HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.03.2024 Board Correspondence - FW_ Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.From:Clerk of the Board
To:Bennett, Robin; Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa;
Lee, Lewis; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth; Loeser, Kamie
Cc:Nevers, Dawn
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric
Company,et al.
Date:Wednesday, July 10, 2024 8:26:27 AM
Please see Board Correspondence -
LeAnne Hancock
Management Analyst I
Butte County Administration
T. 530.552.3314
-----Original Message-----
From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 10:15 AM
Subject: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
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On 7/3/2024, 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-2107-000
Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Filing Type: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report
Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits documentation of concurrence re add. year of monitoring for the Poe Bypass Reach
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan and Poe Tributary Access Monitoring Plan re the Poe Hydro Project under P-2107.
To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?
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Power Generation
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA 94612
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 28209
July 3, 2024
Via Electronic Submittal (E-File)
Debbie-Anne Reese, Acting 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
Additional Year of Monitoring Under the Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic
Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Plan and Poe Tributary Access Monitoring Plan
Dear Acting Secretary Reese:
This letter presents documentation of concurrence from the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service), United
States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for a
substitute monitoring year approach under the Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI)
Monitoring Plan and Poe Tributary Access Monitoring Plan for Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E)
Poe Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 2107. In an order dated July
28, 2023, FERC required PG&E to conduct an additional year of monitoring under both plans and seek
agreement for the substitute monitoring year with the California State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB), Forest Service, USFWS, and CDFW (collectively, Agencies).
On December 21, 2023, PG&E emailed the Agencies a plan for the additional monitoring. The Agencies
responded with various questions and comments via email. During that communication, PG&E
recommended meeting to discuss this requirement after the 2023 Poe Tributary Access Monitoring Report
was submitted to the Agencies and they had a chance to review it . On February 28, 2024, PG&E held a
meeting with the Agencies.
During that meeting, PG&E provided clarification on PG&E’s proposal to conduct fish and BMI monitoring in
2024, and tributary monitoring during a Critically Dry Water Year Type. The Agencies were amenable to this
approach. The SWRCB stated that they would need to check if approval of this approach required Deputy
Director approval. CDFW and USFWS responded with concurrence via email on February 21, 2024. The
Forest Service responded with concurrence via email on February 23, 2024. The SWRCB reviewed the
proposal confirming Deputy Director approval is not necessary on March 29, 2024. They provided no
comments.
Documentation of agency consultation is provided as Enclosure 1.
If you have questions or comments regarding this matter, please contact Sky Ramirez-Doble, license
coordinator for PG&E, at (530) 250-7002.
Sincerely,
Chadwick McCready
Senior License Coordinator
Enclosure:
1. Documentation of Agency Consultation
cc: See Attached List
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary
July 3, 2024
Page 2
cc: via email w/enclosure
Nathan Fish, SWRCB – Nathan.Fish@waterboards.ca.gov
Jessica Dyke, SWRCB – Jessica.Dyke@waterboards.ca.gov
Kurt Sable, Forest Service – kurt.sable@usda.gov
Lori Cayo, Forest Service - lori.cayo@usda.gov
Erika Brenzovich, Forest Service - erika.brenzovich@usda.gov
Dawn Alvarez, Forest Service - dawn.alvarez@usda.gov
Leigh Bartoo, USFWS - Aondrea_Bartoo@fws.gov
Beth Lawson, CDFW - Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov
Michael Maher, CDFW – Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
ENCLOSURE 1
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
From:Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards
To:Ramirez-Doble, Sky; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
Cc:McCready, Chadwick
Subject:RE: Call follow up - Extra Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary monitoring
Date:Friday, March 29, 2024 3:11:02 PM
Attachments:image001.png
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Hi Sky,
Thanks for sending this over. Following the February 21, 2024 meeting we’ve taken a look and
believe there is nothing for the State Water Board to approve. We’ve reviewed the proposal
and have no comments. Separately, we’re working on the Poe Fish and BMI monitoring plan
amendment request and hope to provide a response soon.
