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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.08.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Government Agency Submittal submitted in FERC P-619-000 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:Cannon, Jamie; Loeser, Kamie Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Government Agency Submittal submitted in FERC P-619-000 by State Water Resources Control Board (CA) Date:Wednesday, April 8, 2026 10:43:37 AM Please see Board Correspondence - -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 10:26 AM Subject: Government Agency Submittal submitted in FERC P-619-000 by State Water Resources Control Board (CA) .ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. On 4/8/2026, 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-619-000 Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Filing Type: Government Agency Submittal Description: California State Water Resources Control Board submits response to three requests for approval received from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company re The Clean Water Act of the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project under P-619. 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State Water Resources Control Board April 8, 2026 Ms. Jamie Visinoni Hydro License Coordinator Pacific Gas and Electricity Company Sent via Email: jnvs@pge.com Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 619 Plumas County Bucks Creek, Grizzly Creek, Milk Ranch Creek, Tributaries to Milk Ranch Creek, and Three Lakes Reservoir APPROVAL OF TIME EXTENSIONS AND TEMPORARY CHANGES TO FLOW COMPLIANCE MONITORING Dear Ms. Visinoni: This letter responds to three requests for approval received from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) associated with the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project (Project) Clean Water Act (CWA) section 401 water quality certification (certification).1 Specifically, PG&E requests that the Deputy Director of the Division of Water Rights (Deputy Director) approve: • A time extension from October 31, 2025, to October 31, 2026 to complete work described in the Gravel Augmentation Plan (Gravel Plan)2 (request received on July 21, 2025); • A time extension from November 15, 2025, until November 15, 2026, to complete the Lower Bucks Dam Spillway Rehabilitation Project (Spillway Project) as described in the Spillway Project Water Management Plan (request received on October 29, 2025); and • Continued use of the temporary compliance gage (NF118) for Project-required minimum instream flows (MIFs) during the Spillway Project (requested on October 29, 2025). NF118 will be used in lieu of the low-level outlet (LLO) compliance gage (NF82). Information related to each of these requests is described further below. 1 The State Water Resources Control Board’s Executive Director issued the Project certification on October 22, 2020, and on June 16, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a new license that included the certification conditions. 2 The Gravel Plan was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by PG&E and the City of Santa Clara on September 20, 2019. Document Accession #: 20260408-5124 Filed Date: 04/08/2026 Jamie Visinoni - 2 - April 8, 2026 Gravel Augmentation Implementation of the Gravel Plan is required by Condition 14 of the Project’s certification. The Gravel Plan’s goal is to improve trout populations by enhancing spawning habitat in Bucks Creek and Grizzly Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Dam and Grizzly Dam. Gravel augmentation is required at two locations: (1) Bucks Creek, about 0.3 miles downstream of Lower Bucks Dam Spillway; and (2) Grizzly Creek, about 400 feet downstream of the Grizzly Creek gaging weir. On October 20, 2023, PG&E requested an extension of time to complete the topographic mapping of the two gravel placement locations identified in the Gravel Plan. The time extension was needed to consult with helicopter pilots regarding gravel placement and to assess the two locations following high flows in the 2023-2024 Winter. On November 30, 2023, the State Water Board granted PG&E’s extension request to complete the topographic mapping by August 1, 2024. PG&E submitted the topographic maps to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) for review on July 30, 2024. On November 12, 2024, PG&E requested a time extension from License Year 2 (2024) to License Year 3 (2025) to complete the License Year 2 gravel augmentation event (i.e., placement of gravel at the two locations identified above). The extension of time was necessary for PG&E to obtain the required permits from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) pursuant to section 404 of the CWA. Though the Gravel Plan and its implementation are required by the Project’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license, gravel placement constitutes a dredge or fill activity and also requires a section 404 permit from USACE. The State Water Board conditionally approved PG&E’s request to push the 2024 gravel augmentation to 2025 with the condition that PG&E complete a new topographic survey prior to gravel augmentation if the Department of Water Resources May Bulletin 120 classified the 2024-2025 Winter season as a