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TABLZ OF CONTDX"T
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aqr o f 3r.porl;an.t Data. ..................
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1 ~ ~ 4 ~ n d
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H'., A. b i e n
BY J. H. wales
...
$
6
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OF TKE F L 4 T m RIVER,
C A L I F ~ I T U ,OF ROPOSEI) hYDRO-ELECTRIC DETIELORiiSiTS WITH
SPECIAL RIiTr7REIICE TO CRSSTji AI?il ROCK CREEK
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R u t h o r i r i n g I s s u a n c e of License (~ajor)
.'
*
2
111.. O r d e r .4ut,horiai11g k ~ 3 n d n e n tof i i r t i c l e 13 of License ( l k j o r )
The E f f e c t on t h e Fishery o f t h c
North For:: of t k c F c a t h a r R i v e r ,
C a l i f s r n i a , of Proposzd
dro-Slectric
Develop?lent~with S p e c i c l ReTereccl: To
C r e s t n ar.d Rock Cr.=zl: P r o j e c t s
f
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1.
b
j
4
f
$
The! P r e s e ~ tBi.ologica1 P i c t u r e . . . . .
.......................... 4
$
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~ h Fc u t u r e ~ i o l o ~ i c Pa ilc t u r e . ,
...............................6
.,.....,.
;rater Eel.e.-,sss
8
Z lraluzt iort cf Lhs T r o u t F i s h i n g .
.....................:, ......lo
U. S. F o r e s t Service P i c n i c Grounds..
Residents o f Nesrbp To5ms..
...... .l2
..,...............12
~ e s i d e n t so f t h e North Fork F e s t h e r Rivar
Canyan.
;,.
........................ ........12
Revised J d y ,
195'1
Second r e v i s i o n June, 1952
4
"-/"i
~t i s t h e p r p o s e of t h i s repol% t q shew ierhat e f f 2 c t
;.i05.d
..--
.L,
EL ~ @ E ~ Pof
,s
h;r&ro-electric 20xer 6ars ;nd div?rsi.ons on t h e H c r t h Po1.L. o f
Fa3.ther 3 i v e r
krill
have dn fish m d f i . s k k , g in t h a t , st;ra;mo
I t $ l o p ~ e n t of h y d r o - n l o c t r i c p f e r usually, if n o t inviiriajl;',
P
t
alters
k
jr.~-31ved, A t times a l t e r e d w a t e r courses pyovc Genefici.al t,o f i.sh
1
p,?ulations, but i n xiny c z s e s t h e e f Z c c t is detriclcrital.
i
fiz'
.
The
4
B
i9
"1'
P
Roclc Creek Dm m d C r e s t a DL? t o g e t h e r u i t h t h e l r c o r i d ~ i t sand
9i;o-r
houses a r e vmder c o n s t r u c t i o n on t h e I J o r t k For:; F e ~ t h e rIli.rcr
5;: t h e P a c i f i c Gas snd
~lectrkcCoapanj.
as two ns Jar i~r.itsi
n t h e i r se-ies
" .
of seven proposed 7ower units on t h a hiorth For::.
E
On the ,ptLges iz.nedi?t.>ly' fol3.ov1in~1 r i L 1 be f o m d t h e s m ~ a r yof
?I
t
4-
t
b p r t s n t d a t a and rccorienda',ions,
The 2rot;lcn anc! i n v c s t i ~ a t i o ndztc?,
P
ai-2 p r e s 5 n t e d in Sec5ion I-IV an6 i n S e c t i o n V . ~ L l lb e f o m d an ancilysls
i
~f t h e proklen.
6
The ap7endiu s s c t i o n contairs: 1/
5
I.
f
1.
S
i
!
i
i
i
i
.tcrldlife
.. ... . .S e r v i c e ,
,
.
;report
by United Stztes Fish 6:
River Basin S e c t i o n , e n t i t i c d . "A 2e;jol-t on F i s h a n d I i i l d -
:if e .Resourcas in B e l a t i o n t o t h e \ l a t e r Devel.opment P l n 3 f o r t h e P r o p c s ~ . d
,..
,
~ t i f h P rRiver
,
.
. . .
Bssin, Rock CTekli and C r e s t a P r o j e c t s ( ~ o x e rP r o j e c i Fc. 1q62)1t
2/ United. S t a t e s F o r e s t S e r v i c c Report on Feather "niver f o r F e d e r a l Po~czr
r,
* " ~ i s ~ i o n - j?e~c t~ bo. 1391; 3/ Tables 1,2,_?;Haps 1 ei 2 and F i ~ u r z s1 k 2 0
r
2nd
4/ List of R e f e r -=nces.
S U M M A R Y
IjMPORTAINT
O F
D A T A
1. Miles of r i v e r a l t e r e d by Rock Creek and Crests projects16 miles.
'
2,
Miles of river t o be k l t e r e d by all p r o j e c t s below Ahanor-56 m i l e s ,
I
!!ccreatioh Use
3.
Number of commercial b s o r t s a f f e c t e d by proposed power
developnents-ll,
,
4* Numbor of Forest
developant s--6.
S e r v i c e camps a f f e c h d by proposed powar .
,
A n c l i n ~Use
5.
E s t i n a t e d nmber of + g l o r
1946-36,000
days spent on North Fork in
0
~ 6 , Estimated as minimum rider of t r o u t .caught f r o m North Fork
in 1946-108,000,
1
Munber of t r o u t fingerlings fmm hatchery stock planted in
1545--&3
9
m/
I
'
8.
Nuznber of resident &@era in P1-s
1949--3 300..
,
9. Number of anglers
194&--25,000
County, 1942;--2,353
f i # h i n g in Pluclas County
i.k l!942--14,750
I
r
I
I
~s,ffm~&
+A
--
8
10. Calculated catch o f kmut in Plumas C o w in 1942428,000
19@--7ZO~ OOO
Il*
I
Average ((mean) river1 flow
2,710 c e f o ~ e
-
28 years a t B i g Bar, C a l i f o r n i a
I
I
8
s
' p e d e k l Power
L;..
2
f
5
om mission
'
'
Washugton, D o C.
Gentlemen
. . :
On March 13, 1947 we wrote t o you making c e r t a i n recon~rnendations
f o r t h e r e l e a s e of water f o r f i s h l Q e and r e c r e a t i o n a l purposes in
connection with t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f the P a c i f i c Gas & E l e c t r i c Co, f o r
a water-power p r o j e c t (Nos 1962) located on North Fork of t h e Feather
River' in Butte and P l u m s ~ o u n 6 i s 8 , C d i f o m b ,
Subsequently, a t our request, you grznted an additional period t o
Harch 25, 1947 f o r t h e submission of a d d i t i o n a l recornendationso Discussion of t h e matter with the P a c i f i c Gas & E l e c t r i c Coo during this
period has i n d i c a t e d that t h e following modified conditions with r e s p e c t
t o f i s h j l i f e would be acceptable t o them f o r incluvfon in the torms of
the license, and t h e y would a l i o be s a t i s f a c t o r y t o us in lieu of t h e
recommendation made in our l e t t e r of Phrch l.3, 1947,, If t h e Comiission
therefore f i n d s these prosent recommendations satisfactoqr f o r h c l u s i o n
in t h e license o u r prelrious proposals can be disregardeda,
It i s o u r r e c o r n a d a t i o n t h a t t h e l i c e n s e f o r P r o j ~ c tNoo 3962
provide t h e following f o r the support of fish life and f o r r o c r e a t i o n
purpos.0~.
on t h e Worth Fork ~ e a t h o rRiverp
.
1
I
A,
1.
Immediately below Almanor Dam:
E
!
5
(a)
i
(b) Provide a flow'of n o t less than 1 0 c,f ,s, during
t h e winter period (~ovember1 t~ A p r i l 30).
$
.
fr
Provide a flow of not less than 35 c o f , s o during
t h e summer period (May 1 t o October 31).
--
Note
These flows will. result in probably minimum
flows immeldiately above Caribou power house of about
60 c,f.s. auring %he s m e r period and 40 c , f , s ,
during the1 winter period,
Ze
Lnmediatsly below Rock Creek diversion darn:
1
:
(a) Provide a flow of not less than 100 cafes, d u r h g
the summer period,
. .
..
. --..
(b)
Provide a flow of not l e s s than. 50 c,f ,so during
t h e w i n t e r pprioda
(c)
Summer flows t o be reduced t o not l e s s than 50 c.f.s.
on d q yesrs*
.
Note -- Those flows will result in probable m i n i m u m
sumner flows above Bucks Creek p w e r house of 125
c.f.s, except on dry years when t h e y will reduce t o
about 75 c , f , s , above Bucks Creek p l a n t , Bucks Creek
plant would add about 200 c . f , s . during t h e summer
priod, .
3,
Below Csesta dam:
(a)
Provide a flow o f not l e s s than 50 c,f ,so at all
times belaw t h e mouth of Grizzly Creek.
I
B,
Company w i l l advance t h e sum of $40,000 toward t h e construction
of two I~roughll f i s h barriers on t h e North Fork of Feather River
i f such a r e l a t e r found t o be necessary; one t o be l o c a t e d above
t h s mouth of Yellow Creek and tho o t h e r between Bucks Creek and
t h e upper end of Cresta Diversion Reservoiro The necessity f o r
e i t h e r o r both of t h e s e b a r r i a r s s h a l l be determined during t h e
f i r s t t e n y e a r s fo3Uwding t h e commencaments o f operation of Cresta
pmj e c t ,
Co
C a m p - Nill provi.de e l e c t r i c f i s h screens a t t h e intakes t o t h e
diversion tunrlels f o r t h e Rock Creek and Cresta p r o j e c t s *
I
D, Coxpany will desigp i t s s t r u c t u r e s f o r t h e r e l e a s e o f t h e flows
t o be provided under "At1 so t h a t water will be t a k a f r o m a8
near t o t h o bottom o f the r e s e m i r as i s p r a c t i c a b l e ,
E,
'
:
,
Company egraes t o cooperate with t h e S t a t e Division o f Water
Resources and t h e Division of Fish and Game in t h e establishment
of s u i t a b l e c r i t e r i a f o r t h e determination of dry years f o r t h e
purpose of fixzing summer water r e l e a s e s under Section A,
over
1
The Federal
~ou&.ssion t o ressrve t h e r i g h t t o a d j u s t s a i d
r a t e s of flow in.itc;n #A (2) and (3) i f t h e Commission s h a l l f i n d
a f t e r n o t i c e t o i n t e k s t e d p a r t i e s and opportunity t o be heard,
t h a t t h o r a t e s of floq a r e more than necessarg o r i n s u f f i c i e n t
for .such purposes.
.
.
.
.,
.
.
m.e
,
,
COPY
/
power
March 25,.19k7
c amiss i o n
The ~ n c ~ f Oas
i c & Electric Co. has agreed that the preceding
conditions and r e q - d m e n t s w i l l be:satisfactory t o than if tiley are
a p a r t of t h e license f o r P r o j e c t No. 1962.
Yours very truly, .
:
ACT :LG
.
EMIL J. N e OTT, J R e
Executive D i r e c t o r
California Division of Fish and Came
?
i
...".
O R D E R
A U T H O R I Z I N G
?,
r.,
.
.
.
ISSUAElCE
OF
LI.CEIdSE,
.
8
( M A J O R )
P r o j e c t No, 1962
Exhibit,
2,
f
r
i
i
Befora
)\'elson Lee Smith, C h a h r m ; Clzudo L, Cra~;lsr,a d
~ ~ d s s i o n e:r s Harrington Wimberw,
June 17# 1947
I
.-
In t h e . m a t t e r of
,)
)
)
Pacific Gas and E l e c t r i c cornp&
~ r o j a c t ' J J o1962
~
,
'
(1) On January 6, 1947 P a c i f i c ,Gas azid E l e c t r i c Cc~parlg, 04" Scan Francisco,
California, f i l e d an a p p l i c a t i o n f o r l i c e m e urrdar t h e Yederal
Power Act t o authorizo t h e constrclction, operation, a ~ maintenance
d
of proposed Rock Creak and Cresta hydro-riloctric davolopments,
designated as P r o j e c t No. 1962, on tho North Fork of Feather
River, in Butte and Plumas C o w t i e s , C a l i f o m - b , afeecting lmds
of t h e United S t a t e s within t h e P l u m s m d Lassen I4ationa.l
Forests.
.
b
,
(2) The proposed dovelopaents compriSe :
(a) The Rock Creek developnent c o n s i s t i n g p r i n c i p a y , of a concrate
grzvity d i v e r s i o n dam about 115 f e e t high and abot?t 550 f e e t long,
: c r a a t i n g e r e s e r v o i r about 2 m i l e s long w i k b ' a b o u t 2300 acre-foot
,of storage; an.i n t a k e s t r u c t u r e ; a pressure t m i e l &bout 34,503
I feet'.long; a penstock and s w g e chamber; a poirareh?use c o n t a j n h g
two ,73,500 horsepower v e r t i c a l F r a n c i s t:lrbins:: each d i r e c t co$ected t o a 03,000 Kva, g*nerator; a subs2;ation; snc\ two
. . ...single-circuit 230-Kv, transmission l i n e s each about 500 f e e t
long, c o n n e c t h g t o - l i n e s of o r proposed f o r P r o j e c t No. 737*
,
,
,
.
