitoring completed in Block4 (i.e., commencing in Year 25) for the remainder of the license and any extensions. 4.1 Fish Population Monitoring Fish population monitoring will be conducted using methods similar to those currently used in the Rock Creek-Cresta Project (PG&E 2018). Where appropriate, modifications to the methodology are based on efficiencies gained from sampling in the Rock Creek-Cresta Project and limited safe access to the Poe Bypass Reach. Specifically, fish population surveys will employ electrofishing and direct observation methodologies. 4.1.1 Survey Methods During both electrofishing and direct observation monitoring the biologists will monitor real-time water temperatures. If monitoring illustrates significant increases in water temperature trending to or above 23°C, PG&E will return flows to the pre-variance levels, and postpone monitoring until water temperatures can be maintained below 23°C. Likewise, if there were any signs of fish mortality, stranding, or obvious distress, PG&E will return flows to the pre-variance levels and postpone monitoring until water temperatures can be maintained below 23 °C. 4.1.1.1 Electrofishing In the North Fork Feather River, including surveys in the Rock Creek and Cresta reaches of the Rock Creek-Cresta Project, electrofishing is unsafe and inefficient at even the lowest license itically Dry water year for the Poe Project); therefore, as is performed prior to sampling in the Rock Creek-Cresta Project reaches, PG&E will reduce flows to approximately 55 cfs (PGE 2018) 24 hours prior to the sampling event. The 24- hour period will allow fish to resume their normal behavior and re-occupy their normal/preferred habitats before sampling begins. When the stream channel is safe to enter, crewmembers will place mesh block nets across the width of the wetted stream channel at the upper and lower boundaries of the monitoring site. Block Page 12 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan nets with 0.50-inch mesh will be used to prevent movement of fish in and out of the sample area to facilitate an accurate assessment of the sample population. All electrofishing sites will be approximately 100 to 150 meters long, where safety constraints allow, and terminate at natural habitat unit breaks at both the upstream and downstream ends. Pool habitats too deep to backpack electrofishers will be surveyed by direct observation. Backpack electrofishing generally will be conducted following procedures identified by Reynolds (1996). Crew size, including number of backpack electrofishers, for each site will depend on the wetted width of the stream channel, and habitat complexity. To maximize capture efficiency, the electrofishers and their netters will move upstream through the monitoring site at consistent pace abreast of one another and parallel to the thalweg. A three-pass sampling effort will be used, whereby stunned fish will be captured and temporarily removed from the sampling site during each pass to capture as much of the population as possible. During each pass, the crew will retain the same positions across the channel and the electrofishers will attempt to repeat the same pace and level of effort. Fish from each pass will be held in separate live wells outside the monitoring site (either upstream or downstream of the sampled site), until all passes are completed. Each electrofisher crew will make a conscious effort to monitor fish recovery in the holding containers. If specimens are slow to recover, the electrofisher will adjust either the current, the structure of the current used, or the time/duration that current is applied to minimize adverse impacts on fish. Fish will be identified to species, enumerated by pass, and measured. All weights will be recorded to the nearest 0.1 gram (g) and fork length (FL) will be recorded in millimeters (mm). All trout specieswill be measured and weighed to allow for condition factor computations. To minimize stress to captured fish, a subsample by pass will limit handling of fishes. For each pass, the first 50 young-of-year (YOY) fishes, including hardhead (Mylopharodon conocephalus) Species of Special Concern (CDFW and University of California Davis 2015), will be individually measured and weighed; the remaining YOY fishes will be enumerated by pass. Age 1+ fish and older will be each individually measured and weighed. Upon completion of processing, all fish will be released back into the sampled site. All data will be recorded on standardized data forms. 