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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.16.22 Board Correspondence - FW_ DOCKET CHANGE- Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-049 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al. From:Paulsen, Shaina To:Bennett, Robin; Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Hironimus, Patrizia; Kimmelshue, Tod; Lucero, Debra; Paulsen, Shaina; Pickett, Andy; Reaster, Kayla; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Valencia, Shyanne Cc:Hatcher, Casey Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: DOCKET CHANGE- Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-049 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al. Date:Tuesday, August 16, 2022 2:18:00 PM Please see Board Correspondence below. Shaina Paulsen Associate Clerk of The Board Butte County Administration 25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965 T: 530.552.3304 | F: 530.538.7120 -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 1:45 PM Subject: DOCKET CHANGE- Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-049 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 8/3/2022, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C.: Filer: Pacific Gas and Electric Company PG&E Corporation (as Agent) Docket(s): P-2107-049 Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Filing Type: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits Revised Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan for Poe Hydroelectric Project under P-2107. 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Box 770000 San Francisco, CA 94177 August 3, 2022 Via Electronic Submittal (E-File) Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance 888 First Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20426 RE: Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107-CA Riparian Monitoring Plan Revision Dear Secretary Bose: This letter presents a revised Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan (Plan) for Pacific Gas and Poe Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 2107. The revision will allow PG&E to reduce stream flows for personnel safety when monitoring under specific conditions. These conditions are the same as the stream flow modification conditions listed in the Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI) Monitoring Plan, which was approved by FERC April 16, 2020. Without this addition, PG&E must seek concurrence on a minimum instream flow variance with the agencies before each monitoring event. License article 401(a) and State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB) Water Quality Condition 11, required PG&E to prepare a Riparian Monitoring Plan, approved by FERC July 6, 2021. This plan requires PG&E to assess the potential changes in riparian vegetation in response to flows and evaluate trends over time. Monitoring will occur every 10 years. Currently, the plan allows PG&E to reduce flow in years where fish and BMI monitoring occur at the same time; however, over the life of the license, there will be instances when riparian monitoring occurs independently. In these years, PG&E requests approval to modify stream flows consistent with the fish and BMI plan. Pursuant to the Plan, PG&E worked in consultation with the United States Forest Service (USFS) and SWRCB to revise this Plan. In an email dated November 15, 2022, PG&E requested the approval of this Plan from the USFS and SWRCB. The USFS responded with their approval on May 24, 2022. The SWRCB has yet to respond. PG&E respectfully requests the SWRCB file their approval with FERC when available. If the SWRCB provides comments, PG&E will file with FERC a supplemental package accepting the changes or providing a reason for not doing so. Enclosure 1 contains a redlined version of the Riparian Monitoring Plan and Enclosure 2 Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary August 3, 2022 Page 2 contains a clean version. Enclosure 3 contains the Forest Service approval of this Plan. Please respond with approval of the revised plan within 60 days from the date of this letter, October 2, 2022. Sky Ramirez-Doble, at (530) 250-7002. Sincerely, Matthew Joseph Senior License Coordinator, Hydro Licensing Enclosures: 1. Redlined Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan, prepared by Cardno, dated December 2020 2. Clean Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan, prepared by Cardno, dated December 2020 3. Forest Service Approval, prepared by the Forest Supervisor, dated May 24, 2022 cc: With Enclosures Christopher Carlton, USFS - Christopher.Carlton@usda.gov Amy Lind, USFS - amy.lind@usda.gov Emily Moghaddas, USFS Emily.moghaddas@usda.gov Lori Cayo, USFS - lori.cayo@usda.gov Erik Ekdahl, SWRCB - Erik.ekdahl@waterboards.ca.gov Savannah Downey,SWRCB - Savannah.Downey@Waterboards.ca.gov PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 POE RIPARIAN MONITORING PLAN Prepared for: Pacific Gas & Electric Company 3401 Crow Canyon Road San Ramon, CA 94583 Prepared by: Cardno, Inc. 2890 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95833 December 2019 2020 © 2019 2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan POE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC PROJECT NO. 2107 POE RIPARIAN MONITORING PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 2.0Goal and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 4 3.0Study Area......................................................................................................................... 4 4.0Methods.............................................................................................................................. 6 4.1Selection of Monitoring Sites ................................................................................. 6 4.1.1Selection Approach ..................................................................................... 6 4.1.2Proposed Monitoring Sites .......................................................................... 7 4.2Monitoring Methods ............................................................................................. 11 4.2.1Vegetation Surveys at Selected Monitoring Sites ..................................... 11 4.2.2Hydrology ................................................................................................. 15 4.2.3Relationship to Nearby Riparian Monitoring Studies ............................... 16 4.3Analysis Methods.................................................................................................. 16 4.3.1Vegetation Surveys at Selected Monitoring Sites ..................................... 16 4.3.2Hydrology ................................................................................................. 17 4.3.3Coordination with Other Monitoring Studies ........................................... 17 4.4Monitoring Schedule ............................................................................................. 17 5.0Deliverables and Reporting Schedule ........................................................................... 19 5.1Deliverables .......................................................................................................... 19 5.2Reporting Schedule ............................................................................................... 19 5.3Plan Revisions ....................................................................................................... 20 6.0References ........................................................................................................................ 21 December 2019 2020 Page i Table of Contents Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan LIST OF ATTACHMENTS Attachment A. FERC Article 401 Requirements Attachment B. FERC Appendix A – Water Quality Certification Condition 11 Attachment C. Representative Photographs of the Poe Bypass Reach Attachment D. Monitoring Site Section Matrix Attachment E. Riparian Monitoring Datasheets Attachment F. United States Forest Service and State Water Resources Control Board Consultation LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3-1. Map of the Poe Bypass Reach. ......................................................................... 5 Figure 4-1. Approximate locations of proposed riparian monitoring sites. ....................... 10 LIST OF TABLES Table 4-1. Criteria used to select Poe Bypass Reach riparian monitoring sites. ................ 7 Table 4-2. Poe Bypass Reach riparian monitoring sites. .................................................... 9 Table 5-1. Riparian monitoring and reporting schedule. .................................................. 20 December 2019 2020 Page ii Table of Contents Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan LIST OF ACRONYMS Agencies United States Forest Service staff and SWRCB staff BMI benthic macroinvertebrates CDEC California Data Exchange Center cfs cubic foot/feet per second DBH diameter at breast height DWR California Department of Water Resources FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FYLF foothill yellow-legged frog GPS Global Positioning System MFFR Middle Fork Feather River NFFR North Fork Feather River PBR Poe Bypass Reach PG&E or Licensee Pacific Gas and Electric Company Project Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 RM river mile SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board WQC Water Quality Certification December 2019 2020 Page iii Table of Contents Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 1.0Introduction 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 Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project 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 of the new license (FERC 2018). The new license contains requirements to monitor riparian vegetation potentially affected by changes in operations, including recreational flows, slower down ramping rates, higher minimum instream flows, and pulse flows. Under the new license, up to 6,000 acre-feet of flow will be provided in Wet and Above Normal water years for recreational boating purposes when biological monitoring indicates the flows will not impact foothill yellow-legged frogs (FYLF). The new license requires slower down ramping rates from all Poe Dam flows under PG&E’s control and below 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to protect FYLF and other biological resources. Pulse flows to flush fine grain sediment will be implemented if sediment monitoring indicates an accumulation of sediments within the reach. The results of the riparian vegetation monitoring will be used in conjunction with the results of other biological monitoring studies, including fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and FYLFs, to evaluate the potential responses of biological resources to the changes in operations under the new license. The patterns of riparian vegetation establishment and distribution along a river are created by the interaction of physical processes (e.g., flows of varying magnitudes, timing of flows, spring flow recession rates, inter and intra-annual flow variability, depth to groundwater during the growing season, and sediment deposition) and the different life history characteristics of the dominant species. The dominant woody riparian species present along the North Fork Feather River (NFFR) have many life history adaptations that promote their success under dynamic and episodic, yet seasonally predictable, hydrologic conditions. December 2020 Page 1 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Flow attributes that are important for maintaining the distribution, and structural and compositional complexity of riparian communities include: (1) inter-annual variability; (2) hydrograph shape; (3)frequency of high-magnitude scouring or “re-setting” flows (flows that generally occur every 10 to 25 years); and (4) frequency, magnitude, timing, and recession rates of spring flows (i.e., recruitment flows; flows that generally occur every 1.5 to 5 years). Variability in flows within and between years creates a dynamic physical environment to which riparian vegetation responds. Flow attributes during ecologically sensitive time periods for riparian species (i.e., seed release, initial establishment, growing season) are particularly important for maintaining riparian vegetation. For successful recruitment to occur, flows of suitable recession rates must coincide with the release of seeds, to provide sufficient moisture to the seedlings and sprouts. This hydrology may occur in the same year as a re-setting flow or may occur several years later. Willows and cottonwoods, species present along the Project Bypass Reach, release seeds in the spring, timed with elevated flows from snowmelt. These seeds are only viable for a short period of time (weeks), requiring suitable moisture and soil conditions to be present at the time of seed release. For seedlings to survive, flow recession rates must be slow, and groundwater must be available through the dry summer. Riparian vegetation often establishes in elevation zones where water is available during the drier months and the plants are not too close the channel and susceptible to damage by high flows. The instream flows required by the new license are expected to enhance flow conditions that support riparian communities. This document, Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan (Plan), presents the plan to comply with the riparian monitoring required by SWRCB WQC Condition No. 11, which was incorporated intoFERC License Article 401. The relevant FERC Article 401 requirements applicable to this Plan are provided in Attachment A. Similarly, SWRCB Condition 11 is included in Attachment B. The Plan was developed in consultation with the United States Forest Service Plumas National Forest and the SWRCB staff (Agencies). The response to comments table that addresses the United States Forest Service and SWRCB comments on the draft plan are provided in Attachment F. The Poe Project is located in the North Fork Feather River Basin, which contains extensive forested lands and is sparsely populated. Waters of the Poe Project include the Poe Reservoir, a 7.62-mile- December 2020 Page 2 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan long bypassed reach (“Poe Bypass Reach”), and the Big Bend Reservoir, which serves as the afterbay for the Project. The Poe Powerhouse and Big Bend Reservoir are located just upstream of Lake Oroville, the primary storage reservoir for the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Feather River Project (FERC Project No. 2100). December 2020 Page 3 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 2.0Goaland Objectives The goal of riparian monitoring is to document the condition of the riparian resources in the Poe Bypass Reach under the new license-required instream flows (as of the 2018 FERC license issuance)and ramping rates. Specific objectives are as follows: 1)Determine the existing condition of riparian vegetation in the Project area. 2)Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in riparian vegetation distribution and position along and adjacent to the active channel. 3)Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in the species composition of riparian vegetation in selected sites. 4)Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in riparian vegetation age class structure, including regeneration, in selected sites. 5)Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in riparian density in selected sites. 6)Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in riparian health in selected reaches over the term of the new license. 3.0 Study Area The study area for the riparian monitoring includes the 7.62-river mile (RM) Poe Bypass Reach on the NFFR from Poe Dam downstream to Poe Powerhouse. The Poe Bypass Reach is shown in red on Figure 3-1. December 2020 Page 4 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Figure 3-1. Map of the Poe Bypass Reach. December 2020 Page 5 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 4.0Methods The following describes the approach for monitoring riparian vegetation in the Poe Bypass Reach, including: selection of proposed long-term monitoring sites, monitoring methods, analysis methods, and monitoring schedule. 4.1 Selection of Monitoring Sites 4.1.1Selection Approach Riparian corridor vegetation community distribution patterns and age structure diversity within a watershed reflect interactions between watershed geology, channel morphology, fluvial geomorphic processes, and life history adaptations of the plant species. To identify and select riparian long-term monitoring sites that are representative of the Poe Bypass Reach and have conditions suitable to support riparian vegetation, the reachwas characterized based on several geomorphic and riparian criteria. In addition to these characteristics, the location of past and current studies, such as instream flows, FYLF, benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI), and fish population, within the Poe Bypass Reach were considered during the selection of the riparian 1 monitoring reaches. Locations of potential vegetation encroachment, lower-gradient areas, and accessibility were also considered. These criteria are listed in Table 4-1. In addition to the monitoring sites in the Poe Bypass Reach, a reference site on an unimpaired river was selected for comparison. Reference site locations that were considered included sites used for other past and current studies and availability of flow data. 1 The riparian study conducted in support of the relicensing of the Poe Project involved mapping riparian vegetation along the Poe Bypass Reach. Studies were not conducted at specific study sites. December 2020 Page 6 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Table 4-1. Criteria used to select Poe Bypass Reach riparian monitoring sites. CharacteristicsSelection CriteriaData Source Channel geomorphic Channel characteristics, such as FERC License Application characteristics valley type, channel form, (PG&E 2003); topographic maps; geomorphic landforms, and aerial imagery; site reconnaissance. Confinement substrate, are suitable to support Gradient riparian vegetation along a river. Presence of depositional Lower-gradient, less confined landforms reaches with finer substrate and Substrate Size deposition landforms provide suitable conditions to support riparian vegetation. Woody riparian corridor Landscape-level riparian FERC License Application characteristics distribution, composition, and age (PG&E 2003); aerial imagery; structure are representative of those riparian vegetation site Distribution within the bypass reach, and reconnaissance. Composition characteristic of the region and Age structure channel morphology. Co-located or nearby aquatic Located near other aquatic or FERC License Application Report study sites instream flow study sites to provide (PG&E 2003); PG&E’s technical a more comprehensive assessment study plans (PG&E 2004). of the reach. Other floodplain activities Minimal observations of ongoing or FERC License Application Report historic activities such as mining, (PG&E 2003); PG&E’s technical high recreation use (e.g., camping, study plans (PG&E 2001; 2004); hiking) or grazing along the aerial imagery, riparian vegetation channel that may alter riparian site reconnaissance. condition. Accessibility Site is safely accessible by Topographic maps; site helicopter or hiking trail. reconnaissance. 