(b) The Cresta d e v e l o p e n t consisting p r i r , c i p d l y c?f a concrete gravity
d i v e r s i o n dam about; 113 f e e t high knd &out 360 f e e t long,
c r e a t i n g a r e s e r v o i r about 1 3/4 milea l o n g with a b o u t 2000
acre-feet of s t o r a g e ; y-~i n t a k e s t r u c t u r e ; e p r o o m r e t k e l about
20,000 f e e t long; a penstock end surge chamber; a powerhouse
containing two 46,500 horsepo:.rer v b r t i c a l Francis t u r b i n e e each direct-connected t o a. 37$500 Kva, generator; a eubstation; arid
I
b
t
CB
prJject No. 1952
6/17/47
(coot.)
two s i n g l e - c i r c u i t 230-Kv, transmission limes each about
3,500 f e e t long, connecting t o l i n e s of o r proposed f o r
ProJect lie, 737*
f
4
-
-
( 3 ) The a p p l i c a n t o m s and o p e r a t e s t h e following e x i s t i n g p r o j e c t s
t.
)
L
t
i
$
,
li
e
1
i:
i
within t h e North Fork drainage basin: t h o Caribou project, with
49,000 acre-rest of storage, l i c e n s e d as P r o j e c t No. 1352: t h e
Bucks Creek p l a n t ~ L t hlO6,OOO acre-feet of storago, l i c e n s e d
as P r o j e c t No, 619; t h e Big Bend power plant which is unlicensed, Lake A h a n o r r e s e r v o i r l i c e n s e d as P m j e c t No. 6x6,
and t r a n s n i s s i o n line ProJect Noo 737, leading f r o m t h e Bucks
Creek p l a n t e Lake A h n o r r e s e r v o i r , whose, water s t o r a g e
b e n e f i t s tha Caribou and Big Bend plants, can conserve a l l of
t h e water coming down from tho drainage a r e a above t h e o u t l e t
and i s designed to be used f o r seasonal s t o r a g e and f o r c y c l i c
o r l o n g carry-over s t o r a g e from on9 yeap t o another although
it i s not now s o used due t o certain s t r u c t u r a l d e f e c t s in t h e
dam.
1
The Secretary of Mar and t h e Chief of Engineers have reported
favorably on t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o
.!
I
(4)
5
(5) The Secretary of t h e I n t e r i o r has been requested t o r e p o r t on t h o
i
i
4
3
*>
i
application,
( 6 ) The Assistant Secretary of Agriculture f o r t h e S e c r e t a r y of Agriculturw, who has supervision over t h e Plumas and Lzssen
National Forests, und t h o Calffornia Division of Fish and Game
have each recommended t h a t t h e l i c e n s e contain c e r t a i n conditions
f o r t h e protection and support of f i s h life, S i n c e t h o conditions r e c m e d e d a r e g r e a t l y et variance, p r o v i s i o n ' b heroina f t e r mule whereby t h e Commission may h e r e a f t e r prescribe
r e a s ~ n s b l oconditions f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n and support of f i s h
l i f e a f t e r consideration of t h e respective conditions of t h e
S e c r e t e r y of Agriculture, t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e I n t e r i o r , and t h e
S t a t e of C;lifornitic
Commission, ha*g
finds t h a t :
-
considered the a p p l i c a t i o n and t h e record thereon,
(7) The applicant i s a corporation organized under t h e laws of
t h e S t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a and has s u b n i t t e d s a t i s f a c t o r y
evidence of compliance with t h e requirements of a l l
a p p l i c a b l e S t a t e la+rs i n s o f a r as necessa~ryLo e f f e c t t h e
purposes of a l i c e n s e f o r t h e project.
(8) No conPlictFng a p p l i c a t i o n i s before t h e Commission,
..
;rvject
No. 1962 (Cont.)
( 9 ) Public n o t i c e lus been given as required by t h e Acta
(10) The issuance of a l i c e n s e f o r t h e p r o j e c t , a s h e r e i n a f t e r
provided, bhiU n o t intprfere o r be i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e
p y s e s f o r which We Pluruas aqd Lassen National Forests
were created o r a c q u i r e d *
I
The p r o J e c t will. not a f f e c t any Government dam now in
existence, nor w i l l the issuance o f a l i c e n s e t h e r e f o r ,
as h e r e i n a f t e r provided, a f f e c t t h e development of 'any
water power resources f o r public pupses which should
be undertaken by t h e United States i t s e l f o
(12) The p r o j e c t i s b e s t adapted t o a comprehensive plan f o r
. t h o improvement
u t i l i s t i o n of w a t e r power developm e n t and f o r o t h e r beneficial public uses, including
r e c r e a t i o n a l purpoaess
(13) For t h e purpose of determining annual charges, t h e horsepower capacity hereinafter authorized t o be i n s t a l l e d in
t h e p r o j e c t i s 147,OOO'horsepower a t the Cresta plant, making
s t o t a l i n s t a l l e d capacity of 240,000 horsepwer,
(U+) The amount of annual charges t o be paid under t h e license
f o r t h o purpose of reimbursing the United S t a t e s f o r t h e
c o s t s of adiuinistration of Part I of t h e Act, and f o r
recompensing t h e United S t a t e s f o r t h e use, occupancy,
and on jopent of its lands, i n c l u d i d g transmiosion line
r i g h t e f - w a y , i s reasonable as hereinafter fixed and
specified,
(13) lh accordsnce with Section 10(d) of t h e Act, t h e r a t e o f
r e t u ~ nupon t h e net in$sstrssnt in the project and t h e
proportion of surplus h r n i n g s t o be paid i n t o and held
i n amortization r e s e r v e s ' a r e reasonable as h e r e i n a f t e r
specified*
(16) The following maps, plans, s p e c i f i c a t i o n s , and statements
,
f a a d as p a r t of t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o r subsequent t h e r e t o ,
conform t o the ~ o d s s i o n t sr u l e s and regulations, with t h e
exception of Sheets Al and A3 of M i b i t L, t h e approval
o f \dlich should bs deferred f o r f u r t h e r consideration of
certain d e t a i l s :
project No. 1962 (con%. )
I
E x h i b i t J:
Exhibit; Ii:
t
5
L
b
i
%
I
f
E x h i b i t 1C:
Exhibit L:
Exhibit L:
i
Exhibit
1
L:
Exhibit L:
I
+
Exhibit
M:
Sheet 4.1 (4014l.F) FPC No, 1962-3.
Sheet A l to A 5
(l+01&20l+01.f+2$inclusi\*e) FPC Nos, 1962-17
to 21 i n c l u s i v e
Sheet A 6 (401425) FPC No, 1962-7
Sheet A 1 (40126) fPC No, 1 9 6 7 4
Sheet A2 (401427) FPC No, 1962-9
Sheet A 3 (40125) PPC No. 1967-10
Sl~eetshi+ to A9 ir,clwixro (40l429-
l+Oll+34h c l ~ ~ s i v ePPC
) No, l962-ll
t o 2.6 inclusive
Pages 1 t o 3 ir~clnsi-iu
It i s ordered t h a t :
f
(17)
A major licens'e be i s s u e d f o r a pePiod of 35 getlrs,
(a)
The licensee s h a l l &e su* roasocable provisions
f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n and support of f iz11 l i f e and
the r e c r e a t i o n a l resourcas o f the Nox-th Fork of
Feather River as t h e C o m b s i o n may hereafter
p r e s c r i b e a f t e r consideration of t h o recommendations .
of t h e S e c r e t a w of Agriculture, t h e Secretary of'
t h e Interior, and t h e S t a t e of California,
(b)
The l i c a m e e s h a l l begin coastruct.i.on of Cresta
d e v e l o ~ m e n tnot l a t e r thar; Deceibsr 31, 1947, znd
s h a l l complete t h e same not l a t e r t h m July 1, 1950;
s h a l l begin construction of the Rock Creek d e v e l o p
ment not l s t e r t h a n July 1, 1948, cad shall complete
t h e sac n o t later than Julg 1, 1951,
e f f e c t i v e as of t h e first dey of t h e ~ o n t hi n wllich it
is executed, t o P a c i f i c Gas and Electric Company f o r t h e
construetion, operation, m d mainienance of t h e proposed
Rock Creek and Cresta dsi-slopxents, subject t o t h e
provisiono of t h e F ~ d c r a lPower Act, o ? d t h e d e s and
r e g u l a t i o n s thereunder, said licer,:ie t o contain t h e usual
conditions and p r o v i s i o n s f o r liconaus issued under
S e c t i o n 4 ( 8 ) of t h e a c t f o r such p r o j a c t s and t h e
following s p e c i a l con$itions :
(18) After t h e f i r s t 20 y&rs of operation of t h o pmjrrct
under t h i s l i c e n s e , six (6) percent p e r a n n u s1lall be
the s p e c i f i e d rate o f return on t h e n e t investment h t h e
p r o j e c t f o r deternining surplus earnings in eccordance
with t h e provisions of Section 10 ( d ) of the Act f o r t h e
establishaent and maintenance of m o r t i z n t i o n reserves
t o be h e l d until t e m i n z t i o n of tho license, o r in t h e
d i s c r e t i o n of the Commission, t o bs applied f r o m t h e to
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time in r e d u c t i o n o'f t h e n e t investment in t h e p r o j e c t ,
and one-half of a l l s u r p l u s e a r n i n g s in excess o f six
(6) p e r c e n t p e r annum r e c e i v e d in a n y c a l e n d a r y e a r s h a l l
.
be p u t i n t o and h e l d in such a m o r t i z a t i o n r e s -rves.
v
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(19) S u b j e c t t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f S e c t i o n 10
(e) of t h e Act
and t h e r u l e s and r e m a t i o n s o f t h e Commission t h e r e u n d e r ,
t h e l i c e n s e e s h a l l , e f f e c t i v e as o f t h e d a t e of t h e
l i c e n s e , pay t o t h e United S t a t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g annual
charges:
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,
(a) F o r t h e purpose of r e i m b u r s i n g t h e United S t a t e s
. f o r t h e c o s t s of administration of P a r t I of t,he Act, one
. (I.) c e n t p e r h o r s e h w e r on t h e horsepower c a p ' c i t y
a u t h o r i z e d t o be G s t a l l e d by t h i s l i c e n s e (240,000
horsepower), p l u s two and one-half (25) c e n t s per 1,000
kilowatt-hour$ of gross e n e r g y generated by t h e p r o j e c t
during t h e f i s c a l year ended June.30 of t h e c a l e n d a r y e a r
f o r which t h e charge i s made. A s t a t e m e n t of t h e nunbber
of kilowatt-hours g e n e r a t e d in both power p l a n t s d u r i n g
t h e s a i d f i s c a l year, c e r t i f i e d under o a t h , s h a l l be f i l e d
w i t h t h e C o d s s i o n on o r b e f o r e September 1 . f o l l o w i n g
t h e end o f s a i d f i s c a l y e a r ;
i
1.
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(b) F o r t h e purpose of recompensing t h e United S t a t e s
f o r t h e use, occupancy, and en jo3-ment o f i t s l a n d s ,
e x c l u s i v e o f t h o s e used f o r t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e r i g h t - o f way3
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$474000;
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( c ) For the purpose o f ~ecomp,ensingt h e u n i t e d S t a t 6 5
f o r t h e use, occupincy, and enjoyment of i t s l a n d s f o r
t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e right-of-:iay,
$10.64;
(20) The maps, plans, s p e c i f i c a t i o n s , and statements r e f erred
t o in paragraph (16) above as conforming t o t h e
Commission~sr u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s a r e hereby approved
f o r i n c o r p o r a t i o n in t h e l i c e n s e , b u t approval of S h e e t s
A 1 and A3 of E-xhibit L i s h e r e b y d e f e r r e d .
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By t h e Commission.
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Date of .Issuance: June 17, 1947
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Leon M, Fuquay,
Secretary:
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O R D E R
AUTIiORIZING
A H E N D M E M T
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L I C E N S E
O F
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(MAJOR)
Project No, 1962
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDEUL POWER.
CC)i4MIS ION
.
Before
Nelson Leo Smith, Chairman; Thomas C. Buchanan, Claude L,
Eon C, Wallgreil and Harrington Kimberly,
~ ~ ~ ~ i s s i o n eDraper,
rs:
I
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>;
t h e ~ a t t e rof
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February 14, 1950
Pm ject Noo 1962
Pacific Gas and E l e c t r i c cornp&y' )
A r t i c l e 13 of Pacific Gas and E l e c t r i c ~ o m ~ a lni c~e n~s es f o r P r o j e c t No.
1762 consisting of t h e Rock Creek and Cresta d e v o l o p e n t s on t h e North Fork of
Feather River, C a l i f o r n i a , provides t h a t t h e l i c e n s e e s h a l l make such reasonable
provisions f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n and support of f i s h l i f e and the, r e c r e a t i o n a l
reiro~zcesof t h e Nor+th Pork of Feather River as t h e Comission may h e r e a f t e r prescribe a f t e r consideration of t h o recornendations of t h e S e c r e t a r y of Agriculture,
t h e Secretary of t h e I n t g r i o r , and t h e S t a t e of CalFfornia.