4.1.1.2 Direct Observation Surveys Snorkel surveys will be conducted at select pool habitats adjacent to electrofishing sites that cannot be sampled by electrofishing due to depth and flow. Snorkeling techniques will generally follow (Thurow 1994; Thurow et al. 2012). Snorkel surveys will allow for detection of different species or age classes of species that utilize deeper habitats. To maximize sampling efficiency and safety, snorkel surveys will be performed while flows are maintained at 55 cfs. Snorkelers will enter the stream either upstream or downstream of the monitoring site. Snorkelers will briefly rest to acclimate and to allow fish in the area to resume normal behavior. Snorkeling will typically be conducted in an upstream direction; however, in habitats where stream velocities constrain upstream movement, snorkelers may float downstream. Snorkel crews will consist of a Page 13 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan minimum of three (3) snorkelers depending on stream width and water clarity. Snorkelers will align across the channel and stratify the study site into fixed snorkel lanes to avoid duplicating fish counts. Snorkelers will then proceed through the site in designated lanes at a slow and uniform pace. Fish will be identified to species, counted, and categorized into pre-defined length-classes (0-2 in., 2-4 in., 4-6 in., 6-8 in., 8-10 in., 10-12 in., 12-14 in., and so on). For large schools of fish, the total number of fish in the school and the range of lengths for each school will be recorded. (Schools of fish encountered during snorkeling are often composed of the same species and age class.) Up to two (2) replicate snorkel passes (three passes, total) may be performed at each station using the same snorkel team to assess count efficiency. Replicate surveys should be conducted no sooner than one (1) hour after the initial survey to allow the fish to redistribute themselves and resume normal behavior. Snorkelers may use underwater tablets or call out to an on-shore recorder to assist in recording data. Fish lengths and length ranges will be transferred to a standardized data form following the sample effort at each station. Measurements of water temperature and water clarity (e.g., secchi disc) will be collected following each effort. A multiple pass technique will be employed where each site will be snorkeled using three consecutive passes to allow for estimates of variability. To maintain consistency, the same number of snorkelers will be used at each station across sampling efforts. 4.1.1.3 Physical Habitat Data At each fish population monitoring site (electrofishing and direct observation), several physical measurements and estimates will be made in the wetted stream channel to define habitat conditions. Ten (10) stream widths, equally spaced through the station, will be measured to the nearest tenth of a foot. Along each width measurement transect, three depths (at the quarter, half, and three-quarter points of the stream width) will be measured to the nearest tenth of a foot. Streamflow will be measured at each monitoring site. The following physical characteristics will be visually estimated at each monitoring site: 1) type (e.g., undercut bank, surface turbulence, riparian vegetation, etc.) and percentage of cover suitable for fish; 2) type (i.e., deciduous or evergreen) and percentage of canopy cover; and 3) substrate composition as percent of fines, sand, gravel, cobble, boulder, and bedrock; 4) percent composition of habitats (i.e., riffle, run, and/or pool). During the initial visit to each monitoring site, site identification data will be collected. If possible, GPS readings will be taken to document site location. A benchmark will also be established at each station and will consist of a description of a notable physical feature (e.g., railroad mileage marker, road crossing, gauging station, etc.). The distance and location of the station in relation to the benchmark will be recorded for future reference. Photo-documentation will also be completed after each effort and will include photos of each monitoring station from the bottom looking upstream and from the top looking downstream. In-situ water quality measurements will be collected using a hand held YSI-85 or similar instrument and will include dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and water temperature. Page 14 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan 4.1.2Analysis Data will be used to determine fish composition, relative abundance, fish species length-frequency distribution, and biomass and condition factors for trout and native species. Data collected during fish population monitoring will be entered into a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet and quality checked against the raw data sheets. Data will be analyzed for species composition, length- frequency distribution, relative abundance, and condition (based on data collected during electrofishing). Results from subsequent monitoring will be compared to the preceding monitoring to distinguish any trends in the fish populations. Fish data will be compared to benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) data collected as discussed in Section 4.2 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring. 4.1.2.1 Electrofishing Electrofishing data will be analyzed using the software package MicroFish 3.0 (or later version) which is based upon the removal-depletion model (Van Deventer and Platts 1989). Maximum likelihood population estimates, capture probabilities (the proportion of fish captured on a given electrofishing pass), lengths, weights, and biomass will be produced for each monitoring site based on fish capture data. Biomass of trout will be calculated based on total weight measured for each species. Fish population analyses will include species composition, relative abundance, inter- and intra- species population structure based on relative densities, and age-class structure based on length- frequency distributions. Rainbow