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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.30.20 1456 Email from FERC - Project Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al From:Schuman, Amy To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra; McCracken, Shari;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;Rodas, Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug Subject:FW: Project Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al. Date:Monday, March 30, 2020 2:56:42 PM Good afternoon, Please see the email below from FERC. Amy Schuman Associate Clerk of the Board Butte County Administration 25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965 T: 530.552.3308 | F: 530.538.7120 Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2020 2:05 PM Subject: Project Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al. .ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. On 3/30/2020, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C.: Filer: Pacific Gas and Electric Company PGE (as Agent) Docket(s): P-2107-000 Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Filing Type: Project Safety Compliance Report Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits the Sediment Management Plan ? Request for Approval for the Poe Hydroelectric Project under P-2107. To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://elibrary.FERC.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20200330- 5361__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!UdwUw_Z-mJNZozExS00VkAH- hKUiIZE6pjyu8sxdJB3QCHkBAxudJ04me5hiGYYSQ1TST2kK9jQ$ To modify your subscriptions, click here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://ferconline.ferc.gov/eSubscription.aspx__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!UdwUw_Z- mJNZozExS00VkAH-hKUiIZE6pjyu8sxdJB3QCHkBAxudJ04me5hiGYYSQ1TSmWPb1RE$ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please do not respond to this email. Online help is available here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.ferc.gov/efiling-help.asp__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!UdwUw_Z- mJNZozExS00VkAH-hKUiIZE6pjyu8sxdJB3QCHkBAxudJ04me5hiGYYSQ1TSK1pVqr4$ or for phone support, call 866-208-3676. 245 Market Street Power Generation San Francisco, CA 94105 Mailing Address Mail Code N11D P.O. Box 770000 San Francisco, CA 94177 March 30, 2020 Via Electronic Submittal (E-File) Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20426 Subject: Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107-CA Sediment Management Plan – Request for Approval Dear SecretaryBose: Attached for your review and approval is the Poe Sediment Management Plan (Plan) (Enclosure 1) forPacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Poe Hydroelectric Project (FERC P-2107)(Project). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a new license for the Project on December 17, 2018 (License). Subsection (a) of Article 401 of the License requires PG&E to submit the Plan for FERC approval within one year from License issuance, after the final Plan has been approved by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and by the Forest Supervisor of the Plumas National Forest (Forest Service). As background, the Plan is also required under Condition 4(Condition 4) of the SWRCB Water Quality Certification and Condition No. 23, Part 3 (Condition No. 23, Part 3) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Final 4(e), which are both included in the License as Appendix A and B, respectively. An initial draft Plan was submitted to the SWRCB, Forest Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff (hereafter, “Agencies”) on October 8, 2019. Consultation continued and is further described in PG&E’s letter dated December 12, 2019 to FERC requesting a three- month extension of time. FERC approved the request on December 31, 2019, extending the deadline to submit the final Plan to March 31, 2020. On March 18, 2020, PG&E submitted the Plan for formal approval from the SWRCB and the Forest Service. The Forest Service approved the Plan by letter dated March 19, 2020, and approval from the SWRCB is pending. Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary March 30, 2020 Page 2 If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact PG&E’s Sr. License Coordinator, Mr. Matthew Joseph, at 530-889-3276, or at Matthew.Joseph@pge.com. Sincerely, Neil J. Wong Supervisor, Hydro Licensing Enclosures 1–Poe Sediment Management Plan 2–Forest Service approval letter dated March 19, 2020 and PG&E’s letter dated March 18, 2020 requesting approval Enclosure 1 Poe Sediment Management Plan SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Prepared By: Pacific Gas and Electric Company San Francisco, California March2020 © 2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company POE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT (FERC NO. 2107) SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN 4 ¡«¤ ®¥ #®­³¤­³² 1.0Background and Introduction..............................................................................................2 2.0 Sediment Management Program Objectives ........................................................................ 