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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.06.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued in FERC P-803-129From:Clerk of the Board To:BOS Cc:Loeser, Kamie; Cannon, Jamie Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued in FERC P-803-129 Date:Wednesday, May 6, 2026 8:13:35 AM Please see Board Correspondence - Lewis Lee Administrative Technician - Confidential Butte County Administration 25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965 T: 530.552.3326 www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 6:37 AM Subject: Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued in FERC P-803-129 .ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. On 5/6/2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C., issued this document: Docket(s): P-803-129 Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Filing Type: Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Description: Environmental Assessment for Temporary Flow Variance for the DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project under P-803. 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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR TEMPORARY FLOW VARIANCE DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project—FERC Project No. 803-129 California Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Energy Projects Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance 888 First Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20426 May 2026 EAXX-019-20-000-1773149143 Commission Staff Page Limit and Deadline Certifications I certify that Commission staff has considered the factors mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and that this environmental document represents a good-faith effort to disclose the most important considerations required by NEPA within the statutory page limit (42 U.S.C. § 4336a(e)) and the statutory deadline (42 U.S.C. § 4336a(g)). This certification reflects staff’s expert judgment that the analysis contained within this environmental document is an accurate representation of the potential environmental effects of the proposed action and the analysis is substantially complete. In staff’s judgment, any considerations addressed briefly or left unaddressed would not meaningfully inform the assessment of environmental effects. CarLisa Linton Director Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance 1.0 INTRODUCTION A. Application: Temporary variance from instream flows required by Article 39 of the project license. B. Project Number: P-803-129 C. Date Filed: February 6, 2026, and supplemented on March 31, 2026 D. Applicant: Pacific Gas & Electric Company E. Project Name: DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project F. Waterbodies: Butte Creek, West Branch Feather River, and their tributaries G. Nearest City or Town: Paradise H. County and State: Butte County, California I. Federal Lands: Lassen National Forest 2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION On February 6, 2026, and supplemented March 31, 2026, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (licensee) filed an application for a temporary variance from its minimum instream flow requirements pursuant to Article 39 of its project license.1 The licensee proposes to temporarily modify the instantaneous minimum flow requirement in the West Branch Feather River, below Hendricks Head Dam, of 15 cubic feet per second (cfs) in a normal water year and 7 cfs in a dry water year, to 7 cfs over 48 hours regardless of water year type. In Philbrook Creek, below Philbrook Reservoir, it requests that the instantaneous minimum flow requirement of 2 cfs in both normal and dry water years be temporarily modified to between 1 and 2 cfs over 48 hours. The modifications would begin on May 4, 2026, and continue through September 30, 2026.2 1 Order Issuing License (Major) (11 FERC ¶ 62,207), issued June 12, 1980. 2 In its application, the licensee stated that it would potentially need the variance for Philbrook Creek to start as early as April 1, 2026, should water storage in Philbrook Reservoir be less than 2,116 acre-feet by then and the resource agencies concur with an earlier start date. On April 23, 2026, the licensee emailed Commission staff with an update, noting that water storage in Philbrook Reservoir was sufficient and that a variance prior to May 4, 2026, was unnecessary. - 2 - This Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared to satisfy the Commission’s responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)3 and the Commission’s implementing regulations under 18 C.F.R. Part 380. Unless otherwise stated, our analyses herein are based on the licensee’s filings and supplemental environmental review. Project Description and License Requirements The DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project is divided into three developments: Toadtown, DeSabla, and Centerville (Figure 1). The Toadtown Development diverts water from the West Branch Feather River to the Butte Creek basin. The DeSabla Development diverts water from upper Butte Creek and also uses the outflow of the Toadtown Development. The Centerville Development diverts the flow of Butte Creek downstream of the DeSabla Development. The project is located near the Town of Paradise, in Butte County, California, and occupies federal land within the Lassen National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) and U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The proposed variance would take place within the Toadtown and DeSabla Developments. The Toadtown Development consists of the following constructed facilities: (1) Round Valley Reservoir; (2) Round