trout standing stock estimates will be reported as: 1) numbers and weight of fish by species per 100 m of stream; 2) numbers of fish by species per mile; 3) pounds of fish by species per acre of stream surface; and 4) kilograms of fish by species per hectare. Species age-class distribution will be analyzed using length frequency histograms developed from fish captured. Breaks or modalities within the histograms will be evaluated for determination of approximate age class structure. Condition factor will be assessed with data collected at electrofishing sites; the weight-to-length relationship of individual species will be assessed as a method of identifying the nutritional state or health of the fish related to size and growth. Fulton’s condition factor (k) (Neuman et al 2012), a measure of this nutritional state, will be calculated using the following formula: 5 Individual condition factors (k) = Wet Weight (grams) x 10 3 \[Total Length (mm)\] The Condition Factor K allows the compare the condition of individuals. The condition is dependent on the time of sampling, and species. Mean trout condition will be calculated from individual condition values for each trout species. Page 15 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan 4.1.2.2Direct Observation For snorkeling sites, population estimates will be the total number of fish recorded for each species, recognizing that these values may be under-estimates. This will be particularly true for large pool habitats. Any biomass estimates generated from snorkeling data will be based on length-weight relationships developed for fish collected at the respective electrofishing site, or from multiple sites if sufficient data is unavailable. 4.2Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring As previously discussed in section 4.1, in-water work in the North Fork Feather River is unsafe Dry water year for the Poe Project); therefore, as is performed prior to sampling in the Rock Creek- Cresta Project reaches, PG&E will reduce flows to approximately 55 cfs (PGE 2018) 24 hours prior to the sampling event. The BMI data collection (including physical habitat) will be consistent with the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program protocol (SWAMP; Ode et al 2016 or current) to the extent practicable. Variations from the SWAMP protocol will be consistent with those applied during BMI monitoring performed for the Rock Creek-Cresta Project; variations are identified in (see section 4.2.1 Survey Methods). Based on SWAMP (Ode et al 2016), four (4) survey tasks, comprised of a number of activities (or “modules”), make up the bioassessment protocol. The survey tasks consist of: 1) Reach Delineation and Water Quality, 2) Biotic Assemblage and Physical Habitat Sampling at Cross- sectional Transects, 3) Discharge Transect, and 4) Reach-scale Measurements. Standard SWAMP Stream Habitat Characterization Form datasheets are included in Appendix A. To minimize the possibility of disturbance to the area, BMI monitoring sites will not overlap the same length of stream channel as the fish population monitoring. If overlap is unavoidable, BMI samples will be collected the day prior to fish population monitoring. 4.2.1 Survey Methods 4.2.1.1 Reach Delineation and Water Quality Per SWAMP protocol, sampled reach lengths (i.e., BMI monitoring site) should be 150 m if the wetted width is less than or equal to 10 m, and 250 m if the wetted width is greater than 10 m; however due to limited availability of reaches of 250 m that do not include deep, un-wadeable channels, BMI monitoring sites will be limited to 150 m, consistent with the protocol implemented for the Rock Creek-Cresta Project BMI monitoring . Prior to BMI sampling, each 150-m monitoring site will be divided into 11 equal spaced cross- sectional transects (15 m apart) and GPS coordinates are recorded at the upper and lower boundaries. The following water quality parameters will then be recorded per SWAMP protocol: Page 16 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Turbidity (NTU) Water temperature (°C) Salinity (ppt) Alkalinity (mg/L) pH Dissolved oxygen (mg/L and % saturation) 4.2.1.2Biotic Assemblage and Physical Habitat Sampling at Cross-sectional Transects BMI sampling will employ Target Riffle Composite (TRC) and Reach Wide Benthos (RWB) will be collected following SWAMP protocol. TRC samples will be comprised of eight one-square- 2 foot (ft)kick samples collected at eight randomly selected riffle locations, and RWB samples will 2 kick samples collected at each of the 11 transects. be comprised of eleven one-ft All samples will be elutriated and cleaned in the field, placed in jars, labeled, and preserved. Collection of macroinvertebrate samples will occur before physical habitat measurements are recorded at each site to avoid excessive disturbance to the stream channel substrates. Physical habitat measurements will include: Depth and pebble count Cobble embeddedness Percent algal cover Bankfull dimensions Wetted width Bank stability Human influence Riparian vegetation Instream habitat complexity Stream shading Flow habitat delineation Slope Sinuosity Excess sediment transects measures 4.2.1.3 Reach-scale Measurements Finally, as specified in the SWAMP, qualitative reach measures will be assessed for each site using the EPA’s Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (Barbour et al. 1999). Ten habitat variables, including available cover, embeddedness, channel flow status, and riparian and bank conditions will be ranked on a scale of 0 to 20, for a total possible score of 200. Page 17 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Each site will be photo-documented. At minimum, photos will be taken at transects A and F looking upstream, and at transects F and K looking downstream; an overview photo (from a vantage point capturing the full site), if feasible, will also be taken. 