HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.10.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Application To Amend License or Exemption submitted in FERC P-803-127 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: Application To Amend License or Exemption submitted in FERC P-803-127 by Pacific Gas and Electric
Company,et al.
Date:Tuesday, February 10, 2026 7:59:49 AM
Please see Board Correspondence -
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Subject: Application To Amend License or Exemption submitted in FERC P-803-127 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
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On 2/6/2026, 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-803-127
Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Filing Type: Application To Amend License or Exemption
Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits request to modify the minimum instream flow requirement from 5/4/2026 to
09/30/2026 re the Gaging Stations BW-40 and BW-3 of the DeSabla-Centerville Project under P-803.
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Power Generation
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA 94612
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 28209
Oakland, CA 94604
February 6, 2026
Via Electronic Submittal (E-Filing)
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20426
RE: DeSabla-Centerville Project, No. 803-CA
Gaging Stations BW-40 and BW-3
2026 Minimum Instream Flow Temporary Flow Modification
Dear Secretary Reese,
This letter presents Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E’s) request for a temporary flow
modification from the minimum instream flow requirement at gaging station BW- 40 (Hendricks
Head Dam) and BW-3 (Philbrook Reservoir), during the 2026 Central Valley spring-run Chinook
salmon (CVSRCS; Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) holding period. Hendricks Head Dam and
Philbrook Reservoir are part of PG&E’s DeSabla-Centerville Project, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) No. 803. This requested temporary flow modification would provide
flexibility to PG&E for the management of minimum instream flow from Philbrook Reservoir and
at the Hendricks Head Dam to support the 2026 CVSRCS holding population.
PG&E developed the proposed temporary flow modification in consultation with the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
United States Forest Service (Forest Service), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
(hereafter referred to as Resource Agencies).
License Requirement
Project license Article 39 provides the minimum instream flow requirements for the DeSabla-
Centerville Project. For reference, Article 39 is presented below in italics.
Licensee shall maintain a minimum pool volume of 250 acre-feet in Philbrook Reservoir,
except when releases from the 250 acre-feet minimum pool are necessary to maintain
minimum flows downstream of Philbrook Reservoir. Further, Licensee shall discharge
from the DeSabla-Centerville Project facilities the following minimum instantaneous
flows or inflow at points of diversion, whichever is less.
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
February 6, 2026
Page 2
Volume of Discharge in cubic feet per second (cfs)
during normal and dry water years1
Point of Discharge Normal Dry2 Time Period
Philbrook Reservoir [BW-3] 2.0 2.0 [Year-round]
Hendricks Head Dam [BW-40] 15 7 [Year-round]
These flows may be temporarily modified if required by operating emergencies beyond
the control of the Licensee, and for short periods upon mutual agreement between the
Licensee and the California Department of Fish and Game.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) issues the Bulletin 120 report in May that
is used to classify the water year type. The water year classification determines the required
minimum flow that is released downstream of Philbrook Dam at stream gage BW-3 and
downstream of the Hendricks Head Dam at stream gage BW-40.
Background
The Philbrook Reservoir storage (5,000 acre-feet) is utilized during the summer holding period
of CVSRCS to provide additional flows to Butte Creek. Philbrook Reservoir is located on the
West Branch Feather River (WBFR) watershed. Flows released from Philbrook Reservoir, along
with other flow within the WBFR, are diverted into the Hendricks Canal at the Hendricks
Diversion Dam (Figure 1). Depending on water availability, water diverted from the WBFR at the
Hendricks Diversion Dam can increase the total flow available in Butte Creek below DeSabla
Powerhouse up to 40% in July through September depending on the water year type.
PG&E operates the project in such a way as to reduce water residency time within DeSabla
Forebay (Forebay) to reduce potential temperature impacts. Historically, this has been achieved
by providing a minimum of 60 cfs to the Forebay from the Butte and Hendricks Canals.
However, in August 2023, the Butte Canal sustained damage that removed the canal from
service. PG&E has made the determination to keep the canal out of service indefinitely. The
loss of flow from the Butte Canal results in decreased flow through the Forebay. This temporary
flow modification request will help PG&E meet the minimum target flow of 60 cfs through the
Forebay during the summer months by helping to maximize the amount of flow drafted from the
WBFR.