Valley Dam, overflow spillway and outlet pipe; (3) Philbrook Reservoir; (4) Philbrook Dam (located on Philbrook Creek); (5) Philbrook Auxiliary Dam; (6) Hendricks Head Dam; (7) Hendricks Canal; (8) feeder diversions from 4 creeks into Hendricks/Toadtown Canal; and (9) Toadtown Powerhouse, with an operating capacity of 1.5 megawatts (MW). The DeSabla Development consists of the following constructed facilities: (1) Toadtown Canal; (2) Butte Creek Diversion Dam; (3) Butte Canal; (4) a 0.7-mile-long canal that combines Butte Canal with Toadtown Canal; (5) feeder diversions from four creeks that flow into Butte Canal (one is not in use); (6) DeSabla Dam; (7) DeSabla Forebay, a 15-acre reservoir with a gross storage capacity of 163 acre-feet; and (8) DeSabla Powerhouse, with an operating capacity of 18.5 MW. License Article 39 4 requires the licensee to maintain minimum streamflows at various project locations. In part, and as relevant to the licensee’s variance request, the licensee is required to maintain year-round instantaneous minimum flows of: (1) 7 cfs in dry water years, or 15 cfs in normal water years, in the West Branch Feather River below Hendricks Head Dam; and (2) 2 cfs in Philbrook Creek from Philbrook Reservoir during all water year types.5 Article 39(e) 3 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321 et seq..; see also 18 C.F.R. pt. 380 (2025) (Commission’s regulations implementing NEPA). 4 Order Amending Revised Exhibit S (26 FERC ¶ 62,236), issued March 15, 1984. 5 The compliance gages for Hendricks Head Dam and Philbrook Dam are BW-40 and BW-3, respectively. - 3 - allows the licensee to modify flows for short periods of time upon agreement between it and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (California DFW). Flow releases from Round Valley and Philbrook Reservoirs are subject to water temperature restrictions pursuant to ordering paragraph (D) of Commission staff’s August 21, 1997 Order,6 which in part, states that water temperatures must not exceed 17° Celsius (°C) and 18°C, respectively, if the discharge from the reservoir exceeds that of the minimum flow requirement.7 The temperature requirements were further revised by order dated August 28, 1998 (August 28, 1998 Order), to allow the licensee and resource agencies to modify these requirements if necessary following consultation.8 The intent of the water temperature restrictions is to provide cold water to DeSabla Forebay via Hendricks Canal and ultimately, Butte Creek downstream of DeSabla Tailrace, where known populations of the federally-listed Central Valley (CV) spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and California Central Valley (CCV) steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) occur. This temperature threshold considers the known temperature increases that occur as water flows from the reservoirs to DeSabla Forebay and the life history needs of the salmonids that inhabit Butte Creek downstream of DeSabla Tailrace. Related to the August 28, 1998, Order, the licensee develops an annual Operation and Maintenance Plan (O&M Plan) in consultation with the resource agencies 9 to determine whether the water temperature restrictions memorialized in the August 21, 1997, Order require modification for the respective year based on the water year type. The development of the O&M Plan requires collaboration between the licensee and resource agencies to manage flows from the project reservoirs to support holding, spawning, and rearing of CV spring-run Chinook in the reaches of Butte Creek below DeSabla Powerhouse and identifies the procedures and practices the licensee will implement to achieve this goal. 6 Order Approving Water Temperature Study Report (80 FERC ¶ 62,171). 7 Per the August 21, 1997, Order, if water temperatures leaving Philbrook Reservoir exceed 18°C, the licensee must limit its discharge from the reservoir to the minimum flow requirement. Thus, the licensee may only pass more water downstream from Philbrook Reservoir than the minimum flow requirement if it is 18°C or less. 8 Order Amending Temperature Requirements (84 FERC ¶ 62,165). 9 The resource agencies include the California DFW, Forest Service, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). - 4 - Figure 1. Schematic of DeSabla-Centerville Project (Source: Pacific Gas & Electric Company) - 5 - 3.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES A. Proposed Action The licensee proposes to temporarily modify the instantaneous minimum flow requirement in the West Branch Feather River, below Hendrick Head Dam, of 15 cfs in a normal water year and 7 cfs in a dry water year, to 7 cfs over 48 hours, regardless of water year type, once designated by the California Department of Water Resources (California DWR).10 In Philbrook Creek, below Philbrook Reservoir, it requests that the instantaneous minimum flow requirement of 2 cfs in both normal and dry water years be temporarily modified to between 1 and 2 cfs over 48 hours. The proposed variance would increase flow to Butte Creek via Hendricks Canal (thus eliminating the need to release additional buffer flows), and decrease water residence time in DeSabla Forebay, thus providing additional water to the lower reaches of Butte Creek during the hot summer months to minimize high temperature effects to CV spring- run Chinook salmon 11 and other fish in Butte Creek. Additionally, the licensee explains that the proposed variance would preserve cold water storage in Philbrook Reservoir, which currently has a reservoir restriction in place due to seismic stability concerns that limits the maximum water surface elevation of 5,552.5 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929 to 5,542.7 feet NGVD. The