4.1.2Proposed Monitoring Sites The Poe Bypass Reach is predominately comprised of a steep, confined bedrock-controlled channel. Much of the channel is developed on resistant bedrock mantled with a discontinuous cover of large boulder and cobble deposits. The steep boulder-bedrock reaches that store little sediment are interspersed with lower-gradient cascade, boulder step-pool, and boulder-cobble plane-bed reaches. The steep side slopes, narrow valley bottom, and prevalence of bedrock and boulder along long sections of the Poe Bypass Reach limit conditions suitable for riparian vegetation to establish. Two small tributaries, Mill Creek and Flea Valley Creek, enter the NFFR December 2020 Page 7 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan from opposite sides of the river near the upstream end of the reach. The mouths of these creeks are about 0.5 mile and 0.9 mile, respectively, downstream of Poe Dam. The upper 1.01 RM (5,350 feet) of the Poe Bypass Reach, from Poe Dam downstream to immediately downstream from the mouth of Flea Valley Creek is a wider, lower-gradient channel. The river then flows through a narrower, steeper canyon section dominated by bedrock canyon walls and large boulders, with limited accessibility (approximately 2.53 miles RM \[13,360 feet\]). The lower section of river (approximately 4.08 RM \[21,560 feet\]), from Bardee’s Bar to Poe Powerhouse, opens to a wider, lower-gradient channel with long pools, runs, and pocket-water habitats separated by short sections of riffles and/or cascades. The comparatively lower-gradient, wider valley bottom sections with alluvial depositional features and finer substrate (e.g., cobbles and gravels) provide conditions suitable to support riparian colonization, establishment, and development along the Poe Bypass Reach. The vegetation habitat types along the NFFR are mainly riparian, with mixed pine-oak forest dominating the surrounding upland areas. The adjacent railroad grade serves as a constraint to the riparian corridor extent on the right bank on the upper section of the Poe Bypass Reach and crossing to the left bank for the remainder of the Project reach at the Highway 70 bridge. Representative photographs of the Poe Bypass Reach are provided in Attachment C. The selection criteria are summarized for the Poe Bypass Reach in Attachment D. Based on the evaluation of the selection criteria, three riparian monitoring sites in the Poe Bypass Reach are proposed to document changes in riparian resources in response to the new flow requirements required by the license and be representative of the Poe Bypass Reach (Table 4-2, Figure 4-1). The monitoring sites were chosen to represent areas where sensitivity to altered flow and probability of change in riparian vegetation were judged to be the greatest. These sites are referred to by the prefix “PBR” followed by a number, e.g., PBR-1. Riparian monitoring sites were selected that encompassed at least one transect for which stage-discharge relationships were previously developed so that riparian vegetation patterns can be evaluated in relation to the range of flow stages, recession rates, and inundation at the monitoring sites. Monitoring sites were not December 2020 Page 8 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan selected within the bedrock confined sections or sections with boulder banks due to lack of naturally occurring riparian vegetation. In addition to the three monitoring sites within the Poe Bypass Reach, one reference site is proposed on the Middle Fork Feather River (MFFR), in an unregulated reach. This site is referred to as REF-1 (Table 4-2; Figure 4-1). This site is near reference sites for other aquatic studies, and flow and stage data are available from California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) gage MER (Middle Fork Feather River at Merrimac). Table 4-2. Poe Bypass Reach riparian monitoring sites. a Approximate Upstream Location (Lat/Long) Reach ID Site Description Reach Type Latitude Longitude PBR-1 Above Mill Creek Confluence Regulated 39.80828 -121.435769 PBR-2 Above Flea Valley Creek Confluence Regulated 39.80371 -121.441841 PBR-3 Poe Beach Regulated 39.733901 -121.469034 REF-1 Below Milsap Bar Bridge; MFFR Unregulated 39.705277 -121.26986 a Actual upstream and downstream extent will be identified and recorded during first monitoring event for all subsequent monitoring. Monitoring site reach lengths will be at least twenty times the channel width. December 2020 Page 9 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company . sites Project No. 2107 10 Page Project, FERC , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2020 © Poe Hydroelectric Project No. 2107 2020 -1. Approximate locations of proposed riparian monitoring Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Figure 4 December Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 4.2MonitoringMethods Site-scale field surveys with repeat photo documentation will be conducted at the selected long- 2 term monitoring sites to monitor riparian vegetation within the Poe Bypass Reach. The surveys will provide an assessment of the riparian composition and age structure in relation to the flow and geomorphic conditions.Riparian vegetation at the monitoring sites will be surveyed with transects oriented across the riparian corridor and stream bank surveys. Data will be collected to characterize the vegetation community distribution, composition, age structure and structural diversity, and will include: percent cover of dominant plant species, tree and shrub height and canopy structure, relative density of woody riparian and upland vegetation, woody riparian and upland vegetation age and size classes present, evidence of unusual mortality, 3 width of the riparian corridor, riparian health, and observations of other stressors potentially impacting riparian resources. Incidental wildlife observations and presence of diagnostic sign (such as tracks, scat, feathers, etc.) data will be recorded. Flow data will be evaluated and related to vegetation distribution and growth patterns. The methods for the riparian vegetation survey and photo documentation at the selected monitoring sites are described below. 4.2.1 Vegetation Surveys at Selected Monitoring Sites 4.2.1.1 Vegetation Transect Composition and Structure Quantitative data will be collected along transects established perpendicular to the channel. Data will be collected along transects so that vegetation patterns can be related to elevations, flow stage and inundation, seasonality, and flow connectivity. 2 Monitoring site reach lengths will be at least twenty times the channel width. 3 Riparian health will be characterized based on observations of the vegetation itself, such as premature leaf drop, insect infestation, trampling from animals or people, and fire. The ratio of woody riparian seedlings/young to mature individuals within the sampling area will also be assessed. December 2020 Page 11 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Three long-term monitoring transects will be established within each monitoring site. The transects will be established at representative locations approximately equidistant within the monitoring site. The length of the transect will extend to approximately five feet beyond the start of upland vegetation at the uplandhillslope base, and include any bars present, except in cases where it may be unsafe to work within the channel. This will ensure that herbaceous and woody riparian vegetation currently established along the low flow channel, as well as new riparian vegetation that may establish farther from the channel, are included in the survey. Paired transects will be surveyed on either side of the channel. The ends of the transects will be marked with headpins, such as capped rebar or other semi-permanent marker, and located with Global Positioning System (GPS). The topography of the transects across the floodplain and channel, if conditions are safe, will be surveyed. Topographic data will be collected under low flow conditions during each monitoring period to create an elevation profile. Along the surveyed transect, the surveyors will note the 4 location of the water surface elevation and the greenline location. If possible, these transects will be tied to any temporary benchmarks that are established as part of other monitoring surveys. Vegetation data will be collected along the transects using the line-intercept method and will be used to characterize the species distributions within the riparian corridor along the elevation profile (Winward 2000; Coles-Ritchie et al. 2004). Composition data (dominant groundcover, shrub, and tree species present) will be obtained by walking along a transect tape that extends across the riparian corridor and measuring and recording the length of cover of each dominant or co-dominant 5 species that intersects the tape along the transect. Intersection of the overhead canopy with the transect tape will be determined using a rod, approximately three meters in length, held up vertically perpendicular from the tape into the canopy. Sub-dominant species found with the dominant species also will be recorded. When a change in the dominant species is observed, a new data entry will be recorded. In addition, the length of areas of bare ground, leaf litter, large 4 The greenline is defined as: “The first perennial vegetation that forms a lineal grouping of community types on or near the water’s edge. Most often it occurs at or slightly below the bankfull stage” (Winward 2000). 5 All cover measurements will be made with a densitometer or densiometer; using cover classes consistent with Mayer and Laudenslayer (1988). December 2020 Page 12 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan woody debris, and different substrate size classes will be recorded along each transect. If the lengths of these attributes are different from the vegetation coverage lengths, these attributes will be recorded as separate entries on the datasheet. The lengths of the vegetation and other corridor attributes will then be related to the width of the entire riparian corridor to determine the proportion of each within the corridor (Winward 2000). A line-intercept sample datasheet is provided in Attachment E. The relative densities of the general age classes of woody riparian and upland vegetation within the riparian monitoring sites will be characterized by tallying the number of woody plant individuals (riparian and upland, if present) by species and size class along a 2-meter wide belt along the line-intercept transect. The age classes for tree species defined by the diameter at breast height (DBH) size categories will be classified as follows: (1) sprouts with diameters less than 1 inch; (2) saplings with DBH between 1 and 3 inches, (3) mature trees with DBH between 3 and 10 inches, and (4) old trees with DBH greater than 10 inches. The number of shrubs in each of four size categories will be recorded: (1) seedlings with one stem; (2) young shrubs with less than 10 stems per individual; (3) mature shrubs with between 10 and 60 stems per individual; and (4) old shrubs with greater than 60 stems per individual. A sample datasheet is provided in Attachment E. A full species list will be created for each monitoring site and compiled for a master list of the riparian vegetation community in the Poe Bypass Reach. All species will be identified by scientific and common names, wetland indicator status, native or non-native status, and other pertinent 6 classifications (such as invasive weed statusor sensitive species). General botanical nomenclature will follow Baldwin et al. (2012) or most recent accepted standard. Other pertinent information will be recorded as observed at the monitoring site, including: substrate, channel encroachment, large woody debris within the riparian corridor, bank instability, and evidence of recreational and other land use activities (e.g. fishing trails, vegetation trampling, fire, or clipping, horses or cattle present). Encroachment of riparian vegetation into the channel 6 The target invasive weeds list will be included in the Poe Noxious Weed Management Plan. December 2020 Page 13 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan will monitored along the surveyed transects by comparing the location of mature vegetation documented as part of the line-intercept surveys along the channel margins over time and within the reference site. In addition, excessive accumulations of sediments within stream margin and vegetation and/or berm development will be noted. Evidence of unusual stress or mortality, and/or incidental wildlife observations will also be noted. 4.2.1.2 Riparian Recruitment Riparian recruitment will be characterized within each monitoring site. Potential locations for riparian vegetation recruitment will be mapped and riparian recruitment and physical characteristics of each potential location will be characterized. Potential areas for recruitment are defined as relatively open areas with open alluvial substrate at a distance from and elevation above the active channel where riparian vegetation could potentially establish. Within each potential recruitment area, data on the physical characteristics of the area will be collected, including: substrate, physiographic setting, and distance from and elevation above the base flow channel. The number of seedlings and saplings of riparian species will be tallied and recorded within each potential recruitment area. The density and cover of potentially competing vegetation will also be documented. A sample datasheet is provided in Attachment E. 4.2.1.3 Photo Documentation Photo documentation will provide a visual record of the conditions of the riparian communities and land use over time (Elzinga et al. 1998; Bureau of Land Management 1999, Burton et. al. 2007). The photographs will be used to document changes in herbaceous and woody species cover along the stream banks, structure of the community (e.g. multi-layered canopy, single stratum shrub, tree-shrub, shrub-herbaceous, etc.), position of the vegetation along the channel, other activities (e.g. ungulate grazing, beaver presence, recreation) within the monitoring sites. Riparian conditions within the monitoring sites will be documented with permanent photo point locations and/or drone imagery. Permanent photo point locations will be selected at multiple locations within each riparian monitoring site to document the riparian conditions along the stream banks and within the riparian corridor. The photo points will be taken from the same vantage December 2020 Page 14 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan points each year and will include at a minimum: (1) photograph facing upstream from approximately mid-channel; (2) photograph facing downstream from approximately mid-channel; (3)photograph toward the left bank from the right bank; and (4) photograph facing the right bank from the left bank at each transect location. At least four photo pointlocationswithin each monitoring site will be selected that best represent the site and will capture changes in riparian vegetation in response to flow changes. All other photographs will be archived. Additional photo points also will be established at the following locations: (1) from Poe Dam to assess the riparian vegetation condition immediately downstream of the dam; (2) from the Highway 70 bridge (looking upstream and downstream) to provide an aerial assessment of the bedrock section of the Poe Bypass Reach; and (3) from the Poe Powerhouse access road bridge (upstream and downstream) to provide an overview of the gravel bars and riparian condition adjacent to the powerhouse. Each photo point location will be recorded with a GPS. Each photo point location will be documented with a marker in the field, proximity to a nearby unique feature will be noted, or a unique feature will be included within the photograph to facilitate repeatability during subsequent monitoring. Photographs from previous years will be taken into the field each year to assist in orienting the camera. The photographs will be taken of the same location at approximately the same time of year (season), and at approximately the same time of day (when feasible) during each monitoring study. The photographs will be stored by year electronically in a photo log with pertinent information such as date, time, number, environmental information (such as recent high flows, etc.) A photo point datasheet is provided in Attachment E. 4.2.2 Hydrology Following each monitoring period, recent flows will be summarized. Average daily stream flow data from PG&E’s flow gage NF-23 located on the NFFR and CDEC’s flow gage MER located on the MFFR for at least a twenty-year period of record will be summarized for each monitoring period. This longer period of record provides context for the condition of the riparian vegetation December 2020 Page 15 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan that is influenced by the recent flow regime, as well as the pattern of flows over the past several decades, including high magnitude flows that “re-set” or scour vegetation. 4.2.3Relationship to Nearby Riparian Monitoring Studies The riparian vegetation monitoring methods are consistent, and results will be comparable with the methods specified in the Riparian Vegetation Monitoring Plan for the Rock Creek-Cresta Project (FERC No. 1962) located upstream of the Poe Project. Specifically, both monitoring studies include line-intercept surveys along topographic transects established perpendicular to the channel to describe the vegetation in relation to changes in elevation and distance from the channel. Monitoring for both projects requires collecting age class distribution data for dominant riparian species to describe the age structure of the riparian community over time. The riparian recruitment monitoring described in Section 4.2.1.2 and the riparian recruitment monitoring for the RCC Project are similar, documenting the quality and quantity of potential areas suitable for riparian establishment and success of riparian recruitment within these areas over time. 4.3 Analysis Methods 4.3.1Vegetation Surveys at Selected Monitoring Sites Data collected at each monitoring site will be summarized to describe the vegetation characteristics across the riparian corridor and along the stream banks, including the relative percent cover by dominant species and strata; age structure; and densities (numbers of individuals by species per area surveyed for each monitoring site). The data will be evaluated to determine descriptive statistics for the measured parameters, including frequency distributions (i.e., histograms) of age classes present. The results of the line-intercept surveys will be graphically illustrated along the elevation profiles. Different flow stages that occurred during the time period since the last monitoring studies (e.g. pulse flows, spill flows, and minimum instream flows \[MIFs\]) will be graphically illustrated along the surveyed transects with the results of the vegetation composition from the line-intercept surveys. The ratio of woody riparian seedlings/young to mature individuals will be calculated as December 2020 Page 16 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan one measure of riparian health. Other observations of riparian health, such as premature leaf drop, insect infestation, trampling from animals or people, and disease will also be summarized. The riparian recruitment data will be compiled and summarized in tabular and graphical formats. Qualitative data, including encroachment observations and species lists, collected at each site will be compiled and summarized. The riparian data in the Poe Bypass Reach will be compared with the reference site, and with the previous monitoring periods to assess changes over time. 4.3.2 Hydrology The daily flow data from NF23 and MER gages will be graphed to illustrate the frequency and magnitude of high flows, prolonged dry periods, and the timing and magnitude of snow melt flows. The daily flow data will be converted to stage to evaluate the range of stages, recession rates, and inundation at the monitoring sites. The results of the riparian vegetation monitoring will be related to the recent flow regime, including the inter-annual variability; hydrograph shape; occurrence of high-magnitude scouring or “re-setting” flows (flows that generally occur every 10 to 25 years); and frequency, magnitude, timing, and recession rates of spring flows (i.e., recruitment flows; flows that generally occur every 1.5 to 5 years); and drought. 4.3.3 Coordination with Other Monitoring Studies Pertinent data collected as part of the Riparian Monitoring Plan surveys, including invasive weeds, special-status plants, sediment erosion/deposition, large woody debris, and vegetation cover and structure, will be provided to other license required monitoring studies (i.e. fish, FYLF, sediment, and temperature studies), as appropriate. The data will be provided prior to the next reporting period for that study to enable incorporation into the respective reports. 