Placer County Water Agency Middle Fork American River Project Plenary Meeting

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Placer County Water AgencyMiddle Fork American
River ProjectPlenary Meeting
January 6, 2009 Handout 4

• January 6, 2009

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Relicensing Overview
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Middle Fork American River ProjectRelicensing
Process
New License Order
401 Water QualityCertification
FERC NEPA Analysis
License ConditionCollaboration
License ApplicationSubmittal
Study Implementation
Ascent to aNew License
Study Plan Determination
FERC Scoping
NOI/PAD Submittal
KTT22 AT SQUAW VALLEY SKI RESORT
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Middle Fork American River ProjectProgress to
Date (2005-2008)

• Completed Early Information Gathering
• Reached Consensus on Relicensing Process
• Identified Initial Stakeholder Interests
• Presented Information on Resources, Project
  Description, and Potential Project Betterments
• Collaboratively Developed Technical Study Plans

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Middle Fork American River ProjectProgress to
Date (2005-2008)

• Initiated Work on Project Operations Model
• Filed NOI and PAD
• Implemented Technical Studies
• Completed Study Plan Determination
• Distributed Technical Study Reports

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Upcoming Milestones (2009-2011)

• Distribute Technical Study Reports
• File FERC Progress Reports
• Revise Communication Protocols
• Describe Resource Status
• Identify and Evaluate Preliminary PME Measures
• Develop settlement agreements
• Submit License Application/Preliminary Licensing
  Proposal

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Relicensing Process Schedule2009 - 2011
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Technical Study Plan Implementation Update
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Technical Study Plan Implementation
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Technical Study Plans
Land Management Land Management
LAND 1 Transportation System
LAND 2 Fire Prevention Response
LAND 3 Emergency Action Public Safety
LAND 4 FERC Boundary Authorization
Aquatic Resources Aquatic Resources
AQ 1 Instream Flow
AQ 2 Fish Population
AQ 3 Macroinvertebrate Aquatic Mollusk
AQ 4 Water Temperature Modeling
AQ 5 Bioenergetics
AQ 6 Fish Passage
AQ 7 Entrainment
AQ 8 Reservoir Fish Habitat
AQ 9 Geomorphology
AQ 10 Riparian Resources
AQ 11 Water Quality
AQ 12 Special-Status Amphibian Aquatic Reptiles
Recreation Resources Recreation Resources
REC 1 Recreation Use Facilities Assessment
REC 2 Recreation Visitor Surveys
REC 3 Reservoir Recreation Opportunities
REC 4 Stream-Based Recreation Opportunities
REC 5 Visual Quality Assessment
Terrestrial Resources Terrestrial Resources
TERR 1 Vegetation Communities Wildlife Habitat
TERR 2 Special-Status Plants
TERR 3 Noxious Weeds
TERR 4 Special-Status Wildlife
TERR 5 Bald Eagle
TERR 6 Special-Status Bats
Cultural Resources Cultural Resources
CUL 1 Cultural Resources
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Distribution of Draft Technical Study Reports
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On-going Technical Studies

• Majority of Technical Studies will be Completed
  byQ3 2009
• Studies Requiring Additional Field Work
• AQ 7 Direct entrainment measurements
• AQ 9 Duncan Creek and French Meadows
  sediment surveys
• AQ 12 CRLF surveys
• LAND 1 Non-Project general access road surveys
• Potential Contingency Studies
• AQ 2 2009 fish population surveys
• AQ 9 Sediment transport empirical studies
• REC 4 Whitewater boating studies (bypass
  reaches)

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2009 Study Implementation Progress Report and
Meeting
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Approach for Developing New License Conditions
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PCWA Relicensing Objectives

• Retain the FERC License
• Acquire a New License by February 28, 2013
• Engage Stakeholders in an Open and Transparent
  Forum
• Maintain an Efficient Process (neutral
  facilitator, provide first drafts)
• Complete the Study Phase and Analytical Tool
  Development Early in the Process

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Development of New License Conditions FERC
Guidance

• Consideration of Developmental Environmental
  Values

Recreation
Water Supply
Values
Power Generation
Environmental
Cultural
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Development of New License Conditions Equal
Consideration - Balancing

• Consistent with FERC Requirements
• Considers Agency, Stakeholder, and PCWA Interests
• Focused on Project-Related Resource Issues
• Requires Coordination between Resource
  Disciplines
• Iterative Process

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New License Conditions

• Specified in License Articles
• Several Types
• Focused on administrative issues
• Annual charges
• Exhibit drawings
• Commission approval, reporting, and filing of
  amendments
• Use and occupancy of Project lands
• Focused on PME measures or plans

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New License Conditions PME Measures or
Plans(Examples)

• HistoricPropertiesManagementPlan
• Vegetation IntegratedManagementPlan
• RecreationPlan

• InstreamFlowReleases
• WaterQualityMeasures
• Special-StatusWildlifeProtectionMeasures

License Conditions
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Development Implementation of License Conditions
ImplementLicenseArticles
ILP Standard Approach
StakeholderCollaboration Partially DevelopNew
LicenseConditions
NewLicenseOrder
FERC Processingof Application
LicenseApplication
DevelopManagementMonitoringPlans
StakeholderCollaboration DevelopManagement Mo
nitoringPlans
ImplementManagement MonitoringPlans
2014
2013
2009
2012
2011
2010
PCWA/FERC Recommended Approach
ImplementLicenseArticlesincludingManagement
MonitoringPlans
StakeholderCollaboration Fully DevelopLicense
Conditions including Management MonitoringPlans
NewLicenseOrder
LicenseApplication
FERC Processingof Application
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Initial Identification ofPotential License
Conditions
Technical Study Plans

• Potential Resource Issues
• Project Nexus
• Potential New License Conditions

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Initial Identification ofPotential License
Conditions
TERR 2 Special-Status Plants Technical Study
Plan

• Potential Resource Issue
• Protection of special-status plant populations.
• Project Nexus
• Project operations and maintenance activities and
  potential Project
• betterments could result in removal or
  disturbance of special-status plant
• populations, including terrestrial, aquatic, and
  riparian plant species, and
• fungi and mosses.
• Potential License Condition
• Vegetation Integrated Pest Management Plan.
• Channel Riparian Maintenance Flows (CRMF).

