Huntington Lake Dam No. 1 Low-Level Outlet Valves Replacement Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022090456
Public Agency
State Water Resources Control Board
Document Title
Huntington Lake Dam No. 1 Low-Level Outlet Valves Replacement Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/23/2022
Document Description
Southern California Edison Company (SCE) owns and operates Huntington Lake Dam No. 1, which is part of the Big Creek Nos. 1 and 2 Hydroelectric Project. Huntington Lake Dam No. 1 is a concrete gravity arch dam that is 1,335 feet in length and 170 feet in height and impounds approximately 90,000 acre-feet of water in Huntington Lake for hydropower. On June 27, 2022, SCE applied for a water quality certification from the State Water Resource Control Board. SCE also applied for United States Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permits for the Project: 3(a) – Maintenance, 5 – Scientific Measuring Devices, and 13 – Bank Stabilization. The Project involves: (1) repair and replacement of the upstream and downstream valves, gates, and operators, (2) dredging of accumulated sediment and debris in front of the low-level outlet intake gates, and (3) installation of a Parshall Flume. The proposed repairs and upgrades will not result in a change to the design or function of the dam. By restoring the functionality of the low-level outlet system, the Project repairs will address public safety concerns downstream of Huntington Lake Dam. The installation of the Parshall Flume will allow flow releases to be measured accurately in accordance with minimum instream flow requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project Nos. 1 and 2, FERC Project No. 2175.
Contact Information
Name
Derek Wadsworth
Agency Name
State Water Resources Control Board
Job Title
Water Resource Control Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Citywide, Countywide, Southern California
Zip
93634
Waterways
Big Creek, Huntington Lake
Other Location Info
Huntington Lake Dam No. 1 is located on Big Creek, in Fresno County, and is approximately 45 miles northeast of Fresno, California.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Existing Facilities, section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
Repairs and replacement of the existing minimum instream flow pipes, valves, and gates, as well as installation of a Parshall Flume, will not have a significant adverse effect since flows of at least 2 cfs will be bypassed into Big Creek during the work months, and the Project is categorically exempt from the requirements to prepare environmental documents under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301 (Existing Facilities). The Project maintains existing facilities used to provide electric power and other public utility services with no expansion of use or of the facilities’ footprint.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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