In addition to the loss of the Butte Canal, results of recently completed seismic stability analyses
for Philbrook Dam indicated unsatisfactory performance of the dam under the seismic loading
scenarios considered when the reservoir is at its normal maximum water surface elevation
(NMWSE) of 5,552.5 feet (National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 [NGVD29]). Considering
these results, the potential downstream consequences associated with the risk of post-seismic
deformation could lead to uncontrolled release of the reservoir. A reservoir restriction has been
1 Discharge is in cubic feet per second (cfs).
2 A dry water year is any 12-month period beginning May 1 in which the natural runoff of the Feather River at
Oroville for the April 1 to July 31 period, as forecast on April 1 by the State of California Department of Water
Resources, and as may be adjusted by the State on May 1, will be 50 percent of less of the average for such period as
computed by the State for the 50-year period used at that time. If during a designated dry year, the February 1 or
later water year prediction indicates that dry year conditions no longer prevail, Licensee will resume normal year
flow releases immediately upon notification by the California Department of Fish and Game.
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
February 6, 2026
Page 3
established at Philbrook as an interim risk reduction measure (IRRM) until a long-term solution
has been selected and implemented. PG&E will manage the Philbrook Reservoir at a target
elevation of 5,542.7 feet NGVD29, which is 9.8 feet below the NMWSE and corresponds to a
decrease of approximately 1,600 acre-feet of its storage capacity. The decreased availability of
water from the Philbrook reservoirs due to the elevation restrictions significantly impairs PG&E’s
ability to maintain 60 cfs of inflow into the Forebay without the requested flow modification. The
requested modification will support PG&E’s efforts to maintain a target of 60 cfs flowing into the
Forebay during all water year type classifications.
Figure 1- Locations of Philbrook Reservoir and Hendricks Head Dam
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
February 6, 2026
Page 4
Operations and Maintenance Plan
On August 21, 1997, FERC issued an Order placing temperature restrictions (17º Celsius at
Round Valley and 18º Celsius at Philbrook) on the releases from these dams. On August 20,
1998, FERC revised its Order to allow for modification of the criteria upon mutual agreement of
NMFS, CDFW, and USFWS. An Operation and Maintenance Plan and an annual meeting held
ahead of the summer holding period are the mechanisms by which PG&E consults with the
agencies to gain mutual agreement on releases from these dams. To advance collaboration,
PG&E also includes the SWRCB and USFS in this consultation process.
The population of CVSRCS in Butte Creek is the largest remaining self-sustaining population of
this threatened species in California. Under the annual Operations and Maintenance Plan,
PG&E coordinates an annual meeting ahead of the holding period with the Resource Agencies
and holds weekly conference calls with the Resource Agencies during the CVSRCS’s holding
period. The weekly conference calls are from early June through mid-September (as needed).
During these conference calls, the Resource Group (PG&E and Resource Agencies) will
discuss the results of pre-spawning mortality surveys (if provided by CDFW), meteorological
forecasts, water temperatures recorded by CDFW at Quartz Bowl Pool, project flows, and
storage in Philbrook Reservoir.
Proposed Flow Modification
The proposed flow modification includes changing instantaneous minimum instream flow (MIF)
requirements at BW-40 from 15 cfs to 7 cfs measured as an average MIF over a 48-hour period
and changes the MIF at BW-3 from 2 cfs to a target between 1 and 2 cfs average over 48-hour
period. These proposed MIFs would be implemented regardless of water year type (Table 1)
since water storage will be limited in all water year types due to the elevation limit on Philbrook
Reservoir. Once approved, PG&E would implement the temporary flow modification at the
Hendricks Head Dam (BW-40) and Philbrook Reservoir (BW-3) beginning May 4, 2026, which
coincides with the end of the annual maintenance outage for DeSabla Powerhouse. If water
storage in Philbrook Reservoir is less than 2,116 acre-feet by April 1, 2026, the Resource Group
can meet and collectively agree to start the flow reduction at BW-3 before the proposed May 4,
2026 start date. This proposed contingency at BW-3 will promote additional storage in Philbrook
Reservoir if an unusually dry year occurs. The flow modification will be completed at both BW-3
and BW-40 on September 30, 2026
Table 1: License required flows and requested flow modifications.