3 3.0 Study Area and Monitoring Locations ................................................................................. 4 4.0 Monitoring Methods............................................................................................................ 5 4.1.Baseline Sediment Sampling............................................................................................5 4.2. Decadal and Triggered Sediment Monitoring .................................................................. 6 4.3. QA/QC............................................................................................................................. 7 4.4. Data Storage..................................................................................................................... 7 4.5. Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 7 5.0 Pulse flows ........................................................................................................................... 7 6.0 Evaluation of sediment monitoring and pulse flows............................................................ 8 7.0 Reporting.............................................................................................................................. 9 7.1. Baseline Survey ................................................................................................................ 9 7.2. Annual Flow Report ......................................................................................................... 9 7.3. Triggered Monitoring Reports ......................................................................................... 9 7.4. Decadal Monitoring Reports .......................................................................................... 10 8.0 Plan revisions ..................................................................................................................... 10 9.0 Literature Cited .................................................................................................................. 12 ,¨²³ ®¥ &¨¦´±¤² Figure No. Description Page No. 3-1 Location of proposed sites for monitoring fine sediment 4 Attachments Attachment 1 FERC Article 401 Requirements 10 Attachment 2 FERC Appendix A - Water Quality Certification Condition 4 13 Attachment 3 FERC Appendix B – Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 23, Part 3 15 1 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 2 1.0 BACKGROUND AND 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 in Appendix B. This document, the Sediment Management Plan (Plan), presents the plan for the management of fine-grained sediment and organic material in riffles and spawning sized stream substrate within the Poe bypass reach, including implementation of pulse flows. This Plan is required by SWRCB WQC Condition 4 (Condition 4) and Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 23, Part 3 (Condition No. 23, Part 3) which were also incorporated into FERC License Article 401 (FERC 2018). The relevant FERC Article 401 requirements applicable to this plan are summarized in Attachment 1. Similarly, SWRCB Condition 4 and Forest Service 4(e) Condition 23, Part 3 are summarized in Attachments 2 and 3, respectively. 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”). In Section 4.0 - Methods, and Section 6.0 - Reporting, 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 within 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 from Poe Dam downstream to Poe Powerhouse. The North Fork Feather River originates from several small creeks south of Lassen Peak in northwestern Plumas County and flows through the Upper North Fork Feather River Project No. 2105 and the Rock Creek-Cresta Project No. 1962 prior to being utilized by the Poe Project. 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 afterbay for the project. The Poe Powerhouse and Big Bend Reservoir are located 2 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 3 just upstream of Lake Oroville, the primary storage reservoir for the Feather River Project No. 2100. 