Attachment_24-November_7_2022_Briefing_Paper_CNFH.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- 140R2023Q0100
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This briefing paper discusses infrastructure needs at the Coleman National Fish Hatchery due to the planned decommissioning of the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project. Currently, the hatchery receives its main cold water supply from the Project's Coleman Powerhouse tailrace, which will no longer be available once decommissioning occurs. Alternative water sources and temperature control methods will be required, resulting in significant capital costs and increased operating expenses. The paper recommends the Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agree on lead agency responsibility and funding approach. A multi-agency technical team would then identify and analyze alternatives, with a final decision by the two managing agencies. Relatedly, the Bureau of Reclamation has issued a solicitation seeking proposals for infrastructure upgrades at the Coleman National Fish Hatchery to ensure continued cold water supply and hatchery operations following the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project decommissioning.
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BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
BRIEFING FOR: Interior Region 10, Reclamation CGB Deputy Regional Director Richard Welsh
DATE: November 7, 2022
PURPOSE OF PAPER: To identify a Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH) issue, due to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E’s) decision to not renew their Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) License, and to provide recommendations to address the issue.
BACKGROUND: CNFH was constructed by Reclamation in 1943 to mitigate for Shasta Dam fish impacts and was transferred to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1948. USFWS has water rights for and operates CNFH, and Reclamation provides funding to USFWS for CNFH operations. CNFH has been dependent on the configuration of the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project for its main water supply to perform hatchery operations, specifically, CNFH has been relying on receiving water at cooler temperatures for their hatchery operations from PG&E’s Coleman Powerhouse Tailrace via Intake 1 and Expanded Intake 1. Water enters Coleman Powerhouse, via Coleman Canal, and water enters Coleman Canal as follows (reference Battle Creek Project Schematic and Coleman NFH Flow Map):
• On North Fork Battle Creek, water is diverted at Eagle Canyon Diversion Dam into Eagle Canyon Canal, then flows into Inskip Canal, then to Inskip Powerhouse, then to a) Inskip Powerhouse Tailrace and into Coleman Canal or b) into South Fork Battle Creek and then diverted at Coleman Diversion Dam into Coleman Canal.
• On North Fork Battle Creek, water is diverted at North Battle Creek Feeder Diversion Dam into Cross Country Canal, then flows into Union Canal, then to South Powerhouse, then a) into South Fork Battle Creek, and then diverted at Coleman Diversion Dam into Coleman Canal or b) into South Fork Battle Creek, diverted at Inskip Diversion Dam into Inskip Canal to Inskip Powerhouse, then i) to Inskip Powerhouse Tailrace and into Coleman Canal or ii) into South Fork Battle Creek and then diverted at Coleman Diversion Dam into Coleman Canal.
PG&E has conveyed they have not had any obligation to provide cold water flows to CNFH, but that CNFH has been a recipient of those flows through the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project system as currently configured.
In 2018, PG&E decided to not renew their Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project License (which expires in 2026).
Since no interested parties have come forth to take over the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project, on October 3, 2022, FERC required that PG&E submit a surrender schedule to FERC by December 2, 2022, which includes when PG&E would complete a decommissioning plan. The Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project partner agencies (Reclamation, USFWS, National Marine Fisheries Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife) have requested that PG&E engage them throughout the development of the decommissioning plan.
ISSUE: Since the Battle Hydroelectric Project will be decommissioned, the current configuration which allows for CNFH to capture an adequate and reliable cold water supply for operations would cease. (Consequences to CNFH operations are further described on pages 2-6, 2-7, and 2-8 of the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project Alternatives Evaluation Report). Therefore, CNFH would need to find alternative ways to get cold water, including hatchery improvements, such as new screened intakes and water temperature control devices. CNFH improvements are likely to be costly and increase operations and maintenance.
REFERENCES (Attached):
• Interagency Agreement between U S Fish and Wildlife Service and U S Bureau of Reclamation concerning the funding and operation of the Coleman National Fish Hatchery Anderson, California, a feature of the Central Valley Project (March 19, 1993)
• Coleman NFH Water Rights Summary (May 19, 2014, Updated Nov 15, 2016; April 18, 2018)
• Battle Creek Project Schematic
• Coleman NFH Flow Map
• Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project Alternatives Evaluation Report (dated August 2019)
• Battle Creek Water Temperatures for Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project Proposed Alternatives Memorandum
(August 19, 2019)
RECOMMENDATIONS: Reclamation and USFWS managers meet and reach agreement on which agency will lead the effort to address this issue, and how it will be funded. Then a selected project manager convenes a multi-agency technical team (consisting of Reclamation, USFWS, National Marine Fisheries Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife) to identify CNFH alternatives and perform an alternatives analysis. Ultimately Reclamation and USFWS management decide on an alternative.
CONTACT: Mary Marshall, Restoration Project Manager, Interior Region 10, Reclamation CGB, 916-978-5248
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