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

20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012
values present in the designated river corridor. Public Law 95-111 (November 10, 1978)
designated portions of the North Fork American River, the Middle Fork American River,
and the Rubicon River as eligible or suitable for inclusion in the National Wild and
Scenic River system.
The U.S. Department of the Interior-Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
identified two segments on the North Fork American River and one segment on the
Middle Fork American River peaking reach as eligible for inclusion in the National Wild
and Scenic Rivers system. Although only a portion of the segment of the Middle Fork
American River is within the project boundary, project operations affect streamflow in
the segment between Oxbow powerhouse to the confluence with the North Fork
American River and the segment that extends downstream of this confluence to the
diversion tunnel intake for the Auburn dam. The eligible segments of the Middle Fork
American River were nominated for their outstandingly remarkable values of geologic,
fisheries, wildlife, recreation, ecologic, and cultural. Suitability studies have not been
conducted and are not planned at this time. Regardless, federal agencies, including
Reclamation, manage the river and the area within 0.25 mile either side of the river to
preserve the values for which the river is considered eligible under the Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act.
Three segments of the Rubicon River, from Hell Hole dam to Ralston afterbay,
were found to be eligible and suitable for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic
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.
We conclude that none of the action alternatives would diminish the outstandingly
remarkable values of the eligible river segments.
1.4 PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT
The Commission’s regulations (18 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR], sections
5.1–5.16) require that applicants consult with appropriate resource agencies, tribes, and
other entities before filing an application for a license. This consultation is the first step
in complying with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the ESA, the NHPA, and
other federal statutes. Pre-filing consultation must be complete and documented
according to the Commission’s regulations.
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