2.0 SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OBJECTIVES The Sediment Management Plan addresses the management of fine-grained sediment and organic material in riffles and spawning sized stream substrate within the Poe bypass reach, including implementation of pulse flows. It is intended to meet the requirements of Condition 4 and Condition No. 23, Part 3, summarized below: Monitor the accumulation of fine-grained sediment and organic material in riffles and spawning sized stream substrate within the Poe Reach. Provide or augment spill flows when fine-grainedsediment and organicmaterial increases by more than 25 percent as compared to baseline measurements. Provide periodic updates to Agency Representatives about the status of fine-grained sediment and organic material in riffles and spawning sized stream substrate within the Poe Reach. In 2019, PG&E and Dr. Christian Braudrick, a geomorphologist from Stillwater Sciences, conducted site visits to the Poe Reach and established that there was little evidence of fine sediments and organic material in the few accessible locations with riffles. A review of studies conducted during relicensing (e.g., Wreco 2003 and Section E3.1.4 of the License Application) indicated that fine sediment entrapment in the Poe Reach was unlikely, and that there were few spawning areas along the reach, with most occurring in the two main tributaries (i.e., Mill Creek and Flea Valley Creek). Following discussions with the SWRCB and Forest Service staff on September 12, 2019, and January 9, 2020, it was decided that the focus of the Plan would be areas along the Poe Reach in which either fine sediments were observed or could potentially deposit, rather than focusing on the limited areas of just riffles and areas with spawning gravels. In addition, there are minor differences between Condition 4 and Condition No. 23, Part 3, primarily related to triggering a pulse flow. With these observations in mind, the objectives of the Plan are: Monitortheaccumulationoffine-grainedsedimentand organic material in specific areas along the Poe Reach in which fine sediments were observed or could potentially deposit. Provide or augment spill flows when fine-grained sediment and organic material increases by more than 25 percent as compared to baseline measurements. 3 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 4 To address these objectives, PG&E will undertake the following activities: Initial baseline monitoring will be conducted in License Year 2 (2020) after Plan approval. If necessary, based on Agency consultation during review of the baseline monitoring report, another year of baseline monitoring may be added to assess potential changes in Poe Reach due to fires in recent years. Sediment monitoring will be conducted in the fall of license year 10, 20, 30, and 40 (2028, 2038, 2048, and 2058) and in the year following a time period between October 1 to June 30 wherethe average daily flow measured at NF-23 does not exceed 2,000 cfs. If monitoring shows that sediment loading exceeds 25% of baseline at any of the three monitoring sites, a pulse flow will be provided before April 1 in the following year, provided a natural spill flow greater than 2,000 cfs has not already occurred. A follow-up sediment monitoring event will be conducted a year after a monitoring event that shows sediment loading exceeds 25% of baseline at any of the three monitoring sites. This follow-up monitoring will be conducted after a pulse flow or natural spill event to confirm that the fine-grain sediment has decreased to baseline levels, or near baseline levels. 3.0 STUDY AREA AND MONITORING LOCATIONS Fine-grained sediment accumulation will be monitored at three sites that each encompasses a riffle and pool along the North Fork Feather River below Poe Dam. The locations were selected during a site visit with Dr. Christian Braudrick (Stillwater Sciences), Rohit Salve (PG&E), and Timothy Sagraves (consulting water quality specialist) September 19, 2019, and subsequent discussions with the SWRCB and Forest Service Staff. The sites have relatively low slopes and could potentially support spawning or fine sediment deposition during low flow years. Figure 3-1 depicts the location of the monitoring sites. 4 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 5 1 1. Immediately below Poe Dam 2. BardeesBar 2 3. Poe Beach 3 Figure 3-1. Location of proposed sites for monitoring fine sediment 4.0 MONITORING METHODS 4.1.B ASELINE S EDIMENT S AMPLING A baseline sampling of the amount of fine sediment present at the monitoring locations will be established after implementationof the new license instream flowrequirements and within the same year the Sediment Monitoring Plan is approved by FERC. The baseline sediment accumulationdetermination will be made in license year 2 (2020). The monitoring will be done no earlier than 3months,and no later than 6 months following a flow event with a mean daily magnitude of at least 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). If necessary, based on Agency consultation during review of the baseline monitoring report, another year of baseline monitoring may be added to assess potential changes in the Poe Reach due to fires in recent years. If a second year of monitoring is conducted, the baseline sediment loading will be averaged from both years of 5 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 6 measurement. Preliminary calculations conducted during the preparation of this Plan suggest that a flow of 2,000 cfs is estimated to suspend 1 mm sand while 2 mm sand will be suspended at 7940 cfs, based on bed stress calculations from Wreco (2003). 