4.4 Monitoring Schedule Riparian monitoring includes baseline data collection in the first fall following approval of this Plan and monitoring to assess potential changes in riparian vegetation in response to the flows and evaluate trends over time (refer to Table 5-1). Riparian vegetation will be monitored in license year 10, 20, 30, and every 10 years thereafter, for the term of the license and any extensions. If a December 2020 Page 17 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 7 high flow occurs that meets or exceeds 59,800 cfs, based on average daily flow measured at PG&E’s flow gage NF-23, occurs during the first five years of the ten year period between monitoring, PG&E will conduct an additional riparian monitoring the fall after the event occurs to document the potential effects of the flow event on the channel and riparian communitywithin each monitoring site. If no high flow event occurs during the first five years of a ten-year period between monitoring, PG&E will conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. To the extent feasible, riparian vegetation monitoring surveys will be conducted in the late summer and early fall months to avoid impacts to sensitive life stages of the foothill yellow-legged frog. To facilitate transect sampling, and provide for personnel safety, stream flow may need to be reduced. In years when Fish and BMI studies are scheduled, riparian monitoring will be scheduled for the same timeframe to minimize the number of days that flows are reduced. There may be instances when riparian studies are required, but Fish and BMI studies are not. In those years, PG&E may still need to reduce stream flows for personnel safety. PG&E may reduce stream flows as 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 and October 31, with a goal to complete monitoring by the end of September; 2.Monitoring stream flows will be no less than 55 cfs; 3.Reduced stream flow 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 stream flow may only be commenced if no whitewater boating flow releases have occurred for seven consecutive days; In years when Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI) studies are occurring, riparian monitoring will be coordinated with Fish and BMI studies to utilize the same timeframe to minimize the number of days that flows are reduced. Each year that monitoring occurs, PG&E shall provide the agencies with the specific proposed schedule at least 45 days prior to monitoring. 7 A flow of this magnitude has been documented to result in substantial re-working of the channel and scouring of riparian vegetation. December 2020 Page 18 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 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. 5.0 Deliverables and Reporting Schedule 5.1 Deliverables Riparian Monitoring Reports will be prepared each year that monitoring is conducted. Each year’s report will include the results from the current year, and a comparison with the previous years’ results under the new license. The report will include a summary of the survey methods and analysis, including maps, tables, figures, and other analysis products, as described above. 5.2 Reporting Schedule PG&E will submit a draft of the Poe Riparian Monitoring Report to the SWRCB and Forest Service following the conclusion of each monitoring year (Table 5-1). PG&E will submit the draft report on or before March 15 of the subsequent year. PG&E will allow the SWRCB and Forest Service at least 30 days to review and comment on the draft report and will set up a consultation meeting, if warranted. The final monitoring report will be filed with SWRCB with a copy to Forest Service by May 31 the year following a monitoring year. 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. December 2020 Page 19 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Table 5-1. Riparian monitoring and reporting schedule. ActivityYear Monitoring Baseline site-scale field surveys at monitoring sitesFirst fallfollowing approval of Plan Site-scale field surveys at monitoring sites License years 10, 20, and 30, and every 10 years thereafter, for the term of the license and any extensions, and after a high magnitude flow a that occurs within the first 5 years of the (59,800 cfs) ten year period between monitoring. If no high flow event occurs during the first five years of a ten-year period between monitoring, PG&E will conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. Reporting PG&E will submit draft report to the SWRCB and On or before March 15 the year following field Forest Service for review monitoring SWRCB and Forest Service review period 30 days after receiving draft report PG&E will submit final report to the SWRCB and On or before May 31 the year following field Forest Service monitoring a Average daily flow, measured at the PG&E NF-23 gage. 5.3 Plan Revisions The Licensee, in consultation with the Forest Service and SWRCB, will review, update, and revise the Plan, if necessary, during the report review period every ten (10) years. Changes to be considered include methodologies and monitoring frequencies based on effects to the riparian habitat from operations. 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 r recommendation by USFWS or CDFW, the filing will include the reasons for not doing so. The Licensee will implement the revised Plan once approved by FERC. December 2020 Page 20 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6.0References Baldwin, B.G., D.H. Goldman, D.J. Keil, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken, Editors. 2012. The Jepson Manual: vascular plants of California, second edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 1999. Sampling vegetation attributes interagency technical reference. Denver, Colorado. Burton, T.A., E.R. Cowley, and S.J. Smith. 2007. Monitoring streambanks and riparian vegetation –multiple indicators. Idaho Technical Bulletin No. 2007-01. April 2007. United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 50 pp. Coles-Ritchie, M.C., R.C. Henderson, E.K. Archer, C. Kennedy, and J.L. Kershner. 2004. Repeatability of riparian vegetation sampling methods: how useful are these techniques for broad-scale, long-term monitoring? USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-138. Elzinga, C.L., D.W. Salzer, and J.W. Willoughby. 1998. Measuring and monitoring plant populations. Bureau of Land Management, BLM Technical Reference 1730-1. Denver, Colorado. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 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. Mayer, K.E., and W.F. Laudenslayer. 1988. A Guide to Wildlife Habitats of California. State of California, Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game. Sacramento, CA. 166 pp. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). 2001. North Fork Feather River Instream Flow Study Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107. April. ______. 2003. Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC No. 2107 Application for New License. Final: December ______. 2004. Results of 2000-2002 Surveys for Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana boylii) on the North Fork Feather River and Selected Tributaries with the Poe Project. December. Powell, D.C. 2006. Recording the changes: field guide to establishing and maintaining permanent camera point systems. United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service. Pacific Northwest Region. FS-14-SO-09-06. August. 21 pp. Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A Manual of California Vegetation (second edition). California Native Plant Society Press. Sacramento, California December 2020 Page 21 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 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. 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. Winward, A.H. 2000. Monitoring the vegetation resources in riparian areas. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-GTR-47. December 2020 Page 22 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT A FERC Article 401 Requirements December 2020 Page A-1 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 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 11 -- Riparian Monitoring Plan license issuance *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 schedule or plans require approval by the Commission before implementing the proposed change. December 2020 Page A-2 Attachment A Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT B FERC Appendix A – Water Quality Certification Condition 11 December 2020 Page B-1 Attachment B Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 8 SWRCB 401 Water Quality Certification Condition No. 11 – Poe Bypass Reach Riparian Monitoring Within one year of license issuance, the Licensee shall prepare, in consultation with State Water Board staff and Forest Service, a Riparian Monitoring Plan for the Poe bypass reach. The Licensee shall file the Riparian Monitoring Plan with the Deputy Director for review and approval. The Deputy Director may require modifications as part of any approval. The Licensee shall file the Deputy Director’s approval, and any required modifications, with FERC. The ng in the year following approval of the Riparian Monitoring Plan. Subsequent surveys shall be conducted in Years 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and every 5 years thereafter, for the term of the license and any extensions, following the implementation of the new instream flow requirements (unless other intervals are deemed necessary by the Deputy Director to evaluate the effects of flow changes on riparian vegetation). 8 SWRCB (2017) December 2020 Page B-2 Attachment B Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT C Representative Photographs of the Poe Bypass Reach December 2020 Page C-1 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Photographs of the Poe Bypass Reach 6/18/2019 Figure C-1. From Highway 70 Bridge, looking upstream from river left. 6/18/2019 Figure C-2. From Poe Powerhouse Access Bridge, looking upstream from channel center. December 2020 Page C-2 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6/18/2019 Figure C-3. Poe Powerhouse Access Bridge, looking downstream from channel center. 6/18/2019 Figure C-4. Bardee’s Bar, looking downstream from river right. December 2020 Page C-3 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6/18/2019 Figure C-5. Bardee’s Bar, looking upstream from river right. 6/18/2019 Figure C-6. From Bardee’s Bar Road, below Bardee’s Bar, looking upstream from river right. December 2020 Page C-4 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6/18/2019 Figure C-7. From Bardee’s Bar Road, looking upstream at Bardee’s Bar from river right. December 2020 Page C-5 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6/18/2019 Figure C-8. From Bardee’s Bar Road, below Bardee’s Bar, looking downstream from river right. December 2020 Page C-6 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Representative Photographs of PBR-1: Above Mill Creek Confluence 6/18/2019 Figure C-9. PBR-1 from river left, looking downstream. 6/18/2019 Figure C-10. PBR-1 from river left, looking upstream. December 2020 Page C-7 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Representative Photographs of PBR-2: Above Flea Valley Creek Confluence 6/18/2019 Figure C-11. PBR-2 from river left, looking downstream. 6/18/2019 Figure C-12. PBR-2 from river left, looking downstream. December 2020 Page C-8 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Representative Photographs of PBR-3: Poe Beach 6/18/2019 Figure C-13. PBR-3 from river right, looking upstream. 6/18/2019 Figure C-14.PBR-3 from river right, looking downstream. December 2020 Page C-9 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Representative Photographs of REF-1: Below Milsap Bar Bridge 10/2011 Figure C-15. REF-1 from channel center, looking downstream. 10/2011 Figure C-16. REF-1 from channel center, looking upstream. December 2020 Page C-10 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT D Monitoring Site Section Matrix December 2019 Page D-1 Attachment D Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company -1 -2 Attachment D PBRPBR Recommended Study Site Name n h ution, . Minimal riparia . ravel substrate. Evidence of hig . Rationale scale riparian distribution,scale riparian distribution,scale riparian distribscale riparian distribution, ---- ce area may not be representative of logy on left bank . . characteristic of the region and channelcharacteristic of the region and channelcharacteristic of the region and channelcharacteristic of the region and channel d getation on right bank. ecreational use. Minimal depositional features suitable tosupport riparian vegetationMinimal nearby aquatic study sites.Adjacent to tailraceBoulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features suitable tosupport riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representativeanmorphology.Boulder, cobble, and gSandy depositional bar unlikely to supportriparian vegetation. rLandscapecomposition, and age structure is representativeand morphoveConfluence area may not be representative ofreachBoulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features suitable tosupport riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representativeand morphology.Boulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Minimal depositional feature.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representativeand morphology on left bank.Confluenreach. N Y N Y N (Y/N) Reach Monitoring for Riparian Recommended . . . Railroad is . . Site Notes Railroad is a Sandy Beach is . Valley Downstream of Poe Damconfining feature on the right bankAbove Mill Creek Confluencea confining feature on the right bankMill Creek Confluence and Sandy Beach. Railroad is confining feature on the right bank. well used recreational area.Above Flea Valley Creek ConfluenceRailroad is confining feature on right bankFlea Confluence. (proposed reaches are highlighted in yellow) . Project No. 2107 D-2 Notes Page Downstream Accessibility Project, FERC Access via slope adjacent to Highway 70Access via slope adjacent to Highway 70Access via slope adjacent to Highway 70 or from Sandy BeachUpstream access from Sandy Beach on left bank. access from end of Pulga Road, near Flea Valley Creek Confluence, on right bank.Upstream access from end of Pulga Road, near Flea Valley Creek Confluence, on right bank. , Pacific Gas and Electric Company c 1) - 2020 -- © Sites sitesitesitesite study site Poe Hydroelectric License ishish n Licensing licensinglicensing rere ccess site located and Nearby Implementation Study or Monitoring - Aquatic Potential fishmonitoring Potential fmonitoring Potential BMImonitoring sitePotential fmonitoring RecreationrelicensingPotential tributaryfish access siteAmphibiamonitoring IFIM study site; stagedischargerelationship availableIFIMstudy site; stagedischargerelationship availablePotential tributaryfish a (shown on Figure D Co . ---- ---- medium . Woody Discontinuous alder/willow . Riparian Vegetation Tailrace section has minimal riparian vegetation even under low flow conditionsContinuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor.Continuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor predominately on left bankriparian vegetation on right bankContinuous narrow young and mediumaged dominated corridor.Continuous narrow young and aged alder/willowdominated corridor. tial Poe Bypass Reach and reference riparian monitoring sites a 2%2%2%2%2% – – – – – Project No. 2107 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Channel Gradient (%) a Mill . . riffle riffle riffle riffle - --- riffle - Flea . . . section, Channel Characteristics Tailrace followed by short section of poolmorphologyMeandering poolmorphology with alternating cobble/gravel bars.Meandering poolmorphology with alternating cobble/gravel barsCreek confluence on left bank, with large downstream gravel/sand depositional featureMeandering poolmorphology.Meandering poolmorphologyValley Confluence on right bank Summary of selection criteria of poten 2020 -1. Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 0.40 0.650.95 1.01 – – – – from Poe (Distance 0.20 Dam\[miles\]) Downstream – Stream Segment 0 0.20 0.40 0.65 0.95 Table D December Attachment D Recommended Study Site Name be - dominant, - boulder . . adjustable reach, with adjustable reach, with -- . Rationale adjustable reach, with sparse - ian vegetation. scale riparian distribution, - cult site access. adjustable reach, with sparse riparian characteristic of the region and channel - Moderately steep channel with boulder and cobble substrate, nonminimal vegetation.Large boulder dominant.Minimal depositional features suitable to support riparian vegetation.DiffiHighly entrenched bedrock and dominant, nonriparian vegetation.Minimal to no depositional features suitable to support riparian vegetation.No nearby aquatic study sites.Very difficult site accessEntrenched bedrock and bouldernonvegetation.Large boulder dominant.Minimal depositional features suitable to support riparModerately steep channel with boulder and cobble substrate, nonminimal vegetation.Large boulder dominant.Minimal depositional features suitable to support riparian vegetation.Difficult site access.No nearby aquatic sitesBoulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Some depositional bars and features may suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative and morphology.Difficult site access NNNNN (Y/N) Reach Monitoring for Riparian Recommended s ’ s Bar ’ Railroad is . Site . Notes s Bar ’ . Below Flea Valley Confluence to Highway 70 Bridgeconfining feature on right bankBetween Highway 70 Bridge and BardeeBarBardeeBelow BardeeAbove Swimmers Beach s Project No. 2107 ’ 3 - . . D Notes . Page Accessibility Project, FERC Difficult.Very difficultAccess from BardeeBar Road (dirt, in poor condition in summer 2019) to right bank.Very difficultDifficult , Pacific Gas and Electric Company c 1) - 2020 © Sites sitesite Poe Hydroelectric License ish study BMI Licensing located and Nearby Implementation Study or Monitoring - Aquatic Potential monitoringNoneAmphibian monitoringRecreation study sitePotential fsiteNoneAmphibian monitoring site (shown on Figure D Co - - dominated dominated -- . . aged aged Woody -- Riparian Vegetation Continuous very narrow young and mediumalder/willowcorridor predominately on left bank. Discontinuous riparian vegetation on right bank.Little to no riparian vegetationMinimal riparian vegetationContinuous very narrow young and mediumalder/willowcorridor.Continuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor. a % 2 6%6%6% – --- >7% 333 Project No. 2107 Channel 0.5 Gradient (%) a - --- boulder - pool and - . Channel bedrock bed morphology riffle morphology - alternating Monitoring Plan- Characteristics Entrenched, moderate gradient; bouldercobble dominant.Highly entrenched, steep gradient steppools; dominant.Entrenched, moderate gradient; bedrockboulder riffleplanewith bedrock control on left bankEntrenched, moderate gradient; bouldercobble dominant.Poolwith boulder/cobble bars. 2020 00 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian 1.603.544.6.256.75 ––––– from Poe (Distance Dam\[miles\]) Downstream Stream Segment 1.01 1.60 3.54 4.00 6.25 December 3 1 -- EF Attachment D R PBR Recommended Study Site Name . iparian distribution, Rationale age structure is representative scale rscale riparian distribution, scale riparian distribution, --- characteristic of the region and channel characteristic of the region and channel Boulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features are suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative characteristic of the region and channel morphology.Boulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features are suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, andandmorphology.Evidence of high recreation use.Upstream of Big Bend ReservoirBoulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features are suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative and morphology. YNY (Y/N) Reach Monitoring for Riparian Recommended . and stage Site Notes gage MER . DEC Swimmers BeachBetween Swimmers Beach and Poe PowerhouseRecreation apparent at both Swimmers Beach and Poe Powerhouse BeachBelow Milsap Bar BridgeFlow data data are available from C(Middle Fork Feather River at Merrimac) Project No. 2107 . . 4 - D . Notes Page Accessibility Project, FERC . Trail access from Poe Powerhouse Access Road to right bankTrail access from Poe Powerhouse Access Road to right bank and from Poe Powerhouse on left bankAccess from Milsap Bar Campground , Pacific Gas and Electric Company c 1) - a 2020 - © Sites site sitesitesitesite BMI Poe Hydroelectric License BMI BMI Licensing licensing eam site; stage re under the new License Potential reference monitoring short distance upstr located and Nearby Implementation Study or Monitoring - Aquatic Amphibian monitoringRecreation study sitePotential monitoring IFIM study discharge relationship availableAmphibian monitoringRecreation study sitePotential monitoring (shown on Figure D Co -- . -- dominated aged - - medium Woody . in the draft monitoring plans Riparian Vegetation Continuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor.Continuous narrow young and aged alder/willowdominated corridorContinuous wide young and mediumalder/willowcorridor a b <1%<1% <2% Project No. 2107 Channel Gradient (%) a PG&E (2003). . . riffle riffle - - 18 in - Channel riffle morphology Monitoring Plan- Characteristics Poolwith alternating boulder/cobble bars.Meandering poolmorphology with alternating cobble/gravel barsMeandering poolmorphology with alternating boulder/cobble bars. 