Middle Fork American River Project

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2079

Duncan Creek Diversion Pool
(Photo provided by State Water Board staff)

Applicant: Placer County Water Agency
Counties: Placer, El Dorado
License Expiration Date: March 1, 2013
Water Quality Certification Status: Issued April 17, 2019
Waterbody: Middle Fork American River, Duncan Creek, Rubicon River, North and South Fork Long Canyon Creek
FERC Licensing Process: Integrated Licensing Process

Project Description:

Located on the Middle Fork American River, and the Rubicon River, the Middle Fork American River Project (Project) affects 1,883 acres within the Tahoe National Forest and 1,385 acres within Eldorado National Forest, both of which are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service.

Primary Project facilities include: five powerhouses (French Meadows, Hell Hole Dam, Middle Fork, Ralston, and Oxbow Powerhouses); five diversion impoundments (Duncan Creek Diversion, North Fork Long Canyon Creek Diversion, South Fork, Long Canyon Creek Diversion, Middle Fork Afterbay, and Ralston Afterbay); five tunnels (Duncan Creek-Middle Fork, French Meadows-Hell Hole, Hell Hole-Middle Fork, Middle Fork-Ralston, Ralston-Oxbow Tunnels); and two reservoirs (French Meadows Reservoir, and Hell Hole Reservoir).

Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) owns and operates the Project for municipal drinking water delivery, irrigation, and electrical hydropower generation. The Project stores 345,560 acre-feet of water and generates an average of 1,039 gigawatts annually.

Currently, PCWA has water delivery contracts with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, San Juan Water District, the City of Roseville, and Sacramento Suburban Water District (formerly the Northridge Water District).

Related Documents

Water Quality Certification

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Duncan Creek Diversion Dam Improvement Project

Ralston Afterbay Maintenance and Enhancement/Restoration Activities Project

North Fork Long Canyon Diversion Improvement Project

South Fork Long Canyon Diversion Improvement Project