4.2.2Analysis 4.2.2.1 Laboratory Methodology All benthic samples will be processed following the SWAMP protocol (or current protocol) using a taxonomist approved by CDFW for EPA Evaluations. All specimens will be identified to Level II standard taxonomic effort (STE) as defined by the Southwest Association of Freshwater Invertebrate Taxonomists (SAFIT), which generally corresponds to the genus-species level for most insects, and slightly less rigorous effort (e.g., class, family, or tribe/subfamily) for certain other taxa groups (Level II STE for California taxa is defined in SAFIT \[2006\]). The CDFW’s Aquatic Bioassessment Laboratory (ABL) will be contracted to perform an external quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) check for accuracy of enumeration and taxonomic identification. 4.2.2.2 Metrics The first block of monitoring will include EPT index similar to relicensing BMI studies. The California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) will be calculated for all sampling events in all blocks (unless another index becomes available). The CSCI combines the best of multi-metric techniques with the best of predictive multi-variate techniques (such as observed vs. expected \[O/E\] models which assess taxonomic completeness). The CSCI was developed with a much larger, more representative dataset than other indices (which makes it applicable statewide) covering a broader range of environmental variability among natural stream types. Additionally, the CSCI sets biological benchmarks for a given site based on that site’s specific geographic and environmental settings (further details regarding CSCI development and interpretation can be found in SWAMP’s CSCI technical memorandum (Mazor and Ode 2015) and the CSCI’s publication (Mazor et al 2016); interim methods forCSCI calculation are described in Mazor et al. 2017. Page 18 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan SECTION 5.0 Reporting and Plan Revisions 5.1 Reporting The fish population and BMI community monitoring program will generate a data monitoring reports for each year monitoring occurs. Each data monitoring report will summarize the results of the current year monitoring period and provide a section that summarizes all data from all previous monitoring reports. Fish population and BMI reports will be compiled and submitted to the Forest Service, SWRCB, CDFW, and USFWSeach year that fish population or BMI monitoring is conducted. The reports will be made available electronically (a hard copy version will be made available upon request). The fish production monitoring data will be used in conjunction with the results of the other resource investigations (macroinvertebrate, temperature, water quality, amphibian, riparian, geomorphology, etc.) to determine the overall effect of Project flow regimes on the environmental resources of the Project area. PG&E will submit a draft of the Poe Bypass Reach fish population and BMI monitoring report to the Forest Service, SWRCB, USFWS, and CDFW following the conclusion of each calendar year when monitoring occurs. PG&E will submit the draft report to the resource agencies on or before March 15 of the subsequent year. PG&E will allow the resource agencies at least 30 days to review and comment on the draft report, and will set up a consultation meeting if requested. The final annual report will be filed with FERC by May 31. PG&E will include in the final report any comments and recommendations made by the agencies on the draft report. If PG&E does not adopt a recommendation, the filing shall include PG&E’s reasons based on project-specific information. 5.2 Plan Revisions The Licensee, in consultation with the Forest Service, SWRCB, USFWS, and CDFW, will review, update, and revise the Plan, as needed, when significant changes in the existing conditions occur. Sixty days will be allowed for the Forest Service, SWRCB, USFWS, and CDFW to provide written comments and recommendations. After consultation and agreement with the Forest Service and SWRCB, the Licensee will work with the Forest Service and SWRCB to file the updated Plan with FERC. The Licenseewill include all relevant documentation of coordination and consultation with the updated Plan filed with FERC. If the Licensee does not adopt a particular recommendation by USFWS or CDFW, the filing will include the reasons for not doing so. The Licensee will implement the revised Plan as approved by FERC. Page 19 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan SECTION 6.0 References Barbour, M.T., J. Gerritsen, B.D. Snyder, and J.B. Stribling. 