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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.25.2020 Paul Gosslin - Water Resources Report - August 25, 2020 AT0 Water andResource Conservation Paul Gosselin, Director buttecounty.net/waterresourceconservation 308 Nelson Avenue T: 530.552.3595 Oroville, California 95965 F: 530.538.3807 bcwater@buttecounty.net MEMORANDUM DATE: August 25, 2020 TO: Butte County Board of Supervisors FROM: Paul Gosselin, Director RE: Water Resources Update The following is an update of significant water resource issues from the Department of Water and Resource Conservation. Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Request for an Extension to Submit Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP) - Public engagement is a critical requirement of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) in the three subbasins have gone to great lengths to establish advisory structures to engage the public. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to hold meetings has been delayed and compromised. The schedule to develop and submit the GSP remains on schedule. The Vina Stakeholder Advisory Committee voted to recommend that the Vina GSA Board submit a letter to the Governor and the Legislature requesting an extension of the January 31, 2022 GSP submission deadline. An extension would likely require legislation or a Governors Executive Order. The issue will be brought before the Wyandotte Creek th GSA Board on August 27 as part of the GSP Status. The Butte County Water nd Commission will discuss the issue at their September 2 meeting and may make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. If a recommendation is made by the Water Commission, it will come to the Board in October. In the meantime, I will investigate whether other subbasins are seeking an extension. Groundwater Pumper Advisory Committee The Groundwater Pumper Advisory Committee (GPAC) was formed in 2016 to advise the Board of Supervisors on SGMA implementation, governance and groundwater sustainability plan development. The GPAC is comprised two agricultural groundwater pumpers from the four subbasins that were established at that time and an environmental representative. With the establishment of governance structures in Vina and Wyandotte Creek, Butte County is only a GSA in a small portion of the Butte subbasin. The GPAC had previously discussed disbanding but decided to wait until the governance structure in the Butte subbasin was finalized. The GPAC has not met since th 2019. A GPAC meeting was held on August 19 to discuss recommending to the Board to disband the GPAC. The GPAC voted to recommend continuing to meet as needed nd and not disband. The item will be discussed at the September 2 Water Commission th agenda as a continuation of the August 5 discussion. I will inform the Water Commission of the GPACs intent. For the GPAC to continue, the members will need to be reappointed. I will begin the process of having them submit applications for appointment and solicit other potential candidates. PG&E Issues 1. Poe Relicensing As part of the order to issue the license to PG&E for the Poe facility issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), PG&E is required to enhance recreational activities at Bardees Bar. The order required that PG&E conduct a feasibility study on a hiking trail between the Poe Power Plant and Bardees Bar. The Butte County Resource Conservation District conducted a feasibility study. PG&E subsequently sent a letter to FERC requesting to remove the requirement to construct a hiking trail. The action by PG&E is inconsistent with the FERC order and removes a potential recreational opportunity for Butte County. The Coordinating Committee met on th August 18 and voted to recommend that a joint letter be drafted with Butte County and American Whitewater directed to FERC objecting to the PG&E request. Butte County Counsel and American Whitewater have previously collaborated on issues on the Poe relicensing. The Paradise Parks and Recreation Commission is considering sending a letter to FERC. An item requesting that the Board approve sending a joint letter with American Whitewater will come before the Board in October. 2. DeSalba/Centerville Project and Butte Creek The sale of the DeSalba/Centerville project by PG&E raised concerns about the potential impact to flows in Butte Creek. PG&E is in negotiations with Toll House Energy about acquiring the DeSalba/Centerville project. The Miocene Canal is not part of the negotiations or part of the DeSalba/Centerville project. An informal group called the Centerville Schoolhouse Group began meeting to discuss opportunities to increase flows in Butte Creek to better support salmon population and other species. The group is made up of a broad coalition including the CA Sportfishing Alliance, Metropolitan Water District, American Whitewater, NOAA, and the State Water Resources Control Board. The Centerville Schoolhouse Group reached out to the Department to better understand how the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and Miocene Canal nd issues could relate to their efforts. On September 2, a presentation by American Whitewater will be made at the Water Commission about the opportunities to repurpose hydroelectric facilities for environmental benefit. A report will be brought to the Board based on the discussion at the Water Commission. 3. Miocene Canal In June, PG&E plead guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and causing the 2018 Camp Fire. As part of the plea agreement with the Butte County restore water to the Miocene Canal. PG&E has agreed to provide up to $15 million over the next five years towards restoring water to the Miocene Canal. The Department is continuing to facilitate discussion among PG&E, stakeholder and local partners. The immediate effort involves securing a short-term solution that could be implemented this summer. PG&E is planning to have a temporary outtake at Lime Saddle that would deliver water to the Middle Miocene. There are a number of permits, agreements and approvals required to achieve this goal including approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The FERC approval could take 8 months or longer. Given the uncertainty of the temporary outtake, other more viable alternatives are going to be pursued by PG&E. One alternative involves connecting the existing DOWC outtake into the Miocene Canal at Lime Saddle. This could be accomplished in 3-4 months. The second option involves supplying Kunkel Reservoir with dechlorinated water from DOWC tank. This could be accomplished in 3-4 months. The DOWC would be supplied by PID through the PID/DOWC intertie. The third alternative involves upsizing the current Del Oro Water Company outtake at Lime Saddle and using the increase capacity to put a sufficient amount of water into the Middle Miocene. This option would compliment the first two options. An engineering study on these alternatives is expected to be completed in two th weeks. A Miocene Canal Workgroup meeting will be held on August 18 from 11:00- 12:30. Board members should have gotten a meeting announcement. Please contact me if you had not received the notice. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.