HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.04.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.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; Loeser, Kamie
Cc:Nuzum, Danielle
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000
by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
Date:Thursday, December 4, 2025 4:01:55 PM
Please see Board Correspondence -
-----Original Message-----
From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov>
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2025 1:46 PM
Subject: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and
Electric Company,et al.
.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening
attachments, clicking on links, or replying..
On 12/4/2025, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC),
Washington D.C.:
Filer: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
No Organization Found (as Agent)
Docket(s): P-619-000
Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Filing Type: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report
Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits Water Quality Monitoring Report for the Lower Bucks
Spillway Rebuild Project of the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project under P-619.
To view the document for this Filing, click here
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20251204-
5188__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!ByDL9065-j0q-tJK1ANMSKu7Khk96kvFaqpu-
HjOwJOcZYmyD_d4qyRqUHuHUehEm6FS8cW0_QV5CeWbcpBqneyOb8di0OZXiYdk$
To modify your subscriptions, click here:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://ferconline.ferc.gov/eSubscription.aspx__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!ByDL9065-j0q-
tJK1ANMSKu7Khk96kvFaqpu-
HjOwJOcZYmyD_d4qyRqUHuHUehEm6FS8cW0_QV5CeWbcpBqneyOb8di0DJ8EhSd$
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please do not respond to this email.
Online help is available here:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.ferc.gov/efiling-help.asp__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!ByDL9065-j0q-
tJK1ANMSKu7Khk96kvFaqpu-
HjOwJOcZYmyD_d4qyRqUHuHUehEm6FS8cW0_QV5CeWbcpBqneyOb8di0MeMe8ur$
or for phone support, call 866-208-3676.
Power Generation
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA 94612
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 28209
Oakland, CA 94604
December 4, 2025
Via Electronic Submittal (E-File & Email)
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance
888 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20426
Bryan Muro
Bucks Hydro Project Manager, Division of Water Rights
Water Quality Certification Program
P.O. Box 2000; Sacramento, CA 95812-2000.
Bryan.Muro@waterboards.ca.gov
RE: Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 619-CA
Dewatering and Diversion Plan, Lower Bucks Spillway –Water Quality
Monitoring Report
Dear Secretary Reese and Bryan Muro:
Attached for your review is the Lower Bucks Spillway Rebuild Project Water Quality
Monitoring Report (Enclosure 1), for Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Bucks
Creek Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 619.
FERC issued an Order approving PG&E’s Dewatering and Diversion Plan under Article
401(B) on September 8, 2023; the order requires PG&E to submit a water quality report
with State Water Resource Control Board and the Commission within 60 days of
concluding spillway project work. Project work concluded on November 14, 2025.
Turbidity monitoring was conducted throughout dewatering of the plunge pool, which
began on June 3, 2025, using two stations, one upstream and one downstream.
Turbidity remained below Basin Plan thresholds for the entire monitoring period, except
for three brief anomalies that were confirmed to be sensor-related rather than water
quality exceedances. PG&E’s assessment is that the first and third anomalies coincided
with storm events and were caused by debris accumulation on the probe; removal of
debris immediately restored readings to baseline. The second anomaly resulted from
algae buildup around the sensor, which was resolved through cleaning. These rapid
corrections demonstrate that the spikes were instrument artifacts, not representative of
actual turbidity conditions. The upstream monitoring station did not record an increase
Document Accession #: 20251204-5188 Filed Date: 12/04/2025
Debbie-Anne Reese and Bryan Muro
December 4, 2025
Page 2
in turbidity because it is located inside a pipe connected to the low-level outlet of Bucks
Lake.
PG&E completed dewatering of activities on November 14, 2025, and the low-level
outlet was returned to service on November 19, 2025.
For questions about the details of the report, please contact PG&E’s Senior Consulting
Scientist, Rohit Salve, at (925) 719-2110. For general questions, please contact Jamie
Visinoni, senior license coordinator for PG&E, at (530) 215-6676.