The Division of Fish and G m e , S t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a , has s u b i t t a d certain
provisions, h e r e i n a f t e r s e t f o r t h , f o r i n c l u s i o n i n the l i c e n s e f o r P r o j e c t No.
1962 for t h e support of f i s h l i f e and f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l purposes* The l i c e n s e e ,
t h e Secretary of A g r i c u l t w a , and the Secretary of the I n t e r i o r as h e r e i n a f t e r
provided, has each advised t h i s Conmission t h a t t h e provisions proposed by the
State fish arid game agency are s a t i s f a c t o r y c
The Co;nmiesion orders:
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A r t i c l a 13 of t h e license for P a c i f i c Gas and E l e c t r i c Coinpanyfs
Project No, 1962 be amended t o read as follows:
i c e 3 . : F o r t h o p r o t e c t i o n a d support o f fish l i f e and the
r e c r e a t i o n a l resources of t h e North Fork of F e a t h e r River:
Ao
The Licensee shall p r o d d e
-
1- Imrediat,ely below Almanor Dam:
a flow of , n o t l e s s than 35 c , f . s , from May 1
t o October 31 2nd a flow of n o t l e s s t h a n
1 0 c ,f s o from November 1 t o A p r i l 30,;
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2- Immediately btilori Rock Creek Diversion Dia:
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a f l a w o f not l e s s than 100 c,f.s, from May 1
t o October 31, which flow may be reduced t o
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not less'than 50 c , f , s , in,dry years;
/anda flow of n o t less than 50 c,f,s,
;from November 1 t o A p r i l 30;
3- Below Crosta-. .Dam:- .
.a flow of not less than 50 c a f e s , a t
all t i n e s below the mouth of Grizzly
Creek;
B,
The Licensee shall d e s i p its s t r u c t u r e s f o r t h e release of t h e flows, provided i n "An above, s o t h a t t h e
w a t e r will be t&m from as near t o the bottom of t h e
r e s e r v o i r as i n p r a c t i c a b l e and s u i t a b l o c r i t e r i a f o r
t h o determination o f d r y years f o r t h e purpose of f
8
t h e May 1 t o October 31 water releases provided in "A1'
above s h a l l be ostabliahed by t h e Commission.
C,
The C ~ m ~ i s s i oreserves
n
t h e r i g h t t o adjust s a i d ratos
of I l o w i n i t a s A ( 2 ) and P1(3), above, i f it shall find,
a f t e r n o t i c o t o interested parties and opportunity t o
be heard, t h z t t h e rates of flow a r e more t h a n necessary
o r i n s u f f i c i e n t f o r such p - m p s e s *
D.
The Licensee s h a l l provide e l e c t r i c f i s h screens a t t h e
intakes to the diversion tunnels f o r the Rock Creek and
Cresta p r o j e c t s i f such be found by t h e Commission t o be
justifi a b l e ;
E, The Licensee s h e l l advance t h e sum of $40,000 toward the
c o n s t r u c t i o n of two nrnught1 f i s h barriors on North Fork
?
%;
%
1
of F o a t h e r River i f such are l a t e r found t o be necessary:
one to be l o c a t e d above t h e mouth of Yellow Creek and t h e
o t h o r between Bucks Creek and t h e upper end of Cresta
Diversion R e s e r w i r , The n e c e s s i t y f o r e i t h e r o r both
of t h e s e b a r r i e r s s h a l l be determined during t h e first
ten years foUowlng t h e camencement of operation of
Cresta pro j e c t e
F* The e n t i r e p r o j e c t area s h a l l be open t o free public
access f o r f i s h j n g and o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n a l uses, except
such portions as may be reserved by t h e Licensee in the
i
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h t e r e s t of safety, efficient o p r a t i o n and p r o t e c t i o n
of pmperty.
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Q the Comission,
Leon M, Fuquay,
Secretary,
Date of : ~ i s u a n c e : February 15. 1950
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THE EFFECT ON THE FISHERI
OF THE NORTH FORK OF THl3
FEATHFR RIVB, CAL,LFOKNIA,
' OF PROPOSZD HYDRO-ELECT2IC
DEI'ELOFI.IEIJTS W I T H SPECIAL R E m C E
B
'4
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TO C73STA AIdD ROCK CREXK PI1OJ3CTS
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I. INTRODUCTION
1
A ~ l a nf o r d e v e l o p a n t of h y d r o e l e c t r i c power from. run-off w a t e r '
Ln t h e North Fork of t h e F e a t h e r River has been considered by t h e P a c i f i c
as
e:,
and X l e c t r i c Cornpsny f o r many years.
The f i r s t of t h e s e r i e s of dams
c.~ilteaplatedk r 2 s b u i l t in 1912 a t t h e lower end o f Big Neadows n e m
$.
?mituille.
iis
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It i u p o u ~ d si : r s s e r u o i r of water iihich h a s since been k w n
Lnke Almsnor,
Water fron ~ a k *ALdanor, i s d i v e r t e d thrbugh a t u n n e l t o
B u t t Vzdley r e s e r v o i r , which in t u r n f o r n s t h e f o r e b a y of t h o hydro-electric
p d e r p l a n t a t Caribou power house,
d:vertccl
Water from Lake A h a n o r i s t h u s
by t u n n e l t o B u t t Valley r e s e r v o i r and t h e n c e through conduit and
,xnstock t o Caribou power house where i t i s again released i n t o t h e stream
'Jtd of , t h o N o r t h ,Fork about 10 m i l e s below Lake Almanoi- dam.
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Water r e l e a s e d
through Caribou power house t h e n flows unimpeded down t h e ~ o r t hFork channel
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f o r a d i s t e n c e of 35 m i l e s t o Big Bend d i v e r s i o n dam. . This dam i s l o c a t e d
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t h e lupstr&an end o f "The Big '~kndllof the North Fork of t h e F e a t h e r
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diver and , i t s p u r p s e i s t o d i v e r t water through a t u n n e l conduit and pen\
3
d o c k s , t o t h e Big Bend power house about 11 m i l e s downstream.
The tiro s e c t i o n s o f t h e stream which have a v e r y rcuch reduced flow a t
:he Present t h e ar;,
the p o r t i o n from ALnanor dam t o t h e c a r i b o u power
house and t h e p o r t i o n f ram t h e Big Bend dam t o t h e B i g Bend power house,
a t o t a l d i s t a n c e of approximately.21 miles.
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T h i s is roughly 33 percent of
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the r i v e r from Almanor dam t o t h e mouth o f t h e North Fork.
m e P a c i f i c Gas and E l e c t r i c Compny i s contemplating inrmediata
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, , ~ s t r u c t i o n of two nee u n i t s i n t h e i r North Fork. power developinent plan.
$.
These a r e Rock Creek and t h o Crests p r o j e c t s ( s e e Map #1 and Table #I,
i.
These two p r o j e c t s kill reduce t h e q u a n t i t y
of
distances, pp. 2 0 - a )
of
water in t h e stream t o a f r a c t i o n of t h e n a t u r a l flow f o r s e v e r a l miles
below each d i v e r s i o n d m .
Rock Creek power house w i l l be l o c a t e d approx-
W t e l y seven m i l e s below Rock Creek dam and C r e s t a power house w i l l be
about f o u r m i l e s below i t s d i v e r s i o n dam.
The s e c t i o n s of stream between
t h e diversion dams and t h e power houses could very w e l l become d r y during
k.
part of t h e year.
Thus, about eleven miles of t h e stream w i l l , upon
completion of t h e two new u n i t s , be a l t e r e d by having t h e flow reduced f o r
several. months of t h e year.
With u l t i m a t e d e v e l o p e n t of t h e company's plan f o r p w e r generation
I
t h e e n t i r e North Fork from t h e Almanor dam t o t h e Big Bend power house, a
distance of about f i f t y - s i x miles w i l l be a l t e r e d .
Approximately f o r t y -
f o u r and one-half miles of t h e stream channel may be d r y a t . c e r t a i n
seasons of t h e y e a r and roughly eleven and one-half miles will be covered
L
L?
by deep pools formed by t h e dams.
Along t h e banks of t h e North Fork f o r h o s t of i t s lerigth' runs
Highway 24, t h e V e a t h e r River Himay", and t h e main l i n e of t h e Western
Pacif ic,Railroa'd.
Each o f f e r s t o ti?e t ravsxing public, an o p p r t u n i t F
t o vacation in en a r e a of e x c e l l e n t t r o u t f i s h i n g .
It i s l e s s than an
hourrs d r i v e d o n g t h e highway f o r e a r l y morning and l a t e afternoon t r o u t
anglers from O r o v i l l e , Quincy, and o t h e r nearby towns who, f o r various
reasons, cannot l e a v e t h e i r d u t i e s f o r more extended v&cation periods.
I
f
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5
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~t t h e p r e s e ~ ttime t h e r e a r e gane f i s h in abundance (rainbow
bla~rn trout) in t h e North Fork in t h e s e c t i o n t o be altered by pmposed
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derel0p&ntse
Several species o f rough fish are also i n h a b i t a n t s of t h e
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11. THE PRZSWT BIOLOGICAL PICTURE
The North Fork Feather i s , a t present, a p a r t i a l l y regulated r i v e r
f l o i ~ g a t t h e r a t e of around 1,500 cubic f e e t per second but with g r e a t
f l u c t u z t i o n i n times of s p r i n g runoff and f17o6ds.
United S t a t e s Geological
Survey records show t h e average discharge'of t h e s t r e a n a t Big Bar
s t a t i o n t o bg 2,710 c.f .s. f o r t h e period f r . m 1911 t o 19&,
r a t e f o r t h e period was 66,903 c.f.s,
which occured on December ll, 1937.
The minimum recorded :(regulhted) flow of 235 c.f.8.
1932. Fig, 1, p.22 ; Table 2, p.23
The maximum
occured on October 31,
shows t h e mean monthly flow frpm 1926
t o 1 9 4 inclusive.
The stream gradient between Big Bend dam and Belden i s approximately
43 f e e t per mile.
This
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t h e section in which t h e two power developments,
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Cresta and Hock Creek, a r e 'proposed f o r h m e d i a t e construction, and 'where
two others, Poe +d
Pulga are planned f o r f u t u r e development.
North Fork
Feather above Selden has a somewhat steeper gradient in t h e s e c t i o n from
~ o c k c r e e kforebay a t Belden t o t h e proposed Belden d i v e r s i. o, n dam e i g h t
a i l e s f i r t h e r upstream.
The
oTy
r e s e r v o i r o r ."slack ~ a t e r : ~ ' a pt r e s e n t i n
t h e stream above Intake d m i s t h e forebzy of Big Bend po(..erhouss.
This
r e l a t i v e l y small pool i s formed by t h e Big Bend d i v e r s i o n Dam,
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F i s h e s Present
The species of f i s h e s present in t h e North Fork Feather a t t h e present
t i n e are:
1. rainbow t r o u t
2.
3,
4.
5.
brown t r o u t
black bass ( l a r g e & small mouth)
suckerrs
squawf i s h (sacramento pike)
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6,
7.
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hardheads ( a l s o c a l l e d pike)
carp
bullheads ( c o t t o i d s )
dace
8.
j.
9.
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o r Q r of importance rainbow t r o u t ranks f i r s t and'buown t r o u t
. .
5acord a s species most a n g l e r s 6 r e f e r .
Black bass a r e not common and. a r e ,
tkerefore, not considered important by a n g l e r s a t the present time.
Rough
I b h e s a r e considered by some a n g l e r s a s more o r l e s s o f a r~uisancebecause
t b are
~ common i n t h e stream and a r e caught on t r o u t tackile.
i r e seldom u t i l i z e d f o r food.
Rough f i s h e s
L n a t u r a l balance e x i s t s a t t h e present t$me
between t r o u t and rough f i s h populations an&. t h e l e s s d e s i r a b l e s p e c i e s
I
I r e n o t considered t o o harmful t o t r o u t .
If, however, stream flow i s g r e a t l y
.
a
reduced f o r s e v e r a l miles of r i v e r t h e n a t u r a l balance becomes u p s e t and
c a p e t i t i o n between s p e c i e s may 'cause t h e t r o u t , t o disappear ,from . t h e stream.
f i s h have a g r e a t e r t o l e r a n c e f o r t h e t y p e of stream fonned by low
9cu&
fiow, i.e. low v e l o c i t i e s , high t e m p e r ~ t u r e s , and l e s s amounts of d i s s o l v e d
oxygen.
Spawning The
F
G
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With t h e present s t r e a n fldw in t h e North Fork, n a t u r a l propagation
of t r o u t i s providing a n g l e r s w i t h an important part of t h e catch in t h e i r
creels and t h e stream i s considered a v e r y good one i n t e r n s of s p a ~ n i n g
LvaS
i
End food production.
Trout spawn d u r i n g t h e winter and s p r i n g e Brown
t m u t l a y t h e i r eggs in t h e gra\lel in October, November, and December, and
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=inbow t r o u t f r o m December t o May.
This i s t h e period normally of l o w
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t e a ~ e r a t u r e sand high s t r e m flow.
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Brave1 during t h e s p r i n g a M begin feedhg it a time when stream food
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The f r y and f i n g e r l i n g s emerge from t h e
OrWisms a r e in g r e a t e s t abundance.
111.
