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MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 17, 2022
TO: Commissioner Newsha Ajami, Vice President
Commissioner Sophie Maxwell
Commissioner Tim Paulson
Commissioner Tony Rivera
THROUGH: Dennis Herrera, General Manager
Steven R. Ritchie, Assistant General Manager, Water
FROM: William Sears, Science & Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Division
SUBJECT: Update on Lower Tuolumne River Pilot Habitat Restoration Projects
In 2021 the Turlock Irrigation District and Modesto Irrigation District (“The Districts”), together with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (collectively, “MOU Partners”) executed a Memorandum of Understanding titled Pilot Project to Improve Habitat on the Lower Tuolumne River (“MOU”).
The MOU outlines the intention of the MOU Partners to engage in habitat improvement work on the Lower Tuolumne River prior to issuance of a new license by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to the Districts for the Don Pedro Project and an original license for the La Grange Project. The MOU is in effect until FERC issues the license unless the MOU is terminated by the MOU Partners earlier.
The purpose of this memorandum is to update the Commission on progress to date, including project selection, status of selected projects, and anticipated future engagement with the Commission.
Project selection
The MOU Partners began the project selection process in August 2021 with the development of a list of potential projects in various stages of development, including four habitat improvement projects that were recommended to FERC for implementation as part of the Districts’ proposed FERC license condition, the Lower Tuolumne River Habitat Improvement Program (LTRHIP).
Selection criteria included prioritizing public ownership of restoration sites, ease of access, selecting “shovel ready” projects where possible, and opportunities to leverage MOU funding via matching grants.
From the list, two projects were selected: the Bobcat Flat Phase III Group C Project (Bobcat) and the Old La Grange Bridge Project (OLGB) (Figure 1). The Bobcat project met the “shovel ready”, access, and funding leverage criteria; the OLGB project met the public land ownership, access, and funding leverage criteria.
Bobcat Flat Phase III Group C Project – Objectives of the Bobcat project include restoring 9 acres of the Lower Tuolumne River floodplain for salmonid rearing habitat in partnership with Tuolumne River Conservancy, which owns the project area. The project is at 100% design and fully permitted with an existing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document (i.e. “shovel ready”). The proposed role of the MOU Partners is to provide matching funding to improve outside grant funding opportunities for implementation. The Bobcat project was included as one of the four projects recommended to FERC for implementation.
Old La Grange Bridge Project – Objectives of the OLGB project include restoration of approximately 9 acres of salmonid spawning riffles within the Lower Tuolumne River mainstem and 2 acres of adjacent floodplain habitat. The project is located almost entirely on lands owned by Stanislaus County and the Districts. All aspects (design, planning, permitting, and implementation) of the OLGB project will be undertaken by the MOU Partners directly. Two consulting firms, FlowWest and McBain Associates, have been engaged to complete design, planning, CEQA, and permitting.
Implementation grant applications and bid packages will be developed once design and planning/permitting have been substantially completed.
The OLGB Project is located immediately upstream of the existing Basso/La Grange Restoration Project which is coordinated by the Tuolumne River Trust. Design, planning, CEQA, and permitting are being conducted in partnership with the Tuolumne River Trust to maximize the benefits of both projects, and to ensure a seamless design and planning process (including a joint CEQA document or exemption).
While the OLGB project was not explicitly described as one of the four projects recommended to FERC in 2019, the MOU Partners have determined that the project comports with the intent of the MOU and goals of the proposed LTRHIP.
Status of selected projects
Bobcat Flat Phase III Group C Project – Initial discussions and a field tour were conducted with the Tuolumne River Conservancy in January 2022, however an agreement on funding terms could not be reached with the Tuolumne River Conservancy at this time. The MOU Partners will turn back to the project list to select other opportunities.
Old La Grange Bridge Project – The OLGB project has advanced to 65% design, which is currently under internal project team review and revision. Planning and permitting activities are underway, including coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife “Green Team” to cover both the Basso/La Grange and OLGB projects under a recently enacted CEQA Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects.
Stanislaus County is the CEQA Lead Agency. Outreach to local communities is currently being planned in collaboration with the Tuolumne River Trust. Bi-weekly meetings are held with the consulting team and partners including the Tuolumne River Trust. The MOU Partners meet monthly to discuss project status.
Future Commission action
Staff will return to the Commission some time in 2023 for review of appropriate CEQA documents and authorization for implementation activities per Commission Resolution 21-0028.
Figure 1. Locations of the Bobcat and Old La Grange Bridge projects.
Bobcat project
Old La Grange
Bridge project
Don Pedro
Reservoir