licensee states that because of the water storage limitation in Philbrook Reservoir, its request for the variance is regardless of water year type. During the proposed variance, the licensee would implement the following conservation measures: hold weekly meetings with the resource agencies; make operational adjustments, including flow changes, as requested by the resource agencies; monitor and provide weekly flow changes to the resource agencies; and notify the resource agencies of any event that significantly inhibits or impairs flow release structures. The licensee requests to implement the variance from May 4, 2026, until September 30, 2026. The variance start date is designed to coincide with the conclusion of the annual maintenance outage for the DeSabla Powerhouse. B. No-Action Alternative The no-action alternative is the baseline from which the proposed action and any action alternatives are compared. Under the no-action alternative, the Commission would not approve the requested temporary variance, and the licensee would continue providing releases into the 10 At the time of the licensee’s application, the water year type applicable to the project area during the variance period was unknown; however, as indicated, the licensee’s request is irrespective of the water year type. California DWR will define the water year type in its Bulletin 120 on May 8, 2026. 11 Spring-run Chinook typically are impeded in their migration in the vicinity of the quartz pool, located approximately one mile downstream (south) of the Lower Centerville Diversion Dam, while the upstream extent of steelhead migration is the Lower Centerville Diversion Dam itself. - 6 - West Branch Feather River and Philbrook Creek according to license requirements through the requested period. Thus, the licensee would not be authorized to reallocate flows in order to increase flow to Butte Creek or reduce water residence time in DeSabla Forebay, and the cold water storage in Philbrook Reservoir would be used faster than under the proposed variance. 4.0 CONSULTATION Pre-filing Consultation The licensee proposed, and was approved for, similar temporary variance requests in recent years, with the most recent request approved in 2025.12 The licensee sent the 2026 variance request to resource agencies on December 30, 2025, for review via email. California DFW, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) concurred with the licensee’s request on January 27, 28, and February 5, 2026, respectively, and offered to provide technical assistance during the aforementioned weekly meetings during the variance period. In addition to concurring with the request, the agencies stressed the importance of the variance in providing conducive conditions to CV spring-run chinook salmon (with ancillary benefits to CCV steelhead). Public Notice and Comments The Commission issued a public notice on the variance application on February 26, 2026, with protests, comments, and motions to intervene due by March 30, 2026. On March 11, 2026, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed comments in support of the variance. On March 20, and 23, 2026, California State Water Resources Control Board and California DFW filed motions to intervene to the proceeding, respectively, followed by Department of Interior on March 26, 2026. Notice of Intent On April 6, 2026, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent that informed the public that Commission staff intends to issue an EA by May 29, 2026. 12 Order Approving Temporary Variance of Minimum Flow Requirements Under Article 39 (192 FERC ¶ 62,050), issued July 29, 2025. The order temporarily reduced flow requirements under Article 39 from July 29, 2025, until September 30, 2025. - 7 - 5.0 STATUTORY AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE A. Endangered Species Act and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA)13 requires federal agencies to ensure that their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of federally listed threatened or endangered species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat of such species. According to the FWS’s Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) page, the following species have the potential to occur in the action area: the endangered gray wolf (Canis lupus); the threatened North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus); the experimental population of California condor (Gymnogyps californianus); the proposed threatened California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis); the proposed threatened northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata); the threatened California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii); the threatened foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii); the endangered Sierra Nevada yellow- legged frog (Rana sierrae); and the proposed threatened monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Further, IPaC identified proposed critical habitat for the foothill yellow-legged frog within the action area. Commission staff designated the licensee as its non-federal representative for conducting informal consultation with the FWS under Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA on February 26, 2026. The licensee consulted with the FWS regarding potential effects to the abovementioned species and in its March 4, 2026, Biological Assessment (BA), determined that the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, foothill yellow-legged frog and its critical habitat. Commission staff reviewed the BA and reached the same conclusion. By letter dated March 25, 2026,14 the FWS concurred with this determination, concluding the consultation process. The FWS