ENVIRONMENTAL AND FUBLIC USE INSPECTION REPORT
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`FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMIBBION
`Bapn Francisco Regional Office
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`Logistics
`Project Name Spring Gap-Stanislaus Project No. Z2130-CA
`Licenses Pacific Gas and Electric Company License Typs Major
`License Issued March 21. 1955 Bxpires December 31, 2004
`Location Stanislaus River
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`(waterway) {resarvation)
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`c.
`{counties) (state)
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`Recreation and Environmental Amendment Dates December 8, 1986
`Previous Environmental Inspection Date August 7, 1589
`FERC Inspector _Philip A. Scordelis ©Date September 13, 1993
`Licensesa Representatives John Perrault, Eathvy Petersen.
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`Phil Longo
`Other Participants Bill Ferrell - U. §., Forest Service
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`Weather Conditions Warm: clear: calm
`Summary of Findings
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`Most recreational facilities at this project are provided
`by the Forest Service, although the licensee provides a small
`day-use area at one forebay; some ercsion of the access trail was
`noted. The licensee contains no cultural resource requirements.
`The required fish and wildlife measures have been provided. The
`licensea employs a number of measuras to g:ntlnt miscellanecus
`resources; some improvements to the handling and storage of
`hazardous materials were identified. Public safety is adequately
`addressed.
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`MOV 10 993
`Bubmitted
`PHILIP A. SCORDELIS 3
`Philip Boordelis f
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`i Fisheries Biologist
`"/ ofer . SCANHET ~eT 481938
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`The Spring Gap-Stanislaus Project, located in California
`batween 10 and 30 miles (16 and 48 kilometers) from Sonora, can
`be reached by driving east from San Francisco on Interstate
`Highways B0, 580, and 205 to Manteca; east on State Highways 120
`and 108 to Sonora; and north and east on local roads to the
`project area (Figures 1 and 2).
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`The project is located on the western slope of the Sierra
`Hevada Mountains, at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 5,600 feet
`(460 to 1,700 meters) above sea level (Photo No. 1). This range
`of elevation includes chaparral, ocak woodland, and coniferous
`forest communities, which are inhabited by mule deer, black bear,
`puma, coyote, bobcat, and numercus other fur-bearing species.
`Avian inhabitants include eagle, hawk, vulture, raven, guall, and
`a variety of songbird species. Lakes and streams in the area
`contain bass, sunfish, trout, and char. Aboriginal Americans
`inhabited the area until displaced by settlers in the 1%th
`century. The economy of the area currently depends on logging,
`mining, ranching, and tourism.
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`2. Description of the Development
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`The project consists of Relief Dam and Reservoir;
`Strawberry Dam and Pinecrest Lake; the Philadelphia and Sand
`Bar Diversion Dams; the Stanislaus Forebay and Afterbay; saveral
`conduits, including ditches, flumes, a tunnel, and penstocks; two
`powerhouses containing one unit each, with a combined capacity
`of 87,900 kW; one transmission line and three tap lines; and
`appurtenant facilities.
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`B. FROJECT RESOURCES AND FACILITIES
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`The licensee allowes public access to the Stanislaus
`Forebay for day-use recreation such as fishing and picnicking,
`but swimming and boating are not allowed for safety concerns.
`Access to this low elevation forebay occurs over a long,
`cccasionally rough gravel road and usage is light. PFacilities
`provided by the licensee include a gravel parking area, chemical
`toilets, and an access trail to the forebay (FPhoto Noa. 2 and 3).
`The licensee contracts with a local resident for maintenance of
`the facilities, which was adequate. A minor amount of erosion
`ocourring on the access trail regquired attention.
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`No facilities are provided by the licensee at the
`Stanislaus Diversion Dam; however, a 10-unit campground ocperated
`by the U. 5. Foreat Bervice (FS) is located just upstream of the
`dam.
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`No recreational facilities are provided at Relief Reservoir,
`a high elevation reservoir accessible primarily by a hiking trail
`from EKennedy Meadow, located about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) north
`of the reservoir. Oligotrophic conditions in the reservoir limit
`fish production here, and overall use is light.
