Under the FERC-approved Study 3.4 (Special Status Amphibians – FYLF Surveys) and Study 3.6 (Special Status Turtles – Western Pond Turtle), YCWA is required to collaborate regarding the need for and scope of focused studies in second year no later than 6 weeks prior to the date that YCWA submits the Initial Study Report to FERC. YCWA would like to schedule this collaboration for these two studies on October 10, 2012, an available date on the Relicensing Participant meeting calendar.
YCWA would also like to include on the meeting agenda a discussion of potential study sites for Study 3.5 (Special Status Amphibians – FYLF Habitat Modeling). The pertinent FERC approved Study Plan language has been included below for each of the three studies.
Study 3.4 Special Status Amphibians - FYLF Surveys: Review VES results and collaborate as described below.
5.3.6 Step 6 – Collaboration Regarding Need for and Scope of Focused Studies in Second Year
YCWA will meet with interested and available Relicensing Participants no later 6 weeks prior to the date that YCWA’s Initial Study Report is scheduled to be filed with FERC to review data available from the study at that time and discuss the need for and scope of additional limited scope studies. For example, if the study documents only post-metamorphic life stages of FYLF (adult, juvenile, or young-of-year) or if only late stage larvae are detected (i.e., the results do not indicate where FYLF breeding occurred), further focused survey for egg masses and/or early tadpoles in the same stream may be appropriate. In addition, if incidental observations of invasive bullfrogs (Lithobates [Rana] catesbeianus) and crayfish, known predators of FYLF, collected by YCWA during this study and other relicensing studies suggests that these species occur in numbers that could adversely affect FYLF and their occurrence is related to the Project, focused studies for these species may be needed. These focused studies could determine their extent/distribution, relative abundance, and lifestage distribution within Project-affected reaches. VES methods for FYLF can be adapted for bullfrog surveys in lotic waters. For crayfish, PG&E’s Pit 3,4,5 FYLF monitoring plan could provide examples of methods for counting. These are only examples, and other conditions or circumstances may indicate a need for other focused studies of a particular site. If YCWA and Relicensing Participants collaboratively agree focused studies are needed in a second year, YCWA and Relicensing Participants will collaboratively develop a new study proposal and YCWA will file it with FERC prior to or at the same time YCWA files its Initial Study Report, and implement the study as directed by FERC.
Study 3.6 Special Status Turtles - Western pond Turtle: Review study results and collaborate as described below.
5.3.6 Step 6 – Collaborate Regarding Need for, and Scope of if Needed, Focused Studies in Second Year
Licensee will meet with interested and available Relicensing Participants no later 6 weeks prior to the date that Licensee’s Initial Study Report is scheduled to be filed with FERC to review data available from the study at that time and discuss the need for and scope of additional limited scope WPT studies. For example, if the study documents potential nesting habitat and/or suitable aquatic habitats but no WPT are found, additional surveys may be needed. In addition, if available data suggest that WPT nesting sites might be affected by the Project or if WPT are found in close proximity to diversion tunnel intakes, radio-tagging WPT might be considered. If Licensee and Relicensing Participants collaboratively agree focused studies are needed in the second year of studies, Licensee and Relicensing Participants will collaboratively develop a new study proposal and Licensee will file it with FERC prior to or at the time the Initial Study Report is filed, and implement the study as directed by FERC. It is understood that the result of this collaboration could be an agreement to disagree, which would also complete this task.
Study 3.5 Special Status Amphibians - FYLF Habitat Modeling – Site Selection based on VES results. Pertinent FERC approved Study Plan language below. YCWA would also like to discuss habitat modeling analysis methods if time permits.
5.3.1 Step 1 - Study Site Selection
YCWA will locate and delineate 2-D study sites in the field during fall 2012. YCWA, with at least 2 week advance notice, will invite interested Relicensing Participants into the field to comment on study sites. One model will be developed in each of three river segments, assuming FYLF breeding is documented in each reach. If breeding is not documented in a reach by YCWA’s Special-Status Amphibians – FYLF Surveys Study, modeling will not occur in that reach. The three reaches in which modeling may occur include: 1) on the Middle Yuba River to the confluence of the North Yuba River, with the modeling site to be placed in Our House Diversion Dam Reach unless FYLF breeding is not documented in that reach; 2) on Oregon Creek from the Log Cabin Diversion Dam to the confluence with the Middle Yuba River; and 3) on the North Yuba River from New Bullards Bar Dam to the confluence with the Middle Yuba River or Yuba River to New Colgate Powerhouse. The first and second of these reaches represent the primary stream reaches below the two Project facilities that may affect FYLF, Our House Diversion Dam and Log Cabin Diversion Dam, respectively. The third reach is situated below New Bullards Bar Dam, but downstream of the confluence the reach is also affected by Our House Diversion Dam. If Relicensing Participants collaboratively agree that a second site is needed to assess flow-habitat relationships in the third reach, YCWA will add this site at a collaboratively agreed-upon location.
At least 2 weeks in advance of the field visit with interested Relicensing Participants, YCWA will identify preliminary 2-D sites and provide Relicensing Participants with written materials including maps and technical rational for the preliminary sitings.
Continue discussion regrading from last meeting regrading water temperature loggers (Water Temperature Monitoring Study).
If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Stephen Nyman (Study 3-4 and 3-6) at 360-671-1150 or at Stephen.Nyman@hdrinc.com, and for Study 3-5, Jarvis Caldwell at Jarvis.Caldwell@hdrinc.com.