declined to conference on northwestern pond turtle, citing staffing limitations and ongoing work with the species, a decision stated via email to the licensee on April 9, 2026.15 The proposed action would not affect the remaining species, and described in Section 6.0 B below. The action area also is located within the range of threatened CV spring-run Chinook salmon and threatened CCV steelhead and their critical habitat. Commission staff determined that the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, CV spring-run Chinook salmon and CCV steelhead and their critical habitats. Further, the project watershed also contains Pacific Coast Salmon essential fish habitat (EFH) for Chinook salmon, as designated under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Because the requested variance is designed to temporarily improve the water quality component of EFH, Commission 13 16 U.S.C. § 1536(a). 14 Filed with the Commission on March 26, 2026. 15 Documentation of the emails between the licensee and FWS regarding northwestern pond turtle was filed with the Commission on April 22, 2026. - 8 - staff concludes that the proposed action would not adversely affect Pacific Coast Salmon EFH. By letter dated March 23, 2026, Commission staff requested concurrence from NMFS on these determinations, which the NMFS provided by letter dated March 30, 2026.16 The analyses supporting these determinations, along with that for foothill yellow-legged frog and northwestern pond turtle, is summarized in Section 6.0 B, Effects of the Proposed Action. 6.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS A. General Description The project is located in northern California on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and utilizes the flows of two drainage basins: Butte Creek to the west and the West Branch Feather River to the east. Water in the basins is supplied by fall and winter rain in the lower elevations, and spring and early summer snowmelt from the higher elevations. Snowmelt occurs in late spring and early summer months, typically producing the largest streamflows during spring. By late summer, the streamflows are usually at their lowest levels as snowmelt has subsided (FERC, 2008). Butte Creek originates in the Jonesville Basin in Lassen National Forest, at an elevation of 7,087 feet 17 and flows southwesterly to its confluence with the Sacramento River at Butte Slough and Sacramento Slough near the town of Colusa. The project drains 96,012 acres and 41.5 miles of Butte Creek. Butte Creek has no major lakes or reservoirs along its course (FERC, 2008). The project drains 70,003 acres and 39 miles of West Branch Feather River. The West Branch Feather River flows into Lake Oroville and then eventually, the Sacramento River. There are two reservoirs, Round Valley and Philbrook, located in the basin’s headwaters, which are used to store winter runoff. Flow releases from these two reservoirs are made to supplement summer flows in the West Branch Feather River and in Butte Creek via an interbasin transfer of water through project canals (FERC, 2008). The project’s annual O&M Plan coordinates project operations and continues to provide for water temperature monitoring and a forecasting approach to detect changing summer weather conditions in a timely manner. Annual O&M Plans address the following topics: reservoir operations, Lower Centerville Canal Operations, any proposed temporary variances, contingency for extreme heat during the CV spring-run Chinook salmon during the holding period, spawning flows in Butte Creek, and emergency and maintenance operations. The current O&M Plan 18 16 Filed with the Commission on April 6, 2026. 17 Elevations are U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey (USGS) datum. 18 The 2025 O&M Plan was approved by the resource agencies between May and June 2025, and filed with the Commission on June 18, 2025. As of the date of this EA, the 2026 - 9 - identifies a target flow of 60 cfs through DeSabla Forebay to help minimize heating by decreasing travel time through the forebay. Because Butte Creek Canal has been out of service since 2023, the only source of water to DeSabla Forebay is via Hendricks Canal. Fish communities within the action area vary based on drainage basin. In Philbrook Creek and the West Branch Feather River downstream of Philbrook Reservoir, fish assemblages consist of small rainbow, brown, and brook trout, as well as Sacramento sucker, and other cyprinids. The lower reach of Butte Creek downstream of DeSabla Tailrace is characterized by an assemblage of pikeminnow, hardhead, suckers, and the largest self-sustaining population of CV spring-run Chinook salmon in California, as well as a population of CCV steelhead. Lower Butte Creek also contains critical habitat for CV spring-run Chinook salmon and CCV steelhead. In DeSabla Forebay, the California DFW maintains a put-and-take fishery with biweekly plants of catchable rainbow trout during the spring and summer months. The forebay maintains a population of brown trout (FERC, 2008). Foothill yellow-legged frogs are known to occur within the action area and have been observed in Butte Creek and portions of the West Branch Feather River below Hendricks Head Dam that would be affected by the proposed action. All life stages (egg masses, tadpoles, juveniles and adults) of foothill yellow-legged frog have been observed in Butte Creek and West Branch Feather River. Observation data is collected from the California Natural Diversity Database, DeSabla-Centerville relicensing study reports from studies performed in 2006, and ongoing studies performed in 2023, 2024, and 2025 associated with the Butte Canal breach. Additionally, the project falls within proposed