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`Pinecrest Lake is the focus of recreation in the project
`area and receives extremely heavy use. The licenses has provided
`no facilities at this lake. The F8 operates family and group
`campgrounds, an amphitheater, a swimming beach, a boat launching
`ramp and trailer parking area, and hiking trails. The FS also
`permits operation of a marina, shops, a service station, and
`private cabins (Phote Noe. 4 through 7). A number of the private
`cabin permittees moor their small craft along the lake shoreline,
`and the licensee reported that permite for thase mooring
`facilities are required. The moorage arrangement appeared to
`be somewhat chaotic and the licensee was reguested to provide
`more control (Photo No. B).
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`b. compliance with Conditions and orders
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`An Exhibit R or a Recreation Plan was not reguired for this
`project. Article 16 requires the licensee to allow the public
`reasonable, free access to project lands and waters. The
`licensee has complied with this regquirement.
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`Article 29 requires the licensee to maintain the water
`surface elevation of Pinecrest Lake at as high a level as is
`practicable between June 1 and September 15; and to maintain a
`minimum pool of about 10 acres (4 hectares), with a depth no
`less than 10 feet (3 meters). Data to document compliance with
`these requirements have been requested.
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`The licensee has provided signse in compliance with Part 8
`of the Commission's regulations at the Stanislaus Forebay and at
`Pinecrest Lake (Photo NHo. 9).
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`@. Adeguacy of Public Use Rescurces and Facilities
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`Recreation demand at the project is extremely high and the
`existing facilities are well-used. The FS has provided nearly
`all of the facilities available in the project area. Additional
`facilities may be needed to accommodate future demand; this
`concern should be addressed when the current license expires.
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`HORTH
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`Figure 2. Project access map.
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`Photo 2. Parking area at the Stanislaus Forebay.
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`Photo 6. Boat launching ramp at Pinecrest Lake.
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`Phote 7. Pinecrest Lake Resort marina.
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`Photo 8. Boat moorage area at Pinecrest Lake.
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`Photo 9. Part 8 sign at Pinecrest Lake.
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`Photo 10. Fish ladder at the Fhiladelphia Diversion Dam.
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`Photo 11. Gaging station at the Sand Bar Diversion Dam.
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`Photo 12. Gaging statlion at the Fhiladelphia Diversion Dam.
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`Photo 13. Gaging station at Kennedy Meadow.
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`Photo 14. Gaging equipment at Kennedy Meadow.
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`Photos 15 and 16. Containment berms at the Stanislaus Powerhouse
`switchyard.
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`Phote 17. Containment cart used in the Stanislaus Powerhouse.
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`Photo 18. Spilled oil at the Stanislaus Powerhouse tallwater
`suppression system.
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`hote 19. Containment berm at the Spring Gap Powerhouse
`switchyard.
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`Photo 20. ©il separation sump at the Spring Gap Fowerhouse
`switchyard.
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`Fhoto 21. 0il storage at the Pinecrest Lake Resort marina.
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`FPhoto 22. Filler pipe for the underground storage tank at
`the Pinecrest Lake Resort marina.
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`Photo 23. Erosion control measures along the Philadelphia Ditch.
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`Photo 24. Safety fence at the Stanislaus Powerhouse switchyard.
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`Phote 25. Safety fence at the Sand Bar Diversion Dam intake.
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`Photo 26. Safety barrier at the Stanislaus Afterbay Dam.
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`Bar Diversion Dam.
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`Safety barrier at the
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`Phote 27.
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`Ssafety boom at the Relief Dam spilllway.
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`Fhoto 28B.
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`Photo 29. Safety barrier at the end of a flume section on the
`Philadelphia Ditch.
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`--"‘,l'l u"““
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`_.-lll gy e
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`Photo 30. Warning sign near the Stanislaus Afterbay Dam.
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`1. Warning sign at the Stanislaus Powerhouse tailrace.
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`Photo 32. Warning sign at Pinecrest Lake.
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