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THI;; FUTURE BIOLOGICAL P I C T U P Z
FJhen t h e two power p r o j e c t s , Cresta and Rock Creek, proposed f o r
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m e d i a t e consfPuction a r e b u i l t a n d when t h e complete plan f o r power
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e
flll!L
Afl-2
developent on t h e North Fork i s u l t i m a t e l y developed, B+pD
E
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5
, P P * T ' ~,
The
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the b i o l o g i c a l " p i c t b e n will be very d i f f e r e n t from t h e present.
5
streax s e c t i o n s between each of t h e diversions and its corresponding
I.,
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pv:erhouse w i l l have only a f r a c t i o n amount a s compared
with
t h e amowt
7
of the present q u a n t i t y of water,
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. #ill have
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This will mean t h a t those s e c t i o n s
water with l e s s v e l o c i t y , higher temperditure, and lower oxygen
content during a large p o r t i o n of the year.
Such conditions are i n e v i t a b l e
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2
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results of reduced flow.
The r e s e r v o i r s formed by t h e diversion dams will form long narrow
Cresta r e s e r v o i r w i l l be over t h r e e miles l o n g and Rock Creek
pools,
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over two.
Their widths will b e about 603-700 f e e t .
The surface l a y e r s
of t h e . r e s e r v o i r s w i l l have higher temperatures than those prevailing in
t
,
t h e present stream.
6"
The deeper l a y e r s should have. c o o l e r water.
Fish populations will change markedly.
Trout will no longer be able
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t o use, f o r reproduction, t h e sections of stream occupied by r e s e r v o i r s and
therefore, a l a r g e per ceht of the' t r o u t spawning a r e a s w i l l be a u t o m a t i c a l l y
!
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F u r t h e p o r e , t h e r e s e r v o i r s w i l l provide a much b e t t e r
extenn$nated.
e n v i r o h e n t f o r t h e d e v e l o p e n t of most of t h e rough f i s h .
For ewmple:
hardheads
(&13r10pharcd3n)are 11poolfl f i s h and develop most r a p i d l y in large
.
<
deep natural pools.
Under present conditions t h e balance between pools
and f a s t f l o w i n g r i f f l e s i s such'as t o keep t h e population of hardheads
<
,
b
-,.
t o competition l e v e l s w i t h t r o u t .
,
.
.
.
.
.
,
6
Vheh t h a t balance i s upset by
!
..,,,tion
of s e v e r a l l a r g e pools.connected by shallow, slow-flowing warm
t h e colnpetition between t r o u t and hardheads becomes one-sided
f
odds favoring t h e developnent of hardheads and t h e
c3c',enination of t r o u t .
T h i s sarious s i t u a t i o n has developed in Shasta
+.
.'.
.
"'
?
i
6
5r:
. M. WATER
!
t
t
f
ELEZASES
ln view of t h e i n c r e a s e d t e m p e r a t u r e s which w i l l accoinpany reduced
i
j
i
, t r e a flow below e a c h d i v e r s i o n dam o n t h e North Fork, it becomes n e c e s s a r y
$
mt,r e l e a s e s
b
from each impoundment be drawn f roru t.hk'.coolest
water p o s s i b l e
f
u trout
i
c
,t t h e bottom of t h e r e s e r v o i r s and, t h e r e f o r e , o u t l e t s f o r w a t e r r e l e a s e
f
should be n e a r t h e bottorc o f t h e dam.
!F
not 'be s u p p l i e d from skimmer' g a t e s , weirs o r spillway overflow, because t h e
L
ti'
b
i
f i s h i n g i s t o be maintained
in t h e
stream.
The ccolest water i s
Water f o r mir.imm,release should
- t m p e r a t t r e of t h e s u r f a c e water l a y e r s w i l l , in a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , be t o o .
1t
i
high f o r t r o u t t o t o l e r a t e .
I
about 60°1'.
i:
The optinlun temperature f o r t r o u t growth i s
Rainbow t r o u t can t o l e r a t e h i g h e r i c m p e r a t u r e s f o r s h o r t periods.
I
f
Records a s h i g h a s 8 0 ' ~ . have been t a k e n r h a r e rainbow t r o ~ were
t
living
/
I
r
but such temperature i s v e r y n a a r t h e
f
1i
(Xeechm,
L
lin1i.t
of t o l e r a n c e f o r t h e s p e c i e s ,
1938).
.Ina s t u d y of t h e f i s h e s of t h e W i l l a e t t e R i v e r System in Oregon i n
:
f
1 9 u f i t was observed t h a t no salmonoid f i s h
!
i
1
f
1
i
k
wa3
found
w a t e r o f 73'~. o r
above but, "rainbow t r o u t , c u t t h r o a t t r o u t , and f i n g e r l i n g chinook salmon
in healthy c o n d i t i o n were o b t a i n e d n e a r P e o r i a F e r r y in w a t e r o f 72'~.
on
.
.
August 29". It was f u r t h e r s t a t e d , however, t h a t ,"int h e m a j o r i t y o f c a s e s ,
cut t h r o a t t r o u t , rainbow t r o u t and chinoolc salmon were observed and c o l l e c t e d
f
i
.
d u r i n g h u m s t r n d September i n x z t e r s having a t e z p e r z t u r e range o f
t
66%'.
3
( ~ d e r s c o r i nadded)
~
f'
i
/
*
TheJ were
-
--
always l e s s numerous i n w z t e r r a n g i n g from
55
to
--t o OF."
"The F i s h e s of t h e Wi.ll.amette ~ i v e System
r
in R e l a t i o n t q pollution^ by
R. E. DimicK and Fred l e r r ~ f i e l d , B u l l e t i n S e r i e s No. 20, June, 1945;
Engineering Experiment S t a t i o n , Oregon S t a t e College, C o r v a l l i s , Oregon.
It i s d i f f i c u l t t o p r e d i c t what t h e s u r f a c e temperatures of
psoosed
impoundments on t h e North Fork w i l l be, but it i s known t h a t
make
&anor
%OF.
on t h e North Fork has surface water temperatures approaching
a d Shasta r e s e r v o i r records show temperatures of
%OF.
It seems
'
e
I
=asonable t o assume t h a t t h e No'kth Fork r e s e r v o i r s which will g i e
between'
these tvo e l e v a t i o n s w i l l have temperatures a t t h e surface between 80'
and
It i s lilcewise d i f f i c u l t t o p r e d i c t what t h e stream temperatures below
t h e diversion dams will .be.
An estimate of what might be expected when
the f l o w below t h e dams i s reduced may be made b~ comparison with a s t r e m
having t h e same q u a n t i t y of flow.
Deer Crosk, a t r i b u t a r y e n t e r i n g t h e
Sacramento ~ i v e nr e a r Vina, i s a' stream with a flow of about 103 c , f .s,
in s m e r ,
That i s t h e approximate amount t o be expected below each of
t h e diversion dams on t h e North Fork,
l a t e mmmr .7 t o
Water temperature in Deer C r e e k ' r i s e s
9'~~' while t h e water t r a v e l s from t h e Deer Creek
k r i g a t i o n ~ i v e r s ' i o nDam t o t h e Stanford-Vina diversion dam, about- s i x
d e s below.
Thus, if 100 c.f.s.
of water i s released from Eock Creek o r
Cresta diversion' dams, a t ab,out 70'~. t h e stream will become u n s u i t a b l e
$F
I
+
I
i.
i
f
t
for t r o u t a few miles below,
Itri s , however, a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t water in
t h e deeper portions of t h e r e s e r v o i r s w i l l be cooler ,than 70'~. and, there.
.
fore, the stream should provide s u i t a b l e environment f o r t r o u t f o r most
~f
the d i s t a n c e between diversion dams,
-. ,
...::!$>$G,*"-'~'
,..&'
.
I
I
;
*.
..
i
d.
l
:.
"
.....
3.
5
8.
1.
EVA.LUATION OF THE TROUT FISHING
g.
Destruction of t r o u t f i s h i n g streams i n C a l i f o r n i a by.removal of
S
f o r power, i r r i g a t i o n and o t h e r purposes i s p r o c e e d b ~ ga t an a c c e l e r a t e d
m
.;:
4
-,L.fa.
*
C e r t a i n of t h e s e s t r e a m s a r e p r t i c u l a r l y important.
%
7
Their trout-
clrrging c a p a c i t y m y be e s p e c i a l l y high, t h e y may be l o c a t e d in e q e c i a l l y
d
$
.?
~ ~ ~ ~ tsurro7mdings
i f u l
o r t h e y may b e e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o m i y thousands
C
9
r-
of
~ p l e . Only a few r i v e r s i n C a l i f o r n i a have a l l o f t h e s e advantages.
1
5
~f
these few, t h e NoAh Fork of t h e F e a t h e r i s an o u t s t a n d i n g exampla,
\
I.
3
Z
f
Yap No. 2 w i t h i t s i n s e r t map shows t h e c e n t r a l l o c a t i o n of t h e F e a t h e r
I
The m p a l s o shows t h e fanous F e a t h e r River Highway and t h e F e a t h e r
Xiver.
1
!
3iwr Route of t h e brestern P a c i f i c R a i l r o a d o ( s e e P g e 24)
5
t
L
Not o n l y i s t h e North Fork canyon a p a r t i c u l a r l y f a v o r a b l e r o u t e
i
1S
1
A t present t h e F e a t h e r River canyon i s i n a d e q u a t e l y s u p p l i e d w i t h r e s o r t s
t
a d p u b l i c c m p grounds,
1
a i d i t i o n a l f a c i l l t i s s could be , e q c c t e d which would mzke t h e North Fork o f
t k o u g h t h e mountain range b u t i t i s an i d e a l l y l o c a t e d r e c r e a t i o n ground.
I:B
$
If f i s h i n g could be maintained, c o n s t r u c t i o n o f
E
t h e Feather even more popular t h a n it i s a t p r e s e n t .
?
.
.Commercial r e s o r t s on t h e North Fork w i t h i n t h e a r e a t o be a f f e c t e d
t
1
.:"k)
i
,
'i
the proposed power developvepts (Almanor dam t o t h e mouth of t h e f j o r t h
are l i s t e d below&
1. ~ i l d e n
2.
3.
4.
i
i
Yellori Creelc Inn
Gyvrs P l a c e
Tobin
C o a - r c i a l R e s o r t s on t h e E a s t Branch of t h e North Fork a r e :
5
1. Keddie
. .
'
>
i
.
.
.
I . . .
.
2, .Rainbow's End
F e a t h e r River Hot Springs
3.
.: (.
i
r'
!
f
be
5,
67..
I'
I
1
1,
e
i
II
Twain
Grays F l n t ill, S t o r e , P.o.)
Pine A i r e I . i ~ t e l
Jack% P l a c e a t V i r g i l i a
I
pollowing a r e listed t h e United S t s t e s F o r e s t S e r v i c e Campgromds on t h e
North Fork:
13 c m p f a c i l i t i e s
1. Queen Lily
2. North Forl:
3. Belden P u b l i c Camp
4. Indian J3n
5. Gansner Bar
6, H a l l s t e a d F l a t
i
I
k
23 camp f a c i l i t i e s
23 canp f a c i l i t i e s
1 2 camp f z c i l i t i e s
Intended t o becoae a t r a i l e r camp.
(on E. ranch)-25 camp f a c i l i t i e s
An a t t e m p t has been,made t o determine t h e number of a n g l e r s who used
Ia
E s t i m a t e s were a l s o made of t h e
t h e r e s o r t s and cznpgrounds' l i s t e d above.
F
/
n m b e r o f a n g l e r s i r o n nearby c i t i e s who f i s h e d t h e North Fork and a l s o
t h e number of fishermen among t h e l o c a l r e s i d e n t s .
I
I
I
e s t i m a t e s a r e a l m o s t c e r t a i n l y below t h e a c t u a l numbers.
The Bolden R e s o r t a t Belden e s t i m a t e s t h a t t h o p e s t s of t h e r e s o r t
' s p e n t approxinlately 3,000 a n g l e r days on t h e r i v e r and on i t s few t r i b -
1
utaries.
1
t h e area t o be a f f e c t e d by t h e power develo?,ments,
f;
1
Ii
t.
f
These f i g u r e s and
'
The eld den Resort i s t h e l a r g e s t r s s o r t on t h e ~ o r t hFork w i t h i n
Col. J. .W,'M c C r e l l i s , owner of t h e Bsldsn, R e s o r t , also e s t i m a t e d t h a t
t h e Yellow Creek
Inn, Guy's P l a c e , and Tobin's combined had about t h e same
I
patronage as that of t h e Belden r e s o r t .
l!e,
t h e r e f o r e , assums from t h e s e
resorts & o t h i k j , 0 0 0 angler days f o r 1946.
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e , on t h e North Fork w i t h i n t h e a r e a being considered,
f
i
I
i
!
!
t h e r e a r e seven r e s o r t s on t h e East Branch o f t h e North Fork (se.e t h e l i s t
above and a l s o t h e accompanying maps),
The g u e s t s a t t h e s e r e s o r t s spend
p a r t of t h e i r angling e f f o r t on t h e N o r t h F o r k proper.
. ..
.; . . .
I.'
i
A conservative estimate
of t h i s time would be 2,500 a n g l e r days.