Compliance
Point
Requirement (cfs) without flow
modification
Requested Flows for
Temporary Flow Modification
Hendricks
Head Dam
(BW-40)
Instantaneous Minimum Instream Flow
(MIF) of 15 cfs Normal WY, 7 cfs dry WY
Average MIF over 48 hour- target
cfs of 7 cfs
Philbrook
Reservoir
(BW-3)
Instantaneous Minimum Instream Flow
(MIF) of 2 cfs Normal WY, 2 cfs dry WY
Average MIF over 48 hour -
target between 1 and 2 cfs
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
February 6, 2026
Page 5
The flow modification at Hendricks Head Dam will maximize the delivery of flow released from
Philbrook Reservoir to Butte Creek. All flow released from Philbrook will be utilized instead of a
portion being used to buffer flow to meet the higher instantaneous MIF requirements. With the
implementation of the proposed flow modification, flow through the Forebay will increase or at
least remain steady. Heating in the Forebay is caused by exposure to solar radiation and natural
high air temperatures during the summer holding period as it travels through the forebay.
Increased flow will minimize residence time in the forebay thereby decreasing heating effects
within the Forebay. Thus, this action of providing as much flow from the WBFR through the
Hendricks Canal, in the absence of the Butte Canal will help minimize heating in the Forebay.
The flow modification at BW-3 will help maintain storage in Philbrook Reservoir by minimizing
flow released to comply with MIF ahead of flow releases made to supplement Butte Creek
during the holding period.
The following conditions will be in effect during the flow modification time frame:
1. PG&E will continue to hold weekly CVSRCS meetings with Resource Agencies.
Meetings are estimated to occur from June through September 2026.
2. PG&E will consult with Resource Agencies on when and how to begin implementing
the flow modification.
3. PG&E staff will consult with Resource Agencies prior to implementing flow changes
once the flow modification period has begun.
4. PG&E will maintain a MIF of 7 cfs, measured at BW-40, as agreed upon with PG&E
staff and the Resource Agencies.
5. PG&E will monitor and provide weekly flow changes to the Resource Agencies for
gauging stations BW-40 and BW-3 during weekly CVSRCS Holding Period Meetings.
6. PG&E will promptly notify the Resource Agencies of any event that significantly inhibits
or impairs the release structures from maintaining the proposed modified flow MIF at
either gage (BW-40 or BW-3).
Biological Impacts on CVSRCS
PG&E fisheries biologists have reviewed this flow modification proposal and believe that the
proposed flow changes would benefit the holding CVSRCS by maximizing the volume of water
that can be delivered to Butte Creek from the WBFR during periods especially when the Butte
Canal is offline. In addition to the CVSRCS, DeSabla Reservoir is an important recreational
location for residents in the area and rainbow trout are stocked during the spring and early
summer months. This flow modification will also support that fishery and the recreationalist who
depend on it.
The material informing this request includes the following:
• The holding pattern of adult CVSRCS since the Lower Centerville Powerhouse was
taken off-line (2011), has shifted to more of the population holding in the upper
reaches. It is expected that >95% of adults will hold in the upstream four miles of
habitat due to water temperatures. This concentration of individuals increases the
potential breakout of disease among a larger portion of the holding population.
• The flow modification will help provide a larger volume of water through Butte Creek.
This is important to minimize the effects of high ambient air temperatures which drive
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
February 6, 2026
Page 6
water temperatures. Higher water temperatures result in higher potential and severity
of a disease outbreak. This is particularly true with an increase in population density.
• Increasing inflow from Hendricks Canal shortens the travel time through the Forebay
thus decreasing the heating of water by minimizing exposure to solar radiation. This
minimizes the temperature of the water that enters Butte Creek.
Agency Consultation
On January 22, 2026, PG&E hosted a meeting with the Resource Agencies to discuss the water
management constraints and options for supporting the population of CVSRCS during the
summer holding period. This flow modification request supports PG&E’s and the Resource
Agencies’ efforts of ensuring the availability of cold-water storage in Philbrook Reservoir to
support the population and minimizing water temperature increases in the Forebay.
