Recreational releases on Slab Creek Run?

[JesseW]

I heard that there are going to be releases next year and was wondering if anyone knows when they will be. Is it going to be a last weekend kind of deal like the feather or what? Anyone know?

[Darrick]

Friends of the river has a link to the details in the pdf file pages 1-73 and 1-74

http://www.friendsoftheriver.org/sit...dInterest=1121



I hope it next year!!

Darrick

[hilde]

There is one final hurdle (i think) to getting a license issued that has definite flows on Slab: FERC.
This is long, but if you are interested in flows for Slab to happen you should read it.
Most of you know that a Settlement was reached by all parties regarding the UARP. Boater benefits included year round scheduled flows on the Chili Bar-Salmon Falls reach, scheduled flows on the Ice House reach of South Silver Creek, and scheduled releases on Slab Creek. That started the process in motion for reviews by FERC with the ultimate goal of a license issue for the UARP.
SMUD submitted their cost analysis to FERC in April and it included substantially inflated costs to deliver flows on Slab (these are my personal opinions but they are shared by all of the participating Agencies and NGO's of the settlement). FERC used this information when it commented in it's DEIS regarding flows on Slab which, while not specifically suggesting reducing the number of set days of flow on Slab in so many words, seemed to indicate that the cost to insure these flows is excessively high and these numbers might need to be re-addressed. They are suggesting to review the agreed upon table with set dates at a time in the future.
FERC seems to believe that facility modifications to Slab Creek dam (~11 million according to SMUD)are necessary for the additionally provided flows in the years 15-end of license. This is not the case-flows can and will be provided by spilling Slab if SMUD choses not to modify the facility. Right now the flows (total of 6 days) are to be provided only in BN, AN and WET years and only until Iowa Hill pump plant is constructed OR until the year 15 when flows will be provided in all water year types (anywhere from a min of 6 days of release up to a max of 18 days of release and including October releases. FERC has recommended that the flow schedule be readdressed and we feel that this goes directly against the intent and purpose of the settlement agreement which was signed by all parties, including the two Utilities involved; SMUD and PGE.
There is a FERC sponsored public comment meeting this Monday, Nov 5th in Placerville at the Best Western-details below.
Our goal at this public, recorded meeting that FERC is holding is basically to make sure that FERC understands what is and is not required to provide flows to Slab and to reiterate the fact that all parties were clear on what they agreed to provide and have agreed to supply these flows.
Pretty confusing...but what isn't confusing is the importance of visual interest you can show by just attending the meeting; you don't need to speak-in fact in the interest of expediency, we plan to have only two speakers. It is super important to come across as polite, rational and well mannered as an audience because I assume there will be some individuals attending that have some heated issues with FERC that they are going to discuss (the building of Iowa Hill for one).
You don't have to absorb or understand all of the above but if you want to boat Slab, or want your kids to be able to boat Slab you really need to attend this meeting. Please pass the notice around to as many people that you think are interested in flows on Slab. It will be two hours out of your life and it's effect will likely be for 50 years so please consider showing up and supporting all the work that has been done to date to get flows on Slab! Let's show FERC that flows on Slab have great value for boaters.
Thanks,
hilde

Details:

DATE : Monday, November 5, 2007 TIME : 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. (PST) PLACE : Best Western Placerville Inn 6850 Green Leaf Drive Placerville, CA,95667-6228 Phone: 530-622-9100

This is the official FERC notice:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Project
No. 2101-084
California
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Project No. 2155-024

California

NOTICE OF INTENT TO HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE UPPER AMERICAN RIVER
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS

(October 15, 2007)

On September 21, 2007, the Commission issued the Upper
American River Hydroelectric Project and Chili Bar Hydroelectric
Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS) and
mailed it to resource and land management agencies, interested
organizations, and individuals.

The Environmental Protection Agency noticed the draft EIS in
the Federal Register on September 28, 2007 (72 FR 55201);
comments are due November 13, 2007. The draft EIS evaluates the
environmental consequences and developmental benefits of issuing
new licenses for operating and maintaining the Upper American
River Project and the Chili Bar Project, which are located in El
Dorado and Sacramento Counties, California. Besides evaluating
the projects as they now operate, the draft EIS evaluates the
projects with the Settlement Agreement and with staff-recommended
measures.

The public meeting, which will be recorded by an official
stenographer, is scheduled as follows.

DATE :Monday, November 5, 2007
TIME :7:00 - 9:30 p.m. (PST)
PLACE : Best Western Placerville Inn
6850 Green Leaf Drive

[tulley]

Hilde,

You are AWESOME! The entire CA paddling community appreciates the work you are doing in the American Watershed! Slab is a true gem, that really warrents the paddling communities' focus...

