Water Quality Certification Program Public Notices

Nevada Irrigation District (NID) is requesting certification for Scotts Flat Dam Spillway Improvements Project (Project). Scotts Flat Dam is part of Scotts Flat Power Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Exemption No. P-5930). The Project includes: (1) replacement of the existing Scotts Flat Spillway chute with a rectangular chute geometry (i.e., new slab with vertical side walls) and a new subdrain system along with a flip bucket terminal structure; (2) replacement of the upper plunge pool; (3) excavation of the lower plunge pool and new rock armoring will be installed to meet the updated PMF and convey a flow of up to 23,990 cubic feet per second (cfs); (4) upgrades to existing roads; and (5) development of new access roads.

Southern California Edison (SCE) has applied for a water quality certification (certification) for the Lee Vining Hydroelectric Project (Project), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 1388. The 11.25-megawatt Project is located on Lee Vining and Glacier Creeks in the eastern Sierra Nevada near Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake. The Project is primarily on federal lands managed by Inyo National Forest, with a small portion owned by SCE. The Project includes three main dams and reservoirs (Saddlebag, Tioga, and Ellery), a 1.2-mile flowline, and the Poole Powerhouse. Water stored in Saddlebag and Tioga reservoirs is discharged through Lee Vining and Glacier Creeks, respectively, to Ellery Lake, where water is either diverted into the penstock to Poole Powerhouse or spills over Rhinedollar Dam (forms Ellery Lake), and then discharges to Lee Vining Creek. In addition to continued operations and maintenance of the Project under a new FERC license, SCE has proposed modifications to the Project’s FERC boundary, minor operational changes to minimum instream flows relating to hydropeaking operations, and implementation of new or modified protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures for environmental resource and tribal / historic resource management.

South Feather Water and Power Agency (SFWPA) is requesting certification for the Slate Creek Dam Sediment Removal and Low-Level Outlet Repair Project (Project), which is part of South Feather Power Project, also known as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2088. The Project will involve the following maintenance and repair activities: (1) temporarily diverting Slate Creek flows around the work area using a bypass system within the existing impoundment to route water to an existing release valve during sediment removal; (2) mechanically remove approximately 9,200 cubic yards of sediment accumulated at the upstream face of the dam; and (3) facilitate diver access to and repair of the dam’s low level outlet to restore operational functionality.

On April 20, 2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submitted a request for water quality certification for Lower Blue Lake Dam Seepage Mitigation Project (Project), part of the Mokelumne River Hydroelectric Project. In 2018, PG&E observed evidence of seepage on the downstream embankment face of Lower Blue Lake Dam. Since 2018, PG&E has maintained a lower reservoir level to minimize ongoing seepage. The Project includes: (1) installing a filter, seepage collection system, and rock fill buttress along the downstream earthen embankment portion of Lower Blue Lake Dam; (2) raising the crest of Lower Blue Lake Dam by approximately two feet; (3) placing a gravel surface along the crest of the dam; (4) replacing the existing reservoir depth staff gage; (5) installing a public safety railing along a portion of the dam; (6) replacing degraded concrete associated with the instream flow release weir and incorporating it into the Mokelumne River Hydroelectric Project boundary; (7) removing the helipad at the left dam abutment; (8) removal and abandonment of an existing water line; (9) relocating a portion of electrical conduit that provides power and communications to the instream flow release weir gauging station outside of the rock fill buttress footprint; (10) installing additional concrete erosion protection adjacent to the right wall of the existing spillway; and (11) replacing the spillway sills and flashboards.

Placer County Water Agency is requesting certification for the Middle Fork Interbay Maintenance and Enhancement/Restoration Activities Project (Project), which is part of Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project, also known as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2079. The Project will involve the following maintenance activities: (1) draining Middle Fork Interbay Reservoir and constructing a bypass from above the reservoir to below Middle Fork Interbay Dam; (2) analyze reservoir sediments for particle size; (3) excavating 68,000 cubic yards of sediment from the reservoir; (4) placing gravel sediments below the dam for Middle Fork American River gravel augmentation; (5) hauling other sediments to a disposal site; and (6) regrading disturbed areas and refilling the Middle Fork Interbay Reservoir.

El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) is requesting certification for the Echo Lake Dam Maintenance Project (Project), which is part of El Dorado Hydroelectric Project, also known as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 184. The Project will require work within the Echo Lake lakebed immediately upstream of Echo Lake Dam and within Echo Creek downstream of Echo Lake Dam. The Project will involve the following maintenance activities: (1) cleaning debris around the lake level gage and Echo Conduit inlet structure; (2) replacing rock at the heel of the dam; (3) performing minor concrete patch repairs along the upstream face of the dam and within the spillway; (4) replacing and extending lake level instrumentation; (5) repositioning rock to stabilize the spillway outfall; and (6) patching and repairing the rock wall weir downstream of the Echo Creek stream gage.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is requesting a water quality certification (certification) for the Pit 5 Dam Erosion Control Project to address cracks observed in the concrete of the left-wing wall along the south bank of the Pit 5 Diversion Dam by representatives of the Division of Safety of Dams during a March 2020 inspection. Additionally, the Project will limit further erosion at the site and reduce the potential for future bank mass wasting. Project activities will include: (1) site preparation including mobilization, vegetation removal, minor grading, and best management practices (BMPs); (2) mass excavation near the upper portion of the left wing wall; (3) minor concrete modifications to the left bank concrete wing wall; and (4) placement of rock slope protection (also known riprap) along the lower portion of the left wing wall to help buttress the hillside and prevent water scour. The proposed modifications to the concrete wing wall will not result in any significant changes to the historic property by altering its character, function, or appearance. Excavated material from the Project will be hauled off-site to designated spoils laydown areas, compacted, and protected with BMPs. As a final erosion control measure, all disturbed areas within the Project site will be hydroseeded.