Wet Water Year (as defined in Condition 7: Water Year Types of the Project certification). Following the State Water Board’s approved time extension to 2025, the water year was classified as Wet but no additional topographic survey was completed in 2025 because PG&E had not yet obtained the permits for the work (i.e., section 404 permit from USACE/401 certification from State Water Board) and the purpose of the survey is to assess site conditions immediately prior to gravel placement. Due to the need for the USACE 404 permit/401 certification, on July 21, 2025, PG&E submitted a revised request to extend the timeline for gravel augmentation work from License Year 2 (originally scheduled for 2024) to 2026. On August 29, 2025, PG&E applied to the USACE for a 404 permit for gravel placement. On September 9, 2025, PG&E applied to the State Water Board for certification for the USACE gravel placement permit. Document Accession #: 20260408-5124 Filed Date: 04/08/2026 Jamie Visinoni - 3 - April 8, 2026 Spillway Project Dewatering and Diversion and Flow Monitoring PG&E is requesting approval of two items related to the Spillway Project: (1) updates to the Water Management Plan; and (2) continued use of gage NF118 (rather than NF82) for compliance with Project-required MIFs during Spillway Project activities. Water Management Plan. Certification Condition 23: Dewatering and Diversion requires PG&E to submit a Dewatering and Diversion Plan to the Deputy Director prior to commencing any work that requires a water diversion or in-water work below the maximum water surface elevation. On August 22, 2023, the Deputy Director approved the initial Spillway Project Water Management Plan for the first year of spillway repair work, which was conducted in 2023. On December 21, 2023, PG&E submitted an updated Water Management Plan3 to the Deputy Director for the remaining construction seasons (2024 and 2025), which was approved on March 27, 2024. On October 29, 2025, PG&E requested an extension of time to finish the remaining spillway activities, shifting completion of the Spillway Project from 2025 to 2026. Minimum Instream Flow Monitoring. No changes to Project MIFs are proposed as part of the Spillway Project, but PG&E requests to move the MIF compliance point (as established in Condition 1: Minimum Instream Flow) from the LLO (NF82) to the compliance point closest to the Spillway Project work area, approximately 150 feet downstream of Lower Bucks Dam (NF118), for the duration of the Spillway Project. Under normal operations, flow discharges through the LLO at the base of Lower Bucks Lake dam and collects in a plunge pool located at the base of the existing spillway before continuing downstream. The Spillway Project requires the installation of a temporary bypass and dewatering of the plunge pool to provide additional construction access and ensure a dry work area at the base of the spillway during construction. PG&E requests the change to the MIF compliance location because the temporary bypass water system installed at the LLO changes the MIF release location from the LLO (NF 82) to approximately 150 feet downstream of Lower Bucks Dam (NF 118). The Deputy Director previously approved PG&E’s request to temporarily modify its MIF compliance point from NF82 to NF118 in August 2023 and March 2024. PG&E initially planned on completing the Spillway Project work in 2025 but was unable to complete the planned spillway improvements prior to the end of 2025. PG&E intends to complete the Spillway Project during the 2026 construction season. PG&E states in its request that the 2026 construction schedule is expected to follow the same schedule as the previously approved construction seasons (2023-2025), with the initial dewatering of the plunge pool taking place in May or June and completion of the Spillway Project by November 15, 2026. 3 The updated Water Management Plan included descriptions of how PG&E will relocate fish during dewatering of the plunge pool and how it will stabilize the Spillway Project area after completion of construction. Document Accession #: 20260408-5124 Filed Date: 04/08/2026 Jamie Visinoni - 4 - April 8, 2026 Gravel Augmentation Plan Implementation: PG&E’s request for an extension of time to complete gravel augmentation for the Project by October 31, 2026, is hereby approved. As stated in an email from PG&E received on March 27, 2026, PG&E shall complete a topographical survey this year prior to gravel placement. Spillway Project Water Management Plan and Temporary Modification to MIF Compliance Gage: PG&E’s request to extend completion of the Spillway Project into 2026 and to continue the temporary use of gage NF118 (rather than NF82) for MIF compliance at Lower Bucks Dam during the 2026 Spillway Project construction season is hereby conditionally approved as noted in this letter. This conditional approval is subject to the conditions and monitoring requirements included in the State Water Board’s previous March 27, 2024, conditional approval letter and as specified below: • Spillway Project Water Management Plan: This approval is for the work proposed for the 2026 construction season for the Spillway Project. Per PG&E’s October 29, 2025 email, the key activities planned for 2026 include completion of right wall repairs, installation of deflector panels and