U. S, F o r e s t Service Campgrounds
The Plwnas F o r e s t Headquarters a t ~ u i n estimated
c ~
t h a_ t_.. during
._
the
1946 season 8,500 campers used; t h e s i x campgrounds i n
The average stay.was 5 days per person o r &2,500
Feather River canyon.
om days.
t h e ' ~ o r t h~ o r k
Roughly 50% of t h e c u p e r s were a n g l e r s though t h e s e a n g l e r s
probably d i d not f i s h each day,
It would be c o n s e r v a t i v s 8 ' t o say t h a t 20,000
angler days were expended by t h e fishermen ,int h i s group.
-U.
S o Forest Service P i c n i c Grounds
.-..
The Plumas Forest Headquarters st Quincy estimated t h a t during
1946 2,500 picnickers used t h e p i c n i c f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e North Fork
Feather River canyon.
Possibly ode-third of t h e p i c n i c k e r s were a l s o
fishermen, making about 800 anglerJdaya.
Residents
of
Nearby Towns
,Between six and seven thousand people. l i v e i n t h e c i t i e s of O r o - ~ i l l o
and Quincy which l i e a t e i t h e r end of t h e Feather River area,
It, i s onJ_y
a 45-miriute drive from e i t h e r 0 r o v i l l e o r Quincy t o t h e n o s t productive
sections of t h e North Fork.
The number o f a n g l e r s who clrive t o t h o r i v e r
and back again t h e sane day cannot be a c c u r a t e l y estimated but 3,000 a n g l e r
It was e s t h t e d t h a t on l*!ay 1, 1946
days i s probably very conservative.
2,000 anglers fished t h e North Fork.
----
~ e s i d e n t s of
' t h e No.rth- Fork Feather R i v e r Canyon
It was estimated by J. W. McCrillis of t h e Belden r e s o r t and by t h e
S e w i c e in Quincy thst between 600 and 700 people m k e t h s i r homes
t h e canyon f o r
3
l a r g e p a r t of t h e year,
12
probably 150 of t h e s e f i s h
'.
t h e r i v e r f r e q u e n t l y , a c c o ~ m . t , b gfor.roughly 4,000 a n g l e r days.
Cate'gory
oS Anplers
Analer Days Expended
V i s i t o r s t o Commercial R e s o r t s
8,500
Visitors t o F o r e s t S e r v i c e Camp Grounds
p i c n i c k e r s a t F o r e s t S s r v i c e , P i c n i c Grounds
i
.
,
Residents of Nsarby Towns
3,000
Residents of F e a t h e r River Canyon
4,,000
5
i
5:
T o t a l Angler Days
k
i
i Values
For the plirpose of t h i s :report it would be d e s i r a b l e t o place a
monetary value on t h s estimated 36,000 a n g l e r days s p e n t : on t h e North
Fork or upon t h e estimeted 108,000 t r o u t caught .* Unfortunately t h i s
t;rpe of c a l c u l a t i o n is one of t h e most comp5ex.
There are two d i s t j n c t l y , d i f f e r e n t m a t t e r s t o consider in sue11 an
evaluation:
I
.
i;
.
1. Fishing as a b u s i n e s s s t i m u l a n t ,
,
'
.II,
t
'
2. Fishing a s a psychological stirnulant,
Obviously t h e first can be assigned monetary v a l u e s t m n though n o
fl
two persons 'willagree,
!
r e c o b i z e d , b u t no one has e v e r been a b l e t o place a s a t i s f a c t o r y value
i
"
.L
i
tt
:
i
1t
i
F i s h 9 g a s a p s y c h o l o g i c a l s t i m u l a n t i s well
Estimated 3 t r o u t per angler day.
13
The e f f e c t of t r o u t fishing i n t h e North Fork upon business can be
divided i n t o two parts:
1. Increased business r e l a t i n g t o t r a v e l ,
a,
be
Increased automobile, s t a g e or r a i l r o a d business.
-
J
Increased food and l ~ g i n gexpenses.
9
c.
Increased expendi.tures f o r 3 . m i e s .
1
2.
'
Increased s a l e s of angling paraphernalia,
'
!
The t a n g i b l e b e n e f i t of t h i s business iqcrease i s l a r g e l y l o c a l but
ramifies i n t o a much g r e a t e r zone.
Naturally we cannot t a k e t h e e n t i r e l i v i n g ' c o a t s and f i s h i n g gear
costs of t h e average fisherman o n t h e North Fork and multiply t h a t by
the ranber of a n g l e r s involved anymore than one can teko t h s monetary
value.of t h e e l e c t r i c i t y produced a t the North Fork powerhouse without
making cornplex modifications.
The hydro-electricity produced on the North Fork will have a d e f i n i t e
value t o t h e company producing it but it would make l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e t o
the ~onsumers:whet,her i b was generated on some o t h e r r i v e r o r by a steam
-I
turbine l o c a t e d nearer t h e a r e a of use.
Simjlarly, i f t h e r e t~sre,no t r o u t
f i s h i n g . o n t h e Feather River, t h e ,anglers and v a c a t i o n i s t s might go t o
t h e ocean o r any one of many places f o r t h e i r fishing and ,recreation.
The power ccmpany o r t h e l o c a l chamber.of commerce can a s s i g n values
t o e l e c t r i c i t y a n d . t o fishing.
Such values may appear q u i t e r e a l t o those
doing t h e figuring, but t h e y c&ot
bear up under c r i t i c a l a ~ ~ a l y s l s ,
Presmi,ng t h a t t h e r e were roughly 36,000 an'gler days spent on t h e
\
.
North Fork in 1946,'if
f i s h i n g o n t h i s r i v e r were ruined by power d e v e l ~ p
merits, could t h e ~ t a G
multiply 36,000 by t h e 2$2.0b angling f e e and say
i
t h a t it had l o s t 872,003 in 1946? Obviously t h i s would b e a g r o s s .
'
.
4.
f
,:aggeration
.e'
8-
f o r most of t h e s e a n g l e r s would s i n p l y go elsewhere t o f i s h .
They would s t ~ l l ' b u yt h e i r angling l i c e n s e s and i n s t e a d of p a t r o n i z i n g
*
t h e l o c a l b u s i n e s s houses and r e s o r t s t h e y would spend t h e i r money else-
!
i
V
where in t h e S t a t e ,
i
2
5
S i m i l a r l y i f t h e proposed power developments on t h e North Fork of
7
C
1
t h e F e a t h e r were r u l e d o u t t h e same e l e c t r i c i t y could and would be
PI
generated elsewhere,
It might work a n a p p r e c i a b l e h a r d s h i p on t h e power
$
1
company .but s i m i l a r l y an a p p r e c i a b l e hardship would be worked on t h o s e
5t
seeking r e c r e a t i o n i f t h e North Fork were even p a r t i a l l y r u i n e d f o r t r o u t
1
fishing,
,
I
i
I n conclusion, ws claim t h a t it i s impossible t o compare t h e money
3
$
.i
involved when h y d r o - e l e c t r i c i t y i s n o t generated on a r i v e r with t h e
s
noneg involved when f i s h i n g i s impossible on t h a t r i v e r .
$
a
S
If we r u l e o u t t h e cornprison of mon,etary v a l u e s wo have l e f t some
f
fr
i n t o r e s t i n g b u t highly t h e o r e t i c a l consideration^
p
t
I
w i t h a n-tion of people s u f f e r i n g from nervous d i s o r d e r s , a n d t h e
2
s?
'
I
5: ?
$
+
$
.
suffering i s becoming i n c r e a s i n g l y acute, could it n o t be s a i d t h a t t h e
recreation,al v a l u e of f i s h i n g i s j u s t a s important as i n c r e a s e d business
through cheap power.
.
j
.
R e. l. a. x.a t i,o_ n through t r o u t f i s h i n g i s widely recognized as being an
5
important remedy f o r t h e nervous s t r a i n of modern l i f e .
i
<
!
r e l a x a t i o n n i g h t be obtained i n o t h e r ways i f t h e North Fork F e a t h e r
e
t
'Qre
'
However, t h i s
r u i n e d by coaplete u t i l i z a t i o n of t h e water f o r e l e c t r i c i t y .
C,
4
i
How o f t e n i s it s a i d t h a t t h e r e l a x a t i o n and t h e s p o r t ' o f t r o u t f i s h i n g
,
&$
&%
a d t h e b e a u t i e s of t h e s e mounta'in streams need n o t be ruined by power
C
developaents; t h a t t h i s slme e l e c t r i c i t y can be generated a t o n l y slightly
FNter
c o s t i n s t e m turbines?
We recognize h y d r o - e l e c t r i c a l d e v e l o p ~ e n t sas p a r t of our modern
b c s ~ e s sworld, we would n o t contend t h c t t h e y should bs abandoned
.
r ~ p l tyo provide more f i s h i n g bkt r:e do s t r o n g l y believe t h a t
,
d e F T l o p e n t 3 should not be ,allowed t o completely ruin even one stream
o r river.
It i s o u r c o n t e n t i o n t h a t t h e r e i s room f o r b o t h power dsvel-
and t r o u t . f i s h i n g in t h e $ ~ a . t e r sof Gal-ifornia.
Although t h e immediate power developiirnt program ca1.1~f o r o n l y
tuo pl&ts ( ~ r e s t aand sock Creek) t h e plan f o r f i v e nair power houses
on t h e North Fork has been submitted.
The. p r e s e n t e v a l u a t i o n of t r o u t
fibhing on this r i v e r would be incomplete if it were t o c o n s i d e r t h e
Cresta and Rock Creek developnents a l o n e ,
I n asking f o r p r o t e c t i o n t o
the f i s h and f i s h i n g we must recognize t h a t i t , w i l l be b u t a s h o r t t h e
u n t i l t h e remaining t h r e e developaents are undertaken.
A t p r e s e n t t h e e n t i r e sixty-two and one-half mile s e c t i o n of t h o
North ~ o r k ,from Almanor Dam t o ilts mouth i s t r o u t fishing water,
When
dl f i v e p a r e r 'plants have been i n s t a l l e d the: n o m l flow of t h i s s e c t i o n
Kill be ' a l t e r e d , as f o l l o w s :
"
~ i v &bilbw. d i v e r s i o n dams
,
c o n t a i n i n g o n l y ~ o n t ~ r o l l ewda t e r
'u05
6 ,5
flNormalff r i v e r f l o w
Total
Miles
I
Percent,
73%
5'%
-6z5-- iki%--
~ s s u m i n gt h a t t h e r e l e a s e water f l o w below t h e proposed d i v e r s i o n dams
(~elden,Rock Creck, Cresta, Pulga, and ~ o e were
)
similar t o t h e p r e s e n t
.
.
froru t h e Almanor D m (hhhum 3.2 c. f.s; in 19&!+), how s e r i o u s l y
-lease
9
0
* u , t h i s e f f e c t t h e value o f t h e p r e s e n t t r o u t f i s h e r y and t h o p o t e n t i a l
fishery?
h e t o t h e h i g h l y accessible.-location of t h e North Fork it would be
2
d
5
I:
i n e v i t a b l e t h a t w i t h o u t power development it would e v e n t u a l l y become one
I
of t h e most hezvily f i s h e d t r o u t streams in C a l i f o r n i a ,
Tho r e c r e a t i o n a l
value p f ' t h i s canyon r ~ o u l drani; well up m o n g similar a r e a s i n t h e S t a t e ,
F
3
i:
The b e a u t i e s of t h e Feather Rivar Route have been p u b l i c i z e d t h r o u g h o u t
9.
t h u n a t i o n by t h e ' ~ e s t e r nP a c i f i c R a i l r o a d .
To a v e r y Largo e x t e n t t h i s
r
5
As t h e normal flow
"x'
r e p u t a t i o n i s due t o t h s beauty o f t h e r i v e r i t s e l f ,
B
?
of t h e r i v e r i s reduced i t s beauty and i t s t r o u t c a r r y i n g c a p a c i t y will be
$
reduced.
e
j
Tho g r e a t h r t h e flow of w a t e r , t h e g r e a t e r t h e number o f t r o u t
C
+,
i,
it 1
s u p .
If t h e r e l e a s e fron t h e s e proposed. d i v e r s i o n dams has
'i
f
t h e same rainimum as t h a t from Almanor dm, t h e F e a t h e r Iiiver will be
t
;
?
5.
3
reduced t o a s e r i e s o f ponds witah
them.
a-ll
knimportznt t r i c k l e of w a t e r between
The minimum f1.m from A L I I ~ OdFm , a t p r e s e n t
3.2 c;f. s.,
w o u l d con-
s t i t u t e a madest brook i n surm~mdingsp r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h a t flow, b u t
t
-
:;
F
when spread o u t o v e r t h e broad, boulder-strewn bed of t h e North Fork it i s
scarcely worth consideration.
A r i v e r canyon formed t o c a r r y an a v e r a g e
C
1.
r6:
z
of about 2,-710 c.f.
..
3.
i s b a r e l y wet when c a r r y b g o n l y 3.2 c.f .s. o r even
several times t h a t u n o ~ m t .
f
$
Y
i
9
In t h e p ~ t b l i s h e dff19L,6 Anqua1 T r a f f i c Counttt by G. T. McCoy, S t a t e
;
Highway Engineer, it w i l l be seen t h a t a t Beldcn Junction-Highwey 21-A,
I
t h e e a s t bound t r a f f i c k 2 s . a ~follows:
i
5
July 1 5
~ u l y1 6
-
4.87 c a r s
-
373 c a r s
Sunday
gain of 1946 over 1945
,
.
