Portal Hydroelectric Project
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 2174
Portal Forebay on
Camp 61 Creek
(Photo courtesy of State Water Board staff)
(click to enlarge)
Applicant: Southern California Edison (SCE)
County: Fresno
FERC License Expiration Date: March 31, 2005
Water Quality Certification Status: Final Issued - May 31, 2019
Water Body: Camp 61 Creek.
FERC Licensing Processes: Traditional Licensing Process (TLP)
Project Description
The Portal Hydroelectric Project (Portal Project) is one of seven FERC-licensed projects that are part of a hydroelectric system owned and operated by Southern California Edison (SCE), and referred to collectively as the Big Creek Hydroelectric System. The Portal Project is located on Camp 61 Creek in Fresno County, and occupies approximately 77 acres of national forest land administered by the United States Forest Service. Major Portal Project facilities include the Portal Dam and Forebay, the Portal Powerhouse, the Adit 2 Conduit; and approximately 2.5 miles of transmission line. The Adit 2 Conduit conveys water between the Portal Forebay and Ward Tunnel, the latter of which conveys water from the Portal Forebay, Lake Thomas A. Edison, and Florence Lake reservoirs to the Portal Powerhouse. The sole function of the Portal Forebay is to equilibrate the hydraulic head in the downstream portion of Ward Tunnel to facilitate power generation at Portal Powerhouse. The Portal Project has an authorized generation capacity of 10.8 megawatts (MW).
SCE proposes to continue operation of the Portal Project without major modification, but has collaborated with involved stakeholders and resource and regulatory agency staff throughout the relicensing process to develop a range of environmental protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures for the Portal Project. These measures are described in SCE’s license application and Big Creek Alternative Licensing Process (ALP) Hydroelectric Projects Settlement Agreement (Settlement Agreement). The Settlement Agreement establishes certain obligations for the protection, mitigation, and enhancement of environmental resources affected by the Portal Project when a new hydropower license is issued by FERC. SCE has requested that FERC and the State Water Board incorporate some provisions of the Settlement Agreement into the new Portal Project license and water quality certification.
Related Documents
Water Quality Certification and Draft California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Final Water Quality Certification for the Six Big Creek Hydroelectric Projects (FERC Project Nos. 67, 120, 2085, 2086, 2174, and 2175) – May 31, 2019
Final CEQA Supplement for the Six Big Creek Hydroelectric Projects (FERC Project Nos. 67, 120 2085, 2086, 2174, and 2175) – May 31, 2019
- Appendix A – Programs and Measures Implemented by SCE to Reduce Overall Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California
- Appendix B – Response to Comments
- Notice of Determination
- Draft Water Quality Certification for the Six Big Creek Hydroelectric Projects (FERC Project Nos. 67, 120, 2085, 2086, 2174, and 2175)
- Draft CEQA Supplement for the Six Big Creek Hydroelectric Projects (FERC Project Nos. 67, 120, 2085, 2086, 2174, and 2175)
- Notice of Completion
National Environmental Policy Act
- Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA)
- Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Portal Project (FERC Project No. 2174)
Big Creek ALP Hydroelectric Projects Settlement Agreement
