January 23, 2008
Contact: Ron Nelson
(530) 273-6185
Or: Dave Carter
(530) 265-NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
GRASS VALLEY - A new federal license for the
Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project is the goal of a multiyear project under way at
the Nevada Irrigation District.
Jim Lynch of Devine Tarbell & Associates, the district’s relicensing consultant,
provided an update at Wednesday’s (Jan. 23) meeting of the NID Board of
Directors.
The Yuba-Bear Project ranges from Jackson Meadows on the northeast to Rollins
Reservoir on the southwest and is a complex network of eight reservoirs, four
hydroelectric power plants and many miles of canals, tunnels, flumes, roads and
related facilities.
NID built the project in 1963-66 under a 50-year federal license granted in
1963. The license comes due and must be renewed by 2013.
Preparation for relicensing has been in progress for the past year and the
district is now preparing to formally open its relicensing process with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Lynch said an official Notice of Intent and Pre-Application Document (PAD) are
planned for submittal Mar. 3. These must be submitted five years in advance
under FERC guidelines, he said.
“This is the first formal step in the relicensing process,” said Lynch.
Lynch said he and the NID staff relicensing team have held more than 40 meetings
over the past four months with governmental agencies and outdoor and
environmental groups in an effort to compile as much information as possible
early in the relicensing process.
NID’s goal in the process is to keep the major water and power system in public
ownership and operated in the best interests of the people of the district.
In other business, directors:
- approved environmental studies and a project to
construct 1100 feet of 10-inch water line from Wayfarer Court in Lake of the
Pines to Darkhorse Drive in the Darkhorse community. Engineering Associate
Carmen Holman said the project would provide a loop in the system and allow
continuous service during power outages to eight Lake of the Pines homes
that rely on pumped water.
- agreed to take part in a $2.8 million grant
application for Prop. 50 funding being submitted by the CABY (Cosumnes,
American, Bear and Yuba) regional watershed alliance. NID’s pilot mercury
extraction project on the Bear River is a key project among eight projects
in the application and could receive funding of $1 million or more. Tim
Crough, NID assistant general manager, said funding could become available
in January, 2009.
- discussed water supply planning for the Lincoln area
of NID. The pace of residential growth in the Placer County community has
slowed and could affect timetables for a proposed NID water treatment plant.
Staff will report on the matter at an upcoming board meeting.
The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors
will be held at 9 a.m. on Feb. 13 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley.
NID board meetings are open to the public.