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian 7.057.62 –– from Poe (Distance Dam\[miles\]) Downstream As documented in Appendix E3Estimated from Google earth imageryThe BMI and fish sites have been proposed for monitoring by PG&E Stream Segment 6.75 7.05 NA abc December Attachment D Project No. 2107 5 - D Page Project, FERC , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2020 © Poe Hydroelectric Project No. 2107 Monitoring Plan Proposed riparian monitoring sites and nearby aquatic monitoring sites. 1. - 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian Figure D December Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT E Riparian Monitoring Datasheets December 2020 Page E-1 Attachment E Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 24%39%59%99% ---- <10 100% Attachment E Cover 10254060 4 Tree 123456 Levels 24%39%59%99% ---- <10 100% Cover 10254060 4 Shrub Project No. 2107 123456 2 Levels - E Page Project, FERC , Pacific Gas and Electric Company - 9%39%59%99% ---- <1% 2 Riparian Datasheets 100% > 256 2 to 64 4 Cover 104060 64 to 256 2020 0.063 to 2 Size (mm) 5 © 0.062 to 0.002 Poe Hydroelectric Circle the dominate size class Project No. 2107 . Substrate Ground Layer 123456 Silt Clay Sand Gravel Cobble Levels Levels Boulder Bedrock layer covers within the plot area Monitoring Plan 2,3 1,3 Wentworth size classes. - 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian Canopy Cover Relative % Cover The amount of area the canopy Relative cover of each species within the plot areaRecord all levels present for each species recordedMayer and Laudenslayer, 1988Based on Udden 12345 December 2 Attachment E ___________ Notes : _ Distance on Transect (m) ___________ River Mile : _ StartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStop 3 Other Project No. 2107 3 - E ____________________ GPS Waypoint : _ Page Project, FERC Dominant - Species Intercept Datasheet Sub - , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 1 2020 5 © Line _____________ Name Poe Hydroelectric Attribute : _ Project No. 2107 Tree Height 4 % Cover the dominant species. Dominant Species Monitoring Plan Width (m): __________________________ Species Corridor 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian landform, decadence, senescence, grazing, other land use activities, submerged vegetation. Bank Species or attribute (litter, bare ground, substrate, woody debris, dead vegetation).Fluvial Litter, duff, woody debris, bedrock, boulder, cobble, gravel, sand, fines, dead vegetation.Percent cover of the species.Average tree or shrub height of L or R Stream Segment and Site: _____________________ DateTotal Riparian 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. December 5 Attachment E __________ : _ Total Number Old 4 : _______________ River Mile Total Number Mature Waypoint 3 _ GPS Intercept Transect - Project No. 2107 ____________ E-4 : _ the Line Total Number Young Page Project, FERC ” along , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2 ”. 3 to 10 2020 ” © Sprout _______________ Name ” Poe Hydroelectric : _ Project No. 2107 Total Number Seedling/ ; Mature tree: dbh 1 Age Class Datasheet per individual Species stems 10 to 60 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Bank L or R Include woody riparian and upland species.Seedling Shrub: 1 stem at the ground surface; or Sprout: dbh <1Young Shrub: <10 stems/individual or Young Tree: dbh <3Mature shrub: Old shrub: >60 stems per individual; Old tree: dbh > 10 tream Segment and Site: ______________________ Date S 1. 2. 3. 4.5 Notes or Other Observations (e.g. land use activities, fluvial landforms, substrate)December Attachment E Channel (ft) Height above (ft) from Channel Distance Physical Conditions hic Setting Physiograp Datasheet Site Substrate Project No. 2107 5 Monitoring - E % Cover for Each Species for cottonwoods. Page ” Project, FERC within 3 . , Pacific Gas and Electric Company ” or trees or 5 f 2020 ” Saplings © Total Number Name:Poe Hydroelectric 2 Project No. 2107 Vegetation Data Total Number iparian Recruitment Seedling/Sprout R 1 Monitoring Plan Species 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian Map ID No. Polygon Include woody riparian species.Seedling Shrub: 1 stem at the ground surface; or Sprout: dbh <1Young Shrub: <10 stems/individual or Young Tree: dbh <3 Stream Segment and Site:Date:1. 2. 3. Notes or Other Observations (e.g. land use activities, fluvial landforms, substrate)December Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Photo Point Datasheet Site Name: Photo Point Identification Number: Date: Time: Weather Conditions: GPS Coordinates:Photographer: Camera Type: Subject of Photograph and Purpose of Photographs: Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo No.: Photo No.: Photo No.: Brief Description: Brief Description: Brief Description: Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Photo No.: Photo No.: Photo No.: Brief Description: Brief Description: Brief Description: Reference Point 1 Sketch of Photo and Reference Point Locations: Description: Marking: Distance to photo point marker (ft): Reference Point 2 Description: Marking: Distance to photo point marker (ft): Reference Point 3 Description: Marking: Distance to photo point marker (ft): December 2020 Page E-6 Attachment E Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT F United States Forest Service and State Water Resources Control Board Consultation December 2020 Page F-1 Attachment F Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company - ent F instream Attachm magnitude geomorphic are expected - - d the different g flow or may occur minimum instream flows required by the settin - higher iver are created by the interaction of ramping rates, ing riparian vegetation. For successful ” feet of flow will be provided in Wet and Above - ” slower down biological monitoring indicates the flows will not impact unities. if the new license. ates a dynamic physical environment to which riparian vegetation PG&E Response relationships between riparian vegetation and the fluvial - l be implemented when sediment monitoring indicates an accumulation Monitoring Plans require consultation with the Forest Service, State recreational flows, annual variability; (2) hydrograph shape; (3) frequency of high , - operations under zones where water is available during the drier months and the plants are not too close .” lows (flows that generally occur every 10 to 25 years); and (4) frequency, magnitude, f the riparian monitoring will be used in conjunction with the results of the other biological Under the new license, up to 6,000 acre . nally predictable, hydrologic conditions. , including pulse flows setting” f legged frogs (FYLF). The new license requires slower down ramping rates from all Poe Dam flows - - The results o ow pulse flows The following text (underlined) has been added to the Introduction to summarize theBackground information on the inter operations ing suitable moisture and soil conditions to be present at the time of seed release. For seedlings to survive, , and enhance flow conditions that support riparian comm The new license contains requirements to monitor riparian vegetation potentially affected by changes in The patterns of riparian vegetation establishment and distribution along a rThe results of the riparian vegetation monitoring will be used in conjunction with the results of the other biological epted. “flowsflowsNormal water years for recreational boating purposes foothill yellunder PG&E’s control and below 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to protect FYLF and other biological resources. Pulse flows to flush fine grain sediment wilof sediments within the reach“physical processes (e.g., flows of varying magnitudes, timing of flows, spring flow recession rates, inter and intraannual flow variability, depth to groundwater during the growing season, and sediment deposition) anlife history characteristics of the dominant species. The dominant woody riparian species present along the North Fork Feather River (NFFR) have many life history adaptations that promote their success under dynamic and episodic, yet seasoFlow attributes that are important for maintaining the distribution, and structural and compositional complexity of riparian communities include: (1) interscouring or “retiming, and recession rates of spring flows (i.e., recruitment flows; flows that generally occur every 1.5 to 5 years). Variability in flows within and between years creresponds. Flow attributes during ecologically sensitive time periods for riparian species (i.e., seed release, initial establishment, growing season) are particularly important for maintainrecruitment to occur, flows of suitable recession rates must coincide with the release of seeds, to provide sufficient moisture to the seedlings and sprouts. This hydrology may occur in the same year as a reseveral years later. Willows and cottonwoods, species present along the Project Bypass Reach, release seeds in the spring, timed with elevated flows from snowmelt. These seeds are only viable for a short period of time (weeks), requirflow recession rates must be slow, and groundwater must be available through the dry summer. Riparian vegetation often establishes in elevationthe channel and susceptible to damage by high flows. The instream flows required by the new license to “monitoring studies, including fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and FYLFs, to evaluate the potential responses of biological resources to the changes Accepted. new license:Acc conditions as been added to the Introduction Section, as follows:Clarification. monitoring studies to evaluate the potential responses of the biological resources to the changes in the flow regime required by the new license. The BiologicalWater Board, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife after each monitoring period to review the study results. The results of the riparian monitoring will also be included in these discussions. The following text has been added to the Introduction Section: See response to Comment 3. Project No. 2107 F-2 w Page Project, FERC the Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan. , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2020 Suggest adding additional © Poe Hydroelectric Comments on Comment t? Or reopen consultation about flows? It looks . The Water Quality Certification (2017) says “A flows are affecting riparian vegetation…” ncreased Include a summary of why and how the flows are being changed.Now the draft Plan just says “changes in instream flows,including…”riparian vegetation monitoring plan will help determine ho i If possible include a discussion of what changes are expected orhoped for as a result of the changes in instream flows. e.g, how areincreases in minimum/base flows, ramping rates, pulse flows,whitewater flows expected to affect riparian vegetation?How will the results of this monitoring be used? Do any particularmonitoring results prompt changes in management of instream flowsor other managemenlike SWRCB holds this responsibility, but I don’t find anything in theWQC about what this means in terms of assessment or potentiallyrequiring changes to required stream flows. Regarding details provided in the introduction:Regarding details provided in the introduction: Regarding details provided in the introduction: background….Regarding details provided in the introduction: -- State Water Resources Control Board ------ Project No. 2107 Paragraph Number Section/ Page Number/ 1.0 Introduction /1/1.0 Introduction /1/1.0 Introduction /1 /1.0 Introduction /1/ Forest Service Commented By U.S. U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 1 2 3 4 Number Comment Response to Unites States Forest Service and December ent F , y within a Attachm thic ys along topographic intercept surve - time. The riparian recruitment ” age class distribution data for dominant g Cresta Project (FERC No. 1962) located -ver include line collectin year period between monitoring, PG&E will s - scale surveys focus on monitoring vegetation - tudies Studiesand results will be comparable with the methods community o , Cresta projects, as follows: - ” riparian e years of a ten PG&E Response ” Riparian Monitoring ll follow Baldwin et al. (2012) or most recent accepted standard.” tity of potential areas suitable for riparian establishment and success of riparian Relationship to Nearby the quality and quan A footnote has been added to clarify that the site ing A new section has been added to the Plan that discusses the comparability of the riparian communitA map has been added to Attachment D that shows the locations of the proposed riparian monitoring sites The text has been revised as follows: Section 4.4 has been revised to include the following underlined text: 4.2.3If no high flow event occurs during the first fiv “The riparian vegetation monitoring methods are consistentspecified in the Riparian Vegetation Monitoring Plan for the Rock Creekupstream of the Poe Project. Specifically, both monitoring stransects established perpendicular to the channel to describe the vegetation in relation to changes in elevation and distance from the channel. Monitoring for both projects requireriparian species to describe the age structure of themonitoring described in Section 4.2.1.2 and the riparian recruitment monitoring for the RCC Project are similardocumentrecruitment within these areas over time.General botanical nomenclature wi“conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. Monitoring site reach lengths will be at least twenty times the channel width. “ “ Accepted. monitoring methods and results for the Poe and Rock Creek Accepted. and the monitoring site locations for the other biological monitoring, including FYLF, fish, and benmacroinvertebrates. Clarification. reach, as follows:Accepted.Accepted. Project No. 2107 3 - - F s, - sites overlap tion. make flexible Page year period - Project, FERC 2. Note that Forest - Revise to , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2020 verified following - i.e., how the methods in this © – Poe Hydroelectric in footnote? – irst five years of a ten Comment Define monitoring be used in assessing flow effects on scale”: - , based on average daily flow measured at PG&E’s streamflow conditions will alter flow levels and 9 23, occurs during the first five years of the ten year period - onitoring, PG&E will conduct an additional riparian monitoring ”working of the channel and scouring of riparian vegeta - Will the results of this other SWRCB Conditions? g) and rearing (tadpole) habitats for both occupied and non “The new licensetiming of flows relative to past project operations. Thus the following elements will need to be reestablished or recommencement of the new flow regime for typical oviposition (egglayinoccupied areas. The determination will include the new: temperature regimes, riparian vegetation establishment, encroachment and scouring, habitat conditions (water depths, velocities, bank slopeetc.), and river bar formation/loss.” Text Edit (underline): “If a high flow that meets or exceeds 59,800 cubic feet per second (cfs)flow gage NFbetween mthe fall after the event occurs to document the potential effects of the flow event on the channel and riparian community within each monitoring site. If no high flow event occurs during the fbetween monitoring, PG&E will conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. Regarding the study methods: As appropriate, reference methods used in upstream projects and Merritt input on those Plan are similar or different or improve on the RCC methods, allowing for comparison among Projects at some point.Regarding the Proposed Monitoring Sites: Add info on how these (or don’t) with monitoring for other resources (fish/bmi, fylf, etc.). Also consider including this info in a new column in Table 4Service 4e Condition No. 25 (Poe Reach Biological Monitoring) states: Regarding the term “siteRegarding the nomenclature convention for the study: if this reference is updated or a new reference becomes the standard. -- -- -- Project No. 2107 Monitoring Schedule/ Paragraph Number Section/ Page Number/ 4.0 Methods /4/4.1.2 Proposed Monitoring Sites/5/4.2 Monitoring Methods/9/14.2.1.1 Vegetation Transect Composition and Structure/11/4.4 15/3 Monitoring Plan Commented By U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceSWRCB 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian 56789 A flow of this magnitude has been documented to result in substantial re Number Comment 9 December ent F - year analyses - Attachm year - er consultation and ” setting” flows (flows that Aft - year period if a high flow does not occur - year period between monitoring, PG&E will Changes to be considered include methodologies - The Licensee will implement the revised Plan once magnitude scouring or “re - in the subsequent monitoring period in the age class data ” PG&E Response first five years of a ten enerally occur every 1.5 to 5 years); and drought. ar period if a high flow does not occur during the first five years of a ten ye - the monitoring in the fifth year of a ten year monitoring period. Similarly, successful recruitment that may occur after a - The Licensee will include all relevant documentation of coordination and consultation . ” 1 has been revised to include the following underlined text: proposed monitoring schedule includes a primary trigger for monitoring the immediate effects of - The See response to Comments 1 and 2. The monitoring schedule has been revised to include riparian he description of the hydrologic analyses in Section 4.3.2 Hydrology has been updated to specify TTable 5See response to Comment 10. recruitment flows; flows that g The results of the riparian vegetation monitoring will be related to the recent flow regime, including the internnual variability; hydrograph shape; occurrence of highIf no high flow event occurs during the The Licensee, in consultation with the Forest Service and SWRCB, will review, update, and revise the Plan, if “agenerally occur every 10 to 25 years); and frequency, magnitude, timing, and recession rates of spring flows (i.e.,ughts, will not be immediate. Potential responses such as encroachment in to the channel, lack of recruitment, or “conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. “necessary, during the report review period every ten (10) years. and monitoring frequencies based on effects to the riparian habitat from operations.agreement with the Forest Service and SWRCB, the Licensee will work with the Forest Service and SWRCB to file the updated Plan with FERC.with the upCDFW, the filing will include the reasons for not doing so.approved by FERC. n additional section has been added to section 5.0 that would provide an opportunity for PG&E and the agencies to Accepted. that will be completed to describe the relationship between the hydrology and the condition of the riparian resources, as follows: Clarification. monitoring in the fifth year of a tenperiod between monitoring Clarification.high magnitude scouring floods on riparian vegetation. Riparian responses to other triggers, such as multidroriparian health would occur more slowly, and would be documented at the monitoring frequency in the revised monitoring schedule incorporatingduring the first five years of a tenhigh magnitude and scouring flood will be documentedcollection and riparian recruitment surveys. Adiscuss the potential need for updates or revisions to the Plan. Section 5.3 Plan Revisions has been added as follows: Accepted. Accepted. Project No. 2107 F-4 Page Project, FERC , Pacific Gas and Electric Company e.g., is event followed by – 2020 .” © Poe Hydroelectric Comment the “Deputy Director to evaluate the effects of could these be distributed in response to various – equirements I added in. it may be worth considering how to assess the hydrologic that occurs within the first 5 years of the ten year period between increased flows are affecting riparian vegetation.” However, the a or, if no high magnitude flow occurs within the first 5 years, the how cfs) - “ ee that high flow events are good triggers, but it may be just as important onitoring riggers, with a requirement that if no trigger is met, then monitoring would Regarding the monitoring schedule and hydrologic analysis: Good discussion on the WebEx on 9/18/19. SWRCB will need to weigh in on any of this that doesn’t meet their Condition. Recommend looking at Yuba River Project (FERC No. 2246) Aquatic Monitoring Plan for possible triggering language. Let me know if you need a copy of that.Agrto understand what comes after the high flow event additional wet years or multiple dry years. While this is somewhat captured in Section 4.2.2 above,pattern and identifying other potential triggering events, such as multiple dry