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

20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012
Our Analysis
Providing Visitor Information
Visitors routinely use websites and visitor information stations to acquire
information about developed recreation facilities and recreation resources to plan their
visits. Providing a brochure for these venues that depict recreation resource information
as PCWA proposes would increase visitor awareness of opportunities available at and
near the project. Although PCWA proposes to provide electronic and hard copies to
various agencies, the Alternative 1 Recreation Plan specifies developing the brochure in
consultation with and providing the brochure to entities in addition to those identified in
PCWA’s Recreation Plan. Because the project has an extensive footprint and spans
multiple land jurisdictions it would be appropriate to consult with all affected agencies to
develop the brochure. For the brochure to be useful, it would necessarily include nonproject
information for context and visitor orientation and should be available through the
internet and at local visitor information stations. Both the PCWA and Alternative 1 plans
would meet this need but because the brochure would present non-project as well as
project information, PCWA should not be entirely responsible for developing and
providing copies of this brochure. Providing an electronic version that agencies can copy
for visitors rather than having PCWA provide hard copies, would be an appropriate level
of responsibility for PCWA considering the non-project aspects of the brochure. It would
be appropriate to periodically review this information in consultation with affected
agencies to determine if it needs to be updated. A revision period that coincides with the
6-year Form 80 monitoring frequency would meet the intent of increasing visitor
awareness of project recreation resources.
Our Analysis
Fish Stocking
The Alternative 1 Recreation Plan specifies that PCWA stock or reimburse
California Fish and Game for stocking fish at 100 percent of the California Fish and
Game annual stocking target or the historical average of fish stocked in French Meadows
and Hell Hole reservoirs. Because the reservoirs isolate fish populations and create
angling opportunities for project visitors, it would be appropriate for PCWA to bear the
entire responsibility for stocking fish. PCWA’s proposal to provide partial stocking or
funding would not fully address these project effects. Including a summary of the
number, size, and species targeted for stocking, the number of each species actually
stocked by location and the source of the stocked fish in the annual recreation report that
would be filed with the Commission would enable the Commission to document
compliance with the stocking provisions of the Recreation Plan.
Reporting and consultation is necessary for PCWA and resource management
agencies to identify emerging problems or circumstances; coordinate plans for nonroutine
activities; review and revise communication protocols; discuss operating plans
and heavy maintenance for recreation facilities, fish stocking, flow measures, recreation
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