1999. Rapid bioassessment protocols for use in streams and wadeable rivers: periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish. Second Edition. EPA 841-B-99-002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Water; Washington, DC. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. 2015. The California Stream Condition Index (CSCI): A New Statewide Biological Scoring Tool for Assessing the Health of Freshwater Streams. Prepared by: Andrew C. Rehn, Raphael D. Mazor, and Peter R. Ode. SWAMP Technical Memorandum. SWAMP-TM-2015-0002. September 2015 California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and University of California Davis. 2015. California Fish Species of Special Concern, 3rd Edition. Available at: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/SSC/Fishes Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 2001. Order Approving Settlement and Issuing New License. Project Nos. 1962-000 and 028. Prepared by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Energy Projects, Division of Hydropower Licensing. Washington, DC. October 24, 2001. ______. 2018. Order Issuing New License. Project Nos. 2107-016. Prepared by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Energy Projects, Division of Hydropower Licensing. Washington, DC. December 17, 2018. United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service (Forest Service). 2018. Forest Service revised final license terms and conditions necessary for the protection and utilization of the Plumas National Forest in condition with the application for license Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107, Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Pacific South West Region. July 6, 2018. ______. 2018b. Region 5 Regional Forester's 2013 Sensitive Animal Species List available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r5/plants-animals/wildlife Mazor, R. D., P.R. Ode, A.C. Rehn, M. Engeln, K.A. Schiff, E. Stein, D. Gillett, D. Herbst, and C. P. Hawkins. 2016. Bioassessment in complex environments: Designing an index for consistent meaning in different settings. The Society for Freshwater Science 35(1): 249- 271. Page 20 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Mazor, R.D. and P.R. Ode. 2015. The California Stream Condition Index (CSC); A New Statewide Biological Scoring Tool for Assessing the Health of Freshwater Streams. Swamp Technical Memorandum SWAMP-TM-2015-002. Mazor, R. D., P.R. Ode, A.C. Rehn, M. Engeln, T. Boyle, E. Fintel, and C. Yang. 2017. The California Stream Condition Index (CSCI): Interim instructions for calculating scores using GIS and R. SWAMP-SOP-2015-004 Neuman, R. M., C. S. Guy, and D. W. Willis. 2012. Length weight and associated indices. Pages rd 637-675 in A. V. Zale, D. L. Parrish, and T. M. Sutton, editors. Fisheries techniques, 3 edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. Ode, P.R., A.E., Fetscher, and L.B. Busse. 2016. Standard Operating Procedures for the Collection of Field Data for Bioassessments of California Wadeable Streams: Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Algae, and Physical Habitat. California State Water Resources Control Board Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) Bioassessment SOP 004. FERC Project No. 1962, Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan. September 20, 2002. ______. 2018. Rock Creek-Cresta Project, FERC Project No. 1962, 2017 Macroinvertebrate Monitoring, Condition No. 9. June 2018. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, U.S. Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, California State Water Resources Control Board, Natural Heritage Institute, American Whitewater, Friends of the River, Plumas County, California Outdoors, Project, FERC Project No. 1962, Relicensing Settlement Agreement. December 6, 2000. Reynolds, J.B. 1996. Electrofishing. Pages 83–120 in B. R. Murphey and D. W. Willis, editors. Fisheries Techniques, 2nd edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. Southwest Association of Freshwater Invertebrate Taxonomists (SAFIT). 2006. List of Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Taxa from California and Adjacent States including Standard Taxonomic Effort Levels. Second circulating draft, dated 27 September 2006. State of California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). 2017. In the Matter of Water Quality Certification for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2107. December 28, 2017. Thurow, R.F. 1994. Underwater methods for study of salmonids in intermountain west. USFS Intermountain Research Station, United States Forest Service. Page 21 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan Thurow, R.F., Dolloff, A.C., Marsden, E. J. 2012. Visual Observation. Pages 781–818 in A. V. Zale, D. L. Parrish and T. M. Sutton, editors. Fisheries Techniques, 3rd edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. Van Deventer, J.S. and W.S. Platts. 1989. Microcomputer software system for Generating Population Statistics from Electrofishing. Data-User’s Guide for Microfish 3.0. