PG&E DeSabla-Centerville Relicensing

Pacific Gas and Electric's License application is online.  Follow the progress and get involved in making this project more environmentally friendly. Removing 60% of the creek flow in critical Spring Run Salmon habitat for a small amount of electricity makes no sense. Let Butte Creek Flow!  PGE has set up a website for the relicensing process. It can be accessed at by using this link: DeSabla-Centerville Relicensing

2009 and the beat goes on...

FERC's woefuly inadequate Environmental Assessment for the DeSabla Centerville Hydroelectric Project continues the deficiencies promoted by PG&E. Check out the document. (5.4 mb) View the comments:

• Conservation Groups
• State Water Resources Control Board
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• National Marine Fisheries Service
• California Department of Fish and Game
• U. S. Forest Service
• April 2 -PGE challenges Agency recommendations. Read PGE's weak conclusions that fish like canals and Butte Creek salmon prefer less water.

All the agencies and the Conservation Groups agree: Stop the heating in DeSabla Forebay, increaseflow/habitat in the low flow section above Centerville Powerhouse and screen the diversions! Feed need cold water and the don't belong in canals!

Other References 2008

• USFWS Flow Habitat Relationships Salmon Spawning Study for Butte Creek, Mark Gard, 2003
• Rich and Associates Water Temperature Study on Butte Creek 2007
• Rich Appendix A
• Rich Appendix B
• Calaveras River Spawning Gravel Assessment - Stillwater Sciences ( Read the Spawning Habitat Limitation Modeling through to the Recommendations - page 11-14)
• 2007 Butte Creek Spring Run Chinook Population Data (DFG) and Downstream Migration Percentage (FBC)
• Steelhead Restoration and Management Plan for California (Butte Creek is listed on page 172-Good reading!)
• TAC Recommendations on Spring run Stock Selection and Population Targets (San Joaquin River Restoration)

Recent Comments on the Final License Appllication - April 2008

• State Water Resources Control Board
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Forest Service
• California Department of Fish and Game
• California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

Updated Study Reports - January 2008

• Updated Study Reports
• Fish Population Data Sheets
• Fish survey Photos
• Letter and Fish Data
• Historic Properties Management Plan

PG&E relicensing documents, September 2007:

• DeSabla Centerville Economics
• Assessment of Screens
• Ladders and Screen Costs PGE
• Ladders and Screen Costs California Department of Fish and Game
• Habitat Suitability Workshop
• Salmon Steelhead Habitat Study
• Water Temperature Model

Comments submitted by Feb. 1, 2005 for the Scoping Document 1, Pre-application Document and Study Plans:

• Friends of Butte Creek
• NOAA Fisheries
• State Water Resources Control Board
• Chico Paddleheads
• Sacramento River Preservation Trust
• Friends of the River 
• National Park Service
• California Department of Fish and Game
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Pacific Gas and Electric

Other Comments

• FBC Comments on the FERC Approved Study Plans
• FBC Comments on the Supplemental Initial Study Report
• CSPA, FBC, FOR Comments on the Draft Initial License Application

Important California Department of Fish and Game References for the DeSabla Centerville Project

• Department of Fish and Game 1995-98 Spring Run Salmon Report
• Department of Fish and Game Upper Butte Creek Barrier Assessment 2000
• Butte and Big Chico Creeks Spring-Run Chinook Salmon Life History Investigation 2004-2005
• Department of Fish and Game Pre-Spawn Mortality 2004
• Department of Fish and Game Pre-Spawn Mortality 2005 (includes information from 2002-2003

General References

• Hendricks Canal Fish Rescue 2005
• Hendricks Canal Fish Rescue 2007
• Lower Centerville Fish Rescue January 18, 2008
• NOAA Fisheries Preliminary Biological Opinion

PG&E reports that 724 fish were rescued when the Lower Centerville canal was drained for the annual maintenance in 2007. Of the trout rescued, 697 were rainbow and 27 were brown, all entrained at Centerville Diversion Dam. These fish would be passing down into Lower Butte Creek and bolstering the threatened resident and anadromous fishery but are regularly relocated to upper Butte Creek, far from their home. Friends of Butte Creek believes the diversion should be screened and fish passage provided for these fish down below the dam as provided by state law.