Some of us logistically cannot make the public meeting on Monday but are fully supportive of your outstanding efforts. What else can we do? How can we get involved?

+ Write letters?
+ Join/renew/increase AW membership (goes w/o saying)?
+ Bake you cookies?
+ Revive the Boof posting from ~2 years ago about how stellar and unique a resouce Slab is?

Keep up the great work and tell us how we can support you.

Thanks,

Chris

[jdog]

"Iowa Hill pump plant"????
I don't like the sound of that one bit. What does that entail? Does that mean Chamberlain put-in Iowa Hill?

[Michael Picker]

Then maybe you should come to the meeting...

[hilde]

Iowa Hill is the name of the proposed pump storage power plant for the hill-Iowa Hill-above the current Slab Creek Reservoir. The UARP is a total different drainage than the NF American. This is the South Fork of the American River drainage-the Upper American River Project. It starts near the Rubicon and ends at Folsom Lake so it covers a lot of ground...and potential whitewater boating.
The whole reason we are trying to get people to come to this meeting is to show that flows on Slab have a great value to a great many people. Right now with the information provided, FERC is basing it's recommendations on the premise that there will be an annual reduction in power production of around $430,000 to produce the recreation flows asked for on all of the different sections of the project. Regardless of whether that is or is not true, that is what FERC has for information and that is what they are trying to balance in terms of all stakeholders. They have no idea how important flows on Slab are for the large amount of people that use reaches like Slab; they don't read BOOF or hang out in the Sierras when the water is running. They read thousands of pages of biased information and try to come up with a plan. They were told that it would cost 11.6 million dollars to modify facilities to provide Slab flows. This is NOT a necessity. They don't know that. They were told it would cost $430,000 to provide all of the recreational flows. I have no idea whether this is true or not but I am guessing that since the Utility provided these figures, they were based on the highest cost necessary or peak dollar rates.
Also, this is not a solo effort; there are LOTS of people working in Governmental Agencies that are working for you and they have a tremendous amount of knowledge and understand how important these flows are. Through the past years I have gained a tremendous amount of respect for these Forest Service, Fish and Game, Water Resource, Park Service, etc. people. You will never see them on the river but they GET IT and are why we have what we have today. Private individuals like Bill Center, Nate Rangel, Theresa Simsiman, Ron Stork and MANY MANY others who have written letters, attended meetings and kept up with what's going on are the people who also got us to where we are today. Thank you so much for all the compliments but remember it is not one person doing all of this by any means.
So now it's your turn and this is the easy part. All we are asking is that you take a couple hours out of your life to just show up at the meeting and support all that has already been done. Visual props will help underscore what we are trying to say.
hilde
See you on the South Fork which will run every single weekend of the YEAR because of the efforts of a lot of people! There aren't many places, if any in the US that can say they are able to boat every weekend of the year if they chose.

[webmaster]

The previous Slab Creek threads come up automatically - just scroll down this page until you see a table titled 'Similar Threads.'

The plumbing of the Upper American River Project (UARP) can be confusing. Here are links to a USGS schematic of the South Fork American River basin and a Google Maps link with some points of interest (click the icon near Cable Rd for more info on the Iowa Hill project)

http://ca.water.usgs.gov/waterdata/S...n.sf.basin.pdf
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&h...,0.039911&z=15

[Thomas M]

I plan on showing up tonight and want to encourage other boaters to do the same. Especially the locals! I have only done slab twice, but what an awesome run that is so close to home. For those of us who frequently boat the American river drainages this is one of the best runs. Whether you have plans or not show up tonight, this run is worth it.

[hilde]

Thank you all for attending the meeting. One comment the project manager said at the beginning of the meeting bothers me quite a bit. Flows on Slab were one of the specific items he brought up as an example of what FERC has recommended changing.
It's time for official public comments to FERC. The only way this can be done is electronically (written comments are too complicated to notice everyone,etc at this point). To do this you have to register with the FERC site and then attach a file with your comments. It is a pretty easy process but you will need to spend maybe 15 minutes or so to set it all up. I will post tomorrow all the links and give some pointers about what should be addressed. All comments are directed at the DEIS at this point and I really believe a lot of comments from boaters will make a big difference in the Final EIS and ulitimate final decision by the FERC committee (3/5 are Republicans...)
So it would be great if all those people who posted comments a couple years ago to rally and send them in one more time. It will make a difference and we really are close so please make the effort. If you want to group up and sign several names to the same submittal that would work too but one person would have to register and represent the group.
hilde