Placer County Water Agency Middle Fork American River Project Plenary Meeting February 2, 2009 Handout #5

Study Implementation Progress Report Meeting

Study Implementation Progress Report and Meeting Progress Report Purpose  Describe overall progress in implementing study plans including:  any variances  any modifications to ongoing studies or new studies proposed by the applicant Progress Report Meeting Purpose  Discuss applicant’s and/or other participant’s proposals, if any, to modify the study plans

3 Technical Study Plan Development 28 Stakeholder-approved TSPs were included in PAD (December 13, 2007) Comments received on the TSPs included:  Verbal comments  PCWA’s 2007 Study Implementation Progress Report Meeting (February 4, 2008)  FERC’s Public Scoping Meeting (March 4, 2008)  Written comments  Six letters

4 Technical Study Plan Development (continued) PCWA revised one TSP in response to comments  Revised AQ 1 - TSP was filed with FERC on May 23, 2008 FERC issued Study Plan Determination on July 18, 2008  Approved all TSPs included in the PAD plus revised AQ 1 - TSP  Excluded study element of LAND 1 - TSP that pertained to Non-Project General Access Roads

5 28 Technical Study Plans Aquatic Resources AQ 1Instream Flow AQ 2Fish Population AQ 3Macroinvertebrate & Aquatic Mollusk AQ 4Water Temperature Modeling AQ 5Bioenergetics AQ 6Fish Passage AQ 7Entrainment AQ 8Reservoir Fish Habitat AQ 9Geomorphology AQ 10Riparian Resources AQ 11Water Quality AQ 12Special-Status Amphibian & Aquatic Reptiles Cultural Resources CUL 1Cultural Resources Land Management LAND 1Transportation System LAND 2Fire Prevention & Response LAND 3Emergency Action & Public Safety LAND 4FERC Boundary & Authorization Recreation Resources REC 1Recreation Use & Facilities Assessment REC 2Recreation Visitor Surveys REC 3Reservoir Recreation Opportunities REC 4Stream-Based Recreation Opportunities REC 5Visual Quality Assessment Terrestrial Resources TERR 1Vegetation Communities & Wildlife Habitat TERR 2Special-Status Plants TERR 3Noxious Weeds TERR 4Special-Status Wildlife TERR 5Bald Eagle TERR 6Special-Status Bats

6 Technical Studies Implementation PCWA initiated PAD Technical Studies in May 2007 Majority of Technical Studies will be Completed by Q Studies Requiring Additional Field Work  AQ 7 - Direct entrainment measurements  AQ 9 - Duncan Creek and French Meadows sediment surveys  AQ 12 - CRLF surveys  LAND 1 - Non-Project general access road surveys

7 Distribution of Draft Technical Study Reports

Study Implementation Progress Report Contents Attachment A -PCWA Progress Report Distribution List Attachment B Technical Study Plan Progress Report Summary Table Attachment C -Technical Study Plan Implementation Schedules Attachment D -July 1, 2008 Update on the REC 4 - Stream Based Opportunities Technical Study Plan Focus Group Sessions and Refined Flow Study Approaches Letter -Study Implementation Summary

Study Implementation Progress Report Contents (continued) Attachment E -AQ 7 - Entrainment Direct Sampling Approach (Contingency Study) Attachment F -AQ 11 - Water Quality Contingency Sampling Protocol (Contingency Study) Attachment G -Final Cultural Resources Evaluation Plan (August 28, 2008), Excluding Privileged Information

10 Technical Study Implementation Progress Attachment B summarizes:  Study elements completed/data collected  TSP variances  Outstanding study elements  Proposed modifications (none)  Proposed new studies (none)  Working Group updates

11 Technical Study Implementation Variances All studies implemented as outlined in FERC-Approved TSP with few variances Variances fall into three categories  Report distribution  Voluntary enhancements  Study approach refinements

12 Technical Study Implementation Report Distribution Variances Report distribution delayed because additional time was needed to:  Complete field studies  Consult with agencies  Acquire and compile data  Analyze data Updated schedules, including reporting milestones, are included in Attachment C

13 Technical Study Implementation Voluntary Enhancements PCWA voluntarily completed additional study elements:  AQ 1 - Instream Flow  Collected flow and stranding data at Gray Eagle Bar  AQ 6 - Fish Passage  Surveyed two inaccessible river reaches for passage barriers (helicopter)  Surveyed and measured several potential barriers that were identified during field studies  TERR 3 - Noxious Weeds  Expanded study area to include quantitative geomorphic and riparian sampling sites

14 Technical Study Implementation Study Approach Refinements Study approach refinements include:  AQ 3 - Macroinvertebrate and Aquatic Mollusks  Used updated reporting metrics (Rehn 2008)  REC 4 - Stream-based Recreation Opportunities  In-lieu of assembling focus group of angler and trail users  Developed site-specific stage discharge relationships at trail crossings  Characterized streamflow and ramping rates in peaking reach  Refinements were discussed and approved by REC TWG

15 Technical Study Implementation Study Approach Refinements (continued) Study approach refinements include (continued):  TERR 2 - Special Status Plants  Special-status fungi surveys were not conducted based on lack of suitable habitat in study area  Refinements were discussed and approved by TERR TWG

16 Technical Study Implementation Five Contingency Studies Completed or in Progress AQ 7 - Entrainment  Conducting Entrainment Direct Sampling AQ 11 - Water Quality  Conducted additional fish tissue methylmercury sampling AQ 12 - Special Status Amphibian and Aquatic Reptiles  Collected additional FYLF breeding timing data at 2D modeling validation study sites CUL 1 - Cultural Resources  Evaluating select resources to determine eligibility REC 5 - Visual Quality Assessment  Photo-documented water level conditions at Ralston Afterbay

17 Technical Study Implementation Three Potential Contingency Studies AQ 2 - Fish Population  Evaluate the need for third year of fish population monitoring AQ 9 - Geomorphology  Evaluate the need for additional empirical studies to characterize sediment transport under different flow conditions REC 4 - Stream-based Recreation Opportunities  Evaluate the need for whitewater boating flow studies in the bypass reaches Decision involves consultation with TWGs (March 2009)

18 Technical Study Implementation Modifications or New Studies No modifications to approved studies or new studies are proposed by PCWA

19 Technical Study Implementation Next Steps per FERC ILP Regulations 1 1 Progress Report=Updated Study Report per 18 CFR § 5.15(f)