FERC Project No. 1417-179 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 ]. 5 FERC 3 E2. :. v UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Central Nebraska Public Power and Inigarion District P-1417-179 ORDER APPROVING TEMPORARY VARIANCE TO RESERVOIRS' NORMAL MAXIMUM SURFACE ELEVATIONS (Issued May 02, 2006) On April 5, 2006, and supplemented on April 18, 2006, Central Nebraska Public Power and Itrigation Dis[rict (Cenhal), licensee for the Kingsley Dam Project, FERC No.1417, filed a request for a temporary variance to the nonnal maximum surface elevation at Jeffrey Reservoir and Johnson Lake of tiie Project The project is located on the North Platte and Platte Rivers in Nebraska. BACKGROUND Pursuant to the Order Issuing New License, Central is required to maintain the normal maximum surface elevations of 2,758A feet mean sea level (m.s.l.) and 2,619.0 feet m.s.l. at Jeffrey Reservoir and Johnson Lake, respectively.1 According to Central these elevarions do not represent the higher elevations routinely experienced at these reservoirs (a) when inflows are increased in anticipation of high in•igation demand, (b) with rainfall or icing conditions, and (c) during maintenance outages. Central stated that the variance in the normal maximum smface elevations at the two reservoirs would allow Centra( to operate as it has operated the reservoirs over the yeai-s to provide recreational opportunities and enable Central to implement environmental measures mandated for federally listed species and designated critical habitats. According to Central the waiver wili also restore operating flexibility to assure that hydropower and ircigation deliveries are not impacted. VARIANCE REQUEST Central is requesting a temporary waiver of the "normal maximum surface elevation" limits under the license by changing them fi-om 2,758.0 to 2,760 feet m.s.l. for Jeffrey Reservoir azid fi•om 2,619A to 2,620.0 ms.i. at Johnson Lake dm•ing summer 2006. A similar request for a waiver of noimal maximum water surface elevations was granted for 2005 summer. ' 94 FERC ¶ 61,079, issued July 29, 1998. Project No. P-1417-179 - 2 - A license amendmeut to permanently increase the normal maximum surface elevations to 2,760.0 feet m.s.l. and 2,621.0 feet m.s.l. at Jeffrey Reservoir and Johnson Lake, respecrively, is pending before the Commission. REVIEW Along with its request for a temporary waiver filed on Apri15, 2006, Central included a record of consultation with the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). The FWS expressed its support for Central's temporary waiver request. The Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (NGPC) in a March 31, 2006 e-mail informed Central that it has no objection to Central's request for a temporary waiver of maximum surface elevations at Jeffrey Reservoir and Johnson Lake. However, NGPC expressed its concem whether the changes will affect Central's ability to meet environmental requirements for listed species. NGPC is also concemed about potentiai increased fluctuations due to Hydrocycling from Johnson hydro that may affect habitats supporting listed species ut central Platte River. In a?etter dated Apiil 12, 2006, Central stated that the requested changes in the maximum surface elevations facilitate, rather than adversely affect its ability to meet environmental requirements for listed species. According to Central, the operations of hydropower plants, including specifically cycling operarions of the turbines are not affected by either the cuffent or requested maximum surface elevations. According to Centzal the proposed maximum levels aze well below the levels that would cause dam safety concerns, and would not cause flooding. Based on our review, we conciude that Central's request for a temporazy waiver of the "normal maximum surface elevation" limits under the license for Jeffrey Reservoir and Johnson Lake during summer 2006 is jusrified 1nd is in the best interests of recreation, and implementation of the Endangered Species mitigarion measures, and should be approved. Approval of this request for temporary variance in no way prejudges any action the Commission may take on the CentraPs pending amendment application to permanently raise reservoir levels. The Director orders: (A) Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation DistricYs request for a temporaiy variance of nor?nai maximum surface elevation limits from 2,758.0 feet m.s.l. to 2,760 feet m.s.l. at Jefl}ey Reservoir and from 2,619.0 feet m.s.l. to 2,620 feet m.s.l. at Johnson Lake during summer 2006 is approved.