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Home My WebLink About03.11.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Comment on Filing submitted in FERC P-803-129 by California Sportfishing Protection Alliance,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 Cc:Loeser, Kamie; Cannon, Jamie Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Comment on Filing submitted in FERC P-803-129 by California Sportfishing Protection Alliance,et al. Date:Wednesday, March 11, 2026 2:33:25 PM Please see Board Correspondence - -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 1:56 PM Subject: Comment on Filing submitted in FERC P-803-129 by California Sportfishing Protection Alliance,et al. .ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. On 3/11/2026, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C.: Filer: California Sportfishing Protection Alliance Friends of Butte Creek American Whitewater Friends of the River Docket(s): P-803-129 Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Filing Type: Comment on Filing Description: Comments of California Sportfishing Protection Alliance et al. in support of Pacific Gas and Electric Company's 02/26/2026 application requesting temporary variance of flow requirements for the DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project under P- 803. To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20260311- 5234__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!D92tIWgOYmWEW1thqfZ_6IceluBCO8fOTCCvigi9bHfTE1kw93Cs7vOA3UZSe0WhQzhNmjK8PrjkZeJvNZsSBqTLWvFWJR52Iy3r$ To modify your subscriptions, click here: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please do not respond to this email. Online help is available here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.ferc.gov/efiling-help.asp__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!D92tIWgOYmWEW1thqfZ_6IceluBCO8fOTCCvigi9bHfTE1kw93Cs7vOA3UZSe0WhQzhNmjK8PrjkZeJvNZsSBqTLWvFWJTsvUGR7$ or for phone support, call 866-208-3676. 1 COMMENTS OF CALIFORNIA SPORTFISHING PROTECTION ALLIANCE, FRIENDS OF BUTTE CREEK, AMERICAN WHITEWATER, AND FRIENDS OF THE RIVER IN SUPPORT OF FEBRUARY 26, 2026, APPLICATION OF LICENSEE FOR DESABLA-CENTERVILLE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT, NO. 803-129: “GAGING STATIONS BW-40 AND BW-3 2026 MINIMUM INSTREAM FLOW TEMPORARY FLOW MODIFICATION” March 11, 2026 Ms. Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (via electronic filing) Dear Ms. Reese: California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA), Friends of Butte Creek, American Whitewater, and Friends of the River (CSPA et al.) respectfully comment on the February 26, 2026 application of licensee, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) requesting temporary variance of flow requirements for the DeSabla – Centerville Hydroelectric Project, project number 803-129 (Project).1 CSPA et al. strongly supports the requested flow variance. CSPA et al. requests that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) immediately grant the requested flow variance to protect spring-run Chinook salmon in Butte Creek over the summer of 2026. PG&E, supported by the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, requests the variance shown in Table 1 reproduced below.2 1 PG&E, DeSabla-Centerville Project, No. 803-CA Gaging Stations BW-40 and BW-3 2026 Minimum Instream Flow Temporary Flow Modification (February 6, 2026), eLibrary no. 20260206-5184. 2 Id., p. 7. Document Accession #: 20260311-5234 Filed Date: 03/11/2026 2 Table 1: License required flow and variance request flows. Compliance Point Required Flows (cfs) without Variance Requested Flows for Variance 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 7cfs 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 Butte Creek provides spawning habitat for the largest remaining population of threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook Salmon. In 2023, the Project’s Butte Canal suffered a serious failure. PG&E has advised the Commission that the Butte Canal will not return to service.3 This situation exacerbates longstanding issues of thermal loading by increasing residence time in DeSabla Forebay. CSPA et al. agree with PG&E and the agencies that the flow variance will enhance the management of the limited water resources to protect Butte Creek’s spring-run Chinook salmon. Specifically, the variance will result in the following improvements: • Conservation of water storage in Philbrook Reservoir for optimal management. Philbrook Reservoir is the only stored cool water available for management of spring- run Chinook salmon over the summer. • Increase of the overall amount of water in the spring-run Chinook salmon holding section of Butte Creek over the summer. The Commission should understand that the proposed variance is designed to protect fish. Any potential incremental increase in power production that the variance may allow is incidental to the goal of protecting spring-run Chinook salmon. CSPA et al. requests that the Commission exercise its discretion immediately to order PG&E’s requested emergency temporary flow variance. Prompt action by the Commission will reduce the risk of mortality of spring-run Chinook salmon in Butte Creek in 2026. Please contact Chris Shutes, Executive Director, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, at 510-421-2405 if you require more information. 3 See PG&E, Update on Project Canal Incidents and Response to Notice of Violation (Feb. 18, 2025), eLibrary no. 20250218-5283, p. 4. Document Accession #: 20260311-5234 Filed Date: 03/11/2026 3 Respectfully submitted, Chris Shutes Executive Director California Sportfishing Protection Alliance 1608 Francisco St., Berkeley, CA 94703 510-421-2405 blancapaloma@msn.com Allen Harthorn Executive Director Friends of Butte Creek P.O. Box 3305 Chico, CA 95927 allen@buttecreek.org Theresa L. Lorejo-Simsiman California Stewardship Director American Whitewater Tributary Point Drive #46 Gold River, CA 95670 Theresa@americanwhitewater.org Document Accession #: 20260311-5234 Filed Date: 03/11/2026 4 Ronald Stork Senior Policy Advocate Friends of the River 3336 Bradshaw Rd., Suite 335 Sacramento, CA 95827 rstork@friendsoftheriver.org Document Accession #: 20260311-5234 Filed Date: 03/11/2026 5 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Chris Shutes, hereby certify that I have this day served these Comments of California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Friends of Butte Creek, American Whitewater, and Friends of the River in Support of May 6, 2025, Application of Licensee for Desabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project, No. 803-123: “Gaging Station BW-40 2025 Minimum Instream Flow Temporary Flow Modification”upon each person on the official service list compiled by the Secretary for the P-803 docket by e-mail or surface mail as directed on the service list. Dated this 11th day of March at Berkeley, California. By: Chris Shutes Executive Director California Sportfishing Protection Alliance 1608 Francisco St., Berkeley, CA 94703 (510) 421-2405 blancapaloma@msn.com Document Accession #: 20260311-5234 Filed Date: 03/11/2026 Document Content(s) CSPA et al. support DSC flow variance EW 3-11-26.pdf......................1 Document Accession #: 20260311-5234 Filed Date: 03/11/2026