debris fencing, shotcrete application to critical surfaces, removal of bypass infrastructure, and targeted tree and slab remediation. Except as updated by PG&E in submittals to the State Water Board received prior to this approval, work shall be completed consistent with PG&E’s December 21, 2023, Water Management Plan and this approval. • Fish Rescue Report: If any fish become stranded during dewatering activities, PG&E shall relocate the fish to a suitable location downstream of the Spillway Project area. If fish relocation occurs, PG&E shall submit a Fish Relocation Report to the State Water Board, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Forest Service, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife within 30 days of concluding Spillway Project work for the 2026 construction season. The Fish Relocation Report shall include at a minimum: o Location and date of capture for each fish; o Fish species, life stage, fork length, and weight for each fish; o Location of relocation as depicted on a map that includes the Spillway Project area; o Total number of fish captured and relocated; and o The number of and related information above for any deceased fish. • Water Quality Monitoring: As proposed by PG&E in a July 13, 2023 email and the Spillway Project Water Management Plan approved in August 2023 and March 2024, during dewatering of the plunge pool PG&E shall monitor turbidity at: (1) the LLO temporary bypass release point; and (2) approximately 300 feet downstream of the LLO temporary bypass release point. The Deputy Director and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Executive Officer shall be notified promptly, and in no case more than 24 hours following an exceedance of the turbidity water quality objective in the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River Basin and the San Joaquin River Basin (SR/SJR Basin Plan). Regardless of when such notification occurs, activities associated with the SR/SJR Basin Plan exceedance shall cease immediately upon detection of the exceedance. Work activities may resume after any appropriate corrective actions have been implemented, water quality meets the applicable SR/SJR Document Accession #: 20260408-5124 Filed Date: 04/08/2026 Jamie Visinoni - 5 - April 8, 2026 Basin Plan water quality objective(s), and the Deputy Director has provided approval to proceed. Within 60 days of concluding Spillway Project work, PG&E shall submit a Water Quality Monitoring Report to the State Water Board’s Project Manager. The Water Quality Monitoring Report shall include at a minimum: o Turbidity levels measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units for all monitoring locations, as well as the applicable water quality objective from the SR/SJR Basin Plan; o If applicable, a description of best management practices implemented to ensure turbidity levels remained in compliance with SR/SJR Basin Plan water quality objectives; and o A summary of any exceedances and any corrective actions taken to address the exceedance(s). If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact Bryan Muro, Project Manager, by email to: Bryan.Muro@waterboards.ca.gov or by phone call to: (916) 327-8702. Written correspondence should be directed to: State Water Resources Control Board Division of Water Rights – Water Quality Certification Program Attn: Bryan Muro P.O. Box 2000 Sacramento, CA 95812-2000 Sincerely, Juliet Christian-Smith Deputy Director Division of Water Rights ec: Debbie Anne-Reese, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Via e-filing to FERC Project Docket Steve Hance, Division Manager City of Santa Clara SHance@SantaClaraca.gov Paulo Rocha, Assistant Director of Operations City of Santa Clara PRocha@SantaClaraCA.gov Valentina Guzman, Electric Division Manager, Compliance City of Santa Clara VGuzman@SantaClaraCA.gov Document Accession #: 20260408-5124 Filed Date: 04/08/2026 Jamie Visinoni - 6 - April 8, 2026 Tahsin Baccioglu, Sr. Division Manager, Generation City of Santa Clara TBaccioglu@SantaClaraCA.gov Leigh Bartoo, Fish and Wildlife Biologist United States Fish and Wildlife Service aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov Leslie Edlund, Public Service Staff Officer United States Department of Agriculture leslie.edlund@usda.gov Erika Brenzovich, Recreation Specialist United States Forest Service ebrenzovich@fs.fed.us Michael Maher, Senior Environmental Scientist California Department of Fish and Wildlife michael.maher@wildlife.ca.gov Amber Mouser, Environmental Scientist California Department of Fish and Wildlife Amber.Mouser@wildlife.ca.gov Jason Julienne, Senior Environmental Scientist California Department of Fish and Wildlife Jason.Julienne@wildlife.ca.gov Patrick Pulupa, Executive Officer Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Patrick.Pulupa@waterboards.ca.gov Larry Wise Jr., Senior Aquatic Biologist Pacific Gas and Electric Company LMWO@pge.com Jamie Visinoni, Hydro License Project Manager Pacific Gas and Electric Company JNVS@pge.com Megan Young, Senior License Coordinator Pacific Gas and Electric Company mry2@pge.com Document Accession #: 20260408-5124 Filed Date: 04/08/2026 Document Content(s) BucksCreek_GAPandSpillwayRehab_TimeExtension_ApprovalLetter signed jcs.pdf1 Document Accession #: 20260408-5124 Filed Date: 04/08/2026