Water Quality Certification Program Public Notices

Public Notices for Applications Received

Project Identification	Project Description	Notice Date
Lake Fordyce Dam Seepage Mitigation Project	Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) filed an application with the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) for a water quality certification amendment for the Lake Fordyce Dam Seepage Mitigation Project (Project). PG&E’s proposed Project modifications include: 1) construction of a new rockfill cofferdam; 2) development of quarry areas for source rock intended for the cofferdam embankment; and 3) updates to water treatment methods, containment and water quality monitoring plan.	11/29/2023
Ralston Afterbay Maintenance and Enhancement/Restoration Activities Project	On September 5, 2023, Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) submitted a request for a water quality certification for the Ralston Afterbay Maintenance and Enhancement/Restoration Activities Project (Project). The Project is required by sediment management and spawning habitat improvement plans included in PCWA’s 2020 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for the Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project. The Project consists of sediment removal (excavation and dredging), sediment augmentation, relocation and re-establishment of spawning gravel, and sediment pass through at Ralston Afterbay. Suitable dredged or excavated material will periodically be relocated to the augmentation and spawning habitat sites following mobilization. The Project aims to increase downstream movement of sediments and gravels, that are otherwise retained in Ralston Afterbay, as well as enhance aquatic and riparian habitats along the Middle Fork American River downstream of Ralston Afterbay near Foresthill, California.	10/02/2023
Poe Hydroelectric Project	On August 1, 2023, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submitted a water quality certification amendment application for the Poe Hydroelectric Project. PG&E proposes changes to Condition 1 of the water quality certification to allow temporary modifications to minimum instream flows to complete biological monitoring and dam safety maintenance or repairs.	8/16/2023
Camp Far West Transmission Line Project (FERC Project No. 10821) Relicensing	On July 12, 2023, Pacific Gas and Electric Company filed a water quality certification application for the Camp Far West Transmission Line Project (FERC Project No. 10821) Relicensing (Project). The Project consists of an approximately 10.9-mile-long transmission line and transmits hydroelectric energy from South Sutter Water District's Camp Far West Hydroelectric Project Powerhouse switchyard to a point of junction adjacent to the Beale Air Force Base metering station. The Project is located in Placer and Yuba counties and is approximately five miles northeast of Wheatland, California.	8/11/2023
Nelson Creek Hydroelectric Repair Project	The Nelson Creek Hydroelectric Project is owned and operated by Sierra Pacific Industries. The Project is required due to erosion underneath the toe of one of the Nelson Creek Hydroelectric Project dams. The Project consists of the installation of rebar anchors and gabion structures underneath the toe in the eroded area. The gabion structures will then be filled with rock. Once the gabion structures are filled, the void behind the gabion structures will be backfilled with concrete.	7/13/2023
Removal and Decommissioning of the Kanaka Powerhouse for the Kanaka Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 7242) License Surrender	On May 12, 2023, STS Hydroelectric, LLC submitted a request for water quality certification for the Removal and Decommissioning of the Kanaka Powerhouse for the Kanaka Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 7242) License Surrender (Project). The Kanaka Hydroelectric Project was damaged as a result of the Ponderosa Fire and ceased operations in August 2017. The Project includes: (1) removal of the Kanaka Powerhouse and substation structures; (2) capping and abandoning in place the penstock; (3) installing a plug on the wet well; (4) regrading and filling the tailrace; (5) regrading the north stream bank and the powerhouse site; and (6) abandoning-in-place the diversion dam. Once decommissioned, the diversion dam will be owned by a private party and natural stream flows (average flow is approximately 10 cfs) will top the diversion dam.	5/26/2023
Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project – Removal of Inskip Diversion Dam	On March 8, 2023, Pacific Gas and Electric Company submitted a water quality certification application for the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project – License Amendment for Removal of Inskip Diversion Dam (Project). The Project involves a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license amendment to the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 1121) to remove Inskip Diversion Dam which is located on South Fork Battle Creek in Tehama County. Following dam removal, the Project includes restoration of the dam area by creating a series of pools and riffle/steps/cascades.	3/23/2023
Lake Isabella Hydroelectric Project License Amendment	On February 13, 2023, Isabella Partners applied for a water quality certification for the Lake Isabella Hydroelectric Project License Amendment (Project). The Project would install an additional 5-megawatt (MW) Francis turbine unit at the existing Lake Isabella Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 8377). The Project is located on the Kern River, below the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Isabella Dam	3/09/2023
Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project: Phase 2 No Regrets	On February 2, 2023, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submitted a water quality certification application for the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project - : Phase 2 No Regrets (Project). The Project involves a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license amendment to the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 1121). The Project will remove the following facilities from South Fork Battle Creek and its tributaries: South Diversion Dam, South Canal, Soap Creek Feeder Diversion Dam, Lower Ripley Creek Feeder Diversion Dam, and Coleman Diversion Dam.	2/16/2023
North Delta Drought Salinity Barriers Project	The Department of Water Resources is proposing the North Delta Drought Salinity Barriers Project (Project) to maintain water quality within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The proposed Project consists of installing two temporary rock barriers, on Miner and Steamboat sloughs, that are designed to control salinity intrusion from the Central and South Delta by keeping more freshwater flow in the Sacramento River. Each barrier consists of a trapezoidal embankment rock structure with a wide base that tapers up to a 12-foot-wide top set perpendicular to the channel alignment. Both barriers have a manually operated fish passage culvert that can be opened periodically to allow fish passage. The proposed Project also includes a boat ramp at the Steamboat Slough barrier site.	12/16/2022
Bear Creek Diversion Dam Replacement Project	Demolish the existing Bear Creek Diversion Dam and pipeline and replace with a new dam approximately 100 feet downstream. Reconstruct the intake structure and a portion of the conveyance canal.	05/11/2010