Best,
Nathan Fisch, Senior Environmental Scientist
Water Quality Certification Unit 2 Supervisor
Division of Water Rights | State Water Resources Control Board
From: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 2:22 PM
To: Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards <Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>
Cc: Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards <Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; McCready, Chadwick
<COMM@pge.com>
Subject: RE: Call follow up - Extra Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary monitoring
EXTERNAL:
Hi Jessica and Nathan,
Thanks for giving me a call back. I’m inquiring about the SWRCB’s concurrence on extra year of fish,
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
BMI, and tributary monitoring. We’ve received concurrence from all other agencies. Would either of
you be able to give me a status update? Last time we spoke, Nathan was going to investigate
whether this needs Deputy Director input.
With gratitude,
Sky Ramirez-Doble
He/Him/His
Hydro License Coordinator | Power Generation
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
c: (530) 250-7002 e: s9rv@pge.com
From: Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards <Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 11:01 AM
To: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>
Subject: RE: Call follow up
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Hi Sky,
I called you this morning and left a voicemail. Feel free to give me a call today to chat about
Poe. I have meetings 11:30-12 and 1-1:30 but am otherwise available. Monday is a State
holiday, but I’ll be available again on Tuesday.
I’m looking forward to touching base with you.
Best,
Jessica
From: Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards <Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 8:38 AM
To: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>
Cc: Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards <Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>
Subject: Call follow up
Hi Sky,
Sorry I missed your call yesterday. I have a couple meetings I can’t miss this morning. It sounds like
you had a Poe question. Jessica, could you give Sky a call this morning?
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Talk to you soon!
Best,
Nathan Fisch, Senior Environmental Scientist
Water Quality Certification Unit 2 Supervisor
Division of Water Rights | State Water Resources Control Board
You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices at PGE.com/privacy.
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
From:Sable, Kurt - FS, CA
To:Ramirez-Doble, Sky; Reyes, Catalina
Cc:Phipps, Jacqueline - FS, CA; Cayo, Lori - FS, CA; Alvarez, Dawn - FS, CA
Subject:Poe Tributary Fish Access.
Date:Friday, February 23, 2024 3:31:46 PM
Attachments:image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image004.png
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Sky,
The Plumas National Forest supports the plan for conducting the 3rd year of Tributary Access studies
in the Poe Project (P-2107) during a “Critically Dry” year as discussed during the meeting this week.
Thank you.
Kurt Sable, MS (he/his)
Hydropower Cordinator / Hydrologist
Regional Hydropower Assistance Team
Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region, Public Services
C: 530-616-1823
kurt.sable@usda.gov
159 Lawrence St.
Quincy, CA 95971
www.fs.fed.us
Caring for the land and serving people
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Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
From:Bartoo, Aondrea
To:Maher, Michael@Wildlife; Ramirez-Doble, Sky; Reyes, Catalina; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards; Dyke,
Jessica@Waterboards; Moghaddas, Emily - FS; Cayo, Lori -FS; Brenzovich, Erika -FS; Alvarez, Dawn -FS; Lawson,
Beth@Wildlife
Cc:Joseph, Matthew; McCready, Chadwick; Walker, Matt
Subject:Re: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary Monitoring
Date:Thursday, February 22, 2024 3:21:32 PM
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Thank you for the message, Michael. Helpful so I can follow up as well.
The USFWS concurs with the plan to move forward with fish and BMI monitoring in 2024
and then another year of trib access surveys when we have another critically dry water
year. Thank you so much for the meeting yesterday and the clarity provided!
A. Leigh Bartoo
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office
650 Capitol Mall, Suite 8-300
Sacramento, California 95814
916-930-5621
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Please contact me by email while staff are working from home.
From: Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2024 2:06 PM
To: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>; Bartoo, Aondrea
<aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards <Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>;
Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards <Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS
<emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo, Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS
<erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS <dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife
<Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
Hello Sky and Catalina,
Thank you for putting together the meeting to discuss the additional tributary access monitoring
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
event and the continued BMI and fisheries monitoring requirements. The Department has
considered and concurs with your proposal to continue fisheries and BMI monitoring later in
2024 and to provide an additional tributary access monitoring survey in the next Critically Dry
water year type. Please reach out if you have questions or would like clarification of our
concurrence.