years. Regarding the monitoring schedule: The SWRCB identified a total of 11 riparian monitoring events toccur on 10 year intervals?Definitely an interesting concept. If there’s time, maybe we could discuss how this might work with the rText Edit: “License years 10, 20, and 30, and every 10 years thereafter, for the term of the license and any extensions; and after a high magnitude flow (59,800mfall of the fifth year between monitoring periodsRegarding deliverables: Include a summary/evaluation of what the results mean only mention of “evaluation” I can find is where the SWRCB Condition 11 seems to indicate that it’s up toflow changes on riparian vegetation.” Perhaps this part of the process needs to be explained in the Introduction. Project No. 2107 ------ hedule/17/Table 5.1 Paragraph Number Section/ Page Number/ 4.4 Monitoring Schedule/15/4.4 Monitoring Schedule/15/4.4 Monitoring Schedule/15/5.2 Reporting Sc5.1 Deliverables/18/1 Commented By U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceSWRCBSWRCBU.S. Forest Service 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 1011121314 Number Comment December PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 POE RIPARIAN MONITORING PLAN Prepared for: Pacific Gas & Electric Company 3401 Crow Canyon Road San Ramon, CA 94583 Prepared by: Cardno, Inc. 2890 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95833 December 2020 © 2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan POE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC PROJECT NO. 2107 POE RIPARIAN MONITORING PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0Introduction .......................................................................................................................1 2.0Goal and Objectives ..........................................................................................................4 3.0Study Area.........................................................................................................................4 4.0Methods..............................................................................................................................6 4.1Selection of Monitoring Sites .................................................................................6 4.1.1Selection Approach .....................................................................................6 4.1.2Proposed Monitoring Sites ..........................................................................7 4.2Monitoring Methods .............................................................................................11 4.2.1Vegetation Surveys at Selected Monitoring Sites .....................................11 4.2.2Hydrology .................................................................................................15 4.2.3Relationship to Nearby Riparian Monitoring Studies ...............................16 4.3Analysis Methods..................................................................................................16 4.3.1Vegetation Surveys at Selected Monitoring Sites .....................................16 4.3.2Hydrology .................................................................................................17 4.3.3Coordination with Other Monitoring Studies ...........................................17 4.4Monitoring Schedule .............................................................................................17 5.0Deliverables and Reporting Schedule ...........................................................................19 5.1Deliverables ..........................................................................................................19 5.2Reporting Schedule ...............................................................................................19 5.3Plan Revisions .......................................................................................................20 6.0References ........................................................................................................................21 December 2020 Page i Table of Contents Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan LIST OF ATTACHMENTS Attachment A. FERC Article 401 Requirements Attachment B. FERC Appendix A – Water Quality Certification Condition 11 Attachment C. Representative Photographs of the Poe Bypass Reach Attachment D. Monitoring Site Section Matrix Attachment E. Riparian Monitoring Datasheets Attachment F. United States Forest Service and State Water Resources Control Board Consultation LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3-1. Map of the Poe Bypass Reach. .........................................................................5 Figure 4-1. Approximate locations of proposed riparian monitoring sites. .......................10 LIST OF TABLES Table 4-1. Criteria used to select Poe Bypass Reach riparian monitoring sites. ................7 Table 4-2. Poe Bypass Reach riparian monitoring sites. ....................................................9 Table 5-1. Riparian monitoring and reporting schedule. ..................................................20 December 2020 Page ii Table of Contents Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan LIST OF ACRONYMS Agencies United States Forest Service staff and SWRCB staff BMI benthic macroinvertebrates CDEC California Data Exchange Center cfs cubic foot/feet per second DBH diameter at breast height DWR California Department of Water Resources FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FYLF foothill yellow-legged frog GPS Global Positioning System MFFR Middle Fork Feather River NFFR North Fork Feather River PBR Poe Bypass Reach PG&E or Licensee Pacific Gas and Electric Company Project Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 RM river mile SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board WQC Water Quality Certification December 2020 Page iii Table of Contents Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 1.0Introduction 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 Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project 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 of the new license (FERC 2018). The new license contains requirements to monitor riparian vegetation potentially affected by changes in operations, including recreational flows, slower down ramping rates, higher minimum instream flows, and pulse flows. Under the new license, up to 6,000 acre-feet of flow will be provided in Wet and Above Normal water years for recreational boating purposes when biological monitoring indicates the flows will not impact foothill yellow-legged frogs (FYLF). The new license requires slower down ramping rates from all Poe Dam flows under PG&E’s control and below 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to protect FYLF and other biological resources. Pulse flows to flush fine grain sediment will be implemented if sediment monitoring indicates an accumulation of sediments within the reach. The results of the riparian vegetation monitoring will be used in conjunction with the results of other biological monitoring studies, including fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and FYLFs, to evaluate the potential responses of biological resources to the changes in operations under the new license. The patterns of riparian vegetation establishment and distribution along a river are created by the interaction of physical processes (e.g., flows of varying magnitudes, timing of flows, spring flow recession rates, inter and intra-annual flow variability, depth to groundwater during the growing season, and sediment deposition) and the different life history characteristics of the dominant species. The dominant woody riparian species present along the North Fork Feather River (NFFR) have many life history adaptations that promote their success under dynamic and episodic, yet seasonally predictable, hydrologic conditions. December 2020 Page 1 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Flow attributes that are important for maintaining the distribution, and structural and compositional complexity of riparian communities include: (1) inter-annual variability; (2) hydrograph shape; (3) frequency of high-magnitude scouring or “re-setting” flows (flows that generally occur every 10 to 25 years); and (4) frequency, magnitude, timing, and recession rates of spring flows (i.e., recruitment flows; flows that generally occur every 1.5 to 5 years). Variability in flows within and between years creates a dynamic physical environment to which riparian vegetation responds. Flow attributes during ecologically sensitive time periods for riparian species (i.e., seed release, initial establishment, growing season) are particularly important for maintaining riparian vegetation. For successful recruitment to occur, flows of suitable recession rates must coincide with the release of seeds, to provide sufficient moisture to the seedlings and sprouts. This hydrology may occur in the same year as a re-setting flow or may occur several years later. Willows and cottonwoods, species present along the Project Bypass Reach, release seeds in the spring, timed with elevated flows from snowmelt. These seeds are only viable for a short period of time (weeks), requiring suitable moisture and soil conditions to be present at the time of seed release. For seedlings to survive, flow recession rates must be slow, and groundwater must be available through the dry summer. Riparian vegetation often establishes in elevation zones where water is available during the drier months and the plants are not too close the channel and susceptible to damage by high flows. The instream flows required by the new license are expected to enhance flow conditions that support riparian communities. This document, Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan (Plan), presents the plan to comply with the riparian monitoring required by SWRCB WQC Condition No. 11, which was incorporated intoFERC License Article 401. The relevant FERC Article 401 requirements applicable to this Plan are provided in Attachment A. Similarly, SWRCB Condition 11 is included in Attachment B. The Plan was developed in consultation with the United States Forest Service Plumas National Forest and the SWRCB staff (Agencies). The response to comments table that addresses the United States Forest Service and SWRCB comments on the draft plan are provided in AttachmentF. The Poe Project is located in the North Fork Feather River Basin, which contains extensive forested lands and is sparsely populated. Waters of the Poe Project include the Poe Reservoir, a 7.62-mile- December 2020 Page 2 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan long bypassed reach (“Poe Bypass Reach”), and the Big Bend Reservoir, which serves as the afterbay for the Project. The Poe Powerhouse and Big Bend Reservoir are located just upstream of Lake Oroville, the primary storage reservoir for the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Feather River Project (FERC Project No. 2100). December 2020 Page 3 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 2.0Goaland Objectives The goal of riparian monitoring is to document the condition of the riparian resources in the Poe Bypass Reach under the new license-required instream flows (as of the 2018 FERC license issuance)and ramping rates. Specific objectives are as follows: 1) Determine the existing condition of riparian vegetation in the Project area. 2) Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in riparian vegetation distribution and position along and adjacent to the active channel. 3)Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in the species composition of riparian vegetation in selected sites. 4) Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in riparian vegetation age class structure, including regeneration, in selected sites. 5) Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in riparian density in selected sites. 6) Determine if the new flow regime results in a change in riparian health in selected reaches over the term of the new license. 3.0 Study Area The study area for the riparian monitoring includes the 7.62-river mile (RM) Poe Bypass Reach on the NFFR from Poe Dam downstream to Poe Powerhouse. The Poe Bypass Reach is shown in red on Figure 3-1. December 2020 Page 4 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Figure 3-1. Map of the Poe Bypass Reach. December 2020 Page 5 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 4.0Methods The following describes the approach for monitoring riparian vegetation in the Poe Bypass Reach, including: selection of proposed long-term monitoring sites, monitoring methods, analysis methods, and monitoring schedule. 4.1 Selection of Monitoring Sites 4.1.1Selection Approach Riparian corridor vegetation community distribution patterns and age structure diversity within a watershed reflect interactions between watershed geology, channel morphology, fluvial geomorphic processes, and life history adaptations of the plant species. To identify and select riparian long-term monitoring sites that are representative of the Poe Bypass Reach and have conditions suitable to support riparian vegetation, the reachwas characterized based on several geomorphic and riparian criteria. In addition to these characteristics, the location of past and current studies, such as instream flows, FYLF, benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI), and fish population, within the Poe Bypass Reach were considered during the selection of the riparian 1 monitoring reaches. Locations of potential vegetation encroachment, lower-gradient areas, and accessibility were also considered. These criteria are listed in Table 4-1. In addition to the monitoring sites in the Poe Bypass Reach, a reference site on an unimpaired river was selected for comparison. Reference site locations that were considered included sites used for other past and current studies and availability of flow data. 1 The riparian study conducted in support of the relicensing of the Poe Project involved mapping riparian vegetation along the Poe Bypass Reach. Studies were not conducted at specific study sites. December 2020 Page 6 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Table 4-1. Criteria used to select Poe Bypass Reach riparian monitoring sites. CharacteristicsSelection CriteriaData Source Channel geomorphic Channel characteristics, such as FERC License Application characteristics valley type, channel form, (PG&E 2003); topographic maps; geomorphic landforms, and aerial imagery; site reconnaissance. Confinement substrate, are suitable to support Gradient riparian vegetation along a river. Presence of depositional Lower-gradient, less confined landforms reaches with finer substrate and Substrate Size deposition landforms provide suitable conditions to support riparian vegetation. Woody riparian corridor Landscape-level riparian FERC License Application characteristics distribution, composition, and age (PG&E 2003); aerial imagery; structure are representative of those riparian vegetation site Distribution within the bypass reach, and reconnaissance. Composition characteristic of the region and Age structure channel morphology. Co-located or nearby aquatic Located near other aquatic or FERC License Application Report study sites instream flow study sites to provide (PG&E 2003); PG&E’s technical a more comprehensive assessment study plans (PG&E 2004). of the reach. Other floodplain activities Minimal observations of ongoing or FERC License Application Report historic activities such as mining, (PG&E 2003); PG&E’s technical high recreation use (e.g., camping, study plans (PG&E 2001; 2004); hiking) or grazing along the aerial imagery, riparian vegetation channel that may alter riparian site reconnaissance. condition. Accessibility Site is safely accessible by Topographic maps; site helicopter or hiking trail. reconnaissance. 4.1.2Proposed Monitoring Sites The Poe Bypass Reach is predominately comprised of a steep, confined bedrock-controlled channel. Much of the channel is developed on resistant bedrock mantled with a discontinuous cover of large boulder and cobble deposits. The steep boulder-bedrock reaches that store little sediment are interspersed with lower-gradient cascade, boulder step-pool, and boulder-cobble plane-bed reaches. The steep side slopes, narrow valley bottom, and prevalence of bedrock and boulder along long sections of the Poe Bypass Reach limit conditions suitable for riparian vegetation to establish. Two small tributaries, Mill Creek and Flea Valley Creek, enter the NFFR December 2020 Page 7 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan from opposite sides of the river near the upstream end of the reach. The mouths of these creeks are about 0.5 mile and 0.9 mile, respectively, downstream of Poe Dam. The upper 1.01 RM (5,350 feet) of the Poe Bypass Reach, from Poe Dam downstream to immediately downstream from the mouth of Flea Valley Creek is a wider, lower-gradient channel. The river then flows through a narrower, steeper canyon section dominated by bedrock canyon walls and large boulders, with limited accessibility (approximately 2.53 miles RM \[13,360 feet\]). The lower section of river (approximately 4.08 RM \[21,560 feet\]), from Bardee’s Bar to Poe Powerhouse, opens to a wider, lower-gradient channel with long pools, runs, and pocket-water habitats separated by short sections of riffles and/or cascades. The comparatively lower-gradient, wider valley bottom sections with alluvial depositional features and finer substrate (e.g., cobbles and gravels) provide conditions suitable to support riparian colonization, establishment, and development along the Poe Bypass Reach. The vegetation habitat types along the NFFR are mainly riparian, with mixed pine-oak forest dominating the surrounding upland areas. The adjacent railroad grade serves as a constraint to the riparian corridor extent on the right bank on the upper section of the Poe Bypass Reach and crossing to the left bank for the remainder of the Project reach at the Highway 70 bridge. Representative photographs of the Poe Bypass Reach are provided in Attachment C. The selection criteria are summarized for the Poe Bypass Reach in Attachment D. Based on the evaluation of the selection criteria, three riparian monitoring sites in the Poe Bypass Reach are proposed to document changes in riparian resources in response to the new flow requirements required by the license and be representative of the Poe Bypass Reach (Table 4-2, Figure 4-1). The monitoring sites were chosen to represent areas where sensitivity to altered flow and probability of change in riparian vegetation were judged to be the greatest. These sites are referred to by the prefix “PBR” followed by a number, e.g., PBR-1. Riparian monitoring sites were selected that encompassed at least one transect for which stage-discharge relationships were previously developed so that riparian vegetation patterns can be evaluated in relation to the range of flow stages, recession rates, and inundation at the monitoring sites. Monitoring sites were not December 2020 Page 8 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan selected within the bedrock confined sections or sections with boulder banks due to lack of naturally occurring riparian vegetation. In addition to the three monitoring sites within the Poe Bypass Reach, one reference site is proposedon the Middle Fork Feather River (MFFR), in an unregulated reach. This site is referred to as REF-1 (Table 4-2; Figure 4-1). This site is near reference sites for other aquatic studies, and flow and stage data are available from California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) gage MER (Middle Fork Feather River at Merrimac). Table 4-2.Poe Bypass Reach riparian monitoring sites. a Approximate Upstream Location (Lat/Long) Reach ID Site Description Reach Type Latitude Longitude PBR-1 Above Mill Creek Confluence Regulated 39.80828 -121.435769 PBR-2 Above Flea Valley Creek Confluence Regulated 39.80371 -121.441841 PBR-3 Poe Beach Regulated 39.733901 -121.469034 REF-1 Below Milsap Bar Bridge; MFFR Unregulated 39.705277 -121.26986 a Actual upstream and downstream extent will be identified and recorded during first monitoring event for all subsequent monitoring. Monitoring site reach lengths will be at least twenty times the channel width. December 2020 Page 9 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company . sites c Company Project No. 2107 10 Page Project, FERC , Pacific Gas and Electri 2020 © Poe Hydroelectric ocations of proposed riparian monitoring Monitoring Plan Approximate l . 