On November 10th, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) published their Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) For The Upper North Fork Feather River Project. This project is located in California on the North Fork of the Feather River just up stream of the Rock Creek and Cresta Reaches where whitewater releases have occurred over the last four years. The Belden Reach is a class III+ nine-mile run with ample access. American Whitewater worked to negotiate releases on this project in order to increase the amount of intermediate level boating in the region. The schedule that was negotiated with PG&E and the other stakeholders is for one day per month July through October with the ability to add a second day if we exceed use triggers of 100 boats. Unfortunately in this document FERC recommends delaying the implementation of this flow schedule for 6 years! We do not feel that there is any justification for this delay. AW will be filing comments with FERC on this FEIS; however, additional comments from boaters are needed to let them know about how this six-year delay will impact the boating community. We encourage members of the paddling community who have an interest in this project to review this document and file comments by December 15th.
AW will assist local paddlers and clubs who have an interest in filing their own individual comments. You can file your own comments on the FERC website or send them to dave@amwhitewater.org and we will file them for you. .
FERC Staff Analysis of Whitewater Recreation from the EA pages 3-125 to 3-128
Here are some things to include in your comments:
- Who you are?
- How long you have been boating etc?
- Explain to FERC how this resource is important to you
- How will the delaying of releases impact you?