Thank you,
Michael Maher
Region 2 FERC Coordinator | Cell: 916-597-5505
California Department of Fish & Wildlife | North Central Region
1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova | michael.maher@wildlife.ca.gov
From: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 9, 2024 2:52 PM
To: Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>; Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>;
Bartoo, Aondrea <aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards
<Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
WARNING: This message is from an external source. Verify the sender and exercise caution when clicking links or
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Hello everyone,
Thank you for asking these questions. It might be nice to meet and discuss this further after PG&E
sends out the annual tributary monitoring report at the end of this month. We can also utilize this
meeting to satisfy the consultation requirement of the Poe Tributary Access Monitoring Plan. I have
taken the liberty of creating a Doodle Poll. Please fill out your availability at the link below.
https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/dwnVq48b
With gratitude,
Sky Ramirez-Doble
He/Him/His
Hydro License Coordinator | Power Generation
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
c: (530) 250-7002 e: s9rv@pge.com
From: Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 12:55 PM
To: Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>; Bartoo, Aondrea
<aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards
<Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
Michael et al. –
I wrote the following sentence incorrectly. I meant to say, “There isn’t a NFFR stage would
not benefit passage at Mill Creek.”
Catalina
_________________________________________________________________________________
Catalina E. Reyes M.S.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Senior Aquatic Biologist
Aquatic and Natural Resources
Environmental Management – Energy Supply
925-808-8811 Ňcatalina.reyes@pge.com
________________________________________________________________________________
From: Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 12:47 PM
To: Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>; Bartoo, Aondrea <aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Ramirez-Doble,
Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards <Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke,
Jessica@Waterboards <Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS
<emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo, Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS
<erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS <dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife
<Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
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Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
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Thanks Catalina. I look forward to reviewing the report.
Michael Maher
Region 2 FERC Coordinator | Cell: 916-597-5505
California Department of Fish & Wildlife | North Central Region
1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova | michael.maher@wildlife.ca.gov
From: Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 12:31 PM
To: Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>; Bartoo, Aondrea
<aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards
<Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
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Passage NFFR confluence is different at Mill and Flea Valley Creek; however, both creeks have
major barriers just upstream of the confluence. The report has documented the changes at Mill
Creek which has essentially spit into two channels leaving flow so low in each channel that
passage has been negatively affected. There isn’t a NFFR stage would not benefit passage at
Mill Creek. The Flea Valley Creek confluence has been passible at all stage heights however
the low flow just upstream of the confluence of less than a foot of water becomes an issue in
addition to the natural barrier. Likely the biggest issue to fish using the two tributaries is the low
flow in both creeks and the barriers that exist in them.
The report will be out soon for your review.
Catalina
_________________________________________________________________________________
Catalina E. Reyes M.S.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Senior Aquatic Biologist
Aquatic and Natural Resources
Environmental Management – Energy Supply
925-808-8811 Ňcatalina.reyes@pge.com
________________________________________________________________________________
From: Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 12:07 PM
To: Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>; Bartoo, Aondrea <aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Ramirez-Doble,
Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards <Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke,
Jessica@Waterboards <Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS
<emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo, Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS
<erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS <dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife
<Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
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Thanks so much for the information Catalina. Sorry if this is a newbie question but are there known
stages where access to the individual tributaries becomes an issue or is that yet to be determined?
Michael Maher
Region 2 FERC Coordinator | Cell: 916-597-5505
California Department of Fish & Wildlife | North Central Region
1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova | michael.maher@wildlife.ca.gov
From: Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 11:28 AM
To: Bartoo, Aondrea <aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Maher, Michael@Wildlife
<Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>; Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch,
Nathan@Waterboards <Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
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I just realized this might be more helpful. Here are the flows at NF-23 averaged for the time that
we were doing our surveys. The previous table was the average for the month we sampled.