Sincerely,
Matthew Joseph
Supervisor, Hydro License Compliance
Enclosure:
1. Water Quality Monitoring Report, Lower Bucks Spillway, November 2025
Document Accession #: 20251204-5188 Filed Date: 12/04/2025
ENCLOSURE 1
Document Accession #: 20251204-5188 Filed Date: 12/04/2025
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Da
i
l
y
A
v
e
r
a
g
e
T
u
r
b
i
d
i
t
y
(
N
T
U
)
Daily Average Turbidity: Lower Bucks Spillway 2025
Baseline Station Daily Average NTU
Compliance Station Daily Average NTU
Compliance Threshold
Storm debris caught
in meter and cleared.
Algae and Debris
caught in meter
and cleared.
Document Accession #: 20251204-5188 Filed Date: 12/04/2025
Lower Bucks Lake Spillway Restoration Turbidity Monitoring Data - Phase 2, 2025
Date
Baseline Station
Daily Average NTU
Compliance Station
Daily Average NTU Delta Compliance Threshold
Construction Activities
(*Information pertaining to turbidity data )
6/1/2025 0.20 #DIV/0!#DIV/0!1.20 Compliance Station was not transmitting data.
6/2/2025 1.36 1.59 0.23 2.36 Started LLO 8:50 am. Compliance reset 9:20 am
6/3/2025 2.16 1.30 -0.86 3.16 Fish rescue performed and plunge pool dewatered. Sawcutting
within the spillway to facilitate demo of the transition zone.
6/4/2025 2.17 1.35 -0.82 3.17 Crane mobilized to the site. Spider excavator begins demo at the
bottom of the spillway.
6/5/2025 2.18 1.37 -0.81 3.18 Ongoing demolition and debris off-hauling efforts throughout June
and July.
6/6/2025 2.10 1.42 -0.68 3.10
6/7/2025 1.74 1.40 -0.34 2.74
6/8/2025 1.83 1.46 -0.37 2.83
6/9/2025 1.68 1.45 -0.23 2.68 At 23:00 pm lost connection to LLO sensor
6/10/2025 1.64 1.44 -0.20 2.64 Restored at 10:20 am. Lost connection again due to battery drained.
Spider excavator experienced a hydraulic system failure and
became non-operational.
6/11/2025 1.79 1.45 -0.33 2.79 Battery charge and restored connection to LLO sensor, 12:40 pm
Hand demo begins with the spider excavator down.
6/12/2025 1.79 1.48 -0.31 2.79
6/13/2025 1.84 1.52 -0.32 2.84
6/14/2025 1.81 1.50 -0.30 2.81
6/15/2025 1.73 1.48 -0.25 2.73
6/16/2025 1.79 1.61 -0.17 2.79 Lost communication with LLO sensor at 18:15pm.
6/17/2025 #DIV/0!1.62 #DIV/0!#DIV/0!LLO sensor did not reset
6/18/2025 2.09 1.95 -0.15 3.09 Restored communication at 14:00 pm
6/19/2025 2.15 2.27 0.13 3.15 Spider excavator returned to service.
6/20/2025 1.69 2.07 0.38 2.69 Lost communication with Downstream sensor at 9:40 am.
6/21/2025 1.69 #DIV/0!#DIV/0!2.69 Weekend - sensor did not reset
6/22/2025 1.70 #DIV/0!#DIV/0!2.70 Weekend - sensor did not reset
6/23/2025 2.01 2.38 0.36 3.01 10:20 am Downstream sensor was reset.
Debris cleaned out from behind the Left Wall.
6/24/2025 2.17 1.91 -0.26 3.17 MCES onsite for monthly recalibration, check reset function.
6/25/2025 1.62 1.62 0.00 2.62
6/26/2025 1.70 1.76 0.06 2.70
6/27/2025 1.83 1.90 0.07 2.83
6/28/2025 1.86 1.82 -0.04 2.86
6/29/2025 1.77 1.74 -0.03 2.77
6/30/2025 1.80 1.77 -0.03 2.80 7:25 am lost communication with LLO sensor. Reset 9:05 am.