The consultation record is provided as (Enclosure 1).
Conclusion
PG&E respectfully requests changing instantaneous MIF requirements at BW-40 and BW-3
between May 4, 2026 and September 30, 2026. The request changes the MIF at BW-40 from
15 cfs to 7 cfs measured as an average MIF over a 48-hour period, and changes BW-3 from 2
cfs to a target between 1 and 2 cfs average MIF over 48-hour period. If water storage in
Philbrook Reservoir has not exceeded 2,116 acre-feet by April 1, 2026, the Resource Group
can meet and collectively agree to start the flow reduction at BW-3 before the proposed May 4,
2026 start date. The proposed modified MIFs would be independent of water year type. This
temporary flow modification will provide additional water and operational flexibility to transfer the
maximum amount of water into the Hendricks Canal from the WBFR to increase flow through
the DeSabla Forebay and into Butte Creek during the hottest part of the summer holding period
for CVSRCS in Butte Creek.
To maintain the modification timeline, PG&E requests a response to this letter by April 1,2026. If
you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact PG&E’s license coordinator, Sky
Ramirez- Doble, at (530) 250-7002.
Sincerely,
Matt Joseph
Supervisor, Hydro Licensing
Enclosure:
1. Agency Consultation Record
cc: See Attached List
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
February 6, 2026
Page 7
cc: via email w/enclosure
Tracy McReynolds (CDFW) – Tracy.McReynolds@wildlife.ca.gov,
Anna Allison (CDFW) – Anna.Allison@wildlife.ca.gov
Beth Lawson (CDFW) – Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov,
Grant Henley (CDFW) - Grantton.Henley@wildlife.ca.gov
Ellen Roots (NOAA Fisheries) – ellen.roots@noaa.gov
Yvette Redler-Medina (NOAA Fisheries) - yvette.redler-medina@noaa.gov
Cathy Marcinvage (NOAA Fisheries) cathy.marcinkevage@noaa.gov
Tristan Leong (USFS)– tristan.leong@usda.gov,
Brittany Reaves (USFWS) –brittany_reaves@fws.gov
Stephanie Millsap (USFWS) - Stephanie_Millsap@fws.gov
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
ENCLOSURE 1
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
From:Allison, Anna@Wildlife
To:Drummond, Duncan; McReynolds, Tracy@Wildlife; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife; ellen.roots@noaa.gov; Leong, Tristan
-FS; Millsap, Stephanie D; brittany_reaves@fws.gov; cathy.marcinkevage@noaa.gov
Cc:Ramirez-Doble, Sky; Reyes, Catalina; Cheslak, Edward; Meyers, Ben; Herman, Andie; Brunswick, Betsy
Subject:RE: 2026 Draft DeSabla-Centerville Temporary Flow Reduction Request
Date:Tuesday, January 27, 2026 3:26:59 PM
!!! EXTERNAL SENDER !!!
This email came from outside PG&E. Think before you click. Be extra wary of links,
attachments, providing sensitive information, and QR Codes. If this email seems suspicious,
use the REPORT PHISH BUTTON.
Hi Duncan,
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) concurs with PG&E’s proposed
temporary flow reduction request for the DeSabla-Centerville FERC license conditions through
September 30, 2026.
It is CDFW’s understanding that PG&E has not changed their decision to operate Philbrook
Reservoir at limited capacity, therefore a full reservoir will not be available during the summer
to help manage water temperatures in the reaches of Butte Creek that support holding State
and federally listed threatened adult spring-run Chinook salmon. This temporary flow
reduction will help PG&E and the agencies work together to make timely water management
decisions with limited resources. Specifically, this modification will allow PG&E and the
agencies to collaboratively adjust flows from the project reservoirs at Philbrook and Round
Valley during the summer to quickly respond to hot, dry conditions in the watershed.
Also, please note: numerous NMFS staff listed on the original email are retired or no
longer work for NMFS and Ellen’s email is ellen.roots@noaa.gov.