NF-23 Gage
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Date Stage (ft) Flow (cfs)
4/19/2021 4.43 323
10/18/2021 3.86 225
3/10/2022 4.64 397
6/7/2022 4.75 426
8/2/2022 4.72 418
10/5/2022 4.07 263
4/24/2023 ~13.15 ~8200
6/6/2023 ~8.00 ~2063
8/10/2023 4.80 435
10/17/2023 4.15 290
_________________________________________________________________________________
Catalina E. Reyes M.S.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Senior Aquatic Biologist
Aquatic and Natural Resources
Environmental Management – Energy Supply
925-808-8811 Ňcatalina.reyes@pge.com
________________________________________________________________________________
From: Bartoo, Aondrea <aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 10:19 AM
To: Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>; Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>;
Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards
<Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <beth.lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
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Did you happen to have the date(s) of the trib access surveys for 2023?
A. Leigh Bartoo
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office
650 Capitol Mall, Suite 8-300
Sacramento, California 95814
916-930-5621
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Please contact me by email while staff are working from home.
From: Reyes, Catalina <CERh@pge.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 9:41 AM
To: Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>; Bartoo, Aondrea
<aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards
<Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <beth.lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Walker, Matt
<MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
Hi all,
I just returned from vacation sorry for the delayed response.
To respond to Leigh and Michael’s question the table below is from the draft 2023 that shows
the flows that we experienced during our surveys this year. The only month in which flows
were below MIF was in August. We did not sample in March 2023 because the conditions were
not safe so, with the approval of this group, we delayed those observations to April. We can
expect that during all wet water years we will be spilling during the March/April timeframe.
The critically dry year last year had no affect on this year’s flows.
Table 3.1ဩ1. Represents the minimum instream flow (MIF) as dictated by the FERC
2107 license based on Wet Water Year Type (WYT) and the average flows
measured at license compliance gage NF23 for the months of monitoring.
Apr Jun Aug Oct
Year
*MIF
(cfs)
**NF23
(cfs)
*MIF
(cfs)
**NF23
(cfs)
*MIF
(cfs) **NF23 (cfs)
*MIF
(cfs)
**NF23
(cfs)
2023 400 6,243 500 1,659 500 369*** 250 302
*MIF – North Fork Feather River minimum instream flow as required by the license.
** Flows measured in the NFFR at compliance gage NF23 averaged over the month.
*** August flows where below the MIF requirement due to a FERC variance approved to do
improvements on facilities.
During the 2022 March - October, we observed conditions for passage during Dry water year
type.
Table 3.1ဩ1. Represents the minimum instream flow (MIF) as dictated by the FERC
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
2107 license based on Water Year Type (WYT) and the average flows
measured at license compliance gage NF23 for the months of monitoring.
Mar Jun Aug Oct
Year
*MIF
(cfs)
**NF23
(cfs)
*MIF
(cfs)
**NF23
(cfs)
*MIF
(cfs)
**NF23
(cfs)
*MIF
(cfs)
**NF23
(cfs) ***WYT
2022 300 377 350 440 350 443 180 309 Dry
*MIF – North Fork Feather River minimum instream flow as required by the license.
** Flows measured in the NFFR at compliance gage NF23 averaged over the month.
*** WYT – During the monitoring effort.
For reference again I recopied the MIR table. The highlighted show the ranges that we have
already sampled. If perform our observations during June and August during a Critical Dry
year, we will have captured the entire range of flows during the spawning period and periods
when fish could potentially use the tributaries as cold-water refuge.
Table 1. Minimum Instream Flow Requirements from Table 1 of Condition 1 of Appendix A (California Water Resources
Control Board, Water Quality Certification Conditions) of the FERC 2107 License. Highlighted values are flows that have
already been observed during the classified wet water year of 2023 and the classified dry water year of 2022. Note, in 2023,
conditions in March did not allow safe access so observations were made in April. Also monitoring in August occurred in 2023;
however, the flows were held below MIF due to the variance. The monthly average for flows in August was 364 cfs.
Table 1. Minimum Instream Releases (cfs) from
Poe Dam as measured at Gage 231
Month Water Year Type2
Wet Normal Dry Critically Dry
October 250 250 180 180
November 275 275 180 180
December 300 300 180 180
January 325 300 180 180
February 350 325 225 225
March 350 350 300 300
April 400* 400 325 300
May 500 400 350 300
June 500 400 350 300
July 500 400 350 300
August 500* 400 350 300
September 400 350 300 250
Let me know if you have any other questions. I am currently working on the draft report and
will have it to you by January 31st.
