Category Archives: Chris Shutes

Study of Summer Whitewater Releases and Macroinvertebrates Finds Little Effect

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Chris Shutes

A just-completed study that included two seasons of field sampling on the North Fork Feather River and two years of analysis shows no ecosystem-level effect of limited summer whitewater boating releases on aquatic macroinvertebrates (insects). The study was designed by … Continue reading →

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Major Victory for CSPA: East Bay MUD Abandons Plan To Raise Pardee Dam

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Chris Shutes

The East Bay Municipal Utilities District has thrown in the towel and will no longer pursue a plan to raise Pardee Dam. Pardee Dam, which backs up the Mokelumne River in Amador and Calaveras counties, creates Pardee Reservoir, EBMUD’s largest … Continue reading →

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CSPA to FERC: The Standard License Reopener is Always Closed

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Chris Shutes

Statement of Chris Shutes, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, on the reality of standard reopeners in hydropower licenses Before the Study Dispute Panel, Yuba River Development Project (P-2246,Yuba County Water Agency) relicensing proceeding before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Sacramento, California, … Continue reading →

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CSPA and Allies Comment on Don Pedro Studies

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and a coalition of fishing and conservation groups have filed extensive comments on the Proposed Study Plan for the relicensing of the Don Pedro hydroelectric project on the Tuolumne River. The comments by “Conservation Groups” call for modification of … Continue reading →

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Mass Frog Mortality on NF Feather River

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Chris Shutes

PG&E operators on the North Fork Feather River have destroyed virtually all of 2011’s viable frog eggs on the NF Feather River below the Poe hydroelectric dam. On June 30, 2011, PG&E operators reduced the flow in the NF Feather … Continue reading →

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CSPA Joins New Effort to Stop Pardee Dam Raise

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Chris Shutes

Round two of the campaign to stop a raise of Pardee Dam has begun. In Jackson (Amador County) last night, CSPA presented scoping comments and accompanying photos, asking the East Bay Municipal Utilities District to remove the dam raise from … Continue reading →

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CSPA Presents Comments on San Joaquin Flow to State Water Board

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Chris Shutes

CSPA presented a series of oral comments to the State Water Resources Control Board on Monday, June 6 concerning the Board’s environmental review of San Joaquin flow and salinity. A proceeding on San Joaquin flow and salinity is part of … Continue reading →

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Foothill Conservancy, CSPA and Friends of the River Prevail in Suit; EBMUD Will Revise Environmental Impact Report

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Chris Shutes

The Foothill Conservancy, CSPA and Friends of the River have won a lawsuit that will compel the East Bay Municipal Utilities District to revise its Program Environmental Impact Report (“PEIR”) for its long term water supply. The PEIR for the … Continue reading →

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PG&E to Study Mokelumne Water Temperatures Before Seeking Pumped Storage License

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and the Foothill Conservancy have signed an agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. that requires PG&E to model water temperatures in the Mokelumne River. PG&E must perform the modeling before it seeks a license to construct a pumped … Continue reading →

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CSPA Testifies in Big Sur Water Rights Hearing

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Chris Shutes

CSPA has submitted general and expert testimony and exhibits for a water rights hearing to be held on June 16 and 17 regarding the diversions by El Sur Ranch of water from the Big Sur River. In 1994, CSPA, the … Continue reading →

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Water Board Ends 15 Years Of Study Delay By Merced Irrigation District

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Chris Shutes

The State Water Resources Control Board has rebuffed an request by Merced Irrigation District to delay study of the impacts of its operations on the Merced River. The Board denied a stay of the implementation of Water Rights “Investigation” Order … Continue reading →

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CSPA and 6 Allied Groups Defend Clean Water Act From Attack by Merced Irrigation District

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Chris Shutes

March 24, 2011. CSPA and 6 allied conservation groups have vigorously supported the State Water Resources Control Board’s use of its Clean Water Act authority to require Merced Irrigation District to perform studies. The studies are needed in order for … Continue reading →

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CSPA and Foothills Water Network Comment on Draft License Application for Yuba-Bear and Drum-Spaulding Hydroelectric Projects

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Chris Shutes

February 1, 2011. The Foothills Water Network, a coalition of NGO’s in which CSPA plays a leading role, filed 80 pages of comments on the Draft License Applications for the Yuba-Bear and Drum-Spaulding hydroelectric projects. The projects, licensed to  Nevada … Continue reading →

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CSPA and Allied Groups Comment on Merced Relicensing, Request Studies

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Chris Shutes

January 31, 2011. CSPA and a five other conservation and fishing groups have commented on the Initial Study Report in the relicensing of the Merced River Project, and submitted seven requests for new studies. In 2009 and 2010, Merced Irrigation … Continue reading →

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State Board passes deficient certification for Oroville

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Chris Shutes

The State Water Resources Control Board, on December 15, 2010, approved a 401 water quality certification for the relicensing of the Oroville Facilities. The certification by the State Board is required before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can issue a … Continue reading →

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CSPA Goes to Washington

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Chris Shutes

CSPA is engaged on as many hydroelectric projects in California as any other non-governmental organization. On the Merced and the McCloud, the Tuolumne and Butte Creek, the Mokelumne and the American, the Yuba and the Feather, CSPA is active in … Continue reading →

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Foothills Water Network, Including CSPA, Asks FERC to Study Water Supply in Hydropower Relicensing

Posted on October 19, 2010 by CSPA Admin

By Chris Shutes, FERC Projects Director In a comment letter filed in the dockets of the coordinated relicensing of the Yuba-Bear and Drum-Spaulding hydroelectric projects, the Foothills Water Network has taken the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to task for failure … Continue reading →

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State Board cancels San Joaquin application

Posted on October 17, 2010 by CSPA Admin

By Chris Shutes, CSPA Projects Director The Division of Water Rights of the State Water Resources Control Board has canceled the application of San Joaquin County to divert South Fork American River water through EBMUD’s Freeport diversion on the Sacramento … Continue reading →

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CSPA Comments on Draft EIR for El Dorado Water Rights Applications

Posted on October 14, 2010 by CSPA Admin

Chris Shutes, CSPA Water Rights Advocate CSPA has filed comments on El Dorado Water and Power Authority’s Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Supplemental Water Rights Project Acquisition of 40,000 Acre- Feet Per Year of New Consumptive Water Rights. Under … Continue reading →

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CSPA Protests DWR Water Rights Petitions

Posted on October 14, 2010 by CSPA Admin

Chris Shutes, CSPA Water Rights Advocate CSPA has protested petitions for extension of time filed by the Department of Water Resources with the State Water Resources Control Board. DWR seeks an additional 5 years to increase the amount of water … Continue reading →

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