Eionday gain of 1946 o v e r 1945
Tho no-vial year-by-year
J ~ 14Y
J u l y 1.5
-
-
.
-
691 c a r s
,
581 c a r s
,G7.60$
73.39%
i n c r e a s e in t r a f f i c o v e r t h e F e a t h e r
t
$
River :highway would. b r i n e a s e v e r a l - f o l d i n c r e a s e i n t h e a n g l i n g p r e s s u r e
f
i f t h e b o u t c a t c h would k i c r e a s e p r o p o r t i o n s l l y ,
5
To meet this i n c r e a s e d
i
B
p r e s s u r e and p r c v i d e t h e i n d r e a s e d c ~ t , c hwould r e q u i r e h e a ~ fa d d i t i o n a l
i
p l ~ n t i n go f a r t i f i . c i a l l y r e a r e d t r o u t .
;
$
t,
tiowever, f i s h cannot be p l a n t e d
3I
beyond t h e p o i n 5 where t h e volurse of watt and i t s f i s h food s u p p l y w i l l
5
permit.
C
R e g a r d l e s s of f i s h p l a r l t i n g r~ m m l l flow of w a t e r w i l l o i ~ l ys u p p o r t
i
a small. number o f f i s h .
1
k
i
of water r e l e a s e d through the diversion d m s ,
i
It will be s t a t e d t h a t t h e ponds formed by t h e d i v e r s i o n darns w i l l
t
I;
f.
i
The f u t u r e of t h i s r i v e r depends upon t h e amount
produce more f i s h i n g t h a n thc: "nornalfl r i v e r would produce.
We b e l i e v e t h a t
I n f b c t t h e iinpundrnents might be l e s s
@
t h i s woiLd n o t be t11e case.
i>
productive, mile f o r x i l e because i n sunTer t h e s u r f a c e t e m p e r a t u r e s may
;
;.
be t o o h i g h f o r
5
t h e rou$
J
2
5
I
iI
.I
food.
,
?
Such h i g h t e m p e r a t u r e s czn be e x p e c t e d t o encourage
fi3h..'whici7 w i l l f e c d upon b o t h t h e m a l l t r o u t and t h e t r o u t 1s
.,
.
The f o r e g o i n g st.at.en?entAsshould not. be t a k e n t o mean t h a t we f a v o r
I
'
a
d
. t h e s b a n d o n ~ e n tof t h e proposed power develdpments on t h i s r i v e r .
asSmed
It i s
by a l l that, h y d r o - e l e c t r i c power p l a n t s a r e - a n e c e s s a r y p a r t of
Our
b a s i n e s i d e v e l o p ~ e i t b u t it i s a l s o a s s u r e d t h a t t h e r e must b e a cozpromise
,
)"""c'
.,-- ., . ....,.&i"'
,
.iTC'
'
.-
.;::...... :.
'
'-+A:,:
,
;
:
%.
-<
aP '
' :"
~$.
C
2
'....
.
.
L
8
hetween t h e power cornpa-qies end t h e fishermen.
How much w a t e r can t h e
6
.y
.cr
r
E
3 , ~m c h t r o u t f i s h i n g can t h e 'people of t h e S k t e a f f o r d ' t o have them
.r:
company a f f o r d t o r e l e s s ? below i t s d i v e r s i o n d a m bn t h e ltortll Fork?
if
X
.S;
s
~sstroy?
D
3
g
+
.J.
s:
1-
?
6
.s.
19
5,
$
9
g
$
-"
f
sr
3
F
I
<
2
.
.
.
-1
it
APPZND 'UI
Content of h p p e n d i ~ ,
Map NO,
l
o
~
~
r
o
o
~
~
~
~
r
~
o
o
c
~
o
~
~
~
o
0
e
Table No, 1 ( ~ o r t hFork F e a t h e r R i v e r ) Breakdohn o f
D i s t a n c e s Between ExisGing and P r o p s e d Poxer Dc.velopents.;lll
.
t
Figure No. 1- Mean Monthly R ~ q o f f ,North Fork F e a t h e r
River st Big Bar ~ r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ e e o
~
~
4
4
.
Table No, 2- Fean h b n t h l y Discharges ia Cubic F e e t P e r
Second, North Fork E e e t h e r E i v e r , Big B a r , C a l i f o r ~ i a , ., ,,23
.
Map No, Z...
!
.o...,.4...,..o.........,.......,.............~...~
F i g u r e No. 2- Runoff i n Acre F e e t in Morth E'ork F c ~ t h e r
EZiv~ra t h a n o r D a n and Big Bar,,
,
,
,26
......................
Table No. 3 Annual Runoff i n Acre Feet i n F!orth Fork
F e a t h e r River............,.....
............................25
i
I
Report Noo 1- United S t e t e s Department o f t h e I n t e r i o r
llA r e p o r t on f i s h and w i l d l i f e r e s o u r c e s i n r e l a t i o n
*\
'to t h e Water P e v e l o p e n t P l a n f o r t!le Proposed Feather
R i v e r Basin, Rock C r e e k and Crests P r o j e c t s u
(Power P r o j e c t No. 1962).
................................. .27
Report No. 2- "Report t o T h e F e d c r s l Power Conlmission
on t h e A p p l i c a t i o n of t h e P a c i f i c Gas and Z l s c t r i c
Company f o r a P r e l i m i n a r y P e r n i t f o r t h e North Fork
Feather R i v e r P r o j e c t No. 1391 C a l i f o r n i a w i t h i n
t h e Lassen and Plmss N a t i o n d l For.asts '1..
-
..................2S
0
TABU X0. I
NORTH 'FORK F'EATliER RIVE,?I
Breakdown of Distances Between
E r d s t i n g and Proposed Power D e v e l o ~ n e n t s
WA?'E;R
LOCATION
!
0
'
Almanor darn
;
FUTUIE
CONDITIONS
0
,
: 10.0
!
C o n t r o l Flow
'Caribou power./house
10;0
Head of Belden r e s e r v o i r
0
11.0
Belden d i v e r s i o n dart
1
Reservoir
Control Flow
Belden power house s i t e
.
Head of Rock Creek r e s e r v o i r
Rock Creek Diversion dam
Rock c r e e k power house s i t e
Reservoir
Control Flow
*
Head of C r e s t a r e s e r v o i r
Cresta power house s i t e
Colitrol Flow
,
.
I
I,.
.
Reservoir .
Head of Yule r e s e r v o i r
.
I ,
Cresta d i v e r s i o n dam
.".:
.<l
'
.
":~-
: 3605
'
40*5
; -45.0
Pulga d i v e r s i o n dam
1.5
Reservoir
Pulga power house s i t e
5
Control Flow
Poe diversion dam
Reservoir
Poe power house
Control Flow
Big Bond d i v e r s i o n dam
3.1
Reservoir
56.0
Big Bond power house
11
Control Flow
62.5
Mouth of North Fork F e a t h e r
6*5
6Ze5
TOTAL
'
I
S U I P ~ ~ R OF
Y RrVER TYPE-S BETTPESN
ALSIYdOR DAM AND
OF NORTH FORK
Control flow below diversion dvns
Reservoir t r a t e r
Normal r i v e r flow
TOTAL
44.5
1 1 05
4.5
62.5 m i l e s
Normal r i v e r flow
MEAN
MONTHLY
RUNOFF
.... -- . . . . .
. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
........
.......
.....
TABLE NO. 2
- - . . . . . .
..........
. . . . . . . . .
, .
...........
...........
im . ~~CNTHLY
DISCWLGES w
CUBIC F ~ PEP.
T SECOND
. . NOR@ FORK ~ j ; ' i T m B RIVSR, B I G BAR, CALIFOF3 Dl
October
November
Deceaber.....
January
February
liarch
J una
J ~ Y
August
September
Minimum
Maximm
924
1070
:29500
4490
950
84.40
448
'6300
23 5
2940
890
5700
917
355
25000
8630
259
50900
620
1280
28400
31500
1270
24500
765
6290
i?tG
ANNUAL RUNOFF IN A C E 3 FZZT IN NORTH POBK, FEATHE3 RIVER
:
1000 acre f e e t
Unit
P e r c e n t release
~ ~ d ~ f \ ! a t e r Y e a rC a g e a k b k e
~ s p t ,30
Almanor Dam
I
?
:
:
n"
i
F
@a
c,f.s.
(2F91+.5 acre f t .
5
g
I
2
5
f
2
i
f
1
k
!
i
t
a
#
ti
5
t,
::
8
5
i
P
i.
g
t
i
j
i
r
I
L
I
f
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
19U
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1926
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
193 5
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
19W
1942
1943
194.4
1945
93183
1227.5
69109
985.6
757.1
P 861+,1
I
per year)
2,O
3.6
2.5
3.3
2.9
4.8
1
1311,6
,p
3166.5
12506.7
P d614.7
,2kL6* 0
U-$3e 0
1852,8
1288.2
P 1306.5
2412.1.
lb62.8
802.5
1423.6
1622.8
2448 6
1767.2
1-333.5
P 1740.5
1316.8
'967.1
1119,7
1820.5
2168.5
1469.1
3.1,
2.8
2.8
3.3,
Lo 5
401
50
3 -4
3 7
4.5
5.7
5.6
k*8
,
8.2
6.5
3.3
5.3
4.2
I
909
'
1
/
I
207
+.,
4.3
0
.
@ 50 cof.s,
(36190, a c r e f t .
2.7
527.2
588,O
8W e 5
$9702
904 4
778 9
567 0
61.3 .4
510 o 5
734.1
680.8
556.8
4.40.8
455.7
524 1
308*5
387.7
768.7
47'7.1
608.1
254.3
278.1
40'7.4
520.0
565.2
427.9
1131.2
542.2
655.6
79100
803,8
785.1
6u.1
5100 7
Ga ae
P e r cent r e l e a s e
per year)
I
T
9ig Bar
9.1
6.2
4.8
4.5
5.9
1.1
1.k
104
5
2.4
1 0
1-9
2.8
1-9
1,5
2.2
4.5
20 5
2.2
1.5
8.2
2.7
2,l
'4.
2.7
3.7
362
2.0
1,6
2-4
2.2
4.7
3.7
3.2
3.1
3.2
4.1
5- 0
',,
2737.6
3201.7
3295 8
2832,3
1599.1
179'7.8
.
1*3
1.1
1,1
i&3
2.3
2,O
1
i
1
1
"..
Note:
P
- Partial record,
--percent
i s somewhat above actual.
The pelease a t each gaging station would have been t h e amount of water
Provided f o r f i s h p r 6 t e c t l o n expressed as e r c e n t a g e o f t h e t o t a l annu31
r u n ~ ~ f fif
, the two p r o j e c t s , Hock Creek ang Crest,,
had been m o p 9 r a t ~ o n
d u r i h z t h e a e r i o d f r o m 1906 t n l Q 1 C
rnF'0RT NO, 1
liillIT%D STATES DEPAR'MEhTT OF TKE INTEFlIOR
.
Fish nncl W i l d l i f e Service
River Basin Studies
Portland 18, Oregon
.
A ~ o - p o r ton
' Fish aqd WilLZFfe Resources in R e l a t i o n t o t h e
Water Dsvelopent Plan f o r t h e
p r o p ~ s o dFoather River
asi in,
Rock Creel: and Crasta P r o j e c t s
(power pro jcc'$ No. 1962)y
Pacific Gas and ~ l e c t r i hGem-,
Calif0 rnia
Sponsar
i
S p n s o r ' e S t a t u s of P r o j e c t
: Tho projoct i s i n planning stage,
Plan f o r same has beon s u b i t t e d t o
t h e Fedoral Power Commission,
Loczt i o n
: Butte and Plumas .Counties, California
Source of EYl@nserhg Data
: P a c i f i c Gas and E l e c t r i c Company,
Application to F e d e r a l Power Coinrniss i o n for License f o r Power P r o j e c t
No, 1962.
F i e l d Izlvestigat i o n
: [email protected], l a r c h , end April,
11947,
t
Report Prapared.
&/
19470 Reviqod December, 1947
R e v i ~ e dFebruary, 1948.
