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

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20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012 Recreation Improvements at Cache Rock and Hell Hole Administrative Station The Forest Service specifies that PCWA should provide funding to the agency to design and construct a restroom and information kiosk at Cache Rock in the peaking reach (condition no. 35). Forest Service condition no. 36 specifies that PCWA should provide a work station and storage area that would be used for work associated with the Hell Hole recreation area and potentially shared occupancy with the Forest Service. Our Analysis The improvements the Forest Service specifies in these conditions do not appear to be related to the project. The Forest Service states the site at Cache Rock is used as a lunch stop by whitewater boaters and other river users who access the site by 4-wheeldrive access road. Although whitewater boaters may stop in this area for lunch, primitive camping at 10 designated sites and river use at this site would exist irrespective of the project. A 2011 Forest Service recreation opportunity guide (Forest Service, 2011b) directs visitors looking for gold panning and dredging opportunities to Cache Rock, which further indicates that use at this site includes non-project use. Because most of the recreational use at Cache Rock, as well as the effects associated with these uses, do not appear to be related to the project, the facility would not be a project recreation facility and it would not be appropriate for PCWA to provide funding for the improvement or its ongoing operation and maintenance. Forest Service condition no. 36 specifies modifying the Hell Hole administrative station to provide administrative workspace and storage but the size, location, and required improvements would be specified at a later date through an agreement between PCWA and the Forest Service. The Forest Service rationale document indicates the agency seeks to expand the existing purpose of this facility to include space that could be rented by the public for recreational use. The Forest Service states that this condition is necessary because similar facilities on the Eldorado National Forest have high occupancy rates, and it would serve the visiting public that are looking for a recreation opportunity other than camping. PCWA does not list this facility as one of its project facilities. PCWA and the Forest Service have not explained the project purposes that are currently served, or would be served in the future, by this facility. Further, the facility was not constructed as part of the project, the scope of the planned facility improvements is not specified, and the condition states the facility may serve a shared purpose with the Forest Service. It should be noted that a shared purpose that would possibly include providing a public vacation rental property, as the Forest Service indicates in its rationale document, appears inconsistent with managing the area for semi-primitive motorized use. Guidance for the level of recreation facility development at this area is to have minimal site modification and rustic or rudimentary improvements that are designed primarily for protection of the site rather than the comfort of users. In addition, the Forest Service justification that high occupancy of overnight vacation rentals on NFS lands does not demonstrate a project-related recreational need or explain the project issue that such a facility would address. Because the measure lacks specificity, does not address any 236
20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012 identified project-related issue or need, and the site would serve non-project purposes, it would not be appropriate to include the Hell Hole administrative site, or any funding for the facility, in the project. Whitewater Boating PCWA proposes the release schedule in table 3.3.5-10 to provide flows downstream of Oxbow powerhouse for whitewater boating. Table 3.3.5-10. PCWA’s proposed flow schedule to support class IV boating opportunities on the peaking reach downstream of Oxbow powerhouse (Source: PCWA, 2011a). Water year type Wet/above normal Below normal Flow a (cfs) Duration (Time of day) 800 b 3 hours c (5 a.m.–8 a.m.) 1,000 4 hours (8 a.m.–noon) 900 4 hours (8 a.m.–noon) Dry 900 4 hours (8 a.m.–noon) Critical 900 3 hours (9 a.m.–noon) Weekdays Weekends June 1– Labor Day 237 1 st Saturday before Memorial Day–Labor Day Labor Day– September -- Saturdays -- 5 days per week 4 days per week 3 days per week 2 days per week Saturdays, Sundays Saturdays, Sundays Saturdays, Sundays Saturdays, Sundays Saturdays Saturdays Saturdays Saturdays Extremely 900 3 hours 1 days per Saturdays -- critical (9 a.m.–noon) week a As measured below the confluence of Middle and North Forks of the American River unless otherwise specified (USGS gage no. 11433300). b Target flow at North Fork of the American River above American River pump station gage. c Early release to provide flow downstream sooner in the day. Forest Service condition no. 39 is more detailed than PCWA’s proposal and includes generally higher flows. Table 3.3.5-11 shows the flows specified for providing
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41 Table 3.3.1-1. Average number of
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43 Site/Release Location Gravel Ini
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45 a Q 1 - TSR, Table G-1 (PCWA, 20
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69 Table 3.3.2-3. Hydrology for sel
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71 Exceedances and Summary Statisti
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91 Figure 3.3.2-6. Fish passage bar
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105 Location American River below M
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135 Species Name Status a Butte Cou
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145 Table 3.3.3-5. Special-status w
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147 Species Name Status Habitat Occ
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Page 225 and 226: 195 Figure 3.3.5-1. French Meadows
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Page 283 and 284: 253 Table 3.3.6-1. Archaeological a
Page 285 and 286: 255 Resource Number Type a Descript
Page 305 and 306: 275 Table 4-2. Summary of annual co
Page 309 and 310: 279 Enhancement/Mitigation Measures
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287 Enhancement/Mitigation Measures
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303 c Base 2010 costs were provided
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307 Resource No-Action Alternative
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319 Table 5-2. Staff-recommended mi
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321 Location Middle Fork American R
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