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Initial Identification ofPotential License
Conditions
AQ 1- Instream Flow Technical Study Plan

• Potential Resource Issue
• Aquatic riparian resources.
• Project Nexus
• Project operations and potential Project
  betterments modify or could
• potentially modify the flow regime in the bypass
  reaches below the
• reservoirs/diversions and in the peaking reach
  downstream of Oxbow
• Powerhouse. The modified flow regime in the
  bypass and peaking reaches
• may affect the amount and distribution (temporal
  and spatial) of aquatic
• and riparian habitat.
• Potential License Condition
• Instream flow releases.
• Facility modifications.

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Development ofNew License Conditions Process

• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Development ofNew License Conditions Tools

• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Overall Approach for DevelopingNew License
Conditions

• Identify, Organize, and Schedule Discussion
  Topics Based on Potential New License Conditions
• Prioritize Discussions to Address Issues under
  FERC Jurisdiction, Followed by Other Issues
• Considers agreements tentative until all issues
  have been discussed
• File a License Application that Includes
  Stakeholder-approved License Articles

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Collaboration Topic Schedule
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Development of New License Conditions Examples

• Vegetation and IntegratedPest Management Plan
• Instream Flow Releases

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• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Process

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Potential Resource Issues
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Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Describe Resource Status/Apply Analytical Tools
Special-status Wildlife
NoxiousWeeds
Special-status Plants
Vegetation Communities
ProjectO M
Recreation
Resource Issues

Geographic Information System
Analytical Tools
Distribution of Special-status Plant Populations
Presence of Special-status Wildlife and their
Habitat
Location of Vegetation Communities
Location of Project Facilities
Location ofRecreationFacilities
Extent and Location of Noxious Weeds
Data Output
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• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Process

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Identify Potential PME Measures

• Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Herbicide
  and Rodenticide Use
• Buffer Areas Around Special-status Plants
• Buffer Areas or Limited Operating Period (LOP)
  for Active Nests and Dens
• Measures to Prevent the Spread or Introduction of
  Noxious Weeds

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Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Identify Potential PME Measures

• Methods for Revegetation and Erosion Control for
  Disturbed Areas
• Education Programs on Special-status Resources
• Resource Monitoring and Reporting

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• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Process

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Proposed Vegetation Integrated Pest Management
Plan
Revegetation Erosion Control
Resource Monitoring Reporting
Limited Operating Periods
Control and Treatment
Buffer Areas
Education Program
BMPs
Potential PME Measures
Analytical Tool GIS
Overall and Site-Specific
Protection of Special-status Wildlife Habitat
Recreation Opportunities Access
Effectiveness of O M
Protection of Special-status Plants
Spread or Introduction of Noxious Weeds
MaintainVegetation Communities
Data Output/Effects Analysis
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• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

Vegetation and Integrated Pest Management Plan
Process

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach Tentative Agreement onNew License
Condition
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Instream Flow Releases
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Instream Flow Releases - Process

• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply analytical Tools

Multiple Potential Resource Issues
Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Instream Flow Releases
Potential Resource Issues
AmphibianHabitat
Hydrology
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Instream Flow Releases
Describe Resource Status
Fish Macroinvertebrates
Hydrology
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Instream Flow Releases
Describe Resource Status
Fish Habitat
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Instream Flow Releases
Resource Status/Analytical Tools
Fish Habitat
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Instream Flow Releases
Develop and Apply Analytical Tools
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Instream Flow Releases - Process

• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Instream Flow Releases
Identify Potential PME Measures

• Minimum Instream Flow Regime
• Recreation Flows (Commercial and Non-Commercial
  Boating, Fishing, Trail Crossings)
• Channel and Riparian Maintenance Flows
• Ramping Rates
• Flow Monitoring and Reporting

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Instream Flow Releases - Process

• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Instream Flow Releases
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Proposed Instream Flow Measure
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Instream Flow Releases - Process

• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Instream Flow Releases - Process

• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures

• Goal is to Provide
• Transparency
• Clarity Through Joint Fact
• Finding

Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach TentativeAgreement onNew License
Condition
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Instream Flow Releases - Process

• Technical Study Plans
• Potential Resource Issues

• Technical Study Reports
• Describe Resource Status
• Develop Apply Analytical Tools

Refine Resource Issues
Identify PotentialPME Measures
Describe Resulting Effects Across Resource Issues
Balance AcrossResource Issues
Refine PotentialPME Measures
Reach Tentative Agreement onNew License
Condition
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EstablishCollaborative Process Subgroup
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Collaborative Process Subgroup

• Identify Members
• Responsibilities
• Revise Communication and Participation Protocols

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Elements to Consider in Revising Communications
Protocol

• New Ground Rules for Settlement Phase
• Confidentiality
• Decision Making Process/Consensus
• Clarify Representation
• Lead Negotiator
• Support Team
• Single Text Approach
• Dispute Resolution

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Collaborative Process Subgroup

• Proposed Schedule
• PCWA distributes revised protocols - February
  2009
• Subgroup meeting - March 16, 2009
• Subgroup meeting - April 20, 2009

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• Establish 2009 Meeting Schedule