On April 28th, 2003 American Whitewater signed a Settlement Agreement for the new for El Dorado Irrigation District’s (EID) Project 184 hydroelectric project located on the South Fork of the American River, and its tributaries. For two years, stakeholders representing a broad array of interests, EID, and federal and state resources agencies labored through countless meetings, technical studies, and heated negotiations.
Project 184 is a 21-megawatt hydroelectric and water supply project spread across the South Fork American River, tributaries to the South Fork, and several high mountain lakes, including Lake Aloha, Caples Lake, and Silver Lake. “By working collaboratively to understand EID’s goals as well as fish, wildlife and recreation needs in these waters, the stakeholders produced a durable and comprehensive settlement agreement that we anticipate will meet the needs of both EID and the ecological resources,” said Kelly Catlett of Friends of the River. For example, the agreement provides for: (1) instream flow regimes to mimic natural river processes and create healthy fish and amphibian species habitat and populations; (2) fish screens to prevent entrainment of trout; (3) enhancement of recreational opportunities including real-time flow information; and, (4) a long-term monitoring and adaptive management approach to Project operations.