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Intermountain Research Station, General Technical Report INT-254. Page 22 November 2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Attachment 1 FERC Article 401 – Commission Approval, Reporting, Notification, and Filing of Amendments 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN FERC Article 401 –Commission Approval, Reporting, Notification, and Filing of Amendments (FERC 2018) (a) Requirement to File Plans for Commission Approval The State Water Resources Control Board’s (Water Board) section 401 water quality certification (WQC) (Appendix A) and the U. S. Department of Agriculture – Forest Service’s (Forest Service) section 4(e) conditions (Appendix B) require the licensee to prepare plans in consultation with other entities for approval by the Water Board or Forest Service or for submittal to the Commission, and implement specific measures without prior Commission approval. The following plans must also be submitted to the Commission for approval by the deadlines specified below: Water Board WQC Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. Condition No. Plan Name Commission Due Date Poe bypass reach Within 1 year from license 9 25 biological monitoring issuance plan *excerpt from FERC 2018 Article 401 With each plan filed with the Commission, the licensee must include documentation that it developed the plan in consultation with the above-listed agencies and provide copies of any comments received, as well as its response to each comment. The Commission reserves the right to make changes to any plan filed. Upon Commission approval, the plan becomes a requirement of the license, and the licensee must implement the plan, including any changes required by the Commission. Any changes in the above scheduleor plans require approval by the Commission before implementing the proposed change. (b) Requirements to File Reports. Certain conditions of the Water Board WQC in Appendix A and the Forest Service’s section 4(e) conditions in Appendix B require the licensee to file reports with other entities. Because these reports relate to compliance with the requirements of this license, each such report must also be submitted to the Commission. These reports are listed in the following table: Water Board WQC Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. Condition No. Plan Name Commission Due Date Six months following each Biological monitoring sampling effort 9 - report *excerpt from FERC 2018 Article 401 With each report filed with the Commission, the licensee must include documentation of consultation with the agencies specified in the conditions noted above and provide copies of any Page A-1 November2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2105 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN comments received, as well as its response to each comment. The Commission reserves the right to require changes to project operation or facilities based on the information contained in the report and any other available information. Page A-2 November2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2105 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Attachment 2 FERC Appendix B SWRCB Water Quality Certification Condition No. 9 Page A-3 November2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2105 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 1 SWRCB 401 Water Quality Certification Condition No. 9–Poe Bypass Reach Biological Monitoring Within one year of license issuance, the Licensee shall submit a Poe Bypass Reach Biological Monitoring Plan (Biological Monitoring Plan) to the Deputy Director for review and approval. The Biological Monitoring Plan shall be developed in consultation with State Water Board staff, Forest Service, USFWS, and CDFW. The Biological Monitoring Plan shall describe the fish, BMI, and amphibian monitoring the Licensee will conduct in the Poe bypass reach over the term of the license and any extensions. At a minimum, the Biological Monitoring Plan shall include the following elements: (1) objectives and goals; (2) description of the methodology that will be used for monitoring; and (3) description of possible circumstances that may affect monitoring and whether those circumstances are caused by Project operations. The Licensee shall include documentation of consultation with the above agencies, copies of comments and recommendations made in connection with development of the Biological Monitoring Plan, and a description of how the Biological Monitoring Plan incorporates or addresses agency comments and recommendations. All monitoring shall be consistent with the methods used for upstream monitoring associated with the Rock Creek-Cresta Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 1962) unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Director. The Licensee shall allow a minimum of 30 days for the above agencies to comment and to make recommendations before submitting the Biological Monitoring Plan to the Deputy Director for review and approval. The Deputy Director may make modifications as part of any approval. The Licensee shall file the Deputy Director's approval, and any required modifications, with FERC. Fish and BMI. Table 5 establishes the years following license issuance that the Licensee shall monitor BMI and fish in the Poe bypass reach. Sampling may be deferred to the following year(s) in a year in which the Governor of the State of California declares a