: May,
Fiold work and r e p r t by River Besin Studies Staff, F i s h and WiadlFfe
S e r v i c e , Region one,
P o r t l a t d , Oregono
cr\
The present a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e Pacific Gas aizd U o c t r i c Conlpany
(prder Project No. 1962) p r o p s o s t h e developxent of two w r i t s (Rock
creek and ~ r e s t a )of a coaprehensive plan t h a t will f u l l y u t i l i z e t h e
h o w and gradient o f U o d h Fork of Feathar River f o r t h a production of
hydro-electric power, T h e e n t i r e plan i?cludes t e n units exclusive of
Lake Almanor. Three units,, Caribou, Buck's Creek, and Big Bend, have
been constructed and are in operation; two, Rock Creek and Cresta, a r e
prop3sed f o r present c o n s W c t i o n ; and f i v e , BuW Valley, Caribou
Addition, Belden, Pulga, and Poe a r e proposed f o r .future construction,
completion of a l l of t h e u n i t s of the plan w
n
i place t h e e n t i r e flow
.of North Fork in t u n n e l s and conduits, except f o r diversion dam forebays, flood s p i l l , m d midbr contributions of t r i b u t a r y inflow,
It i s of t h e g r e a t e s t importance t o t h e valuable f i s h e r y resources
of North Fork and t o i t s genoral r e c r e a t i o n a l a t t r a c t i v e n e s s as w o U ,
t h a t t h e present a p p l i c a t i o n be considered n o t only on i t s own merit,
but a l s o in terms of t h e ultimate d e v e l o p e n t of t h e e n t i r e streamo
~ e c i s i o n st h a t a r e made a t t h i s time i n considoration of t h e Rock Creek
and Cresta P r o j e c t s w i l l unquestionably e s t a b l i s h precedent f o r a l l
subsequent units of t h e comprehensive plan of d e v e l o p e n t a s proposed
by t h e sponsor,
In i t s present application, t h e sponsor makes no provieion whatsoever f o r mlninurn flews f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n and nczintenance of fish
life in North Fork, The qnly flow that would r w a i n in 1203 miles of
North Fork k.'o.dd be minute q u a n t i t i e s of inflow fron t r i b u t a r i e s ,
unknown, but s l i g h t amount r e s u l t i n g from leakage around t h o dams, ard
floocl s p i l l s of s h o r t duration during periods of h s a ~ yrun-off, T h i a
condition wo7dd virtually e l h i s a t e p r e s e ~ tf i s h populations i n t h i s
s e c t i o n of North Fork f o r all time, The power p o t e n t i a l and f i s h e r y
resources of t h e stream ara t h e property of t h e people of t h e S t a t e of
California s p e c i f i c a l l y and of t h o United S t a t e s generally, These m d
a l l other resources t h a t might be involved i n any h a t e r development
plan must be considered befora making f a r - r e a c h h g decisions i n favor
of c e r t a i n b e n e f i c i a r i e s who would p r o f i t thereby*
The S t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a Division of Fish and Game estimated t h a t
in 1946, 36,000 a n g l e r 4 s y s w e r e spent on North Fork of Feather River,
and t.hat a minimum of 108,,000 t r o u t were caug'i'ht* The Division furt,her
conmentod t h a t t h e s t r e m i h a d long been recognized a s an outstandinl:
t r o u t stream end t h a t d e s t r u c t i o n of any appreciable amount of it w o u l d
have far-reaching conse~~uences,The C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e Chmber of Conmercs estimates t h e annul average expenditure of a California a ~ g l e r
t o be $120, E s t i m t e s made by t h e Division of F i s h and Gune, based on
caich records, i n d i c a t e t h a t a n z l s r s average 10-12 f i s h i n g days p e r
y e a r which would place t h e per day expenditure a t about $10, On t h e
basis of these estimates, Ithe value of t h e f i s h e r y resources of North
Fork is s u f f i c i e n t l y h i g h t o warrapt t h e expenditure of $360,000009
annually by anglers t o f i s h it,
..
:I:
The above es'cinatos e.pply t o 35,85 miles of North ~ o r kfrom Lake
A h a n o r do-mstrem t o t h e s i t e of t h e proposed Cresta powerhousa,
Op2ration of t,lle Rock, Creak and Cresta p r o j ~ c t sw i l l aiff e c t t h e lower
1'6.55 miles of t h i s s e c t i o n , The e s t i n a t e d a n n d f i s h e r y value of t h e s e
a f f e c t e d sections ( $ 3 1 . 5 # ~i)s based on a p e r second-foot-mile value of
approximately $50 as c a l c u l a t e d from t h e t o t a l second-foot-miles f r m
L&e -or
t o tllo proposed Cresta Pc\b;erhouso, Under t h e plan a s propiosed by t h e sponsor, this value ~mubdbe reduced t o $33,000 g r e a t e r than
t:hooo based on tho sponsorrs plan but would be a t l e a s t $155,000 less
t$m under p r e s a r ~ tconditions 6
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Construc$j.on of t h e proposed p r o j e c t as p r e s e n t l y plannod would result
i n vlnual l o a s a s t o t h e f i s h s l y resources of t h e Norbh Fork of Feather
River of ap~ro.'rinatsly$280,030. If Recomendations l a and l b a r e followed,
t h o n e t a n n u d l o s s w a d d be $155,003, Partial. compsnsation f o r t h i s l o s a
would be p o s s i b l e through provision of g r e a t a r r e l e a s e s from Almanor Dam
t o provide flows suggested in Recommendation lc, The annual f i s h e r y
valuc frorn L&e Almmor t o Rock Creek Reservoir would thus be increased
by $B5,0GO, The n e t annual l o s s f o r t h e e n t i r e stream would be reduced
t o $70,000,
I It i s requested t h a t t h e Fish and b l d l i f e Service be advised o f all
changes in c c n s t r t ~ c t i o nar-d' o p s r a t i o r u l plans so t h a t ,a reconsideration
of t h e e f f e c t s m y be made,
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RECO?+ENDATIONS
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It i s racommended t h a t :
(1) Min5nm flow3 be maintained st all times in s e c t i o n s of
,North Fork as follows:
..
a, Hot l e s s t h r n 200 second-feet in the' 7.:5-mile s e c t i o n
from Rock Creek Dam t o t h e head of Cresta forebay t o
be measured a t t h e point of r e l e a s e from t h o damo
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b, Not less than 200 second-feet in t h e ,!+,$-mile s s c t i o n
from Crestn Dam t o Cresta powerhouse t a i l r a c s t o be
measured a t the point of r e l e a s e from t h e dam,
i n t h e l0.0-mile s e c t i o n
from L L ~ OA h w r Dam t o Caribou powerhouse t a i l r a c e ,
t h e flow t o be released from Lako A h a n o r and measured
a t a point z p p r o r d m t e l y 0 0 5 m i l e upstream f r m t h e
Caribou p l a n t o
c, Mot l e s s th-an 100 second-feet
(2) A minimum flow of n o t l e s s t h a n 200 second-feet be establ i s h e d a s a prt of any l i c e n s e t h a t may be granted t o t h e
P a c i f i c Gas and E l e c t r i c Company f o r construction of any
p r o j e c t on t h e main stem of Worth Forlc of Feather River,
(3) Rock Creek and Cresta dam be constructed with o u t l e t f a c i l i t i e s Located as low a s possible t o a s s u r e t h e r e l e a s e of cool
water f o r f i s h l i f e ,
a
(4) Further s t u d y be given t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of c o n s t r u c t h g an
a f t c r b a y dam t o smooth flow i r r e g u l a r i t i e s occasioned by t h e
o p r a t i o n of Caribou power p l a n t on North Fork.
(5) The lice113e f o r t h e project, i f granted, be held open with
respect t o t h e p m b l m of screening t h e intakes of d i v e r s i o n s
frcw Rock Creek and Cmata Damso The j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r
screens cannot be adequately determined u n t i l t h e proJect i s
in operation,
( 6 ) The e n t i r e p r o j e c t area be open t o f r e e public access f o r
f i s h i n g and o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n a l uses, except such v r t i o n s as
may be reserved by t h e P a c i f i c Gas and E l e c t r i c Company in
t h e i n t e m s t of safety, e f f i c i e n t o p r s t i o n , and p r o t e c t i o n
of p m p r t y .
1, The California Division of F i s h and Game a s s i s t e d in f i e l d work
and supplied data pertinent t o this report,
2 , O f f i c i a l s of t h e U, S , Forest Service supplied certain d a t a and
i n ' f o m t i o n and concurred h t h e recommenclations made h e r e i n ,
3. The Federal Power Commission furnished engineering data, maps,
and o t h e r information,
.
~ d ? E ? A IDESCRIPTION
,
OF THE:'PFIOfiCT'
.
,
I
+!,,
,Feather River r i s e s near t h e c r e s t of t h e Cascade Range and
i t s channel a p p r o r a t e s t h e b u n d a r y between t h a t range and t h e Sierra
lqevada. It flows in a general southwesterly d i r e c t ion joining t h e main
stem of Sacramento Hiver about 1 5 miles northwest of Sacrmento, Calif o r n i a , The p r o j e c t stroam, North Fork, regarded as a continuation o f
t h e main stream, r i s e s on t h e southern s l o p e of Lzssen Peak ( e l e v a t i o n
10,437 f c c t ) and f o r t h e g r e a t e r length of i t s course, flows thmugh a
deep, narrow canyon j o i n i n g Middle Fork a t e l e v a t i o n 250 f e e t @ Its
d r a i n a g e area i s epprw3mately 2,230 square m i l e s e Flow i s regulated
by Lake A h a n o r and by t h e operation of Caribou, Buck's Creek, and Big
Bend power p l m t s , e x i s t i n g u n i t s of t h e P a c i f i c Gas and E l e c t r i c Company,
5 , Tho present a p p l i c a t i o n of the power cornwy propee3 the
developlent of two u n i t s (Rock Creek and Ccestn) of a conprtii~nuivo
plan t h a t w i l l fully u t i l i z e t h e flow and g r a d i m t of North Fori;.for
t h e production of hydro-eqectric power, Completiori of a l l u n i t s of
the plan (see mep) v d . 1 place t h e flow of North Fork in t m e l s and
conduits, except f o r d i v e r s i o n dam forebays, frcm Lake klniarior t o Hidd l e Fork*
6. In t h e Roclc Creek U n i t o t h e applicant proposes construction
of a concrate dam 115 f e e t high and 550 f e e t l o n g t o be l o c a t e d on
~ o r t hFork ;immediately below t h e confluencez of Opopeo in Ltlo M w ~ of
m$ of Section 35, Toknshsp 25 North, Range 6 E a s t , Mount Diab3.o Ease
and Heridian. A 31%foot, overflow-type spillway 315 f e e t long with
g ~ a p a c i t yof 120,000 second-feet controlled by 3 d m gatss, 105 f c e t
by 22 foet, would be provided, Two s l u i c e gates, 7x7 f e e t p located
at almost stream lovel, would a l s o be p . ~ ~ d e d a
s t of thr, d m and
7* Water would be d i v e r t e d fmrn t h e n o r t h ~ \ ~ i ~end
c a r r i e d 34,500 f e e t by means of a 26-foot diameter tunnel having 8
capacity of 3,000 second-lpet (average 1,560 sscond-feet) t o t h e head
of t h e penstoclrc TheDpenstock muld c o n s i s t of 800 f e e t of 2.0-foot
diameter tunnel and 800 f e e t of 162 t o 192-inch diameter pipa leadjng
t o t h e power house, Power plant would c o n s i s t of: a steel r.erirforcod
concr&e b u i l d h g , 54 x 166 f e a t , having an abutting ewitcllhouss,
30 x U+6 f e e t , This plant'would be equipped with 2 v a r t i c d , F r a n c i s
t u r b i n e s , each d i r e c t l y connected with a 3-phase, 60-cycle, 13,800
volt, 0,9 f a c t o r , 63,000 kva generator, The p w o r plant would be
l o c a t e d about 7,5 miles below the dam,
I
8. The forebay wouldjhave a capacity af 2,300 acre-feat and Llna
surface a r e a at n o m l o p e r a t i n g pool l e v e l would be 122 acres inundating 2,8 miles of stream,
9 , For t h e Cresta u n i t p t h e applicant p r o p s e s ~ o n s t r u c ~ i oofn a
concrete darn 113 f e e t high i h a v h g a c r e s t l e n g t h o f 369 f c e t , An overflow, 124,000-second-f oo t capacity spillway 132 f e o t , ' l o n g w o u l d be proiided and c o n t r o l l e d by 2 wheel gates, 50 x 50 f e e t , and 2 d-rum gates,
16 x-50 f e e t . Three s l u i c e gates, 7 x 7 f e e t , l o c a t e d a t about stream
l e v e l would be provided, The dem w ~ u l dbs l o c a t e d a short d s t m c e
downstream f r o m Swm;, Creek in t h e 143& ,of sW& of S e c t i o n 1, Township
23 No~%h,Range 5 East, 14ount Diablo Base and Weridienf
10. Water would be divex-ted froin t h e south end 01 t h e dm &=d carried through a 2'7-foot d h e t e r , 3,500-second-foot (averagd 1,830
second-feet) capacity tunnel and thmugh a penstock consist in^ of 700
f e e t of *foot
diametsr t u n n e l and 700 f c e t , o f 174 t o 198-inch d i m a t o r
pipe t o t h e powerhouse, The power plant would be l o c a t e d about 4,8
miles below t h e dam i n Section 27, To7mship 23 North, Rang3 5 East,
Mount Diablo Baso and Meridian,, Building would br of i d e z t i c a l s i c 0
and similar construction as'the Rock Creak plant, but (would be prouidad
with two 46,500 horsepower, I v e r t i c a l , Francis t u r b i n e s p hach d i r a c t l g
connected t o a 3-phase, 60-cycle, 13,800-volt, 0.9 power factor,
37,500 k-sa generator,
t -
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t
llB C m s t a forebay would have a czpacity of 2,000 acre-feet and a
surface area of 97 a c r e s a t norrual. o p e r e t i n g pool l e v e l ~ n d would
.
bundate le75 m i l e s of Worth Fork,
3.