1 2020 - Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Figure 4 December Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 4.2MonitoringMethods Site-scale field surveys with repeat photo documentation will be conducted at the selected long- 2 term monitoring sites to monitor riparian vegetation within the Poe Bypass Reach. The surveys will provide an assessment of the riparian composition and age structure in relation to the flow and geomorphic conditions.Riparian vegetation at the monitoring sites will be surveyed with transects oriented across the riparian corridor and stream bank surveys. Data will be collected to characterize the vegetation community distribution, composition, age structure and structural diversity, and will include: percent cover of dominant plant species, tree and shrub height and canopy structure, relative density of woody riparian and upland vegetation, woody riparian and upland vegetation age and size classes present, evidence of unusual mortality, 3 width of the riparian corridor, riparian health, and observations of other stressors potentially impacting riparian resources. Incidental wildlife observations and presence of diagnostic sign (such as tracks, scat, feathers, etc.) data will be recorded. Flow data will be evaluated and related to vegetation distribution and growth patterns. The methods for the riparian vegetation survey and photo documentation at the selected monitoring sites are described below. 4.2.1 Vegetation Surveys at Selected Monitoring Sites 4.2.1.1 Vegetation Transect Composition and Structure Quantitative data will be collected along transects established perpendicular to the channel. Data will be collected along transects so that vegetation patterns can be related to elevations,flow stage and inundation, seasonality, and flow connectivity. 2 Monitoring site reach lengths will be at least twenty times the channel width. 3 Riparian health will be characterized based on observations of the vegetation itself, such as premature leaf drop, insect infestation, trampling from animals or people, and fire. The ratio of woody riparian seedlings/young to mature individuals within the sampling area will also be assessed. December 2020 Page 11 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Three long-term monitoring transects will be established within each monitoring site. The transects will be established at representative locations approximately equidistant within the monitoring site. The length of the transect will extend to approximately five feet beyond the start of upland vegetation at the upland hillslope base, and include any bars present, except in cases where it may be unsafe to work within the channel. This will ensure that herbaceous and woody riparian vegetation currently established along the low flow channel, as well as new riparian vegetation that may establish farther from the channel, are included in the survey. Pairedtransects will be surveyed on either side of the channel. The ends of the transects will be marked with headpins, such as capped rebar or other semi-permanent marker, and located with Global Positioning System (GPS). The topography of the transects across the floodplain and channel, if conditions are safe, will be surveyed. Topographic data will be collected under low flow conditions during each monitoring period to create an elevation profile. Along the surveyed transect, the surveyors will note the 4 location of the water surface elevation and the greenline location. If possible, these transects will be tied to any temporary benchmarks that are established as part of other monitoring surveys. Vegetation data will be collected along the transects using the line-intercept method and will be used to characterize the species distributions within the riparian corridor along the elevation profile (Winward 2000; Coles-Ritchie et al. 2004). Composition data (dominant groundcover, shrub, and tree species present) will be obtained by walking along a transect tape that extends across the riparian corridor and measuring and recording the length of cover of each dominant or co-dominant 5 species that intersects the tape along the transect. Intersection of the overhead canopy with the transect tape will be determined using a rod, approximately three meters in length, held up vertically perpendicular from the tape into the canopy. Sub-dominant species found with the dominant species also will be recorded. When a change in the dominant species is observed, a new data entry will be recorded. In addition, the length of areas of bare ground, leaf litter, large 4 The greenline is defined as: “The first perennial vegetation that forms a lineal grouping of community types on or near the water’s edge. Most often it occurs at or slightly below the bankfull stage” (Winward 2000). 5 All cover measurements will be made with a densitometer or densiometer; using cover classes consistent with Mayer and Laudenslayer (1988). December 2020 Page 12 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan woody debris, and different substrate size classes will be recorded along each transect. If the lengths of these attributes are different from the vegetation coveragelengths, these attributes will be recorded as separate entries on the datasheet. The lengths of the vegetation and other corridor attributes willthen be related to the width of the entire riparian corridor to determine the proportion of each within the corridor (Winward 2000). A line-intercept sample datasheet is provided in Attachment E. The relative densities of the general age classes of woody riparian and upland vegetation within the riparian monitoring sites will be characterized by tallying the number of woody plant individuals (riparian and upland, if present) by species and size class along a 2-meter wide belt along the line-intercept transect. The age classes for tree species defined by the diameter at breast height (DBH) size categories will be classified as follows: (1) sprouts with diameters less than 1 inch; (2) saplings with DBH between 1 and 3 inches, (3) mature trees with DBH between 3 and 10 inches, and (4) old trees with DBH greater than 10 inches. The number of shrubs in each of four size categories will be recorded: (1) seedlings with one stem; (2) young shrubs with less than 10 stems per individual; (3) mature shrubs with between 10 and 60 stems per individual; and (4) old shrubs with greater than 60 stems per individual. A sample datasheet is provided in Attachment E. A full species list will be created for each monitoring site and compiled for a master list of the riparian vegetation community in the Poe Bypass Reach. All species will be identified by scientific and common names, wetland indicator status, native or non-native status, and other pertinent 6 classifications (such as invasive weed statusor sensitive species). General botanical nomenclature will follow Baldwin et al. (2012) or most recent accepted standard. Other pertinent information will be recorded as observed at the monitoring site, including: substrate, channel encroachment, large woody debris within the riparian corridor, bank instability, and evidence of recreational and other land use activities (e.g. fishing trails, vegetation trampling, fire, or clipping, horses or cattle present). Encroachment of riparian vegetation into the channel 6 The target invasive weeds list will be included in the Poe Noxious Weed Management Plan. December 2020 Page 13 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan will monitored along the surveyed transects by comparing the location of mature vegetation documented as part of the line-intercept surveys along the channel margins over time and within the reference site. In addition, excessive accumulations of sediments within stream margin and vegetation and/orberm development will be noted. Evidence of unusual stress or mortality, and/or incidental wildlife observations will also be noted. 4.2.1.2 Riparian Recruitment Riparian recruitment will be characterized within each monitoring site. Potential locations for riparian vegetation recruitment will be mapped and riparian recruitment and physical characteristics of each potential location will be characterized. Potential areas for recruitment are defined as relatively open areas with open alluvial substrate at a distance from and elevation above the active channel where riparian vegetation could potentially establish. Within each potential recruitment area, data on the physical characteristics of the area will be collected, including: substrate, physiographic setting, and distance from and elevation above the base flow channel. The number of seedlings and saplings of riparian species will be tallied and recorded within each potential recruitment area. The density and cover of potentially competing vegetation will also be documented. A sample datasheet is provided in Attachment E. 4.2.1.3 Photo Documentation Photo documentation will provide a visual record of the conditions of the riparian communities and land use over time (Elzinga et al. 1998; Bureau of Land Management 1999, Burton et. al. 2007). The photographs will be used to document changes in herbaceous and woody species cover along the stream banks, structure of the community (e.g. multi-layered canopy, single stratum shrub, tree-shrub, shrub-herbaceous, etc.), position of the vegetation along the channel, other activities (e.g. ungulate grazing, beaver presence, recreation) within the monitoring sites. Riparian conditions within the monitoring sites will be documented with permanent photo point locations and/or drone imagery. Permanent photo point locations will be selected at multiple locations within each riparian monitoring site to document the riparian conditions along the stream banks and within the riparian corridor. The photo points will be taken from the same vantage December 2020 Page 14 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan points each year and will include at a minimum: (1) photograph facing upstream from approximately mid-channel; (2) photograph facing downstream from approximately mid-channel; (3) photograph towardthe left bank from the right bank; and (4) photograph facing the right bank from the left bank at each transect location. At least four photo pointlocationswithin each monitoring site will be selected that best represent the site and will capture changes in riparian vegetation in response to flow changes. All other photographs will be archived. Additional photo points also will be established at the following locations: (1) from Poe Dam to assess the riparian vegetation condition immediately downstream of the dam; (2) from the Highway 70 bridge (looking upstream and downstream) to provide an aerial assessment of the bedrock section of the Poe Bypass Reach; and (3) from the Poe Powerhouse access road bridge (upstream and downstream) to provide an overview of the gravel bars and riparian condition adjacent to the powerhouse. Each photo point location will be recorded with a GPS. Each photo point location will be documented with a marker in the field, proximity to a nearby unique feature will be noted, or a unique feature will be included within the photograph to facilitate repeatability during subsequent monitoring. Photographs from previous years will be taken into the field each year to assist in orienting the camera. The photographs will be taken of the same location at approximately the same time of year (season), and at approximately the same time of day (when feasible) during each monitoring study. The photographs will be stored by year electronically in a photo log with pertinent information such as date, time, number, environmental information (such as recent high flows, etc.) A photo point datasheet is provided in Attachment E. 4.2.2Hydrology Following each monitoring period, recent flows will be summarized. Average daily stream flow data from PG&E’s flow gage NF-23 located on the NFFR and CDEC’s flow gage MER located on the MFFR for at least a twenty-year period of record will be summarized for each monitoring period. This longer period of record provides context for the condition of the riparian vegetation December 2020 Page 15 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan that is influenced by the recent flow regime, as well as the pattern of flows over the past several decades, including high magnitude flows that “re-set” or scour vegetation. 4.2.3 Relationship to Nearby Riparian Monitoring Studies The riparian vegetation monitoring methods are consistent,and results will be comparable with the methods specified in the Riparian Vegetation Monitoring Plan for the Rock Creek-Cresta Project (FERC No. 1962) located upstream of the Poe Project. Specifically, both monitoring studies include line-intercept surveys along topographic transects established perpendicular to the channel to describe the vegetation in relation to changes in elevation and distance from the channel. Monitoring for both projects requires collecting age class distribution data for dominant riparian species to describe the age structure of the riparian community over time. The riparian recruitment monitoring described in Section 4.2.1.2 and the riparian recruitment monitoring for the RCC Project are similar, documenting the quality and quantity of potential areas suitable for riparian establishment and success of riparian recruitment within these areas over time. 4.3 Analysis Methods 4.3.1Vegetation Surveys at Selected Monitoring Sites Data collected at each monitoring site will be summarized to describe the vegetation characteristics across the riparian corridor and along the stream banks, including the relative percent cover by dominant species and strata; age structure; and densities (numbers of individuals by species per area surveyed for each monitoring site). The data will be evaluated to determine descriptive statistics for the measured parameters, including frequency distributions (i.e., histograms) of age classes present. The results of the line-intercept surveys will be graphically illustrated along the elevation profiles. Different flow stages that occurred during the time period since the last monitoring studies (e.g. pulse flows, spill flows, and minimum instream flows \[MIFs\]) will be graphically illustrated along the surveyed transects with the results of the vegetation composition from the line-intercept surveys. The ratio of woody riparian seedlings/young to mature individuals will be calculated as December 2020 Page 16 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan one measure of riparian health. Other observations of riparian health, such as premature leaf drop, insect infestation, trampling from animals or people, and disease will also be summarized. The riparian recruitment data will be compiled and summarized in tabular and graphical formats. Qualitative data, including encroachment observations and species lists, collected at each site will be compiled and summarized. The riparian data in the Poe Bypass Reach will be compared with the reference site, and with the previous monitoring periods to assess changes over time. 4.3.2 Hydrology The daily flow data from NF23 and MER gages will be graphed to illustrate the frequency and magnitude of high flows, prolonged dry periods, and the timing and magnitude of snow melt flows. The daily flow data will be converted to stage to evaluate the range of stages, recession rates, and inundation at the monitoring sites. The results of the riparian vegetation monitoring will be related to the recent flow regime, including the inter-annual variability; hydrograph shape; occurrence of high-magnitude scouring or “re-setting” flows (flows that generally occur every 10 to 25 years); and frequency, magnitude, timing, and recession rates of spring flows (i.e., recruitment flows; flows that generally occur every 1.5 to 5 years); and drought. 4.3.3 Coordination with Other Monitoring Studies Pertinent data collected as part of the Riparian Monitoring Plan surveys, including invasive weeds, special-status plants, sediment erosion/deposition, large woody debris, and vegetation cover and structure, will be provided to other license required monitoring studies (i.e. fish, FYLF, sediment, and temperature studies), as appropriate. The data will be provided prior to the next reporting period for that study to enable incorporation into the respective reports. 4.4 Monitoring Schedule Riparian monitoring includes baseline data collection in the first fall following approval of this Plan and monitoring to assess potential changes in riparian vegetation in response to the flows and evaluate trends over time (refer to Table 5-1). Riparian vegetation will be monitored in license year 10, 20, 30, and every 10 years thereafter, for the term of the license and any extensions. If a December 2020 Page 17 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 7 high flow occurs that meets or exceeds 59,800 cfs, based on average daily flow measured at PG&E’s flow gage NF-23, occurs during the first five years of the ten year period between monitoring, PG&E will conduct an additional riparian monitoring the fall after the event occurs to document the potential effects of the flow event on the channel and riparian communitywithin each monitoring site. If no high flow event occurs during the first five years of a ten-year period between monitoring, PG&E will conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. To the extent feasible, riparian vegetation monitoring surveys will be conducted in the late summer and early fall months to avoid impacts to sensitive life stages of the foothill yellow-legged frog. To facilitate transect sampling, and provide for personnel safety, stream flow may need to be reduced. In years when Fish and BMI studies are scheduled, riparian monitoring will be scheduled for the same timeframe to minimize the number of days that flows are reduced. There may be instances when riparian studies are required, but Fish and BMI studies are not. In those years, PG&E may still need to reduce stream flows for personnel safety. PG&E may reduce stream flows as 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 and October 31, with a goal to complete monitoring by the end of September; 2. Monitoring stream flows will be no less than 55 cfs; 3. Reduced stream flow 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 stream flow 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. 7 A flow of this magnitude has been documented to result in substantial re-working of the channel and scouring of riparian vegetation. December 2020 Page 18 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 5.0 Deliverables and Reporting Schedule 5.1 Deliverables Riparian Monitoring Reports will be prepared each year that monitoring is conducted. Each year’s report will include the results from the current year, and a comparison with the previous years’ results under the new license. The report will include a summary of the survey methods and analysis, including maps, tables, figures, and other analysis products, as described above. 5.2 Reporting Schedule PG&E will submit a draft of the Poe Riparian Monitoring Report to the SWRCB and Forest Service following the conclusion of each monitoring year (Table 5-1). PG&E will submit the draft report on or before March 15 of the subsequent year. PG&E will allow the SWRCB and Forest Service at least 30 days to review and comment on the draft report and will set up a consultation meeting, if warranted. The final monitoring report will be filed with SWRCB with a copy to Forest Service by May 31 the year following a monitoring year. 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. December 2020 Page 19 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Table 5-1.Riparian monitoring and reporting schedule. ActivityYear Monitoring Baseline site-scale field surveys at monitoring sitesFirst fallfollowing approval of Plan Site-scale field surveys at monitoring sites License years 10, 20, and 30, and every 10 years thereafter, for the term of the license and any extensions, and after a high magnitude flow a that occurs within the first 5 years of the (59,800 cfs) ten year period between monitoring. If no high flow event occurs during the first five years of a ten-year period between monitoring, PG&E will conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. Reporting PG&E will submit draft report to the SWRCB and On or before March 15 the year following field Forest Service for review monitoring SWRCB and Forest Service review period 30 days after receiving draft report PG&E will submit final report to the SWRCB and On or before May 31 the year following field Forest Service monitoring a Average daily flow, measured at the PG&E NF-23 gage. 5.3 Plan Revisions The Licensee, in consultation with the Forest Service and SWRCB, will review, update, and revise the Plan, if necessary, during the report review period every ten (10) years. Changes to be considered include methodologies and monitoring frequencies based on effects to the riparian habitat from operations. 