critical habitat for the frog: Unit NF–1: North Feather Distinct Population Segment— North Fork Feather River and Butte Creek, Butte and Plumas Counties, California. The licensee has documented incidental observations of northwestern pond turtle in Butte Creek collected during foothill yellow-legged frog surveys performed in both Butte Creek and West Branch Feather River in 2025. While there is suitable habitat for the turtle in the project area, there is none within the proposed action area. B. Effects of the Proposed Action The licensee is proposing a temporary variance of its minimum flow requirements so that it can reallocate water supply in the upper watershed with the broader objective of preserving water supply and decreasing water temperatures in the lower watershed, where CV spring-run Chinook salmon are holding. Commission staff analyzed the proposed temporary variance and finds it would have no effect on the following resources: geology and soils, terrestrial resources (vegetation and wildlife), land use, air quality, recreational or cultural resources due to its limited geographical and temporal scope. The proposal has the potential to result in minor, short-term O&M Plan had not been filed; therefore, the 2025 O&M Plan applies until replaced by the 2026 O&M Plan. - 10 - effects to water quantity, water quality, federally-listed species, and aquatic resources as discussed below. The proposed action at Philbrook Reservoir would result in a temporary reduction of the minimum instream flow in Philbrook Creek that is between 1 to 2 cfs averaged over 48 hours, thus representing a maximum reduction of 50% from the 2 cfs flow requirement. The proposed variance at Hendricks Head Dam would temporarily decrease the minimum instream flow in the West Branch Feather River to 7 cfs, averaged over 48 hours, representing a 53 percent reduction from the required 15 cfs for a normal water year type, and near-zero percent reduction in a dry water year type. Together, the modified flow requirements for these locations would prolong cold-water releases from Philbrook Reservoir and increase flows to Butte Creek, where the CV spring-run Chinook salmon hold during the summer. The proposed action would also help minimize the effects of seasonal high summer air temperatures and decrease the likelihood of disease outbreak or reduce the severity of such an outbreak, should one occur. Under the variance, Butte Creek would receive additional flows that would otherwise go to the West Branch Feather River. Finally, the proposed action would also reduce potential heating that may occur in DeSabla Forebay during summer heat storms and contribute flows to help meet the 60 cfs target flow through DeSabla Forebay cited in the current O&M Plan. Commission staff finds that the proposed action would have minor adverse effects on water quantity in Philbrook Creek below Philbrook Reservoir and in the West Branch Feather River below Hendricks Head Dam. It is worth noting that the proposed action would replicate that which was implemented at Philbrook Reservoir and Hendricks Head Dam during previous variances, and the agencies concur that the flow reductions would continue to provide adequate flow and reduced water temperatures in Philbrook Creek and its nominal fishery. In the event that the project’s water year type is “dry”, flows from Hendricks Head Dam under the proposed action would be nearly identical to the flow required during a dry water year type, with the caveat that the 7 cfs flow requirement would be met over a 48-hour average, rather than instantaneously. In conclusion, Commission staff finds that the proposed action, particularly during a normal water year, would have temporary minor adverse effects on water quantity in Philbrook Creek below Philbrook Reservoir and in the West Branch Feather River below Hendricks Head Dam, resulting in conditions the project area experiences during dry water years. Commission staff concludes that the proposed action would result in short-term benefits to water quality due to a reduction in water temperatures in DeSabla Forebay, and ultimately, Butte Creek (when compared to water temperatures without the variance in place). The timing of the proposed action mimics the holding period for CV spring-run Chinook salmon; thus, the cold temperatures are expected to reduce the potential stress and mortality risk faced by holding adults. Commission staff also expects the proposed action would provide similar benefits to listed CCV steelhead, which also rear in Butte Creek below Lower Centerville Diversion Dam, through reduced water temperatures compared to no-action status quo operations. Therefore, Commission staff finds that the proposed action is likely to affect, but not adversely affect, CV spring-run Chinook salmon, CCV steelhead, or their designated critical habitats. - 11 - The proposed action is not expected to affect gray wolf, North American wolverine, North American wolverine, California condor, California spotted owl, California red-legged frog, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, or monarch butterfly because it does not include any ground-disturbing activities or suitable habitat for the species is absent. Regarding potential effects to foothill yellow-legged frog, the proposed action would result in flows similar to that required during a dry water year type, in which these species have persisted. During the variance period (about 4 months), tributaries to the West Branch Feather River would continue contributing flows to the river, thus the reach of the river affected by the proposed action would still be receiving flow to support all life stages of foothill yellow-legged frog. Regarding the effect of