The Federal Energy Relicensing Commission is closing in on the RE-licensing of  PG&E and NID (Nevada Irrigation District) to operate and profit from the Yuba Bear Watershed for another 30-50 years.  Unfortunately for our close relatives, Wild Salmon, their survival is severely impacted by the current course of non-action.

Salmon migration to their ancestral spawning grounds is still impeded by Englebright Dam. Salmon still migrate to the base of the dam and have no way to move beyond the dam. Over $18 million dollars (PLUS) is being spent on “Public Comment”, endless meeting filled with endless talk, and endless studies for PG&E and Nevada Irrigation District to be relicensed for the next 30-50 years. The relicensing enables PG&E and NID to continue to profit from the Yuba Bear watershed water for the next 30 to 50 years. There will be no effort to reintroduce Wild Salmon into the Yuba rivers above Englebright Dam.

The relicensing of operations for the Yuba County Water District is also underway. MIllions of dollars again will be spent on endless meetings and studies. The YCWA relicensing has responsibility for the impacts that Englebright Dam have on Cultural, Economic, Spiritual and Ecological impacts of the hydroelectric operations that impact salmon and their associated ecology. However, the FERC relicensing process is flawed and favors status quo. Public comment disappears into a bureacratic and corporate black hole. Wild Salmon take a back seat to corporate, bureaucratic, NGO and institutionalized thinking which continue policies that disrespect natural ways.

It is said that there is support to build passage at Englebright but there is no money.  The money is available, if only FERC would listen to the voice of the people.

a) License an independent trust organization to maintain and operate two or three new micro-hydro generators on existing canals in the Yuba Bear Watershed. Three have been proposed by a Hydro Consulting firm who is willing to work in the best interest of ecosystem protection, restoration and salmon reintroduction.

b) Allow the independent trust organization to be paid fair market value for the electricity generated over the next 30 to 50 years of the relicensing.

c) Of the millions of dollars generated by such an agreement, the trust organization will immediately enable planning and construction of passageway for salmon to move up river of  Englebright dam and efforts to restore Salmon Habitat on all forks of the Yuba River can be implemented.

If you would like to help Sierra Salmon Alliance in this effort please contact us.