Draft EIS_072312.pdf - Middle Fork American River Project ...

20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012
Rivers system by the Forest Service; however none of these segments have been formally
included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system. Regardless, Eldorado National
Forest manages the Rubicon River, and a 0.25-mile corridor on each side of the river, to
protect fisheries, which is the outstandingly remarkable value identified in its Wild and
Scenic River eligibility and suitability studies. A small segment of the Rubicon River
below Hell Hole dam (0.48 mile) and a small section (0.12 mile) of the Rubicon River
upstream of Ralston afterbay are within the project boundary and project operation
affects streamflow in the Rubicon River.
State Protected Areas
The Rubicon River, from Hell Hole reservoir to Ralston afterbay, is designated by
California as a Wild Trout Stream. California Fish and Game manages streams with this
designation to preserve attractive stream trout fisheries, which are naturally sustained by
wild strains of trout.
National Trails System
One national recreation trail, the Western States Trail, traverses the Middle Fork
American River watershed in the vicinity of the project (see figure 3.3.5-1). The
southern route of this trail passes near French Meadows dam, crosses Duncan Creek
upstream of the Duncan Creek diversion dam, and then converges with the northern route
near Robinson Flat. From Robinson Flat, the trail continues southwestward to the
Foresthill area, where it descends into the Middle Fork American River canyon and
eventually converges with the Middle Fork American River about 9.6 miles downstream
of Ralston afterbay.
Auburn State Recreation Area
The Auburn State Recreation Area encompasses land along 40 miles of the North
and Middle Fork American Rivers; about 900,000 people per year visit this area. The
area has over 100 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails that traverse the steep
American River canyon. Primary recreational activities include hiking, swimming,
boating, hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking, gold panning, off-highway
motorcycle riding, and horseback riding. Whitewater recreation is also very popular
along both forks of the river. There are no project recreation facilities in the Auburn
State Recreation Area. However, project operation affects flows in the peaking reach,
which may affect stream-based recreation opportunities, primarily whitewater boating,
angling, and stream crossing where Auburn State Recreation Area system trails intersect
the Middle and North Forks of the American River.
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