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 r recommendation by Forest Service orSWRCB, the filing will include the reasons for not doing so. The Licensee will implement the revised Plan once approved by FERC. December 2020 Page 20 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6.0References Baldwin, B.G., D.H. Goldman, D.J. Keil, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken, Editors. 2012. The Jepson Manual: vascular plants of California, second edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 1999. Sampling vegetation attributes interagency technical reference. Denver, Colorado. Burton, T.A., E.R. Cowley, and S.J. Smith. 2007. Monitoring streambanks and riparian vegetation –multiple indicators. Idaho Technical Bulletin No. 2007-01. April 2007. United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 50 pp. Coles-Ritchie, M.C., R.C. Henderson, E.K. Archer, C. Kennedy, and J.L. Kershner. 2004. Repeatability of riparian vegetation sampling methods: how useful are these techniques for broad-scale, long-term monitoring? USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-138. Elzinga, C.L., D.W. Salzer, and J.W. Willoughby. 1998. Measuring and monitoring plant populations. Bureau of Land Management, BLM Technical Reference 1730-1. Denver, Colorado. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 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. Mayer, K.E., and W.F. Laudenslayer. 1988. A Guide to Wildlife Habitats of California. State of California, Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game. Sacramento, CA. 166 pp. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). 2001. North Fork Feather River Instream Flow Study Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107. April. ______. 2003. Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC No. 2107 Application for New License. Final: December ______. 2004. Results of 2000-2002 Surveys for Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana boylii) on the North Fork Feather River and Selected Tributaries with the Poe Project. December. Powell, D.C. 2006. Recording the changes: field guide to establishing and maintaining permanent camera point systems. United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service. Pacific Northwest Region. FS-14-SO-09-06. August. 21 pp. Sawyer, J., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A Manual of California Vegetation (second edition). California Native Plant Society Press. Sacramento, California December 2020 Page 21 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 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. 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. Winward, A.H. 2000. Monitoring the vegetation resources in riparian areas. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-GTR-47. December 2020 Page 22 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT A FERC Article 401 Requirements December 2020 Page A-1 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 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 11 -- Riparian Monitoring Plan license issuance *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 schedule or plans require approval by the Commission before implementing the proposed change. December 2020 Page A-2 Attachment A Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT B FERC Appendix A – Water Quality Certification Condition 11 December 2020 Page B-1 Attachment B Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 8 SWRCB 401 Water Quality Certification Condition No. 11 – Poe Bypass Reach Riparian Monitoring Within one year of license issuance, the Licensee shall prepare, in consultation with State Water Board staff and Forest Service, a Riparian Monitoring Plan for the Poe bypass reach. The Licensee shall file the Riparian Monitoring Plan with the Deputy Director for review and approval. The Deputy Director may require modifications as part of any approval. The Licensee shall file the Deputy Director’s approval, and any required modifications, with FERC. The ng in the year following approval of the Riparian Monitoring Plan. Subsequent surveys shall be conducted in Years 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and every 5 years thereafter, for the term of the license and any extensions, following the implementation of the new instream flow requirements (unless other intervals are deemed necessary by the Deputy Director to evaluate the effects of flow changes on riparian vegetation). 8 SWRCB (2017) December 2020 Page B-2 Attachment B Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT C Representative Photographs of the Poe Bypass Reach December 2020 Page C-1 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Photographs of the Poe Bypass Reach 6/18/2019 Figure C-1. From Highway 70 Bridge, looking upstream from river left. 6/18/2019 Figure C-2. From Poe Powerhouse Access Bridge, looking upstream from channel center. December 2020 Page C-2 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6/18/2019 Figure C-3. Poe Powerhouse Access Bridge, looking downstream from channel center. 6/18/2019 Figure C-4. Bardee’s Bar, looking downstream from river right. December 2020 Page C-3 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6/18/2019 Figure C-5. Bardee’s Bar, looking upstream from river right. 6/18/2019 Figure C-6. From Bardee’s Bar Road, below Bardee’s Bar, looking upstream from river right. December 2020 Page C-4 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6/18/2019 Figure C-7. From Bardee’s Bar Road, looking upstream at Bardee’s Bar from river right. December 2020 Page C-5 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan 6/18/2019 Figure C-8. From Bardee’s Bar Road, below Bardee’s Bar, looking downstream from river right. December 2020 Page C-6 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Representative Photographs of PBR-1: Above Mill Creek Confluence 6/18/2019 Figure C-9. PBR-1 from river left, looking downstream. 6/18/2019 Figure C-10. PBR-1 from river left, looking upstream. December 2020 Page C-7 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Representative Photographs of PBR-2: Above Flea Valley Creek Confluence 6/18/2019 Figure C-11. PBR-2 from river left, looking downstream. 6/18/2019 Figure C-12. PBR-2 from river left, looking downstream. December 2020 Page C-8 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Representative Photographs of PBR-3: Poe Beach 6/18/2019 Figure C-13. PBR-3 from river right, looking upstream. 6/18/2019 Figure C-14.PBR-3 from river right, looking downstream. December 2020 Page C-9 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Representative Photographs of REF-1: Below Milsap Bar Bridge 10/2011 Figure C-15. REF-1 from channel center, looking downstream. 10/2011 Figure C-16. REF-1 from channel center, looking upstream. December 2020 Page C-10 Attachment C Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT D Monitoring Site Section Matrix December 2019 Page D-1 Attachment D Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2019, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 12 -- Attachment D PBRPBR Recommended Study Site Name . Minimal riparian . ravel substrate. Evidence of high . Rationale vegetation. ic of the region and channel scale riparian distribution, scale riparian distribution, scale riparian distribution, scale riparian distribution, ---- logy on left bank . . characteristic of the region and channel characteristic of the region and channel characteristic of the region and channel characterist d Minimal depositional features suitable to support riparian vegetationMinimal nearby aquatic study sites.Adjacent to tailraceBoulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative anmorphology.Boulder, cobble, and gSandy depositional bar unlikely to support riparian vegetation. recreational use.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative and morphovegetation on right bank.Confluence area may not be representative of reachBoulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features suitable to support riparian Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative and morphology.Boulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Minimal depositional feature.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative and morphology on left bank.Confluence area may not be representative of reach. NYNYN (Y/N) Reach Monitoring for Riparian Recommended . . . Railroad is . . Site Notes Railroad is a Sandy Beach is . Downstream of Poe Damconfining feature on the right bankAbove Mill Creek Confluencea confining feature on the right bankMill Creek Confluence and Sandy Beach. Railroad is confining feature on the right bank. well used recreational area.Above Flea Valley Creek ConfluenceRailroad is confining feature on right bankFlea Valley Confluence. (proposed reaches are highlighted in yellow) . Project No. 2107 sites 2 - Road, near D Notes Page Downstream Road, near Flea Accessibility Project, FERC Access via slope adjacent to Highway 70Access via slope adjacent to Highway 70Access via slope adjacent to Highway 70 or from Sandy BeachUpstream access from Sandy Beach on left bank. access from end of PulgaValley Creek Confluence, on right bank.Upstream access from end of PulgaFlea Valley Creek Confluence, on right bank. , Pacific Gas and Electric Company c 1) - 2020 -- © Sites sitesitesitesite study site Poe Hydroelectric License ish ish ; stage; stage Licensing licensing licensing rere ccess site located and Nearby Implementation Study or Monitoring - Aquatic Potential fish monitoring Potential fmonitoring Potential BMI monitoring sitePotential fmonitoring Recreation relicensingPotential tributary fish access siteAmphibian monitoring IFIM study sitedischarge relationship availableIFIMstudy sitedischarge relationship availablePotential tributary fish a (shown on Figure D Co . ---- ---- . Woody Discontinuous alder/willow . Riparian Vegetation Tailrace section has minimal riparian vegetation even under low flow conditionsContinuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor.Continuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor predominately on left bankriparian vegetation on right bankContinuous narrow young and mediumaged dominated corridor.Continuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor. tial Poe Bypass Reach and reference riparian monitoring a 2%2%2%2%2% ––––– 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Channel Gradient (%) a Mill . . riffle riffle riffle riffle - --- riffle - Flea . . . section, Channel Monitoring Plan Characteristics Tailrace followed by short section of poolmorphologyMeandering poolmorphology with alternating cobble/gravel bars.Meandering poolmorphology with alternating cobble/gravel barsCreek confluence on left bank, with large downstream gravel/sand depositional featureMeandering poolmorphology.Meandering poolmorphologyValley Confluence on right bank Summary of selection criteria of poten . 1 2020 - Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian 0.40 0.650.95 1.01 –––– from Poe (Distance 0.20 Dam\[miles\]) Downstream – Stream Segment 0 0.20 0.40 0.65 0.95 Table D December Attachment D Recommended Study Site Name be - dominant, - boulder . . adjustable reach, with adjustable reach, with -- . Rationale adjustable reach, with sparse - ian vegetation. scale riparian distribution, - cult site access. adjustable reach, with sparse riparian characteristic of the region and channel - Moderately steep channel with boulder and cobble substrate, nonminimal vegetation.Large boulder dominant.Minimal depositional features suitable to support riparian vegetation.DiffiHighly entrenched bedrock and dominant, nonriparian vegetation.Minimal to no depositional features suitable to support riparian vegetation.No nearby aquatic study sites.Very difficult site accessEntrenched bedrock and bouldernonvegetation.Large boulder dominant.Minimal depositional features suitable to support riparModerately steep channel with boulder and cobble substrate, nonminimal vegetation.Large boulder dominant.Minimal depositional features suitable to support riparian vegetation.Difficult site access.No nearby aquatic sitesBoulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Some depositional bars and features may suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative and morphology.Difficult site access NNNNN (Y/N) Reach Monitoring for Riparian Recommended s ’ s Bar ’ Railroad is . Site . Notes s Bar ’ . Below Flea Valley Confluence to Highway 70 Bridgeconfining feature on right bankBetween Highway 70 Bridge and BardeeBarBardeeBelow BardeeAbove Swimmers Beach s Project No. 2107 ’ 3 - . . D Notes . Page Accessibility Project, FERC Difficult.Very difficultAccess from BardeeBar Road (dirt, in poor condition in summer 2019) to right bank.Very difficultDifficult , Pacific Gas and Electric Company c 1) - 2020 © Sites sitesite Poe Hydroelectric License ish study BMI Licensing located and Nearby Implementation Study or Monitoring - Aquatic Potential monitoringNoneAmphibian monitoringRecreation study sitePotential fsiteNoneAmphibian monitoring site (shown on Figure D Co - - dominated dominated -- . . aged aged Woody -- Riparian Vegetation Continuous very narrow young and mediumalder/willowcorridor predominately on left bank. Discontinuous riparian vegetation on right bank.Little to no riparian vegetationMinimal riparian vegetationContinuous very narrow young and mediumalder/willowcorridor.Continuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor. a % 2 6%6%6% – --- >7% 333 Channel 0.5 Gradient (%) a - --- boulder - pool and - . Channel bedrock bed morphology riffle morphology - alternating Monitoring Plan- Characteristics Entrenched, moderate gradient; bouldercobble dominant.Highly entrenched, steep gradient steppools; dominant.Entrenched, moderate gradient; bedrockboulder riffleplanewith bedrock control on left bankEntrenched, moderate gradient; bouldercobble dominant.Poolwith boulder/cobble bars. 2020 00 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian 1.603.544.6.256.75 ––––– from Poe (Distance Dam\[miles\]) Downstream Stream Segment 1.01 1.60 3.54 4.00 6.25 December 3 1 -- EF Attachment D R PBR Recommended Study Site Name . is representative iparian distribution, Rationale scale rscale riparian distribution, scale riparian distribution, --- characteristic of the region and channel characteristic of the region and channel Boulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features are suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representative characteristic of the region and channel morphology.Boulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features are suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structure is representativeandmorphology.Evidence of high recreation use.Upstream of Big Bend ReservoirBoulder, cobble, and gravel substrate.Depositional bars and features are suitable to support riparian vegetation.Landscapecomposition, and age structureand morphology. YNY (Y/N) Reach Monitoring for Riparian Recommended . and stage Site Notes available from gage MER . DEC Swimmers BeachBetween Swimmers Beach and Poe PowerhouseRecreation apparent at both Swimmers Beach and Poe Powerhouse BeachBelow Milsap Bar BridgeFlow data data are C(Middle Fork Feather River at Merrimac) Project No. 2107 . . 4 - D . Notes Page Accessibility Project, FERC . Trail access from Poe Powerhouse Access Road to right bankTrail access from Poe Powerhouse Access Road to right bank and from Poe Powerhouse on left bankAccess from Milsap Bar Campground , Pacific Gas and Electric Company c 1) - a 2020 - © Sites site sitesitesitesite BMI Poe Hydroelectric License BMI BMI Licensing licensing eam site; stage re under the new License Potential reference monitoring short distance upstr located and Nearby Implementation Study or Monitoring - Aquatic Amphibian monitoringRecreation study sitePotential monitoring IFIM study discharge relationship availableAmphibian monitoringRecreation study sitePotential monitoring (shown on Figure D Co -- . -- dominated aged - - medium Woody . in the draft monitoring plans Riparian Vegetation Continuous narrow young and mediumaged alder/willowdominated corridor.Continuous narrow young and aged alder/willowdominated corridorContinuous wide young and mediumalder/willowcorridor a b <1%<1% <2% Channel Gradient (%) a PG&E (2003). . . riffle riffle - - 18 in - Channel riffle morphology Monitoring Plan- Characteristics Poolwith alternating boulder/cobble bars.Meandering poolmorphology with alternating cobble/gravel barsMeandering poolmorphology with alternating boulder/cobble bars. 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian 7.057.62 –– from Poe (Distance Dam\[miles\]) Downstream As documented in Appendix E3Estimated from Google earth imageryThe BMI and fish sites have been proposed for monitoring by PG&E Stream Segment 6.75 7.05 NA abc December Attachment D Project No. 2107 5 - D Page Project, FERC , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2020 © Poe Hydroelectric Monitoring Plan Proposed riparian monitoring sites and nearby aquatic monitoring sites. 1. - 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Figure D December Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT E Riparian Monitoring Datasheets December 2020 Page E-1 Attachment E Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 24%39%59%99% ---- <10 100% Attachment E Cover 10254060 4 Tree 123456 Levels 24%39%59%99% ---- <10 100% Cover 10254060 4 Shrub Project No. 2107 123456 2 Levels - E Page Project, FERC , Pacific Gas and Electric Company - 9%39%59%99% ---- <1% 2 Riparian Datasheets 100% > 256 2 to 64 4 Cover 104060 64 to 256 2020 0.063 to 2 Size (mm) 5 © 0.062 to 0.002 Poe Hydroelectric Circle the dominate size class . Substrate Ground Layer 123456 Silt Clay Sand Gravel Cobble Levels Levels Boulder Bedrock layer covers within the plot area Monitoring Plan 2,3 1,3 Wentworth size classes. - 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Canopy Cover Relative % Cover The amount of area the canopy Relative cover of each species within the plot areaRecord all levels present for each species recordedMayer and Laudenslayer, 1988Based on Udden 12345 December 2 Attachment E ___________ Notes : _ Distance on Transect (m) ___________ River Mile : _ StartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStopStartStop 3 Other Project No. 2107 3 - E ____________________ GPS Waypoint : _ Page Project, FERC Dominant - Species Intercept Datasheet Sub - , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 1 2020 5 © Line _____________ Name Poe Hydroelectric Attribute : _ Tree Height 4 % Cover the dominant species. Dominant Species Monitoring Plan Width (m): __________________________ Species Corridor 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian landform, decadence, senescence, grazing, other land use activities, submerged vegetation. Bank Species or attribute (litter, bare ground, substrate, woody debris, dead vegetation).Fluvial Litter, duff, woody debris, bedrock, boulder, cobble, gravel, sand, fines, dead vegetation.Percent cover of the species.Average tree or shrub height of L or R Stream Segment and Site: _____________________ DateTotal Riparian 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. December 5 Attachment E __________ : _ Total Number Old 4 ______________ River Mile : _ Total Number Mature Waypoint 3 _ GPS Intercept Transect - Project No. 2107 ____________ 4 - E : _ the Line Total Number Young Page Project, FERC ” along . , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2 ” 3 to 10 2020 ” © Sprout _______________ Name ” Poe Hydroelectric : _ Total Number Seedling/ ; Mature tree: dbh 1 Age Class Datasheet per individual Species Monitoring Plan stems 10 to 60 : >60 stems per individual; Old tree: dbh > 10 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Bank L or R Include woody riparian and upland species.Seedling Shrub: 1 stem at the ground surface; or Sprout: dbh <1Young Shrub: <10 stems/individual or Young Tree: dbh <3Mature shrub: Old shrub Stream Segment and Site: ______________________ Date 1. 2. 3. 4.5 Notes or Other Observations (e.g. land use activities, fluvial landforms, substrate)December Attachment E Channel (ft) Height above (ft) from Channel Distance Physical Conditions hic Setting Physiograp Datasheet Site Substrate Project No. 2107 5 Monitoring - E % Cover for Each Species for cottonwoods. Page ” Project, FERC within 3 . , Pacific Gas and Electric Company ” or trees or 5 f 2020 ” Saplings © Total Number Name:Poe Hydroelectric 2 Vegetation Data Total Number iparian Recruitment Seedling/Sprout R 1 Monitoring Plan Species 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Map ID No. Polygon Include woody riparian species.Seedling Shrub: 1 stem at the ground surface; or Sprout: dbh <1Young Shrub: <10 stems/individual or Young Tree: dbh <3 Stream Segment and Site:Date:1. 