4.2.D ECADAL AND T RIGGERED S EDIMENT M ONITORING Sediment monitoring will be conducted in the fall of license year 10, 20, 30, and 40 (2028, 2038, 2048, and 2058) and in the year following a time period between October 1 to June 30 where the average daily flow measured at NF-23 does not exceed 2,000 cfs. Prior to in-channel surveys, the field crew will coordinate with biologists to identify any time or specific areas that should be avoided to limit potential impacts to FYLF and other aquatic species. All sites will be monitored for the build-up of fine sediments defined here as sand, silt and clays. At each site an unmanned aerial system (UAS) will be used to generate a basemap of the site. Following collection and rectification of the base map images, a geomorphologist will construct a preliminary map of the extent of fine sediment visible on the aerial photographs in the office. It is likely that observing sand in the aerial images will be difficult where rough surface water, deep pools, or shadows obscure the bed, and the map will need to be verified and completed in the field. In addition, PG&E will assess the degree to which wildfires and/or other disturbances may have affected the study sites before each survey. Within each study site, a geomorphologist will map the sediment facies in the bankfull channel of each site onto the base map following methods described in Buffington and Montgomery (1999). These methods are described in Bunte and Abt (2001). The minimum 2 patch size will be 10 feet squared (ft) (the approximate size of a rainbow trout spawning redd). In each patch containing at least 10 percent fines the geomorphologist will: 1. Take representative photographs; ththth 2. Estimate the 16, 50, and 84percentile of the grain size distribution; 3. Estimate the dimensions of the patch; 4. Estimate the percent of the surface area covered by fine sediments; 5. Note the approximate geometry of the patch; and 6. Describe the average depth of fine sediment based on at least five measurements. A follow-up sediment monitoring event will be conducted a year after a monitoring event that shows sediment loading exceeds 25% of baseline at any of the three monitoring sites. This follow- 6 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 7 up monitoring will beconducted after a pulse flow or natural spill event to confirm that the fine- grain sediment has moved out of the site. 4.3. QA/QC Data collected in the field will be subject to review by PG&E technicians or their contractors. Suspected erroneous data will be identified in annual reports. This review, along with graphical analysis and routine equipment inspection, will ensure that proper data is made available for the annual reports. 4.4. D ATA S TORAGE All raw and processed data will be stored in PG&E archives. 4.5.A NALYSIS During the baseline survey, the volume and area of fine sediments (sand, silt and clays) will be determined for each of the monitoring sites. During subsequent surveys, the volume, surface area, and location of fine sediments will be compared with those measured during the baseline survey. An increase in either volume or surface area of fine sediments of 25% relative to the background condition at any of the three monitoring sites would trigger the need to re-evaluate the pulse flows 5.0 PULSE FLOWS If monitoring indicates that fine sediments have increased 25% over baseline at any of the three monitoring sites, a pulse flow will be provided before April 1 in the year following monitoring provided a natural spill flow greater than 2,000 cfs has not already occurred. PG&Ewilleither releaseoraugmenta spillflowpriortoApril1ofthenextyearin accordance with the following table, as expanded from WQC Condition 4 and 4(e) Condition No. 23, Part 3 to ensure compliance with interim ramping rates. If the interim ramping rates are modified by the Long-Term Ramping Rates discussions based on SWRCB Condition 5.2 or Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 23, Part 5, the following table in this Sediment Monitoring Plan will be revised accordingly. 7 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 8 Duration Flow (cfs) (hours) 1Baseflow to750 cfs 11000 cfs 11300 cfs 11600 cfs 62000 cfs 11850 cfs 11700 cfs 11550 cfs 11400 cfs 11250 cfs 11100 cfs 1950 cfs 1800 cfs 1650 cfs 1500 cfs 500 cfs to baseflow at 150 cfs/hr Thepulse flow shall be scheduled prior to the temperature of the North Fork Feather River at NF-23 exceeding 10 degrees Celsius mean daily water temperature on two successive days. To protect Foothill Yellow-Legged Frogs (FYLF) and macroinvertebrate populations, the pulse flow will occur prior to the onset of frog breeding through FYLF. Pulse flows shall also not take place if rainbow trout are spawning in the Poe Reach. Licensee shall re-monitor the fine-grained sediment and organic material accumulation within 3 and no more than 6 months followingthe pulse flowrelease. 