Thanks,
Anna
Anna Allison
Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
North Central Region Fisheries
Chico Field Office
(916) 272-4373
Anna.Allison@wildlife.ca.gov
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
From: Drummond, Duncan <DGDH@pge.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2025 11:16 AM
To: McReynolds, Tracy@Wildlife <Tracy.McReynolds@wildlife.ca.gov>; Allison, Anna@Wildlife
<Anna.Allison@wildlife.ca.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>; Ellen
McBride: <ellen.mcbride@noaa.gov>; Leong, Tristan -FS <tristan.leong@usda.gov>; Millsap,
Stephanie D <stephanie_millsap@fws.gov>; Steve Edmondson - NOAA Federal
<steve.edmondson@noaa.gov>; brittany_reaves@fws.gov; cathy.marcinkevage@noaa.gov;
william.foster@noaa.gov; evan.sawyer@noaa.gov; samuel.smith@noaa.gov; allison.bosworth
<Allison.Bosworth@noaa.gov>; paul.ortiz@noaa.gov; hannah.mone@noaa.gov;
brian.ellrott@noaa.gov
Cc: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>; Cheslak, Edward
<EFC3@pge.com>; Meyers, Ben <B1Mb@pge.com>; Herman, Andie <AEHb@pge.com>; Brunswick,
Betsy <BMB7@pge.com>
Subject: 2026 Draft DeSabla-Centerville Temporary Flow Reduction Request
WARNING: This message is from an external source. Verify the sender and exercise caution when clicking links or
opening attachments.
Good afternoon agencies members,
PG&E has drafted a temporary flow modification request to support the spring run holding
period in 2026. The variance is very similar to the 2025 variance. It would be greatly
appreciated if you all could review and provide comments, or concurrence by January 19,
2026. PG&E would like to get this filed with FERC by the week of February 2, 2026.
We would like to hold a follow-up meeting to discuss the 2026 temporary flow modification
request. Please respond with your availability, and we will send out a meeting invite once we
have received a majority response.
Proposed dates and times:
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 09:00 – 11:00 or 13:00 - 15:00
Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 11:00 – 13:00 or 14:00 – 16:00
Please feel free to forward to any agency staff that I may have inadvertently omitted, or let me
know if anyone needs to be removed from the mailing list.
Duncan Drummond
Hydroelectric License Coordinator
Pacific Gas & Electric
530.215.9678
You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices at PGE.com/privacy.
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
From:Reaves, Brittany L
To:Drummond, Duncan; McReynolds, Tracy@Wildlife; Allison, Anna@Wildlife; Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov; Leong,
Tristan - FS, CA; Millsap, Stephanie D; Ellen Roots - NOAA Federal; yvette.redler-medina@noaa.gov
Cc:Ramirez-Doble, Sky; Reyes, Catalina; Cheslak, Edward; Meyers, Ben; Herman, Andie; Brunswick, Betsy
Subject:Re: [EXTERNAL] 2026 Draft DeSabla-Centerville Temporary Flow Reduction Request
Date:Wednesday, January 28, 2026 7:38:35 AM
!!! EXTERNAL SENDER !!!
This email came from outside PG&E. Think before you click. Be extra wary of links,
attachments, providing sensitive information, and QR Codes. If this email seems suspicious,
use the REPORT PHISH BUTTON.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) concurs with PG&E’s proposed temporary flow
modification request for the DeSabla-Centerville FERC license conditions through September
30, 2026.
Reducing minimum instream flow requirements in the West Branch Feather River at the
Hendricks Canal Head Dam and Philbrook Creek will allow the Resource Group to
collaboratively adjust flows from the project reservoirs during the summer to support the
Central Valley spring run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) holding period. This is
needed in part due to reduced storage capacity at Philbrook Dam and the decommissioning of
Butte Canal.
We understand that upon receiving Delegation of Authority from FERC, PG&E will consult with
the Service regarding federally listed species.
Adding on to Anna's postscript: Yvette Redler-Medina (yvette.redler-medina@noaa.gov) is the
NMFS staff member currently assigned to this Project and can be included on
communications along with Ellen Roots.
