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<br />WESTERN
<br />STATES WATER
<br />
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<br />III 1 n 0
<br />
<br />September 4, 1992
<br />Issue No. 955
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<br />THE WEEKLY NEWSLETIER OF THE WESlERN STATES WAlER COUNCIL
<br />
<br />editor
<br />
<br />Tony Willardson
<br />
<br />Creekview Plaza, Suite A-201 I 942 East 7145 So. I Midvale, Utah 84047 I (801) 561-5300 I FAX (801) 255-9642
<br />
<br />typist
<br />
<br />Carrie curvin
<br />
<br />ENERGY/WATER RESOURCES
<br />
<br />FERC/Mokelumne River
<br />
<br />The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)
<br />owns and operates hydropower facilities on the lower
<br />Mokelumne River in California as part of a system that
<br />supplies water to over 1.1 million people in Oakland,
<br />,..Berkeley and other areas east of San Francisco Bay.
<br />.... Last year, FERC initiated proceedings to determine
<br />whether or not modifications to EBMUD's facilities or
<br />operations at the lower Mokelumne River project (No,
<br />2916-004) are "warranted for the conservation and
<br />development of fish and wildlife resources in the
<br />Mokelumne River." As part of the proceedings, FERC
<br />began preparing an EIS, scheduled for completion in
<br />December 1992, with a draft EIS due late this month.
<br />
<br />The Mokelumne River flows from the central Sierra
<br />Nevada Mountains southwest into the Sacramento-
<br />San Joaquin Delta. About 95% of EBMUD's drinking
<br />water supply comes about 80 miles through the
<br />Mokelumne Aqueduct from Pardee Reservoir. It was
<br />built in 1929 and stores over 200,000 acre-feet of
<br />water, Later, the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers built
<br />Camanche Reservoir, which supplies water to meet
<br />downstream riparian rights. In 1981, EBMUD sought
<br />and received a license from the Federal Energy
<br />Regulatory Commission (FERC) to expand its power
<br />facilities to about 40 megawatts.
<br />
<br />In 1989, the California Department of Fish and
<br />Game reported the loss of over 100,000 chinook
<br />salmon at a fish hatchery below the project, and the
<br />~ California Sports Fishing Protection Alliance filed a
<br />... complaint with FERC and the California State Water
<br />Resources Control Board alleging the project
<br />adversely affected chinook salmon populations.
<br />FERC is proceeding with the EIS, while the Board is
<br />reviewing EBMUO's water rights "to determine if
<br />
<br />chairman - Dave Kennedy
<br />
<br />executive director - craig Bell
<br />
<br />additional measures will be required to protect the
<br />fishery resources..,in response to recommendations
<br />contained in the Department of Fish and Game's
<br />fishery management plan..... According to FERC, "We
<br />have closely coordinated our evaluation with the
<br />California State Water Resources Control Board in the
<br />interest of mutual cooperation,' According to the
<br />Board, ....staff have worked closely with FERC
<br />representatives and will continue to coordinate...on
<br />issues relating to the Mokelumne River."
<br />
<br />However, EBMUD is concerned that the parallel
<br />proceedings create "enormous uncertainty for the
<br />district, and doubles the work," In order to avoid
<br />duplication of efforts by several agencies involved in
<br />both reviews, last spring Board Chairman W. Don
<br />Maughn wrote FERC Chairman Martin Allday asking
<br />FERC to defer completion of the draft EIS until after
<br />the Board's water rights hearings, scheduled for
<br />November 1992, This would allow FERC to use any
<br />technical data. environmental studies and expert
<br />testimony from the hearings in the draft EIS.
<br />However, FERC is proceeding with the draft EIS
<br />anyway, saying it will address the broadest array of
<br />alternatives possible, and the final EIS will reflect the
<br />best information available,
<br />
<br />EBMUD is concerned FERC's review may lead to
<br />unspecified revisions to their license that may reduce
<br />available water storage in Pardee and Comanche
<br />reservoirs and adversely affect agricultural, municipal
<br />and industrial water supplies, The district also points
<br />out that FERC's review is based on authority derived
<br />from a standard 'reopener" clause, and that there has
<br />been no alleged violation of the terms and conditions
<br />of the project's current license.
<br />
<br />According to EBMUD, "When the FERC license for
<br />EBMUO's project was issued in 1981, it was on the
<br />basis of an application which indicated that the
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