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Caples Lake, why the repairs? Why now?
by Jerry Neuburger
August 20, 2008. -- In mid June, the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID)
completed an underwater survey of the Caples Lake and Silver Lake dams.
According to their website, "underwater investigation at Caples Lake revealed major
problems with two slide gates. The gates are located in a well-like
shaft within the dam. Of particular concern is the lower gate that is
about 64 feet under water when the lake is full." EID purchased the dam in 1999, when PG&E sold off many of their
Sierra hydro projects. In addition to the Caples operation, EID also
purchased the Silver Lake project, seven miles west and lower in
elevation.
Following that inspection EID developed a planned repair
schedule for both facilities. The repairs
were originally scheduled for the fall of 2009, however in early July,
the district found a manufacturer that could furnish the necessary parts
for the repairs in time to complete them in 2008. However to do so, the
district would need to bypass all of the necessary review procedures
required by various agencies.
To facilitate the repairs, EID
declared an emergency situation.
By declaring an “emergency,” it allowed reviewing agencies to
sign off on their responsibilities, the environmental review process was
bypassed and there was no formal process or independent review
evaluating alternatives that might avoid or lessen impacts to the lake's
fishery or the impact on local businesses. Once these safeguards were
waived, the repairs were scheduled for September of 2008 and the draw down
of the lake began.
A controversy began when
area businesses, residents and anglers learned that EID's plan for
repairs would necessitate the draw down of the lake to a minimum that
would almost guarantee the death of the fishery. The lake is considered
to be one of the "jewels" of the Sierra due to the large and
varied population of trout that the lake supports. The small pool left from the lake's 22,500 acre
feet maximum is believed to be inadequate to allow the lakes fish
population to winter over because of the severe winter freeze and lack
of oxygen resulting.
Had normal procedures been
followed, EID would have had to walk through the steps required by the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which would have required
review by a number of agencies and allowed for public input.
The
hearing would have allowed local businesses and fishermen a forum for
investigating potential alternatives that would possibly avoid or
lessen adverse consequences. Could the project be conducted next year following
environmental review? Could
a higher cofferdam be constructed?
Could a bladder be placed in the outlet tunnel allowing a dry
repair? Could the lake be
oxygenated?
Once committed to the draw down, it was questionable
whether a fish rescue was feasible. However after some deliberation, DFG and EID agreed to
attempt the same and to transport rescued fish to Silver Lake, seven miles
west of Caples. When the rescue attempt was made known at a recent
meeting, David Lass of Truckee, Northern California field coordinator
for Trout Unlimited, offered the services of his organization to help in
the project.
Chris Shutes, CSPA FERC Projects Director attended a
following meeting to review the entire situation since Caples Lake is
part of a hydroelectric project licensed by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
as project 184. The rapid sequence of events, including the approval of
the emergency status of the project led CSPA to determine that while the repairs had been
to some extent, railroaded, intervention attempts were now beyond any
realistic chance of success.
While CSPA felt that due process was
needlessly put aside, the best option seemed to be to support the rescue
efforts and, at the same time, further investigate the situation on
Silver Lake where similar repairs are necessary to the dam. These
repairs are scheduled for 2009, and do not require such drastic
measures. However, that is no guarantee that the fishery in Silver Lake
will not be impacted by the lake's repairs. CSPA will consider seeking
full CEQA review before allowing the Silver Lake repairs to go forward.
In
addition to the above concerns, the entire set of circumstances has
caused the leadership of CSPA to raise some serious questions. Why did
it take nine years to discover the deteriorating state of the dam's
operating equipment? Why isn't there a schedule calling for regular
inspection and maintenance? Why wasn't the dam inspected at the time of
transfer from PG&E to IED?
Since the dam at Silver Lake was found
to have similar problems, an even larger question needs to be answered.
Of the dozens, maybe in excess of a hundred, aging dams in the Sierra,
most owned by various power and irrigation districts, how many are in
this condition or worse? The Caples Lake issue may be just the tip of
the iceberg
in the deterioration of an aging water and power infrastructure.