Sawcutting at Right Wall and crest.
7/1/2025 1.94 1.91 -0.03 2.94
7/2/2025 2.15 1.94 -0.21 3.15 8:45 pm lost communication with LLO sensor.
7/3/2025 2.45 2.65 0.20 3.45 11:40 am, lost connection to solar charging panels, restored
7/4/2025 2.46 3.33 0.87 3.46
7/5/2025 2.78 3.36 0.58 3.78
7/6/2025 2.64 3.42 0.78 3.64
7/7/2025 2.69 3.33 0.64 3.69
7/8/2025 2.91 3.45 0.54 3.91 Begin installing drainrock behing Left Wall.
7/9/2025 2.90 3.39 0.49 3.90 Drilling splitting and chipping to excavate rock from the toe trench at
the bottom of the spillway.
7/10/2025 2.89 3.40 0.51 3.89
7/11/2025 2.79 3.12 0.33 3.79
7/12/2025 2.88 3.14 0.27 3.88
7/13/2025 2.84 3.27 0.43 3.84
7/14/2025 2.89 3.65 0.76 3.89
7/15/2025 2.87 3.45 0.58 3.87
7/16/2025 3.04 3.96 0.92 4.04
7/17/2025 3.12 4.08 0.96 4.12
7/18/2025 2.98 3.78 0.80 3.98
7/19/2025 3.05 3.50 0.45 4.05 Spider exavator begins excavating rock and soil behind the future
Right Wall.
7/20/2025 3.05 3.81 0.76 4.05 Ongoing cleaning of the spillway foundation via pressure washing,
vacuums and compressed air.
7/21/2025 3.11 3.95 0.84 4.11 MCES onsite for monthly recalibration, check reset function.
7/22/2025 3.09 3.60 0.51 4.09
7/23/2025 3.70 3.44 -0.26 4.70 2:00 am lost communication with LLO sensor.
Major cleaning of the foundation in preparation for foundation
inspection.
7/24/2025 3.25 3.28 0.03 4.25 0:00 am reset function brought LLO sensor back online.
Document Accession #: 20251204-5188 Filed Date: 12/04/2025
Date
Baseline Station
Daily Average NTU
Compliance Station
Daily Average NTU Delta Compliance Threshold
Construction Activities
(*Information pertaining to turbidity data )
7/25/2025 3.35 3.28 -0.07 4.35
7/26/2025 3.30 3.66 0.36 4.30 Major demolition effort is complete. Spider exavator is demobilized
from site.
7/27/2025 3.25 3.57 0.32 4.25
7/28/2025 3.15 3.67 0.52 4.15
7/29/2025 3.30 3.56 0.26 4.30 Crews begin drilling and grouting of rock dowels into the spillway toe
keyway.
7/30/2025 3.30 3.62 0.32 4.30
7/31/2025 3.48 3.43 -0.05 4.48
8/1/2025 3.64 3.33 -0.31 4.64
8/2/2025 3.73 3.74 0.02 4.73
8/3/2025 3.91 3.88 -0.03 4.91
8/4/2025 4.00 3.57 -0.43 5.00 Crews continue drilling and grouting dowels in the upper portions of
the spillway and the thrust block.
8/5/2025 4.34 4.02 -0.32 5.34 Major cleaning of foundation in preparation for inspection.
8/6/2025 4.42 4.20 -0.22 5.42 1st concrete placement.
8/7/2025 4.41 4.37 -0.04 5.41 Slush grouting of rock foundation.
8/8/2025 4.43 4.36 -0.06 5.43
8/9/2025 4.65 4.58 -0.07 5.65
8/10/2025 4.53 4.24 -0.29 5.53
8/11/2025 4.41 4.53 0.12 5.41
8/12/2025 4.26 3.82 -0.45 5.26
8/13/2025 4.25 3.98 -0.27 5.25
8/14/2025 4.46 3.77 -0.68 5.46 Concrete placement (pressure washing and general cleaning is
performed before each concrete placement).
