Hydropower License Implementation
American Whitewater remains engaged during the implementation of a new hydropower license to insure elements that protect our river habitat, provide access and recreational flows are fully executed within the spirit of what was originally negotiated, Take, for example, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s (SMUD) Upper American River Project. This is the project that feeds flows into Pacific Gas & Electric’s Chili Bar Reservoir, which in turn provides flows for the South Fork American River below Chili Bar. It is also the project that provides recreational flow for the South Fork American River below Slab Creek and at South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House Reservoir.
American Whitewater along with a handful of key individuals from the original settlement like Jim Eicher, BLM Mother Lode Associate Field Manager, help SMUD implement this hydropower license during monthly consultation meetings held at their Fresh Pond Headquarters. Some of the recreational boating interests we have moved forward during implementation include:
- A Whitewater Boating Monitoring Plan that will provide key information for South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House Reservoir and South Fork American River below Slab Creek. This information will be used to develop boating triggers that will determine when recreational flows on these reaches can be increased.
- Streamflow and reservoir level information in a format that can be used by Dreamflows.com and the American Whitewater National River Database. Specifically, hourly information provided to the Department of Water Resources California Data Exchange Center (CDEC). While SMUD is voluntarily providing this information, we continue to push for the inclusion of this method in the Streamflow and Reservoir Level Information Plan locking in CDEC or equivalent information for the lifetime of the 50 year license. See the NGO comments we addressed to FERC here.
- Relocation of hazardous large woody debris on South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House Reservoir. Reconnaissance information from fellow AW members Jeff Wasieleski and Bill Tuthill along with a video of each hazard was shared at a meeting with key decision makers like USFS and California Fish & Wildlife. Shortly, thereafter, the California Conservation Corp was issued a contract and proper permits to clear six locations resulting in fewer mandatory portage sites.
- A take-out facility for the South Fork American River below Slab Creek. Shortly, after the new license was issued in 2014 it was discovered that permanent take out at the White Rock Powerhouse as planned in the settlement agreement was no longer tenable. American Whitewater has been advocating for an interim take-out site at Rock Creek and a permanent solution in the same vicinity.
2016 Recreational Releases
Of course the most important reason for American Whitewater to engage in the implementation process is the annual scheduling of the required whitewater recreational flows. The nuance here is to champion dates that work within other boating opportunities and are less likely to cross thresholds that will modify or suspend the flow. Below is the information for the 2016 recreational opportunities for South Fork Silver Creek Below Ice House and South Fork American River Below Slab Creek:
South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House Reservoir Cls IV
Pulse Flows
24 Hour Period
450 cfs – May 18 & 19
550 cfs – May 20
Recreational Flows
24 Hour Period
450 cfs – May 21 & 22
10 am – 3 pm
500 cfs – June 25 & 26
Note that the May recreational flows will coincide with the last day of required Pulse Flows. Thus flow will run 50 cfs more than required for those days and for a 24 hour period.
The above schedule is based on the current Below Normal water year as reported in the February Bulletin 120 report. If this water year type changes to Above Normal or Wet additional dates will be posted
South Fork American River below Slab Creek Cls IV-V
10 am – 4 pm
1100 cfs
April 23 & 24
April 30 & May 1
May 14 & May 15
THERE ARE CRITERION THAT WILL MODIFY OR SUSPEND RECREATIONAL FLOWS AT SLAB CREEK:
- If the Licensee determines expected inflows from SFA River into Slab Creek Reservoir are not controllable to 1500cfs, flows can be suspended and only made up within the recreational flow time frame that ends on May 31.
- If water temperatures rise above 12 degrees Celsius mean daily temperature for a seven-day running average, flows can be cancelled to protect FYL Frogs and other biological resources. In Critically Dry 2015 this threshold was crossed on March 31st with a minimum instream flow of 63 cfs. But in a Below Normal water year the minimum instream flows are almost triple that amount at 180 cfs and the consultation group has made an educated guess (and roll of the dice) that the temperature threshold will not be crossed.
As these recreational dates approach American Whitewater will get the word out on Slab Creek take-out arrangements, shuttle service and monitoring sites. Mark your calendars!