6.0 EVALUATION OF SEDIMENT MONITORING AND PULSE FLOWS If monitoring indicatesthat the desiredoutcome of removal of accumulated fine-grained sediment and organicmaterial isnot beingachieved or ifthe expected benefits are betterachievedbya pulse flow of a different magnitude or duration, PG&E, after consultation with theAgenciesand approval by the Deputy Director of the SWRCB, and the Forest Supervisor of the Plumas National Forest, shall modify the magnitude or duration of the pulse flow toensure adequate removal of undesirable material. In no case will the pulse flow modifications require the release of more than 2,600 acre-feet of water in excess of the required minimum streamflow. 8 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 9 Ifmonitoring indicates that the desired outcome of removal of accumulated fine-grained sediment is being achieved, PG&E,will consultwiththe Agencies to determine if monitoring can be reduced or terminated. Changes to, or elimination of, monitoring will be approved by Deputy Director of the SWRCB, and the Forest Supervisor of the Plumas National Forest. 7.0 REPORTING ASELINE S URVEY 7.1. B The initial baseline report, summarizing the results of the fine sediment survey will be provided to the Agencies by January 15, 2021, following the baseline surveys in fall 2020. To establish a consistent template for reporting, prior to submission of the first report, the format and content of the report will be discussed and agreed to with the Agencies. If, after consultation with the Agencies, a second baseline survey is required, that report will be submitted by January 15 in the year subsequent to the survey. NNUAL F LOW R EPORT 7.2.A To assess whether sediment monitoring is required, PG&E will provide the Agencies with a technical memorandum that provides daily average flow for the period from October 1-June 30 by August 15 of each year. The report will summarize whether the maximum daily-average flows were sufficiently low (<2000 cfs) to trigger fine sediment monitoring. PG&E will not provide preliminary drafts of the Annual Flow Report. 7.3.T RIGGERED M ONITORING R EPORTS If the Annual Flow Report indicates that fine sediment monitoring is triggered for a given year, PG&E will conduct fine sediment monitoring, and submit a Draft Sediment Monitoring Report to the Agencies by January 15 (of the year following the Annual Flow Report). PG&E and the Agencies will review the report to assess fine sediment loading and determine whether PG&E must implement a pulse flow by April 1 (i.e., whether fine sediment loading increased by more than 25% over baseline levels at any of the three monitoring sites). Agency comments/consultations will be completed by March 1. The Draft Sediment Monitoring Report will include a description of the sampling locations, methods, QA/QC findings, monitoring results depicted graphically and 9 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 10 tabularly, and any problems encountered. Electronic data (in Excel or comparable format) will be provided upon request. If the pulse flow is implemented, PG&E will add a description and/or table of the dates/times and flow durations to the Draft Sediment Monitoring Report and submit the report to the Agencies for review by April 15. The Agencies will provide comments by May 15, and a final annual report will be filed with FERC by June 30 of each year. To assess the effectiveness of the pulse flow or the natural spill, a second (or follow-up) fine sediment monitoring event will be conducted three to six months following the pulse flow or natural spill event. If sediment loads remain high, then PG&E and Agencies will consult to reassess the pulse flow. ECADAL M ONITORING R EPORTS 7.4.D Following the 10-year sediment monitoring surveys in 2028, 2038, 2048, and 2058, PG&E will provide the agencies with a draft Technical Memorandum summarizing the annual reports on the same schedule outlined following the triggered sediment monitoring reports, with a draft report to the Agencies by January 15, comments/consultation completed by March 1, a summary of any implemented pulse flows by April 15 and a final annual report filed with FERC by June 30. In all final reports PG&E will include any comments and recommendations made by the Agencies on the draft report and if any changes in pulse flows are necessary. If PG&E does not adopt a recommendation, the filing shall include PG&E’s reasons based on project-specific information. 8.0 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 Licensee will include all relevant documentation of coordination and consultation 10 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 11 with the updated Plan filed with FERC. If the Licensee does not adopt a specific 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. 11 Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) Sediment Management Plan Page 12 9.0 LITERATURE CITED Buffington, J.M., and D.R. Montgomery. 