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

20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012
be best adapted to a comprehensive plan for improving or developing a waterway. In
addition to the power and developmental purposes for which licenses are issued (such as
flood control, irrigation, or water supply), the Commission must give equal consideration
to the purposes of: (1) energy conservation; (2) the protection of, mitigation of damage
to, and enhancement of fish and wildlife resources; (3) the protection of recreational
opportunities; and (4) the preservation of other aspects of environmental quality.
Issuing a new license for the Middle Fork Project would allow PCWA to continue
generating electricity for the term of a new license, making electrical power from a
renewable resource available to its customers.
This draft environmental impact statement (EIS) assesses the effects associated
with operation of the project and alternatives to the proposed project. It also includes
recommendations to the Commission on whether to issue a new license, and if so,
includes the recommended terms and conditions to become a part of any license issued.
In this draft EIS, we assess the environmental and economic effects of continuing
to operate the project: (1) as proposed by the applicant, (2) as specified in Alternative 1,
a complete project alternative, and (3) with our recommended measures. We also
consider the effects of the no-action alternative. Important issues that are addressed
include: establishing sediment management activities that enhance aquatic and riparian
habitat while minimizing adverse effects; establishing flow regimes in project bypassed
and peaking reaches that protect and enhance aquatic resources and, in the peaking reach,
whitewater boating opportunities; protecting environmental resources when conducting
vegetation management and noxious weed control; striking an equitable balance of
recreational enhancements; and protecting cultural resources.
1.2.2 Need for Power
The Middle Fork Project provides hydroelectric generation to meet part of the
state of California’s power requirements, as well as its resource diversity and capacity
needs. The proposed project would have an authorized installed capacity of 223,753 kW
and generate approximately 933,918 MWh per year (letter from A. Fecko, Resource
Planning Administrator, PCWA, to K.D. Bose, Secretary, FERC, filed June 15, 2011).
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) annually forecasts
electrical supply and demand nationally and regionally for a 10-year period. The Middle
Fork Project is located in the California-North subregion of the Western Electricity
Coordinating Council (WECC) region of the NERC. According to NERC’s 2011
forecast, summer total internal demand for the California-North subregion is projected to
grow at an annual rate of 1.35 percent from 2011 through 2021 (NERC, 2011). NERC
projects summer and winter resource capacity margins (generating capacity in excess of
demand) will not fall below target margins throughout the 2011-2021 period. WECC’s
projections of capacity margin through the 2012 to 2020 period anticipate additional
capacity resources will come on line in the California-North subregion as follows:
3