Placer County Water AgencyPlacer County Water AgencyMiddle Fork American River ProjectMiddle Fork American River Project

(FERC No. 2079)(FERC No. 2079)

Whitewater BoatingWhitewater Boating Focus GroupFocus Group

April 23, 2008 April 23, 2008

Middle Fork American River ProjectMiddle Fork American River Project

Middle Fork American River ProjectMiddle Fork American River ProjectRelicensing ProcessRelicensing Process

Ascent to aAscent to aNew LicenseNew License

NOI/PAD Submittal

FERC Scoping

Study Plan Determination

License ConditionCollaboration

Study Implementation

License ApplicationSubmittal

FERC NEPA Analysis

401 Water QualityCertification

New License Order

KTT22 AT SQUAW VALLEY SKI RESORTKTT22 AT SQUAW VALLEY SKI RESORT

33

Recreation Technical Study Plans (TSPs)Recreation Technical Study Plans (TSPs)

REC 1 – Recreation Use Existing use data Vehicle counts Potential future use

REC 1 - Recreation FacilityAssessment

Facility condition UDP assessment

REC 2 – Recreation Visitor Survey Recreation opportunities and

experience Preferences Demand for opportunities Angler success Use patterns and conflicts User demographics Seasonality of use

REC 3 – Reservoir Recreation Opportunities

Recreation opportunities Effect of WSE on recreation

opportunities Access, safety concerns and

user conflicts

REC 4 – Stream-based Recreation Opportunities

Existing recreation opportunities

Effect of flows on activity-specific recreation opportunities

Flow information dissemination Public safety

REC 5 – Visual Quality Assessment

VMS inventories

Existing visual conditions of Project facilities, features, and reservoirs

44

Background and Experience of ParticipantsBackground and Experience of Participants

Skill levelSkill level Primary watercraftPrimary watercraft Affiliation(s)Affiliation(s) Commercial or private Commercial or private Specific experience boating the river reaches in the Middle Fork Specific experience boating the river reaches in the Middle Fork

American River Watershed (years of experience, locations)American River Watershed (years of experience, locations) InterestsInterests

55

River ReachesRiver Reaches Middle Fork American RiverMiddle Fork American River

French Meadows Reservoir to Interbay Powerhouse Interbay Powerhouse to Ralston Powerhouse Oxbow Powerhouse to Greenwood Bridge (Ruck-a-Chucky Day Use Area) Greenwood Bridge to Mammoth Bar Mammoth Bar to North Fork American River confluence

North Fork American RiverNorth Fork American River Confluence of North and Middle Forks American River to Oregon/China Bar

Rubicon RiverRubicon River Hell Hole Reservoir to Ellicott Bridge Ellicott Bridge to Ralston Powerhouse

Duncan CreekDuncan Creek Duncan Creek Diversion Dam to the Middle Fork American River Confluence

North Fork Long Canyon CreekNorth Fork Long Canyon Creek North Fork Long Canyon Diversion Dam to the Confluence of Long Canyon Creek

South Fork Long Canyon CreekSouth Fork Long Canyon Creek South Fork Long Canyon Diversion Dam to the Confluence of Long Canyon Creek

Long Canyon CreekLong Canyon Creek Confluence of North and South Forks of Long Canyon Creek to confluence of Rubicon

River 66

Boating Run CharacterizationBoating Run Characterization

Identify access points (put-ins and take-outs) and adequacyIdentify access points (put-ins and take-outs) and adequacy Adequacy of support facilities Adequacy of support facilities Typical boating seasonTypical boating season Length of run (time)Length of run (time) Suitable watercraftSuitable watercraft Difficulty of runDifficulty of run PortagesPortages Boatable flow rangesBoatable flow ranges Flow information sources (adequacy of information sources, needs) Flow information sources (adequacy of information sources, needs) Safety concernsSafety concerns Identify sources of other pertinent information for each run (e.g. Identify sources of other pertinent information for each run (e.g.

guide books, boaters, web sites)guide books, boaters, web sites) Conflicts with other usersConflicts with other users Potential and Existing UsesPotential and Existing Uses Compare Regional RunsCompare Regional Runs

77