On December 29, 2025, Nevada Irrigation District submitted a request for water quality certification for the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project (Project; FERC Project No. 2266). The 79.32 megawatt project is located on the South Yuba River, Middle Yuba River, and Bear River. The Project includes four developments: Bowman, Dutch Flat, Chicago Park, and Rollins, which include 13 main dams, 11 reservoirs, four water conduits, four powerhouses, 17 campgrounds and associated recreation facilities. Nevada Irrigation District has applied for a new FERC license, under which it proposes to: add a powerhouse adjacent to the existing Rollins Powerhouse; add five new streamflow gages; replace, upgrade, or construct new recreation facilities; decommission two non-Project roads; modify the Project boundary to add additional roads and recreation areas; and implement new minimum flow, ramping, and spill cessation measures.

San Francisco Zen Center is requesting a water quality certification for the Green Gulch Streamflow and Water Storage Improvement Project (Project). The Project will include removal and restoration of two on-channel ponds on Green Gulch that had an approximately 0.9 and 1.9 acre-feet of storage capacity. A third on-channel pond will be partially filled and converted to stream adjacent floodplain wetland, vegetated with native species. A new 11.6 acre foot pond will be constructed to provide water storage for the farm outside the channel and riparian corridors.

Placer County Water Agency is requesting water quality certification for the Hell Hole Boat Ramp Extension Project (Project). The Project will include the demolition, removal, and replacement of the existing boat ramp. The new boat ramp will be in a similar alignment as the existing boat ramp. The new boat ramp will extend approximately 262 feet longer than the existing boat ramp and will terminate at an elevation of 4,505 feet above sea level, 25 vertical feet lower than the terminus of the existing boat ramp (4,530 feet above sea level). Project construction will begin September of the first year in which the water surface elevation of Hello Hole Reservoir is at or below 4,500 feet to allow work to be done in the dry.

Placer County Water Agency is requesting water quality certification for the Hell Hole LLO Valve and Channel Modification Project (Project). The Project consists of modifications to the existing Hell Hole LLO and Rubicon River channel to implement pulse flows in we water and above normal water years as required under the Middle Fork Project FERC License Order. Project modifications include: (1) replacing the existing 48-inch Howell-Bunger (HB) valve; (2) replacement of the existing 12-inch HB valve on the adjacent stream maintenance conduit; (3) modification of the stilling basin at the base of the LLO valve to provide scour protection at higher discharges; (4) and modification to the Rubicon River channel for approximately 450 feet downstream of the LLO valve to prevent flooding of the Hell Hole Powerhouse.

Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency is requesting water quality certification for the Watsonville Slough System Managed Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Project (Project). The Project would involve a new water diversion system to divert surface water installation of an intake screen at the existing Harkins Slough filter plant, installation of a screened intake and pump station at Struve Slough, a pipeline to connect the Struve Slough pump station to the Harkins Slough filter plant, and construction of an approximately 12.7 acre groundwater recharge basin with associated recovery wells and monitoring wells. On average, the Project would pump approximately 1,510 acre-feet of water per year from Struve Slough to supply irrigation water from recovery wells. The Project is intended to balance usage of the groundwater basin and prevent seawater intrusion while upgrading existing facilities.

The City of Monterey is requesting water quality certification for the Lake El Estero Diversion Project (Project). The Project would involve a new water diversion system to divert surface water from Lake El Estero to the City of Monterey’s existing sanitary sewer system in lieu of discharging into the Monterey Bay. Specifically, the Project consists of digging an approximately 30 foot trench from the shore of Lake El Estero to the existing sewer line and dewatering a small section of Lake El Esteros’ shore to install a new high level outlet that will discharge into the existing sewer. The Project is a component of the Pure Water Monterey Groundwater Replenishment Project and would divert the portion of untreated stormwater that currently flows from Lake El Estero into the Monterey Bay to the City of Monterey’s sewer system to be treated at the Monterey One Water’s Regional Treatment Plant and recycled for indirect potable reuse.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) applied for a water quality certification to renew and modify its United States Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District Regional General Permit (RGP) 9, Minor Discharges Associated with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Upper American River Project (SPK-2013-01098). SMUD’s RGP 9 covers various construction, maintenance, and repair activities that are not covered in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses for SMUD’s Upper American River Project (FERC Project No. 2101) and Chili Bar Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 2155). SMUD intends to renew RGP 9 for 2026 through 2031 and add activities planned for the Chili Bar Hydroelectric Project.