Thanks,
Brittany Reaves
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(530) 365-7150
***********************
I am currently working:
Monday – Thursday
From: Drummond, Duncan <DGDH@pge.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2025 11:15 AM
To: McReynolds, Tracy@Wildlife <Tracy.McReynolds@wildlife.ca.gov>; Allison, Anna@Wildlife
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
<Anna.allison@wildlife.ca.gov>; Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov <Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>;
Ellen McBride: <ellen.mcbride@noaa.gov>; Leong, Tristan - FS, CA <tristan.leong@usda.gov>;
Millsap, Stephanie D <stephanie_millsap@fws.gov>; Steve Edmondson - NOAA Federal
<steve.edmondson@noaa.gov>; Reaves, Brittany L <brittany_reaves@fws.gov>;
cathy.marcinkevage@noaa.gov <cathy.marcinkevage@noaa.gov>; william.foster@noaa.gov
<william.foster@noaa.gov>; evan.sawyer@noaa.gov <evan.sawyer@noaa.gov>;
samuel.smith@noaa.gov <samuel.smith@noaa.gov>; Allison.bosworth@noaa.gov
<Allison.bosworth@noaa.gov>; paul.ortiz@noaa.gov <paul.ortiz@noaa.gov>;
hannah.mone@noaa.gov <hannah.mone@noaa.gov>; brian.ellrott@noaa.gov
<brian.ellrott@noaa.gov>
Cc: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>; Cheslak,
Edward <EFC3@pge.com>; Meyers, Ben <B1Mb@pge.com>; Herman, Andie
<AEHb@pge.com>; Brunswick, Betsy <BMB7@pge.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2026 Draft DeSabla-Centerville Temporary Flow Reduction Request
This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on
links, opening attachments, or responding.
Good afternoon agencies members,
PG&E has drafted a temporary flow modification request to support the spring run holding
period in 2026. The variance is very similar to the 2025 variance. It would be greatly
appreciated if you all could review and provide comments, or concurrence by January 19,
2026. PG&E would like to get this filed with FERC by the week of February 2, 2026.
We would like to hold a follow-up meeting to discuss the 2026 temporary flow modification
request. Please respond with your availability, and we will send out a meeting invite once we
have received a majority response.
Proposed dates and times:
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 09:00 – 11:00 or 13:00 - 15:00
Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 11:00 – 13:00 or 14:00 – 16:00
Please feel free to forward to any agency staff that I may have inadvertently omitted, or let me
know if anyone needs to be removed from the mailing list.
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Duncan Drummond
Hydroelectric License Coordinator
Pacific Gas & Electric
530.215.9678
You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices at PGE.com/privacy.
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
February 5, 2026
Duncan Drummond
Hydroelectric License Coordinator
Pacific Gas & Electric
PO Box 28209
Oakland, CA 94604
Re: 2026 Flow Variance Request for the DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project
Dear Mr. Drummond:
On December 30, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a copy of
Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) instream flow variance request to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project.
This flow variance request is summarized below in Table 1.
Table 1. License and Variance Request Flows
Compliance Requirement without flow
modification temporary flow
Hendricks Head Dam
(BW-40) Instream Flow (MIF) of 15 cfs
normal water year (WY), 7 cfs
target cfs of 7 cfs
(BW-3) Instream Flow (MIF) of 2 cfs target between 1 and 2 cfs
The following Philbrook Reservoir storage thresholds will be used to determine the start date of
the flow variance:
Table 2. Philbrook Reservoir Storage Thresholds
thresholds ac-ft (stage) Min- 250 (11.5’)
PG&E developed the proposed temporary flow modification in consultation with the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
2
NMFS concurs with the requested flow variance to help maximize the volume of water that can
be delivered to Butte Creek from the West Branch Feather River during the 2026 Central Valley
spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) holding and spawning season. The
need for this flow variance is urgent and will help ensure the protection of anadromous and
resident salmonid fish resources in Butte Creek.
NMFS appreciates the continued cooperation of PG&E and looks forward to working with
PG&E and the other resource agencies on this matter.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Yvette Redler at yvette.redler-
medina@noaa.gov or (209) 645-0307.
Sincerely,
Ellen Roots, M.S.
Chief, North Central Valley Branch
CC: To the File ARN 151422-WCR2026-SA0008
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026
Document Content(s)
PGE20260206_803_DeSabla_Temporary_MIF_Reduction.pdf ......................1
Document Accession #: 20260206-5184 Filed Date: 02/06/2026