drought, or consecutive Critically Dry water years. A minimum of three sampling locations shall be sampled during each monitoring effort and sampling locations shall be consistent with past locations, unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Director. The Licensee shall submit biological monitoring reports to State Water Board staff within six months following completion of each sampling effort. Within six months of the end of a biological monitoring block period (outlined in Table 5), the Licensee shall consult with the Forest Service, State Water Board staff, USFWS, and CDFW to review the biological monitoring program. If changes to the biological monitoring program are determined appropriate by the agencies, the Licensee shall, within one year of the end of the block, propose updates to the Biological Monitoring Plan for Deputy Director approval. The Deputy Director may make modifications as part of any approval. The Licensee shall file the Deputy Director's approval, and any modifications, with FERC. Possible updates include, but are not limited to, sampling timeframes and protocols. Table 5 outlines the 1 SWRCB (2017) Page A-4 November2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2105 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Biological Monitoring Schedule for the first 22 years of the license. Unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Director, the Licensee shall implement biological monitoring at least every five years following the final monitoring completed in Block 2 (i.e., commencing in Year 25) for the remainder of the license and any extensions. Table5. Biological Monitoring Schedule Block PeriodsMonitoring Years Initial 1-52, 3, 4 Block 1 6-126, 8, 10 Block 2 16-2216, 18, 20 Fish monitoring data shall include, but are not limited to, the following: A. Fish species composition and relative abundance; B. Fish species size/age distribution; and C. Condition of sampled fish. BMI monitoring shall be consistent with State Water Board SWAMP protocols and be evaluated using the CSCI unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Director. The initial monitoring block shall include analysis using the EPT index, as used in relicensing studies. Page A-5 November2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2105 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Attachment 3 FERC Appendix B Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 25 Page A-6 November2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2105 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 2 Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 25 –Poe Reach Biological Monitoring Within one year of license issuance, and after consultation with the Forest Service, and other interested governmental agencies, the Licensee shall file with the Commission fish population, benthic macroinvertebrate, and amphibian monitoring plans approved by the Forest Service. The plans shall describe monitoring to be conducted in the Poe bypass reach over the life of the license. At year 10 after implementation of the new flow regime, the licensee shall meet with the Forest Service, other interested governmental agencies, and interested parties to review the biological monitoring program. Modifications to the sampling timeframes and protocols may be modified if other methods or timeframes are jointly determined to be more appropriate by the Licensee, Forest Service, and other interested governmental agencies. The fish monitoring plan shall include, at a minimum, the following elements in at least three sites or as agreed by the Forest Service, in the Poe reach: • Fish species composition and relative abundance, • Fish species size/age distribution, • Condition factor of sampled fish species condition and trend. The specific monitoring plan for benthic macroinvertebrates, including frequency, protocol, and monitoring metrics should be comparable to the other benthic macroinvertebrate studies in the Feather River such as studies conducted for the Upper North Fork Feather Project No. 2105 and/or the Rock Creek-Cresta Hydroelectric Project No. 1962. Monitoring shall be conducted at a minimum of three sites or as agreed by the Forest Service. Benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring shall follow accepted protocols such as SWAMP. Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate monitoring shall occur every two years over a six-year period beginning in years 6 and 16 following the implementation of the new flow regime, for a total of six sampling efforts over the two periods. Sampling may be deferred to the following year in the event of a Critically Dry Year. 2 Forest Service (2018) Page A-7 November2019 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2105 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Enclosure 2 PG&E letter dated November 5, 2019 to SWRCB and Forest Service requesting approval of the Plan 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Enclosure 3 Forest Service letter dated December 6, 2019 approving the Plan 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN 312:2328.6362!GFSD!QEG!)Vopggjdjbm*!230280312:!5;59;66!QN Epdvnfou!Dpoufou)t* QHF312:.2328`Q3218`Qpf`Gjti`boe`CNJ`Qmbo`Sfr`Bqqwm/QEG////////////////2.58