additional flow proposed for Butte Creek on foothill yellow- legged frog, it is unlikely to have substantial effect on this species, as it is a relatively small contribution compared to the natural flow that would be occurring in Butte Creek that time of year. The flow changes that would occur would not be significant enough to impact breeding habitats (i.e., would not scour egg masses or nesting sites). Given this, and the conservation measures proposed by the licensee, Commission staff concludes that the proposed action may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, foothill yellow-legged frog or its proposed critical habitat. Though FWS is not conferencing on northwestern pond turtle at this time, it is worth noting that the conservation measures proposed by the licensee should benefit that species as well during the proposed variance period. C. Effects of the No-Action Alternative Under the no-action alternative, the temporary variance request would not be approved, and the project would continue to operate under the requirements of its license. In DeSabla Forebay, water temperatures would be higher if flows are not allocated as proposed. Also, flow quantity through the forebay would be less than under the proposed variance, potentially resulting in not meeting the target 60 cfs flow as identified in the current O&M Plan. CV spring-run Chinook salmon would hold over the summer, until they spawn late summer to early fall, when ambient air temperatures and solar radiation are at their peak. The majority of the adult CV spring-run Chinook salmon population of Butte Creek would hold in the four miles of habitat below Lower Centerville Powerhouse due to water temperature limitations. This would concentrate individuals into a small number of available holding pools and increase the likelihood of disease/parasitic outbreaks. Under the no-action alternative, elevated water temperatures would serve to exacerbate disease/parasite replication and transmission while simultaneously causing fish to be more susceptible to dying from disease/parasitism due to lower oxygen content and heat stress associated with higher water temperatures. Therefore, the no-action alternative is not preferred. 7.0 SCOPE OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ANALYSIS A cumulative effect is the impact on the environment that results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (federal or non-federal) or person undertakes such other actions. Cumulative effects can result from individually minor, but collectively significant, actions taking - 12 - place over a period of time, including hydropower and other land and water development activities. Based on our review of the proposed variance and the project record, we did not identify any resource that could be cumulatively affected by the temporary variance. Further, no comments on cumulative effects were received in response to the Commission’s notice of the application. Therefore, no further cumulative effects analysis is included in this EA. 8.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Approval of the proposed temporary variance would last until September 30, 2026, and would not result in any long-term or significant adverse environmental effects, as discussed above. Similar variance requests have been approved by the Commission at various points during the life of the project license, with the most recent being in 2025. In those cases, no adverse environmental effects were reported during the variance period. Article 39 of the project license, as well as the Commission’s August 21, 1997, and August 28, 1998, orders recognize the importance of re-allocating water to the DeSabla Forebay for the benefit of CV spring-run Chinook salmon in Butte Creek, and previous variance requests have been approved in part, on this merit. These flows are critical to various life stages of CV spring-run Chinook salmon, but would also benefit CCV steelhead, and their critical habitats. Approving the variance for 2026 would allow these efforts to continue, ultimately benefitting federally-protected fish species and their critical habitats, while imposing dry water year flow conditions in the West Branch Feather River. Given the lack of significant effects that would result from the proposed action, Commission staff recommends approval of the temporary variance for the protection of these species. In order to minimize repetitive requests for a temporary variance, Commission staff recommends that PG&E consider filing an application to amend license Article 39 of the project license, pursuant to 18 CFR 4.200. The amendment application should detail any anticipated environmental effects of the proposed amendment and should provide documentation of consultation with the relevant federal and state resource agencies and Tribes, and PG&E’s response to any comments received. The amendment application would have to be approved by the Commission prior to implementation. 9.0 FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Commission staff finds that the proposed variance through September 30, 2026, to temporarily reduce the minimum flow requirements in the West Branch Feather River below Hendricks Head Dam and in Philbrook Creek below Philbrook Reservoir would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. - 13 - 10.0 LITERATURE CITED Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 2008. Environmental Assessment for Minor-Part Hydropower License: DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project—FERC Project No. 803- 087, issued December 29, 2008. 11.0 LIST OF PREPARERS Joy Kurtz, Aquatic Ecologist (M.S. Environmental Science and Policy (Aquatic Ecology Emphasis); B.S. Biology; B.S. Marine Science)