HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.17.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Government Agency Submittal submitted in FERC P-7242-000 by State Water Resources Control Board (CA)From:Clerk of the Board
To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter,
Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth
Cc:Loeser, Kamie; Nuzum, Danielle
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Government Agency Submittal submitted in FERC P-7242-000 by State Water Resources Control Board (CA)
Date:Friday, October 17, 2025 4:40:35 PM
Please see Board Correspondence -
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Subject: Government Agency Submittal submitted in FERC P-7242-000 by State Water Resources Control Board (CA)
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On 10/17/2025, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C.:
Filer: State Water Resources Control Board (CA)
Docket(s): P-7242-000
Lead Applicant: STS HydroPower, Ltd.
Filing Type: Government Agency Submittal
Other External Submittal
Description: California State Water Resources Control Board submits letter to STS Hydroelectric, LLC re the approval of the dewatering and Water Quality Monitoring Plan for the
removal and decommissioning of the Kanaka Hydroelectric Project under P-7242.
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State Water Resources Control Board
October 16, 2025
Ms. Melissa Rondou
STS Hydroelectric, LLC
7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1100W
Bethesda, MD 20814
Sent via Email: melissa.rondou@eaglecreekre.com
Removal and Decommissioning of the Kanaka Powerhouse for the Kanaka
Hydroelectric Project License Surrender
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 7242
Butte County
Sucker Run Creek
APPROVAL OF THE DEWATERING AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING PLAN
Dear Ms. Rondou:
On September 11, 2025 1, STS Hydropower, LLC (STS) submitted a Dewatering and
Water Quality Monitoring Plan (Dewatering Plan) to the Deputy Director for the Division
of Water Rights (Deputy Director) for review and consideration of approval. The
Dewatering Plan is required by Condition 2 (Dewatering and Water Quality Protection)
of the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board’s) water quality
certification (certification) for the Removal and Decommissioning of the Kanaka
Powerhouse for the Kanaka Hydroelectric Project License Surrender (Project)2.
Background
STS owns the Kanaka Hydroelectric Project (Hydroelectric Project), which includes the
Kanaka Diversion Dam, Kanaka Powerhouse, a penstock, and appurtenant facilities.
The Hydroelectric Project is located on Sucker Run Creek in Butte County, California.
Kanaka Diversion Dam is located approximately three miles northwest of Forbestown,
California on Sucker Run Creek.
In August 2017, the Ponderosa Fire burned approximately 4,000 acres of land and
severely damaged the Hydroelectric Project’s powerhouse building and ancillary
1 STS submitted a draft Dewatering Plan to State Water Board staff on August 20, 2025.
Staff provided STS with comments on the draft Dewatering Plan on August 22, 2025.
The Dewatering Plan STS submitted on September 11, 2025 addressed staff’s
comments.
2 The State Water Board Executive Director issued the Project certification on
July 15, 2025.
Document Accession #: 20251017-5101 Filed Date: 10/17/2025
Ms. Melissa Rondou - 2 - October 16, 2025
facilities. As a result of the fire, the Hydroelectric Project ceased power generation. On
September 15, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a
license surrender order to allow STS to remove, decommission, and abandon-in-place
the Hydroelectric Project facilities. FERC’s license surrender order included all
conditions from the State Water Board’s July 15, 2025, certification.
Certification Condition 2 requires STS to develop and implement a Dewatering Plan to
ensure water quality is protected and monitoring is implemented during Project
dewatering, in-water, and water adjacent work.
Approval: State Water Board staff have reviewed STS’s Dewatering Plan and find that
it complies with Condition 2 of the Project certification. The Dewatering Plan is hereby
approved. STS shall file the approved plan with FERC prior to implementation. Any
changes to the Dewatering Plan shall be reviewed and approved by the Deputy Director
prior to implementation.
If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact Glenn Hoffmann, Project
Manager, by email to: Glenn.Hoffmann@waterboads.ca.gov, or phone call to:
(916) 319-9943. Written correspondence should be directed to:
State Water Resources Control Board
Division of Water Rights – Water Quality Certification Program
Attn: Glenn Hoffmann
P.O. Box 2000
Sacramento, CA 95812-2000
Sincerely,
Juliet Christian-Smith, Ph. D
Deputy Director
Division of Water Rights
ec: Debbie Anne-Reese, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Via e-filing to FERC Hydroelectric Project Docket
Sahrye Cohen, Wetland Section Manager
U.S. EPA, Region 9
Email: R9cwa401@epa.gov
Patrick Pulupa, Executive Officer
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
Email: Patrick.Pulupa@waterboards.ca.gov
Lynn Coster, Senior Environmental Scientist
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
Email: Lynn.Coster@waterboards.ca.gov
Document Accession #: 20251017-5101 Filed Date: 10/17/2025
Document Content(s)
Kanaka Deputy Director Plan Approval Letter signed JCS 10.16.25 (2).pdf ..1
Document Accession #: 20251017-5101 Filed Date: 10/17/2025