The issue involves recreation and power, cheap power from SMUD, about 700 megawatts (about what Auburn Dam would produce when online), and the enhanced recreational opportunities from more water flowing in the American River Watershed rather than being controlled for water and power by the 11 SMUD dams.
Both goals are vital, but with the current shortage of water storage, both can’t be met, so to increase recreation we will have to reduce power; or maintaining power we can’t enhance recreation.
But we can, someday, do both, and this is why big dams make sense, to account for increased power needs and increased recreational needs.
SMUD dams face changes
U.S. seeks upgrade under relicensing
By Matt Weiser - Bee Staff Writer Published 12:00 am PST Sunday, November 12, 2006
The U.S. Forest Service is demanding major changes at American River dams owned by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, changes that could improve one of the Sierra Nevada's most popular recreation areas.
The demands came in a massive Oct. 18 filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is relicensing SMUD's 11 dams and eight powerhouses on the American River's south fork.
The new license would allow SMUD to continue operating these facilities for 30 to 50 years. The Forest Service and others hope to improve recreation and wildlife habitat affected by the SMUD system.
Tensions have been high in the licensing process, which began in 2001 and is among the nation's most complex.
Negotiations among the Forest Service, SMUD and other entities including recreation groups came to a halt in May amid disagreement over complicated water management issues.
"It's one of the most important series of negotiations that have taken place in this region for some time," said Bill Center, president of the American River Recreation Association, a party to the negotiations.
The Forest Service filing raises the stakes. Under federal rules, its recommendations will dictate how SMUD operates the dams -- unless the parties agree to different rules in a settlement by Nov. 17.
The document carries extra weight because it is the consensus of 13 government agencies and nonprofit groups including conservation and recreation advocates. SMUD has resisted major changes to its American River operations to protect its power-generating ability and avoid rate increases. The Forest Service and its partners, on the other hand, seek to bring the system in line with current environmental standards.
