Water Quality Certification Program Public Notices

Public Notices for Applications Received

Project Identification Project Description Notice Date
Courtright Intake/Discharge Gate, Cylinder, and Piping Improvements Project

iii. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is proposing the Courtright Intake/Discharge Gate, Cylinder, and Piping Improvements Project (Project). Courtright Dam is a part of PG&E’s Haas-Kings River Project and Helms Pumped Storage Project (also known as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project Nos. 1988 and 2735, respectively). Courtright Dam’s hydraulic lines, cylinders, intake and discharge bulkhead gates, and bypass gates have been in use since they were first commissioned in 1981 and have reached the end of their life cycle and require replacement. The Project consists of installation of new concrete-encased hydraulic lines, gate position sensors, electrical conduits, and air vent lines; replacement of the intake/discharge gate cylinders, bulkheads gates, bypass valves, hydraulic cylinders, access ladders and platforms, and oil containment structure; and refurbishment of existing access roads, laydown areas, and crane pads above and below Courtright Reservoir’s ordinary high-water mark

02/1/2024
Black Oak Ranch Water Conservation Project

On December 28, 2023, Eel River Recovery Project submitted a request for a water quality certification for the Project. The intent of the project is to divert and store water in the wet winter months and forbear diverting water from Streeter and Tenmile Creeks during the dry summer and fall months. The project includes: 1) installing a Coanda box in an Unnamed Tributary for diversion; 2) constructing a small pond to store the water diverted by the Coanda box; 3) upgrading an existing point of diversion on Streeter Creek to increase pumping capacity and improve the streambank; 4) augmenting the existing storage tank system to increase capacity; and 5) constructing trenches for water pipes and electrical to facilitate the new systems.

01/26/2024
South Fork Long Canyon Diversion Improvement Project

On January 12, 2024, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submitted a request for water quality certification for the South Fork Long Canyon Diversion Improvement Project. The Project involves constructing a new headpond structure on the South Fork Long Canyon diversion dam, part of the Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission No. 2079), to comply with new minimum instream flow and fish passage requirements.

1/12/2024
North Fork Long Canyon Diversion Improvement Project

On January 12, 2024, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submitted a request for water quality certification for the North Fork Long Canyon Diversion Improvement Project. The Project involves constructing a new headpond structure on the North Fork Long Canyon diversion dam, part of the Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission No. 2079), to comply with new minimum instream flow and fish passage requirements. The Project also includes replacing a rock groyne above the diversion dam with engineered large woody debris.

1/12/2024
Tiger Creek Regulator Dam Spillway Replacement Project

On November 22, 2023, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submitted a request for a water quality certification for the Tiger Creek Regulator Dam Spillway Replacement Project (Project). The Tiger Creek Regulator Dam is a part of PG&E’s Mokelumne River Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project 137). The Project consists construction of a new spillway intake (crest structure), notch through the existing dam, concrete chute, flip bucket splitter blocks, and plunge pool. Other associated features include a permanent access road, temporary access road, temporary cofferdams, new log boom and anchor blocks, lighting on the dam, and abandonment of the existing spillway.

12/22/2023
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
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
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