2. 3. Notes or Other Observations (e.g. land use activities, fluvial landforms, substrate)December Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan Photo Point Datasheet Site Name: Photo Point Identification Number: Date: Time: Weather Conditions: GPS Coordinates:Photographer: Camera Type: Subject of Photograph and Purpose of Photographs: Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo No.: Photo No.: Photo No.: Brief Description: Brief Description: Brief Description: Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Photo No.: Photo No.: Photo No.: Brief Description: Brief Description: Brief Description: Reference Point 1 Sketch of Photo and Reference Point Locations: Description: Marking: Distance to photo point marker (ft): Reference Point 2 Description: Marking: Distance to photo point marker (ft): Reference Point 3 Description: Marking: Distance to photo point marker (ft): December 2020 Page E-6 Attachment E Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan ATTACHMENT F United States Forest Service and State Water Resources Control Board Consultation December 2020 Page F-1 Attachment F Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 2107 ©2020, Pacific Gas and Electric Company - ent F rent instream Attachm magnitude geomorphic are expected - - g flow or may occur minimum instream flows required by the settin - higher eated by the interaction of ramping rates, ing riparian vegetation. For successful ” feet of flow will be provided in Wet and Above - ” se discussions. The following text has been added to slower down biological monitoring indicates the flows will not impact brates, and FYLFs, to evaluate the potential responses of unities. if the new license. ates a dynamic physical environment to which riparian vegetation PG&E Response relationships between riparian vegetation and the fluvial - l be implemented when sediment monitoring indicates an accumulation Monitoring Plans require consultation with the Forest Service, State recreational flows, annual variability; (2) hydrograph shape; (3) frequency of high , - operations under ” zones where water is available during the drier months and the plants are not too close .ctable, hydrologic conditions. pulse flows lows (flows that generally occur every 10 to 25 years); and (4) frequency, magnitude, f the riparian monitoring will be used in conjunction with the results of the other biological Under the new license, up to 6,000 acre . , including setting” f legged frogs (FYLF). The new license requires slower down ramping rates from all Poe Dam flows - - kground information on the inter The results o ow pulse flows The following text (underlined) has been added to the Introduction to summarize theBac operations ing suitable moisture and soil conditions to be present at the time of seed release. For seedlings to survive, , and enhance flow conditions that support riparian comm The new license contains requirements to monitor riparian vegetation potentially affected by changes in The patterns of riparian vegetation establishment and distribution along a river are crThe results of the riparian vegetation monitoring will be used in conjunction with the results of the other biological “flowsflowsNormal water years for recreational boating purposes foothill yellunder PG&E’s control and below 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to protect FYLF and other biological resources. Pulse flows to flush fine grain sediment wilof sediments within the reach“physical processes (e.g., flows of varying magnitudes, timing of flows, spring flow recession rates, inter and intraannual flow variability, depth to groundwater during the growing season, and sediment deposition) and the diffelife history characteristics of the dominant species. The dominant woody riparian species present along the North Fork Feather River (NFFR) have many life history adaptations that promote their success under dynamic and episodic, yet seasonally predi Flow attributes that are important for maintaining the distribution, and structural and compositional complexity of riparian communities include: (1) interscouring or “retiming, and recession rates of spring flows (i.e., recruitment flows; flows that generally occur every 1.5 to 5 years). Variability in flows within and between years creresponds. Flow attributes during ecologically sensitive time periods for riparian species (i.e., seed release, initial establishment, growing season) are particularly important for maintainrecruitment to occur, flows of suitable recession rates must coincide with the release of seeds, to provide sufficient moisture to the seedlings and sprouts. This hydrology may occur in the same year as a reseveral years later. Willows and cottonwoods, species present along the Project Bypass Reach, release seeds in the spring, timed with elevated flows from snowmelt. These seeds are only viable for a short period of time (weeks), requirflow recession rates must be slow, and groundwater must be available through the dry summer. Riparian vegetation often establishes in elevationthe channel and susceptible to damage by high flows. The instream flows required by the new license to “monitoring studies, including fish, benthic macroinvertebiological resources to the changes Accepted. new license:Accepted. conditions as been added to the Introduction Section, as follows:Clarification. monitoring studies to evaluate the potential responses of the biological resources to the changes in the flow regime required by the new license. The BiologicalWater Board, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife after each monitoring period to review the study results. The results of the riparian monitoring will also be included in thethe Introduction Section: See response to Comment 3. Project No. 2107 2 - F Page Project, FERC the Poe Riparian Monitoring Plan. , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2020 Suggest adding additional © Poe Hydroelectric Comments on Comment t? Or reopen consultation about flows? It looks . The Water Quality Certification (2017) says “A include a discussion of what changes are expected or flows are affecting riparian vegetation…” Include a summary of why and how the flows are being changed. Now the draft Plan just says “changes in instream flows, including…”riparian vegetation monitoring plan will help determine how increased If possiblehoped for as a result of the changes in instream flows. e.g, how are increases in minimum/base flows, ramping rates, pulse flows, whitewater flows expected to affect riparian vegetation?How will the results of this monitoring be used? Do any particular monitoring results prompt changes in management of instream flows or other managemenlike SWRCB holds this responsibility, but I don’t find anything in the WQC about what this means in terms of assessment or potentially requiring changes to required stream flows. Regarding details provided in the introduction:Regarding details provided in the introduction: Regarding details provided in the introduction: background….Regarding details provided in the introduction: -- State Water Resources Control Board ------ Paragraph Number Section/ Page Number/ 1.0 Introduction /1/1.0 Introduction /1/1.0 Introduction /1 /1.0 Introduction /1/ Monitoring Plan Forest Service Commented By Unites States Forest Service and U.S. U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian 1234 Number Comment Response to December ent F , y within a Attachm thic ys along topographic intercept surve - time. The riparian recruitment ” age class distribution data for dominant g Cresta Project (FERC No. 1962) located -ver include line collectin year period between monitoring, PG&E will s - scale surveys focus on monitoring vegetation - tudies Studiesand results will be comparable with the methods community o , Cresta projects, as follows: - ” riparian e years of a ten PG&E Response ” Riparian Monitoring ll follow Baldwin et al. (2012) or most recent accepted standard.” tity of potential areas suitable for riparian establishment and success of riparian Relationship to Nearby the quality and quan A footnote has been added to clarify that the site ing A new section has been added to the Plan that discusses the comparability of the riparian communitA map has been added to Attachment D that shows the locations of the proposed riparian monitoring sites The text has been revised as follows: Section 4.4 has been revised to include the following underlined text: 4.2.3If no high flow event occurs during the first fiv “The riparian vegetation monitoring methods are consistentspecified in the Riparian Vegetation Monitoring Plan for the Rock Creekupstream of the Poe Project. Specifically, both monitoring stransects established perpendicular to the channel to describe the vegetation in relation to changes in elevation and distance from the channel. Monitoring for both projects requireriparian species to describe the age structure of themonitoring described in Section 4.2.1.2 and the riparian recruitment monitoring for the RCC Project are similardocumentrecruitment within these areas over time.General botanical nomenclature wi“conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. Monitoring site reach lengths will be at least twenty times the channel width. “ “ Accepted. monitoring methods and results for the Poe and Rock Creek Accepted. and the monitoring site locations for the other biological monitoring, including FYLF, fish, and benmacroinvertebrates. Clarification. reach, as follows:Accepted.Accepted. Project No. 2107 3 - - F s, - sites overlap tion. make flexible Page year period - Project, FERC 2. Note that Forest - Revise to , Pacific Gas and Electric Company 2020 verified following - i.e., how the methods in this © – Poe Hydroelectric in footnote? – irst five years of a ten Comment Define monitoring be used in assessing flow effects on scale”: - , based on average daily flow measured at PG&E’s streamflow conditions will alter flow levels and 9 23, occurs during the first five years of the ten year period - onitoring, PG&E will conduct an additional riparian monitoring ”working of the channel and scouring of riparian vegeta - Will the results of this other SWRCB Conditions? g) and rearing (tadpole) habitats for both occupied and non “The new licensetiming of flows relative to past project operations. Thus the following elements will need to be reestablished or recommencement of the new flow regime for typical oviposition (egglayinoccupied areas. The determination will include the new: temperature regimes, riparian vegetation establishment, encroachment and scouring, habitat conditions (water depths, velocities, bank slopeetc.), and river bar formation/loss.” Text Edit (underline): “If a high flow that meets or exceeds 59,800 cubic feet per second (cfs)flow gage NFbetween mthe fall after the event occurs to document the potential effects of the flow event on the channel and riparian community within each monitoring site. If no high flow event occurs during the fbetween monitoring, PG&E will conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. Regarding the study methods: As appropriate, reference methods used in upstream projects and Merritt input on those Plan are similar or different or improve on the RCC methods, allowing for comparison among Projects at some point.Regarding the Proposed Monitoring Sites: Add info on how these (or don’t) with monitoring for other resources (fish/bmi, fylf, etc.). Also consider including this info in a new column in Table 4Service 4e Condition No. 25 (Poe Reach Biological Monitoring) states: Regarding the term “siteRegarding the nomenclature convention for the study: if this reference is updated or a new reference becomes the standard. -- -- -- Monitoring Schedule/ Paragraph Number Section/ Page Number/ 4.0 Methods /4/4.1.2 Proposed Monitoring Sites/5/4.2 Monitoring Methods/9/14.2.1.1 Vegetation Transect Composition and Structure/11/4.4 15/3 Monitoring Plan Commented By U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceSWRCB 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian 56789 A flow of this magnitude has been documented to result in substantial re Number Comment 9 December ent F - year analyses - Attachm year Forest - er consultation and ” setting” flows (flows that Aft - The Licensee will implement the revised year period if a high flow does not occur - year period between monitoring, PG&E will Changes to be considered include methodologies - magnitude scouring or “re -d SWRCB, will review, update, and revise the Plan, if in the subsequent monitoring period in the age class data ” PG&E Response enerally occur every 1.5 to 5 years); and drought. g the first five years of a ten ar period if a high flow does not occur during the first five years of a ten to section 5.0 that would provide an opportunity for PG&E and the agencies to ye - the monitoring in the fifth year of a ten year monitoring period. Similarly, successful recruitment that may occur after a - The Licensee will include all relevant documentation of coordination and consultation ” . , the filing will include the reasons for not doing so. 1 has been revised to include the following underlined text: proposed monitoring schedule includes a primary trigger for monitoring the immediate effects of - The See response to Comments 1 and 2. The monitoring schedule has been revised to include riparian SWRCB The description of the hydrologic analyses in Section 4.3.2 Hydrology has been updated to specify Table 5See response to Comment 10. or recruitment flows; flows that g The results of the riparian vegetation monitoring will be related to the recent flow regime, including the internnual variability; hydrograph shape; occurrence of highIf no high flow event occurs durin The Licensee, in consultation with the Forest Service an “agenerally occur every 10 to 25 years); and frequency, magnitude, timing, and recession rates of spring flows (i.e.,ughts, will not be immediate. Potential responses such as encroachment in to the channel, lack of recruitment, or “conduct riparian monitoring the fall of the fifth year. “necessary, during the report review period every ten (10) years. and monitoring frequencies based on effects to the riparian habitat from operations.agreement with the Forest Service and SWRCB, the Licensee will work with the Forest Service and SWRCB to file the updated Plan with FERC.with the upServicePlan once approved by FERC. Accepted. that will be completed to describe the relationship between the hydrology and the condition of the riparian resources, as follows: Clarification. monitoring in the fifth year of a tenperiod between monitoring Clarification.high magnitude scouring floods on riparian vegetation. Riparian responses to other triggers, such as multidroriparian health would occur more slowly, and would be documented at the monitoring frequency in the revised monitoring schedule incorporatingduring the first five years of a tenhigh magnitude and scouring flood will be documentedcollection and riparian recruitment surveys. An additional section has been added discuss the potential need for updates or revisions to the Plan. Section 5.3 Plan Revisions has been added as follows: Accepted. Accepted. Project No. 2107 4 - F od between Page Project, FERC , Pacific Gas and Electric Company e.g., is event followed by – 2020 .” © Poe Hydroelectric Comment the “Deputy Director to evaluate the effects of could these be distributed in response to various – equirements I added in. it may be worth considering how to assess the hydrologic that occurs within the first 5 years of the ten year peri increased flows are affecting riparian vegetation.” However, the a or, if no high magnitude flow occurs within the first 5 years, the how cfs) “ WebEx on 9/18/19. SWRCB will need to weigh in on any of this that - ee that high flow events are good triggers, but it may be just as important riggers, with a requirement that if no trigger is met, then monitoring would Regarding the monitoring schedule and hydrologic analysis: Good discussion on the doesn’t meet their Condition. Recommend looking at Yuba River Project (FERC No. 2246) Aquatic Monitoring Plan for possible triggering language. Let me know if you need a copy of that.Agrto understand what comes after the high flow event additional wet years or multiple dry years. While this is somewhat captured in Section 4.2.2 above,pattern and identifying other potential triggering events, such as multiple dry years. Regarding the monitoring schedule: The SWRCB identified a total of 11 riparian monitoring events toccur on 10 year intervals?Definitely an interesting concept. If there’s time, maybe we could discuss how this might work with the rText Edit: “License years 10, 20, and 30, and every 10 years thereafter, for the term of the license and any extensions; and after a high magnitude flow (59,800monitoring fall of the fifth year between monitoring periodsRegarding deliverables: Include a summary/evaluation of what the results mean only mention of “evaluation” I can find is where the SWRCB Condition 11 seems to indicate that it’s up toflow changes on riparian vegetation.” Perhaps this part of the process needs to be explained in the Introduction. ------ Reporting Paragraph Number Section/ Page Number/ 4.4 Monitoring Schedule/15/4.4 Monitoring Schedule/15/4.4 Monitoring Schedule/15/5.2 Schedule/17/Table 5.15.1 Deliverables/18/1 Monitoring Plan Commented By U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceSWRCBSWRCBU.S. Forest Service 2020 Poe Hydroelectric Project FERC Project No. 2107 Poe Riparian 1011121314 Number Comment December LogoDepartment Name Agency Organization Organization Address Information United States Forest Pacific Southwest Region 159 Lawrence Street Department of Service Plumas National Forest Quincy, CA 95971 Agriculture 530-283-2050 TDD: 530-534-7984 Fax: 530-283-7746 FileCode: 2770 Date: May 2, 2022 Teri Smyly Manager, FERC and DSOD Compliance Pacific Gas and Electric Company Mail Code N11D P.O. Box 770000 San Francisco, CA 94177 S UBJECT: FOREST SERVICE APPROVAL OF THE REVISED RIPARIAN MONITORING PLAN AND THE FINAL HISTORIC PROPERTIES MANAGEMENT PLAN P ACIFIC G AS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY, POE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT (FERC NO. 2107) Dear : This letter is regarding two resource management/monitoring plans for which PG&E recently requested Forest Service approval: revised Riparian Monitoring Plan and final Historic Properties Management Plan (HPMP). These two plans ae required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) License for Pacific Gas and Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2107). The Forest Service filed revised final Federal Power Act (FPA) Section 4(e) Conditions in July of 2018, including the Condition No. 31 requirement to develop this HPMP. The State Water Resources Control Board State, Final Water Quality Certification Condition No. 11 requires Forest Service approval of the Riparian Monitoring Plan and any revisions thereto. These Conditions became part of the new FERC license for the Poe Hydroelectric Project, issued on December 17, 2018. On November 15, 2021, PG&E submitted a revised Riparian Monitoring Plan to the Forest Service and on February 25, 2022, PG&E submitted the final HPMP to the Forest Service. The revisions that PG&E proposes for the Riparian Monitoring Plan describe the conditions under which a temporary instream flow reduction may be implemented to facilitate riparian monitoring work. These revisions are consistent with the existing Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan regarding temporary instream flow reductions. For the final HPMP, my staff has reviewed the final version (dated February 24, 2022), which we also understand has been approved by the California State Historic Preservation Office. With this letter, I approve both Plans. Thank you for working with the Forest Service on these resource management/monitoring plans for the new Poe Hydroelectric Project license. If you have any questions about this letter, please contact Amy Lind, Hydroelectric Coordinator, Regional Hydropower Assistance Team, at (530) Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper Teri Smyly 2 478-6298, amy.lind@usda.gov, or Emily Moghaddas, Public Services Staff Officer, Plumas National Forest, at (530) 927-7439, emily.moghaddas@usda.gov. Sincerely, Ejhjubmmz!tjhofe!cz! DISJTUPQIFS! DISJTUPQIFS!DBSMUPO! Ebuf;!3133/16/35!23;55;4:!.18(11( DBSMUPO CHRISTOPHER CARLTON Forest Supervisor cc: Dawn Alvarez, Amy Lind, David Brillenz, Emily Moghaddas, Lori Cayo