8/15/2025 4.35 4.77 0.41 5.35
8/16/2025 4.70 4.39 -0.31 5.70 Concrete placement.
8/17/2025 4.63 4.40 -0.23 5.63
8/18/2025 4.12 3.47 -0.65 5.12 9:10 pm communication was lost with DS meter. Communication
regained after automatic reset.
8/19/2025 3.84 3.43 -0.41 4.84
8/20/2025 4.21 3.45 -0.76 5.21 Concrete placement.
8/21/2025 4.40 4.02 -0.37 5.40
8/22/2025 3.67 3.25 -0.42 4.67
8/23/2025 5.57 4.90 -0.68 6.57 Concrete placement.
8/24/2025 5.64 5.44 -0.20 6.64
8/25/2025 3.24 3.15 -0.09 4.24 Ongoing drilling and grouting of dowels.
8/26/2025 3.61 3.52 -0.10 4.61 Power was lost over night due to storms, battery back up worked as
intended and information was gathered and fully distributed.
Concrete placement.
8/27/2025 3.23 3.12 -0.11 4.23
8/28/2025 2.91 3.18 0.27 3.91 Concrete placement.
8/29/2025 2.88 3.26 0.38 3.88
8/30/2025 3.71 4.02 0.31 4.71 MCES onsite for monthly recalibration.
8/31/2025 2.93 3.16 0.23 3.93
9/1/2025 2.59 2.88 0.29 3.59 7:15 pm communication was lost with LLO meter. Communication
regained after automatic reset.
9/2/2025 2.74 2.86 0.13 3.74
9/3/2025 2.51 2.66 0.15 3.51
9/4/2025 2.48 2.34 -0.15 3.48
9/5/2025 2.50 2.19 -0.30 3.50
9/6/2025 2.86 2.83 -0.04 3.86
9/7/2025 2.93 2.72 -0.21 3.93
9/8/2025 2.84 2.74 -0.09 3.84 Concrete placement.
9/9/2025 2.60 2.63 0.03 3.60
9/10/2025 2.49 2.84 0.35 3.49
9/11/2025 2.19 2.93 0.74 3.19
9/12/2025 2.33 46.00 43.67 3.33 Spike in turbudity levels at 0:45 am. Storm happened a few days
earlier. 13:05pm Debris was found in meter and cleared. Had some
rain stroms that washed limbs, leaves and other debris into creek that
caught in meter. Nothing from construction activites.
9/13/2025 2.51 2.78 0.28 3.51
9/14/2025 2.42 2.52 0.10 3.42
9/15/2025 2.42 2.50 0.08 3.42
9/16/2025 2.36 2.53 0.18 3.36
9/17/2025 2.35 2.53 0.18 3.35
9/18/2025 2.41 2.54 0.13 3.41 Concrete placement.
9/19/2025 2.45 2.73 0.28 3.45 Concrete placement.
9/20/2025 2.41 2.43 0.02 3.41
9/21/2025 2.45 2.28 -0.17 3.45
Document Accession #: 20251204-5188 Filed Date: 12/04/2025
Date
Baseline Station
Daily Average NTU
Compliance Station
Daily Average NTU Delta Compliance Threshold
Construction Activities
(*Information pertaining to turbidity data )
9/22/2025 2.42 2.68 0.25 3.42 Concrete placement.
9/23/2025 2.41 2.35 -0.05 3.41
9/24/2025 2.29 2.32 0.03 3.29 Concrete placement.
9/25/2025 2.27 2.36 0.09 3.27
9/26/2025 2.40 2.27 -0.13 3.40
9/27/2025 2.43 54.72 52.29 3.43 Spike in turbidity levels at 0:00 am. 12:30 pm, algea and debris was
found in meter and cleared. Nothing from construction activites.
Concrete placement.
9/28/2025 2.46 2.42 -0.04 3.46
9/29/2025 2.58 2.55 -0.03 3.58
9/30/2025 2.43 2.47 0.04 3.43
10/1/2025 2.32 2.29 -0.02 3.32
10/2/2025 2.48 2.41 -0.07 3.48 Concrete placement.