1999. Effects of hydraulic roughness on surface textures . Water Resources Research, 35 (11), pp. 3507-3521. Bunte, K., and S. R. Abt. 2001. Sampling Surface and Subsurface Particle-size Distributions in Wadeable Gravel-and Cobble-bed Streams for Analyses in Sediment Transport, Hydraulics, and Streambed Monitoring. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-74. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission). 2018. Order Issuing New License. Project No. 2107-016. Prepared by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Energy Projects, Division of Hydropower Licensing. Washington, DC. December 17, 2018. PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company). 2003. Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107, Application for New License (Volume 1 of 4). December 2003. SWRCB (State Water Recourses Control Board). 2017. Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2107. Water Quality Certification. December 28, 2017. Wreco. 2003. Sediment Incipient Motion Analysis. Poe Reach of the Lower North Fork Feather River. Prepared for Pacific Gas & Electric Company. March 2003. Appendix E2-2 of the Poe Hydroelectric Project License Application FERC No. 2107. 12 POE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT (FERC NO. 2107) SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN ATTACHMENT 1 FERC LICENSE ARTICLE401 –Commission Approval, Reporting, Notification, and Filing of Amendments (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 Within 1 year from license Sediment management 4 23 (3Part) issuance plan 13 ATTACHMENT 2 FERC License (Project No. 2107) Appendix A Water Quality Certification Condition 4 – Pulse Flows and Sediment Management Within one year of license issuance, the Licensee shall submit a Sediment Management Plan to the Deputy Director for review and approval. The Sediment Management Plan shall be prepared in consultation with State Water Board staff, Forest Service, USFWS, and CDFW. The Sediment Management Plan shall outline goals and objectives for the management of fine-grained sediment and organic material in riffles and spawning sized stream substrate within the Poe bypass reach, including implementation of pulse flows. The Sediment Management Plan shall include methodologies for sampling and protocols for data sharing between agencies. 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. Triggers for implementation of pulse flows shall be dependent on the results of sediment monitoring. Baseline monitoring shall occur the year following Deputy Director approval of the Sediment Management Plan. The initial baseline sediment accumulation monitoring shall be performed three- to six-months following a flow event with a mean daily magnitude of at least 1 If monitoring shows that fine-grain sediment and organic material accumulation has 2,000 cfs increased by more than 25 percent as compared to the baseline sediment measurements, the Licensee shall either release or augment a spill flow prior to April 1 of the following year. The Licensee shall follow the regime shown in Table 3 while following the ramping rates in Condition 5. In no case will the pulse flow modifications require the release of more than 2,600 acre-feet of water in excess of the required minimum streamflow. Under extremely dry conditions, the Licensee may request to modify or delay elements of the Sediment Management Plan. The Deputy Director may make modifications as part of any approval to modify or delay elements of the 1 Pulse flows may be accomplished by Project operations or through natural hydrologic conditions. 14 Sediment Management Plan. The Licensee shall implement pulse flows in accordance with the following requirements: A. The pulse flow shall be not be implemented after the temperature of the North Fork Feather River exceeds 10°C mean daily water temperature at Gage 23 on two successive days; B. For the protection of FYLF populations, the pulse flow shall occur prior to the onset of frog breeding in the Poe bypass reach; C. Pulse flows shall not take place if rainbow trout spawning in the Poe bypass reach is observed and reported to the Licensee by CDFW, USFWS, or Forest Service; and D. The Licensee shall notify CDFW, Forest Service, USFWS, and State Water Board staff prior to implementation of a non-natural pulse flow. The Deputy Director may make modifications as part of any approval. The Licensee shall file any Deputy Director approved plan, and any modifications, with FERC. The Licensee shall monitor fine-grain sediment and organic material accumulation three- to six- months following a pulse flow event. If monitoring indicates fine-grain sediment and organic material accumulation remains at or above a 25 percent increase as compared to the baseline sediment measurements, the Licensee shall consult with State Water Board staff, CDFW, USFWS, and Forest Service and submit a modified pulse flow schedule, for Deputy Director review and approval, no later than nine months following post-pulse flow monitoring. Once approved by the Deputy Director, the Licensee shall