Catalina
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
_________________________________________________________________________________
Catalina E. Reyes M.S.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Senior Aquatic Biologist
Aquatic and Natural Resources
Environmental Management – Energy Supply
925-808-8811 Ňcatalina.reyes@pge.com
________________________________________________________________________________
From: Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, January 2, 2024 9:15 AM
To: Bartoo, Aondrea <aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch,
Nathan@Waterboards <Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Reyes, Catalina
<CERh@pge.com>; Walker, Matt <MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
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Hi Leigh,
I agree with the points you make in your email. The intent of the additional survey year is to
determine the effects of the variance flows. If those flows were partially or fully put in place this year,
then we need to determine if they qualify for assessment under the required additional year. To help
us with that determination we would need to know:
1. In what months were variance flows applied in 2023 and what were the flows in those months?
2. In what months were the tributary access surveys performed and which surveys overlapped
with variance flows?
I agree that the additional survey year should not satisfy the third year of monitoring under the
regular license requirements. The variance flows would not match up with any of the flow
requirements and would be substantially lower than the flows during a license required Critically Dry
WYT. The purpose of the regular license required surveys is to assess the effects of the regular license
required flows to determine what impacts (if any) would occur throughout the term of the license.
Michael Maher
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Region 2 FERC Coordinator | Cell: 916-597-5505
California Department of Fish & Wildlife | North Central Region
1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova | michael.maher@wildlife.ca.gov
From: Bartoo, Aondrea <aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2023 12:09 PM
To: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards
<Nathan.Fisch@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife <Beth.Lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>; Maher,
Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Reyes, Catalina
<CERh@pge.com>; Walker, Matt <MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
WARNING: This message is from an external source. Verify the sender and exercise caution when clicking links or
opening attachments.
FERC's order from this past summer indicated that PG&E was to conduct an ADDITIONAL
year of monitoring. The 2023 order indicated that the 2023 monitoring was to collect data
related to the effects of the variance. Since the project did not occur in 2023, although the
flows did (I believe the flows were reduced as per the variance), we would need to
determine if these flows are appropriate to determine the effects of the variance, or if we
need to wait for the project to actually occur in 2024 and use the monitoring from then to
assess the impacts to fish/BMI and trib access. After the year in which PG&E collects data
to assess impacts from the variance, there would still be three years of data collection as
per the Plans. Data was collected in both 2022 and 2023, so by my calculations there are
two more years of collection to occur. I would tentatively suggest data be collected in
2024, assuming the project would occur, and then we determine which year to conduct
the final year of data collection.
The trib access monitoring is to occur in March, June, August and October in each
monitoring year. Fish/BMI is to occur in Sept/Oct with a goal to complete by end of
Sept. Further complicating matters is that in 2023, although it was categorized as a Wet
year, the conditions in August and Sept were of a Dry or Critically-Dry year (due to the
decrease in flows for the variance), so IMO we cannot consider August or Sept of 2023 as
Wet water year (avg flow for August was 358cfs, Sept was 235cfs) for our purposes here. I
don't recall the precise dates that the trib access survey occurred this year and I don't
think we've received the report as yet, but knowing the flows when this survey happened
will help us greatly in this assessment. It appears the fish/BMI occurred toward the end of
September (18-21) and preceding flows were well below a critically-dry water year type.
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Yet, given the very wet conditions earlier in the year, I'm not certain we should label these
months as critically-dry for the monitoring purposes. I'd like to hear other's perspectives
on how to treat 2023.
Could PG&E provide the date that the trib access was conducted in 2023? That will help
me consider that portion of this request.
A. Leigh Bartoo
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office
650 Capitol Mall, Suite 8-300
Sacramento, California 95814
916-930-5621
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Please contact me by email while staff are working from home.