10/3/2025 2.96 1.83 -1.14 3.96 MCES onsite for monthly calibration
10/4/2025 2.60 1.80 -0.80 3.60
10/5/2025 2.58 1.88 -0.70 3.58
10/6/2025 2.64 1.68 -0.96 3.64 Concrete placement.
10/7/2025 2.65 2.03 -0.61 3.65
10/8/2025 2.80 1.92 -0.89 3.80 Concrete placement.
10/9/2025 2.87 2.27 -0.61 3.87
10/10/2025 2.94 3.19 0.25 3.94
10/11/2025 2.91 3.16 0.25 3.91
10/12/2025 2.81 3.00 0.19 3.81
10/13/2025 2.86 3.03 0.17 3.86
10/14/2025 2.90 2.12 -0.79 3.90
10/15/2025 2.67 1.45 -1.22 3.67 Lost communication with Downstream sensor at 12:25 pm.
Communication regained after automatic reset.
10/16/2025 2.79 2.31 -0.48 3.79 Concrete placement.
10/17/2025 2.97 2.62 -0.35 3.97
10/18/2025 2.89 2.42 -0.46 3.89 Concrete placement.
10/19/2025 3.09 2.61 -0.48 4.09
10/20/2025 2.91 2.25 -0.67 3.91
10/21/2025 2.73 2.28 -0.45 3.73 Lost communication with LLO sensor at 18:00 pm. Communication
regained after automatic reset.
10/22/2025 2.88 2.17 -0.71 3.88
10/23/2025 2.82 2.37 -0.44 3.82 Shotcrete placement for the plinth block behind the Left Wall.
10/24/2025 2.66 2.14 -0.52 3.66 Concrete placement.
10/25/2025 2.19 3.11 0.93 3.19
10/26/2025 2.18 37.32 35.15 3.18 MCES onsite for calibration, Spike in turbidity levels at 15:20 pm.
Looked like spike was starting to clear iteself, but came back. 9:00am
debrius was found in the sensor and cleared out.
10/27/2025 2.76 91.00 88.24 3.76
10/28/2025 3.04 36.38 33.34 4.04
10/29/2025 2.78 2.36 -0.42 3.78
10/30/2025 2.82 2.36 -0.46 3.82 Concrete placement.
10/31/2025 2.86 2.41 -0.46 3.86 Begin stripping forms from completed pour areas.
11/1/2025 2.86 2.37 -0.49 3.86 Concrete placement.
11/2/2025 2.81 2.30 -0.51 3.81
11/3/2025 3.15 2.65 -0.50 4.15
11/4/2025 3.23 2.72 -0.51 4.23
11/5/2025 3.07 2.93 -0.14 4.07
11/6/2025 2.85 2.67 -0.18 3.85 Concrete placement.
11/7/2025 2.81 2.64 -0.17 3.81
11/8/2025 3.28 2.61 -0.67 4.28 Started losing communication with LLO sensor, Batteries were not
recieving the charge they should as solar panels were not getting
gneough sunlight.
11/9/2025 2.65 2.51 -0.14 3.65
11/10/2025 2.86 2.69 -0.18 3.86
11/11/2025 2.92 3.12 0.20 3.92 Final concrete placement for this construction season.
11/12/2025 4.09 3.00 -1.09 5.09 Crews begin demobilization effort.
11/13/2025 4.64 3.92 -0.71 5.64
11/14/2025 #DIV/0!5.97 #DIV/0!#DIV/0!Heavy rain causing increase in turbidity numbers.
11/15/2025 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 Last day of monitoring is 11/14/2025
Document Accession #: 20251204-5188 Filed Date: 12/04/2025
Document Content(s)
PGE20251204_619_LowerBucksSpillway_WQMonitoring_Rpt.pdf...................1
Document Accession #: 20251204-5188 Filed Date: 12/04/2025