11

Potential Project Betterments Potential Project Betterments to be studied further during Relicensingto be studied further during Relicensing

June 20, 2006June 20, 2006

Stakeholder MeetingStakeholder Meeting

Middle Fork American RiverMiddle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project Relicensing Hydroelectric Project Relicensing

22

OutlineOutlineOutlineOutline

Resource Utilization Study Resource Utilization Study BettermentsBetterments Study ProcessStudy Process Inventory and Screening of Inventory and Screening of

BettermentsBetterments Betterments to be studied further in Betterments to be studied further in

relicensingrelicensing

33

Resource Utilization Study (RUS)Resource Utilization Study (RUS)Resource Utilization Study (RUS)Resource Utilization Study (RUS)

RUS is required by the Federal Energy RUS is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in relicensingRegulatory Commission in relicensing Demonstrate that PCWA’s proposal to Demonstrate that PCWA’s proposal to

manage, operate and maintain the project manage, operate and maintain the project is best adapted to serve the public is best adapted to serve the public interest.interest.

Develop information required to be Develop information required to be submitted in license exhibits.submitted in license exhibits.

Opportunity for PCWA to improve Opportunity for PCWA to improve project in light of current or future project in light of current or future public needs.public needs. Betterments Betterments

44

BettermentsBettermentsBettermentsBetterments Better meet the primary purposes for Better meet the primary purposes for

which the project was developed.which the project was developed. Water supplyWater supply Hydroelectric power generationHydroelectric power generation

HowHow Increase resource utilizationIncrease resource utilization Improve system reliabilityImprove system reliability Improve operations and maintenance Improve operations and maintenance

efficiencyefficiency Other Other enhancementsenhancements addressed in project addressed in project

mitigation and enhancement (PM&E) mitigation and enhancement (PM&E) studies.studies.

55

RUS ProcessRUS ProcessRUS ProcessRUS Process

Betterments to carry forward in relicensing.

Project DescriptionJune 2006

Technical/environmental studies and

agency/public consultation 2007-2010

Include viable projects in

License Application

Initial data collection evaluation & screening

Inventory of potential betterments

66

RUS ProcessRUS ProcessRUS ProcessRUS Process Identify existing resource utilization baselineIdentify existing resource utilization baseline

Initial brainstorming, & discussions with PCWA Initial brainstorming, & discussions with PCWA Management and Staff identified potential Management and Staff identified potential betterments.betterments.

Field visits and discussions with operations staff Field visits and discussions with operations staff added more betterments and resulted in some added more betterments and resulted in some being dropped.being dropped.

Preliminary technical analysis and evaluation of Preliminary technical analysis and evaluation of potential feasibility of betterments.potential feasibility of betterments.

Workshops with PCWA to discuss betterments and Workshops with PCWA to discuss betterments and make planning decisions regarding:make planning decisions regarding: Betterments to study further in relicensingBetterments to study further in relicensing Betterments to discardBetterments to discard

77

Betterments to study further in Betterments to study further in RelicensingRelicensing

Betterments to study further in Betterments to study further in RelicensingRelicensing

Duncan Diversion ModificationsDuncan Diversion Modifications Seasonal Storage IncreasesSeasonal Storage Increases

French MeadowsFrench Meadows Hell HoleHell Hole

French Meadows-Hell Hole Pumped StorageFrench Meadows-Hell Hole Pumped Storage Small Hydro AdditionsSmall Hydro Additions

Hell Hole UpgradeHell Hole Upgrade InterbayInterbay RalstonRalston

Ralston Powerhouse Capacity UpgradeRalston Powerhouse Capacity Upgrade Sediment ManagementSediment Management

Duncan DiversionDuncan Diversion North & South Long Canyon DiversionsNorth & South Long Canyon Diversions InterbayInterbay Ralston AfterbayRalston Afterbay

88

Middle Fork Project WatershedMiddle Fork Project WatershedMiddle Fork Project WatershedMiddle Fork Project Watershed

99

Betterments to be Studied in RelicensingBetterments to be Studied in RelicensingBetterments to be Studied in RelicensingBetterments to be Studied in Relicensing

1010

Duncan Creek DiversionDuncan Creek DiversionDuncan Creek DiversionDuncan Creek Diversion Main problem is blockage of the intake Main problem is blockage of the intake

with trash during stormswith trash during storms Important because it is at the top of the Important because it is at the top of the

systemsystemUpgrade trash rack Upgrade trash rack structure to structure to alleviate trash alleviate trash blockagesblockages

1111

French Meadows seasonal water French Meadows seasonal water storage increase within existing flood storage increase within existing flood

storage poolstorage pool

French Meadows seasonal water French Meadows seasonal water storage increase within existing flood storage increase within existing flood

storage poolstorage pool

Raise dam crest in conjunction with spillway modifications for revised Probable Maximum Flood (PMF)

