Upper North Fork Feather River Project
Federal Energy & Regulatory Commmission
Upper North Fork Feather River Project, CA
In 2002, Kleinschmidt was selected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to assist with the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA) for hydroelectric projects undergoing relicensing throughout the U.S. Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and other applicable laws, the FERC and/or its sub-contractor must independently evaluate the environmental effects of licensing non-federal hydroelectric projects.
As a sub-contractor under this long-term contract with the FERC, Kleinschmidt prepared the draft and final aquatic resources section of the EIS for the Upper North Fork Feather River Project (FERC No. 2105) located on the Feather River in California. The Upper North Fork Feather River Project (Project) is an existing 362 MW hydroelectric project consisting of three dams and five powerhouses. The Licensee of the Project, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, filed an application for new license with the FERC in 2002. Kleinschmidt assisted the FERC with the review of the license application, scoping meetings, and preparation of additional study requests, scoping documents 1 and 2, and the aquatic resources section of the draft and final EIS.
Significant environmental issues analyzed by Kleinschmidt staff for the Project included instream flows, peaking and ramping operations, impoundment fluctuations, fish passage, fluvial geomorphology, woody debris managements, turbine entrainment, fish diseases, and whitewater flow releases.
For more information contact Gary Liimatainen.