implement the modified pulse flow schedule as soon as possible within the constraints of this condition and the newly approved modified pulse flow schedule. The Licensee may also request a modified pulse flow schedule, following consultation with State Water Board staff, CDFW, USFWS, and the Forest Service, if the Licensee determines that the expected benefits can be better achieved by a pulse flow of a different magnitude or duration. The request shall be submitted to the Deputy Director for review and approval. The Deputy Director may make modifications as part of any approval. The Licensee shall file any Deputy Director approved plan, and any modifications, with FERC. 15 ATTACHMENT 3 Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 24, Part 3 Sediment Management Program The Licensee shall, within 12 months of license issuance, develop and submit to the Commission, a Sediment Management Program Plan. The plan shall be prepared in consultation with the Forest Service and other interested governmental agencies. The Sediment Management Program Plan shall be approved by the Forest Service and filed with the Commission before implementation. The objectiveof the SedimentManagement Program is to manage the accumulation of fine-grained sediment and organic material in riffles and spawningsized stream substrate within the PoeReach. Evaluation methods for sediment accumulation shall follow established protocols such as those 23 orCover et al.(2006)or other agreed upon methodologies. described in Bunte and Abt (2001) Licensee shall notify the Forest Service and other interested governmental agencies at least one month prior to performing the monitoring to allow interested parties to participate or observe the monitoring.TheProgramshallincludetheelementsdescribedbelow. Fine-grainedsedimentandorganicmaterialaccumulationinrifflesand spawningsizedsubstrate shall be initially determined following the established protocol after implementation of the new license instream flow requirements. The initial, baseline sediment accumulation determination will be made no earlier than three months, but no later than six months followinga flow event with a mean daily magnitude of at least 2000 cfs. Ifthere are two consecutive years without flow events with mean daily flows of at least 2000 cfs, the licensee shall evaluate fine-grained sediment and organic material accumulation following the 2 Bunte, K., and Abt, S. R. 2001. Sampling Surface and Subsurface Particle-size Distributions in Wadeable Gravel- and Cobble-bed Streams for Analyses in Sediment Transport, Hydraulics, and Streambed Monitorin g. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-74. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 3 Cover, M., C. May, V. Resh, and W. Dietrich. 2006. Quantitative Linkages Between Sediment Supply, Streambed Fine Sediment, and Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Streams of the Klamath National Forest. The University of California, Berkeley. 16 established protocol in the second year withoutthehigh flowevent. If monitoring shows that fine- grainedsedimentand organicmaterial accumulationhasincreasedby more than25percentas comparedtotheinitialsedimentmeasurements,thelicenseeshalleitherreleaseoraugmenta spill flow prior to April 1 of the following year following the regime shown in the schedule and contingent to the following requirements. Pulse Flow Schedule HourDurationFlow(downramp in approximately (hours) 0.5 foot stagedrops) 11 Baseflow to750 cfs 21 1500 cfs 3-8 6 2000 cfs 9-1021600 cfs 11-12 2 1300 cfs 13-14 2 1100 cfs 15-16 2 800 cfs 17-18 2 600 cfs 19-20 2 450 cfs 450 cfsto baseflow Thepulse flow shall be scheduled prior to the temperature of the North Fork Feather River at NF- 23 exceeding 10 degrees Celsius mean daily water temperature on two successive days. For the protection of foothill yellow-legged frogs and macroinvertebrate populations, the pulse flow will occur prior to the onset of frog breeding each year. Pulse flows shall also not take place if rainbow trout spawning in the Poe Reach is observed and reported to Licensee by the California Department of Fish and Game or Forest Service. Licenseeshallre-monitorthefine-grainedsedimentandorganicmaterialaccumulationwithinthree and no morethansixmonthsfollowingthe pulseflowrelease. If monitoring indicates that the desired outcome of removal of accumulated fine-grained sediment and organic material is not being achieved or if the expected benefits are better achieved by a pulse flow ofa differentmagnitudeorduration,Licensee,afterconsultationwithinterestedgovernmental agenciesand approvalbytheForestService,shallmodifythemagnitudeordurationofthepulse flow to ensure adequate removal of undesirable material. In no case will the pulse flow 17 modificationsrequire the release ofmore than 2,600 acre-feet of water in excess of the required minimum streamflow. 18 Enclosure 2 Forest Service Approval Letter dated March 19, 2020 PG&E Request Letter dated March 18, 2020