Additional storage of 5,000 AF can be accomplished with a 3.5 ft (approx) raise

1212

French Meadows SpillwayFrench Meadows SpillwayFrench Meadows SpillwayFrench Meadows Spillway

Dam safety studies have investigated both widening the spillway and raising the crest of the dam

1313

Hell Hole seasonal water storage Hell Hole seasonal water storage increase within existing flood storage increase within existing flood storage

poolpool

Hell Hole seasonal water storage Hell Hole seasonal water storage increase within existing flood storage increase within existing flood storage

poolpool

10 foot seasonal increase in operating level May–September would add 12 TAF

1414

Add crest gates to existing Add crest gates to existing spillway for storage increase spillway for storage increase

during Summerduring Summer

Add crest gates to existing Add crest gates to existing spillway for storage increase spillway for storage increase

during Summerduring Summer

1515

Typical Spillway Crest GatesTypical Spillway Crest GatesGranite Reef Diversion - ArizonaGranite Reef Diversion - Arizona

Typical Spillway Crest GatesTypical Spillway Crest GatesGranite Reef Diversion - ArizonaGranite Reef Diversion - Arizona

1616

Add/Upgrade Small HydroAdd/Upgrade Small HydroAdd/Upgrade Small HydroAdd/Upgrade Small Hydro

PotentialPotential Upgrade Hell Hole Upgrade Hell Hole

powerhouse powerhouse capacitycapacity

Add small hydro Add small hydro plants on flow plants on flow outlets at Interbay outlets at Interbay and Ralston and Ralston Afterbay DamsAfterbay Dams

1717

Add/Upgrade Small HydroAdd/Upgrade Small HydroAdd/Upgrade Small HydroAdd/Upgrade Small Hydro

Next StepNext Step Include provision for Include provision for

fish release hydro fish release hydro facilities in Project facilities in Project Description for Description for Relicensing. Relicensing.

Relicensing Instream Relicensing Instream flow studiesflow studies

Finalize when flow Finalize when flow release patterns release patterns established.established.

1818

Hell Hole - French MeadowsHell Hole - French Meadows Pumped-Storage Pumped-Storage

Hell Hole - French MeadowsHell Hole - French Meadows Pumped-Storage Pumped-Storage

Opportunity for pumped-storage between existing Opportunity for pumped-storage between existing reservoirsreservoirs

52 MW project maximizes use of hydraulic capacity 52 MW project maximizes use of hydraulic capacity in French Meadows Tunnelin French Meadows Tunnel

Recovers lost head below French Meadows Recovers lost head below French Meadows PowerhousePowerhouse

1919

Ralston Capacity IncreaseRalston Capacity IncreaseRalston Capacity IncreaseRalston Capacity Increase Hydraulic capacity of Hydraulic capacity of

Middle Fork Middle Fork Powerhouse (1000 cfs) Powerhouse (1000 cfs) is higher than Ralston is higher than Ralston (925 cfs). (925 cfs).

Ralston should have Ralston should have higher hydraulic higher hydraulic capacity than Middle capacity than Middle Fork otherwise potential Fork otherwise potential spills at Interbayspills at Interbay

Ralston Powerhouse is Ralston Powerhouse is hydraulically limited – hydraulically limited – turbine limits outputturbine limits output

2020

Options at RalstonOptions at RalstonOptions at RalstonOptions at Ralston

Turbine- generator upgrade (if feasible)Turbine- generator upgrade (if feasible) Add second 11-MW unitAdd second 11-MW unit

2121

Ralston Next StepsRalston Next StepsRalston Next StepsRalston Next Steps

Evaluate upgrade Evaluate upgrade potential of existing potential of existing turbine/generator turbine/generator electrical equipmentelectrical equipment

Refine second unit Refine second unit option.option.

Evaluate electrical Evaluate electrical output constraintsoutput constraints

Study environmental Study environmental and operational and operational impacts during impacts during relicensing.relicensing.

2222

Sediment ManagementSediment ManagementSediment ManagementSediment Management Diversions blocked by sediment during and after major storm Diversions blocked by sediment during and after major storm

eventsevents Middle Fork and Ralston output affected during/after major storms Middle Fork and Ralston output affected during/after major storms

due to sediment accumulation in Interbay and Ralston Afterbay.due to sediment accumulation in Interbay and Ralston Afterbay. Middle Fork Power Plant operation is constrained by gravel Middle Fork Power Plant operation is constrained by gravel

movement in tunnel and rock trap issues.movement in tunnel and rock trap issues. Sediment removal and disposal – outage and cost liabilitySediment removal and disposal – outage and cost liability

Improve sediment pass-through in Interbay and Ralston during floods

Improve diversions

2323

SummarySummarySummarySummary

Betterments to carry forward in relicensing.

Project DescriptionJune 2006

Technical/environmental studies and

agency/public consultation 2007-2010

Include viable projects in

License Application

Initial data collection evaluation & screening

Inventory of potential betterments