New Auburn Dam report estimates $6-10 billion cost

In today's Sacramento Bee, Matt Weiser reports:

A new study puts the cost of constructing an Auburn dam somewhere between $6 billion and $10 billion—at least twice the cost of earlier estimates.

The report, released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, yielded other sobering revisions to previous assessments of building a concrete dam on the American River near Auburn: As originally designed, the dam would provide far less drinking and irrigation water than once believed and would cause more harm to adjacent recreation areas. The study also found the dam would not protect Sacramento from a worst-case flood.

And according to the Auburn Sentinel, "State Assemblyman Ted Gaines spoke at the Gold Country Rotary club last week. Gaines said the Auburn dam is a 'dead issue' and alternatives to the project are being sought. Gaines was on the Placer County Board of Supervisors, representing District 4, until his November election to the state Assembly."

For images and more details, see the Sacramento Bee article, "Auburn dam price tag soars." You can download the complete report from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Auburn-Folsom South Unit Special Report page.

The South Fork agreement is signed and sealed

Representatives of Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), PG&E, Friends of the River (FOR), the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, the American River
Recreation Association and other stakeholders signed an agreement for the relicensing of SMUD's Upper American River Project (UARP).

According to FOR, this agreement "greatly improves the existing conditions of the South Fork American River and its tributaries" by:

• Greatly increasing minimum flows on all river segments. These flows mimic natural variation, restore ecological functions, and enhance conditions for fish and wildlife.


• Enhancing recreation opportunities by creating new kayaking and rafting opportunities on the South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House reservoir as well as the South Fork American River below Slab Creek Dam.


• Creating pulse flows on the Rubicon River, South Fork Silver Creek, and Gerle Creek. These flows simulate natural springtime runoff events and maintain the river ecology by flushing sediment and debris, improving water temperature and quality, and creating habitat.


• Providing financial assistance to the U.S. Forest Service and BLM for the maintenance and operation of recreational facilities located on or near project reservoirs and affected river segments.


• Creating a quantitative and reliable flow schedule for California's most popular whitewater river—the South Fork American below Chili Bar reservoir.

Visit FOR's website for more details, a photograph of the signing, and downloads of the agreement and other related reports.

SMUD board approves South Fork relicensing agreement

Posted for Teresa Simsiman - After another 2 months of intense negotiation meetings and conference calls - I am pleased to announce that the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Board of Directors as of 1/25/07 has approved the the Relicensing Settlement Agreement for the Upper American River Project and Chili Bar Hydroelectric Project (South Fork of the American River).

To view the video or meeting agenda, go to the SMUD meeting archives and select the SMUD BOD Special Meeting of Jan 25, 2007.

An official signing ceremony will be held at the SMUD headquarters Monday, January 29, at 1 p.m. (I'm practicing my penmanship!) SMUD, PG&E, the Agencies, NGO's and individual signatories will sign the historic agreement for the UARP and Chili Bar Hydroelectric Project. In other words - IT WILL BE OFFICIAL!!!!!!

The river community will really reap the benefits of this agreement and once the agreement is posted to FERC I will share the details! In the meantime please consider joining us - WE NEED TO OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE SMUD (they really like this sort of thing!!!). Thursday February 1, 6pm SMUD Auditorium, in the District's Headquarters Building at 6201 S St., Sacramento. If you can't make it please take the time to drop them a note - Go to the SMUD Board website and click on the ward links to contact Board members.

Theresa L. Simsiman
ROAR!

SMUD accused of diverting too much water from Rubicon

Matt Weiser of the Sacramento Bee reported today that the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) "has been taking more water from the Rubicon River in the high Sierra than its state permits allow, prompting complaints that the power supplier has harmed fish and neighboring water users."

The Rubicon River originates in eastern El Dorado County, but soon flows north into Placer County, becoming a tributary of the Middle Fork of the American River. (See map on our American River page.)

Weiser explains:

The two agencies are neighbors in the western Sierra, and share the Rubicon River. SMUD's Rubicon Reservoir, at 6,545 feet elevation, diverts a portion of the river's flow, via tunnel, into the south fork of the American River. SMUD uses that water to make electricity at several points.

The Placer water agency holds its share of Rubicon River flows at Hell Hole Reservoir, where it is stored for domestic and agricultural customers and used for power generation.

The result is that any excess Rubicon flows diverted by SMUD are not available to the Placer County Water Agency.

Complaints have been filed by the California Department of Fish and Game, the Placer County Water Agency, Friends of the River, and other fishing and environmental groups.

For details and an explanatory graphic, see "High Sierra diversions put SMUD in hot water" in the Bee.

Off Season Chili Bar Put-In Operation

Posted for Mike Bean - As many of you have already discovered, this year the gate to the lower parking area at Chili Bar Put-In on the South Fork of the American River is being left open during daylight hours. The upper lot which is not part of the conservation easement owned and managed by the American River Conservancy (ARC) will most likely remain closed. It would be helpful for people parking in the lower lot to keep an eye out for dumping, campfires, vandalism, or other activities that would make it difficult to keep the gate open during the off season. Monies collected by private and commercial users of Chili Bar Put-In go to pay for seasonal staff and maintenance of the lower parking lot facilities. Any profit seen during a season goes into a disaster fund for major repairs. When funds in disaster fund reach $70,000, any profits are to be used for conservation activities performed by ARC. ARC has submitted a grant to acquire Richard De Chants' interest in the Chili Bar property and transfer the underlying fee title portion of the property to El Dorado County.

I would like to thank those that support ARC through their use of Chili Bar Put-In as well as those that support ARC through donations and volunteer time. The American River Conservancy is working hard to increase riverside habitat and water quality which I think directly benefits the experience of boaters on the South Fork of the American River.

Thanks again,
Mike Bean
Board Member
American River Conservancy

photo credit: Donna McMaster

Comments Requested on Folsom Dam Project by Fri Jan 26

Plans are underway to modify Folsom Dam to increase protection against flooding in Sacramento. Sacramento currently has the least protection against flooding of any major city in the US. This upgrade is seen as more cost-effective and less environmentally damaging solution than Auburn Dam or other larger projects.

Comments are being accepted through this Friday, January 26, 2007. Submit comments to Shawn Oliver, Bureau of Reclamation, 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 93630, or soliver@mp.usbr.gov. Comments also may be sent to Becky Victorine, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1325 J St., Sacramento, CA 95814, or Rebecca.A.Victorine@usace.army.mil.

See links and more details in Bruce Thomas' blog.

South Fork American River flow forecast

(Posted for Bill Center) - We will continue to have weekend water releases from Chili Bar for the South Fork of the American River for the forseeable future. We are in discussions with SMUD about water for holidays between now and Memorial day, as well as Spring mid-week water. We have a very diminished snow-pack, but enough reservoir storage to ensure a good summer whitewater boating season.

Coloma-Lotus Chamber Membership Drive

2007 memberships are open for the Coloma-Lotus Chamber of Commerce. This active organization promotes business and community in the Coloma-Lotus Valley, with a heavy emphasis on recreation. Membership includes a listing in the printed Coloma-Lotus Guide, distributed throughout the Valley and at key El Dorado County locations. It also includes a listing in either the Coloma Valley Directory or The American River Directory.

Memberships are accepted throughout the year, but your application and payment must be received by February 23, 2007, to be included in the 2007 Coloma-Lotus Guide. There is an early bird discount for all payments received by January 15. See the Chamber Membership page for details.

Display advertising is also available in the Guide. Contact the Chamber for more information about advertisements in the Guide.

If you are interested in advertising on the Coloma Valley or The American River websites, see our Advertising page.