F,:
F1SW.Y SECT U j N
5
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12e The project, asiproposed by tho sponsor, tr.~i!ces no provisioo
fbr mininum flows f o r t h e m i n t e n a n c e of f i s h l i f e in s s c t i o n s 0% North
Fork below Rock Cree.!! and Cro3ta dams mounting t o R t o t d of 12,3
miles of streamd In addition, forebays of t h o s e dams w i l l inundate 4a55
miles of stream, making a t o t a l of 16eB5 m f l o s t h a t ill bs affected by
~ j
t h e p r o j e c t o This l.arge sectior, of s t r e a n supports a s p o r t f i s h ~ of
considerable magnitude and includes t h e nost picturesque s e c t i o n of North
Fork, On t h e b a s i s of estimates made by t h e C a l i f o r a i a Division of
Fish and Game i n 1946, t h e annual angler e f f o r t on these s e c t i o n s would
be appro-tsly
31,500 angler days, Rainbow and brown t r o u t aro t h e
p r i n c i p a l s p e c i e s of game f i s h in t h e a f f e c t e d s e c t i o n of stroaljl although
smallmouth black bass and occasionaLly chinook salmon are takon h
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li
P r e p r o j e c t evaluation.
s e c t i o n s of North Fork below t h e p r o j e c t . a r e a o The Division s s t h a t e s
by anglers in 1946'J-n North Fork,
- t h a t a minimum of 108,000 t r o u t were caught
E
13. The C a l i f o m i e S t a t e Chmbsr of Comerce (uC'alifoxmia'' Vol,
IiXhT, No, 2, Febo 1945) estimates t h e average annual eqer,dj.tlue of a
c ths
C a l i f o r n i a a n g l e r a t $120, Estimates based on catch records r ~ ~ a dby
Division of Fish and G a e ' i n d i c a t e t h a t anglers averazs 10-12 f i s h h g
days par year o r about $10 par day,
i
a"
U+, On t h e b a s i s of tho above e s t k t o s , a ~ l g l e r sspent a p p r o r h t o l y
$315,000 in p u r s u i t of fishing on llorth Fork of F a s t h e r River i n 1946,
1
!
?.
1 5 a The prepro j e c t annual value of t h e fishery r e s o ~ i c s sof t h e s e
s e c t i o n s is, theraforc, concludsd t o be $315,000, The 16,,85miles of
stream involved in t h e p r o j e c t plan are r e a d i l y accessib2c t o a g l e r s m d
support t h e bulk of t h e e x i s t i n g r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s * The g r e a t o r
p a r t of t h e t o t a l an&er s f f o r t on North Fork i o expended in this s e c t i o n *
r;P
B* P o s t p r o j e c t evaluation,,
5
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16r The meqn minimu2 flow o f North Fork t h r o u g h t h e p s o j o c t area
is apprbximately 1,500 second-feet, although flows oS l e s s t k m 600
second-feet have been recorded a t the Big Bar gaging s t a t i o n o With t h e
p r o j e c t in o p e r a t i o c as planned by tha sponsor, t h e only flow below
Rock Creek and Cresta dans would be t h a t r e s u l t i c g froa lezkage, flood
s p i l l , a d inflow of t r i b u t a r i e s * Mhir;..u.a t r i b u t a r y W l c i r tdo t h e 7D5mile s e c t i o n between Rock Crsek dam and Cresta Eorobay i s 1 7 second-feet
and i n t h e 4e8-miLt3 section between Cresta dam and powerhcuse U,5 sscondfeete The e x t e n t t h a t leakage would supplment t h % e flows i s u-rknowi-i,
but q u i t s obviously t h e t o t & dnirnu;n flow from thesa souY1cas would be inadequate t o maintain more than a v e s t i g e , o f t h e prevent f i s h e r g ,
*
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17* On t h e basis of t h e s e flows as compared t o t h o s e p r e u z i l i n g
a t t h e p r e p m j e c t l e v e l , it i s estimated t h a t f i s h e r y values would be
about 89 p e r cent and would amount t o approximately $35,000
amually including a. f i s h e r y value of $2,450 f o r t h s forebays of Bock
Creek arid 'Cresta D a s , A n n u l l o s s e s t o t h e f i s h e r y resources would
be about $280,000,
18,
'The i r r e d u c i b l e ninimun flow recommended f o r t h e maintenance of
f i s h l i f e and f b h h g i n t h e 12.3 miles of stream t h a t will be a f f e c t e d by
t h e p r o j e c t i s 200 sscond-feet a s measured a t t h e point of r e l e a s e from
Hock Creek and Cresta d m s , Flows ' g r e a t e r t h a n t h i s would enhance f i s h e r y
values, and' c a r e f u l study i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e f i s h e r y resources might be
maintained a t o r near t h e i r present l e v e l s of abundance with a minimu
flow o f about 400 second-feet,
19, Because t h e present a p p l i c a t i o n concerns only twa u n i t s of a
t o t a l of t e n u l t i m a t e l y p l a n e d , t h r e e of which
exclusive of Lake AL
manor
have a l r e a d y been ccnstructed and a r e in operation, it seems ap-
p r o p r i a t e t o c a l l a t t e n t i o n t o c e r t a i n phases of operation of
eristing
u n i t s t h a t should be corrected f o r t h e protection of f i s h l i f e ,
a.
Releases from Ldce Almanor t o North Fork a r e q u i t e e r r a t i c
and a f f e c t about 1 0 miles of stream between t h e dam and Caribou
powerhouau, According t o 191+3 flow records, t h e mean discharge
f rm Ldce Almanor was 223 ,second-feet,
However, reloasos of
l e s s t h a n 20 second-feet were made during t h e months of May,
June, J ~ d y ,August, and September, with a minimum r e l e a s e of
4.4 second-feet being made in Septmber, These a r e t h e months
of t h e yeal* during which t h e water demands of t r o u t a r e g r s a t e s t ,
Under present operation schadules, flows a r e obviously lowest
during t h e s e months, I n o r d s r t o c o r r e c t t h i s s i t u a t i o n i n t h e
i n t e r e s t of f i s h e r y maintenance, it i s recommended t h a t a minknun
flow of not l e s s t h a n 100 second-feet, a s measured a t a point
0.5 milo above Caribou powerhouse bo maintained i n North Forko
b.
The operation of Caribou power plant s e r i o u s l y a f f e c t s about 7
miles of North Fork from t h e powerhouse t o t h e confluence of East
Branch and t o a l e s s e r deeree a d d i t i o n a l miles of stream below
t h a t point. The p l a n t apparently operates on a demand b a s i s
which r e s u l t s in extreme f l u c t u a t i o n s in discharge, During t h e
course of a one-hour observation on A p r i l 10, 1947, discharges
from t h e plant varied between 20 and 650 second-feeto V e r t i c a l
changes Fn stream love1 below t h e plant varied between 6 inches
and 3 f e e t depending on t h e character of t h e s t r e a n channol,
I n t h o irkcrest of conservstion and maintenance of f i s h l i f e i n
North Fork, t h i s condition should be and can be corrected by
construction of an a f t e r b a y dam to smooth flow i r r e g u l a r i t i e s ,
20, If recornendations f o r minimum flows as made h e r e i n a r e followed below Rock Creek D ~ i n , it i s e s t b t e d , t h a t f i s h e r y values in t h e p r o j e c t a r e a
could be nai?tained a t about 50 per, cent of t h e preproject l e v e l and would
mount t o about $160,000 annually. / The f i s h e r y resources would s u s t a i n
annual l o s s e s amounting $0 a t l e a s t , $155,0000 I f r e l e a s e s a r e mado from
,Lake fJlnanor t o provide f l o x s of 100 sacond-feet a t Caribou, and t h i s inicrcased f l o w i s c a r r i e d unimpeded dowistrean), an a d d i t i o n a l awual f i s h e r y
!value o f $85,000 would be .provided f o r t h e s t r e t c h from L&a A h a n o r t o
:Rock Creek Dan, The n e t annual l o s s t o t h o North Fork would be roduced
, t o $70,C00e This total v a l u e ' p r e c l u d e s t h e improvment o f stroam
. f l u c t u a t i o n s below Caribou powerhouse,
21. Rock Creck and Crosta dams would be c o n s t ~ ~ c t es do l e l y t o c r e a t e
head f o r t h e d i v a r s i o n of water, Forobay w a t e r s wu~?d b:, ra?idly oxchanged
s i n c e s t o r a g e c a p a c i t i e s a r e low in r e l a t i o n t o Fqflois 2nd discharge.
Thus, t h e s e w6ters would retain some s t r o a n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s while assmi n g c e r t a i n r e s e r v o i r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s as depth and i n c r e a s u d p l a c i d surface
area, T h e i r v a l u e t o t h e f i s h e r y r e s o u r c e s of North Fork l i a s somewhc~e
between t y p i c a l ytream and t y p i c a l r e s e r v o i r conditicins, Kocever, a f t e r
c a r e f u l study, it seems proper t o e v a l u a t e t h m on an area basis r a t h e r
than in t e r m s of volume of flow and 1i;riit t h a pw-acre value t o one-half
o f t h e regular r e s e r v o i r value f o r s t o r a g s inpow-cfinents of t h a same area,
22, ' The Rock Creek forebay would have an @Ife c t i v o area of 122 a c r e s
and t h e Cresta forebay, 97 a c r e s f o r a total of 219 ackes, These forcbays would have an annual f i s h e r y value o f about $2,450,
23. Fishways wohld not be r e q u i r e d f o r t h e d m s since m i g r a t o r y
f i s h e s a r e n o t involved. Consideration should be givan t.be problem o f
screening d i v e r s i o n i n t a k e s t o prevent p s s i b l e l o s s of f i s h * However,
it i s recognized t h a t t h e screening of t h e d i v e r s i o n s from Rock Creak and
C r e s t a dams might n o t be e c ~ n o ~ n i c a l ljustified
y
nor physically possible
t o accomplish, '
24. Schedule of Nininm Flows
: Kinini~unFlows in Second-feet
,:
,
Postpro,ject
:Mil.es:Prepro.ject :Sl?onsor's P1an:Reco~nmcnded
St'r.eam S e c t i o n
Lpke A h a n o r t o Caribou
10,OO
10
10
100
7.00
60
60
150
2.00
182
162
272
2.80
202
Rock Creek Dam t o Bucks Creek
Powerhouse
6.00
220
17
217
520
317
517
Powerhouse
Caribou Powerhouse t o E a s t
Branch
East Branch t o head bf Rock
Creek Reservoir
Head of Reservoir t o Rock
.
Creek Dam
+
Inundated by r e s e r v o i r
I
Bucks Creek Powerhouse t o
head of C r e s t a Re3ervoirL50
I
Head of R e s e r v o i r t o C r e s t a
Dam
~ r e s t aDan t o Cresta
Powerhouse
1.75
532
4.80
547
Inundated by r a s o m i r
Ute5
2l-4-e5
,I
1
v
* $ *:
.
b.
,
w
25.
'
L 1
Starmiry of F i s h e r y Values in t h e Pro,ject P.res
PostproLject
P r ~ p r o ~ j e c t Sponsor
Service
,
%
f,.
$,
LOSS
Sponsor
Service
* Excluding recomnended~flohsbslow Lake--klmanore
5
.
-
WILDLJYE SECTION
26. The ~ r o j e c tw i l l not appreciably a f f e c t e r d s t i n g w f i d l i f e
resources of t h e a r e a o I n general, t h e p r e c i p i t o u s , roc@ canyon of
North Fork provides very l i t t l e s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t f o r upland game b i r d s
and ~ h 3 l 3 , Deer are found in t h e highlands and t o some e x t e n t in
t h e canyono Q u a i l a r e t h e only upland game b i r d s found in t h e a r e a ,
b u t they a r e few i n number and t h e i r h a b i t a t is l i m i t e d t o stream
margins.
27, Occasional waterfowl frequent t h e a r e a in f l i g h t batween Lake
Almanor and Central Valley and m i g h t t,wssibly use t h e forebaye of Rock
Creek and C r e s t a Dams as resting areas. But because of t h e Rocky n a t u r e
of the t e r r a i n t h a t t h e y would inundate, t h e s e forebays would not develop
feeding o r e a e o
28, A
canyon, but
be a f f e c t e d
habitat f o r
*
IJ
f2
",
!
f
.
I
few mink, skunk, and coyotes are known t o occur in North Fork
it 13 doubtful t h a t any a r e r e s i d e n t in t h e a r e a s that would
by t h e proposed impounclrnents because of t h e l a c k of s u i t a b l e
then,
/s/ Rudolph Dieff enbach,
Coordinator, River Basin Studies,
March 1948.
Figure lo Rock Ore& Dm sitaEcut bank.
2pproximate crest level of d a ~ .
I
t i n e indicahes
F i y r e 2, Rock Creak D m sitscciJoot bank look&ig
downstream.
1. Hark at crest lsveL of dm.
2. Center l i n e marh-er:iof tunnel,
,
F i p e 3, Rock Cresk Dm . s i t looking
~
dotg~stwm
f ran northwest.c o r n e r , of axis o f spillway,
".
.,
Figure 40 Crest;&D m s i t e ' '(approximate).,
l o o k i n g $strean.
' ..
View
I
'