FERC Relicensing of Oroville Facilities

DWR's federal license to operate the Oroville Complex— Hyatt Powerplant, Thermalito Diversion Powerplant, and Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant—will expire in January 2007. The relicensing is critical because these facilities generate power used by the Project to move water to its destinations and help keep water rates affordable for its contractors. The SWP is the largest consumer of energy in the State and is also a major power producer. Its hydroelectric operations cannot be separated from its water storage and conveyance operations, just as the Oroville Complex is a hydroelectric as well as a water storage facility.

Proceedings are presently under way to approve the operations of Project No. 2100, as the complex is known to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The commission gives consideration to power and non-power impacts such as environmental and recreational impacts.

DWR has already added much to the recreation on and around Lake Oroville, including new camp grounds, a 41-mile bike trail, and floating camp sites. Studies are ongoing to achieve the optimum mix of sport fish in the lake. The Feather River Hatchery was expanded and made more easily accessible to persons with disabilities. Disease-prevention fish quarantine facilities were also added, and new informational signage for the hatchery is being developed.

Although DWR has hired consultants to guide the relicensing effort, many of its biologists, engineers, and others are working on the different aspects that must be considered. These include instream flows, downstream uses, water temperature, recreational facilities, project operations on Indian tribes, fish hatchery operations, water quality, watershed management, listed species, and more.

DWR will coordinate their efforts with the California Department of Fish and Game, State Water Resources Control Board, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Forest Service, and other regulatory agencies. The Department has also been meeting with representatives from the Oroville-area Indian tribes and the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce.

A series of public hearings will be held to guide the preparation of the license application due to FERC by January 2005. Even after that date, stakeholders can continue to negotiate license conditions. If a new 30- to 50-year license is not approved by the January 31, 2007 deadline, DWR will operate on a year-by-year license extension. However, this is not the desired option because of accumulating negotiation costs.