From: Ramirez-Doble, Sky <S9RV@pge.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2023 3:32 PM
To: Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards <Nathan.Fisch@waterboards.ca.gov>; Dyke, Jessica@Waterboards
<Jessica.Dyke@Waterboards.ca.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Cayo,
Lori -FS <lori.cayo@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Alvarez, Dawn -FS
<dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Bartoo, Aondrea <aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov>; Lawson, Beth@Wildlife
<beth.lawson@wildlife.ca.gov>; Maher, Michael@Wildlife <Michael.Maher@wildlife.ca.gov>
Cc: Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McCready, Chadwick <COMM@pge.com>; Reyes, Catalina
<CERh@pge.com>; Walker, Matt <MSWL@pge.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] FERC 2107 – Consultation on Another Year of Fish, BMI, and Tributary
Monitoring
This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on links,
opening attachments, or responding.
Hello Agencies,
This email provides an additional monitoring plan for the Poe Bypass Reach Fish and Benthic
Macroinvertebrate (BMI) Monitoring Plan and the Poe Tributary Access Monitoring Plan for Pacific Gas
and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Poe Hydroelectric Project Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) No. 2107. On April 7, and supplemented May 30, June 9, July 3, and July 7, 2023, PG&E request
a temporary minimum instream flow (MIF) variance with FERC to complete dam safety work on the
Poe Dam. On July 28, 2023, FERC approved this temporary MIF variance and ordered PG&E to conduct
an additional year of monitoring under both plans. PG&E proposes conducting an additional year of
fish and BMI monitoring in 2024; however, tributary monitoring is slightly more nuanced.
The Poe Tributary Access Monitoring Plan states,
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
observations will made at each site on one day in March, June, August, and October during
project prescribed minimum instream flows for two consecutive years. The third observation
year will be conducted in a different water year type so that the three years of observations
capture a range of water year types.
The first observation year was in 2022 and the second was 2023. Per the plan, the third year, was
intended to be used to ensure that the full range of project flows would be captured in the
observations of the study. The year 2022 was classified as a Dry year and 2023 was a Wet year. This
allowed PG&E to observe the range of MIF in Wet, Normal, and Dry flow ranges (Table 1). The only
flows that haven’t been fully observed are the lower range of flows prescribed during a Critically Dry
year. Thus, the third year that should be monitored should be a Critically Dry year to meet the intent
of the Plan. This third year would meet the intent of assessing passage into the creeks during
spawning periods and summer months (for thermal refugia) at all range of prescribed by the license.
Since the water year type is determined by Bulletin 120 in May, PG&E will utilize Bulletin 120 in March
to determine if April in the Critically Dry Year should be sampled and begin sampling in the April since
March at 300 cfs has been observed in 2022. If the May Bulletin 120 (the month that determines the
water year type) does not designate the year as a Critically Dry year, then the sampling for that year
will be postponed for another potential Critically Dry year and the same schedule will be implemented
until a Critically Dry year is designated.
Please response with comments or concurrence of this plan by January 31, 2023.
Table 1. Minimum Instream Flow Requirements from Table 1 of Condition 1 of Appendix A (California Water Resources
Control Board, Water Quality Certification Conditions) of the FERC 2107 License. Highlighted values are flows that have
already been observed during the classified wet water year of 2023 and the classified dry water year of 2022. Note, in 2023,
conditions in March did not allow safe access so observations were made in April. Also monitoring in August occurred in 2023;
however, the flows were held below MIF due to the variance. The monthly average for flows in August was 364 cfs.
Table 1. Minimum Instream Releases (cfs) from
Poe Dam as measured at Gage 231
Month Water Year Type2
Wet Normal Dry Critically Dry
October 250 250 180 180
November 275 275 180 180
December 300 300 180 180
January 325 300 180 180
February 350 325 225 225
March 350 350 300 300
April 400* 400 325 300
May 500 400 350 300
June 500 400 350 300
July 500 400 350 300
August 500* 400 350 300
September 400 350 300 250
With gratitude,
Sky Ramirez-Doble
He/Him/His
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Hydro License Coordinator | Power Generation
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
c: (530) 250-7002 e: s9rv@pge.com
You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices at PGE.com/privacy.
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024
Document Content(s)
PGE20240703_2107_Fish,BMI_Trib_Extra_Year_Concurrence.pdf.................1
Document Accession #: 20240703-5093 Filed Date: 07/03/2024