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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.13.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-001 by Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyFrom:Clerk of the Board To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Dubose, Teri; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Ritter, Tami; Simmons, Katie; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth Cc:Cannon, Jamie; Loeser, Kamie Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-001 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company Date:Tuesday, October 13, 2026 7:41:30 AM Please see Board Correspondence - Lewis Lee Administrative Technician - Confidential Butte County Administration 25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965 T: 530.552.3326 www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 7:06 AM Subject: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-001 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company .ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. On 10/13/2026, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C.: Filer: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Docket(s): P-619-001 Lead Applicant: City of Santa Clara Filing Type: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring Report re the Bucks Creek Hydro Project under P-619. To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20261013- 5105__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!BO3om8OU19seO49- mOguB729xHHlirWCxeoF_Xk8cob_yIERJpeTeEnJkv4bu2Bggz3g811LP3V9xWnve9zrSNHp177bRS5NhPui$ To modify your subscriptions, click here: mOguB729xHHlirWCxeoF_Xk8cob_yIERJpeTeEnJkv4bu2Bggz3g811LP3V9xWnve9zrSNHp177bRTN411z7$ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please do not respond to this email. Online help is available here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.ferc.gov/efiling-help.asp__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!BO3om8OU19seO49- or for phone support, call 866-208-3676. Power Generation 300 Lakeside Drive Oakland, CA 94612 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 28209 Oakland, CA 94604 October 12, 2026 Via Electronic Submittal (E-File) Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N. E. Washington, D.C. 20426 RE: Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 619-CA Gravel Augmentation – Notification of Completion State Water Resources Control Board 401 Water Quality Certification Condition 14 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service’s section 4(e) Condition No. 41 Dear Secretary Reese: This letter presents Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) notification and report of completion for the first year of baseline monitoring and gravel augmentation as described in the Gravel Augmentation Plan (GAP) for PG&E’s and the City of Santa Clara’s (Licensees) Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 619. On April 27, 2026, FERC issued an order granting the licensees an extension of time to complete the gravel augmentation placement. Ordering paragraph (B) of the order stated that PG&E must complete another topographic survey of the gravel augmentation sites and provide a report to the California State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Deputy Director prior to gravel placement. The ordering paragraph further required the licensees to notify FERC within 30 days after completion of gravel augmentation and include documentation demonstrating that the topographic-survey results had been provided to the SWRCB Deputy Director. Additionally, section 4.2, Reporting, of the GAP requires the licensees to file with FERC a report describing implementation of gravel augmentation and the results of baseline monitoring by March 15 of the year following initial gravel placement. This notification and the associated enclosures are intended to meet both the requirements outlined in the April 27, 2026, order and section 4.2 of the GAP. On June 8-9, 2026, PG&E conducted a baseline monitoring topographic survey at the two gravel placement locations identified in the GAP on Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Lake Dam and at the single gravel placement location on Grizzly Creek downstream of the Grizzly Creek gaging weir. On August 25, 2026, PG&E submitted a report to the SWRCB Deputy Director, documenting the results of the baseline monitoring. The baseline monitoring report and documentation of PG&E’s correspondence with the SWRCB are provided as Enclosures 1 and 2, respectively. In accordance with the GAP, approximately 35 cubic yards of gravel was placed between the Grizzly site and the two Bucks Creek sites on September 14-15, 2026, respectively. For general questions, please contact PG&E’s senior aquatic biologist, Lawrence M. Wise Jr., at (925) 785-8831 or PG&E’s senior License Coordinator, Trevor Moore, at (530) 205-7345. Sincerely, Matt Joseph Supervisor, Hydro License Management Enclosures: 1. Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring Report 2026, dated August 2026 2. SWRCB Baseline Monitoring Report Correspondence cc: See Attached List Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary October 12, 2026 Page 2 cc: via email w/enclosures Colleen Heard, Forest Service - colleen.heard@usda.gov Erika Brenzovich, Forest Service - erika.brenzovich@usda.gov Kurt Sable, Forest Service - kurt.sable@usda.gov Dawn Alvarez, Forest Service - dawn.alvarez@usda.gov Aondrea Bartoo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - aondrea_bartoo@fws.gov Michael Maher, California Department of Fish and Wildlife - michael.maher@wildlife.ca.gov Briana Seapy, California Department of Fish and Wildlife - briana.seapy@wildlife.ca.gov Beth Lawson, California Department of Fish and Wildlife - beth.lawson@wildlife.ca.gov Bryan Muro, State Water Resources Control Board - bryan.muro@waterboards.ca.gov Nathan Fisch, State Water Resources Control Board - Nathan.Fisch@waterboards.ca.gov Diane Asuncion, City of Santa Clara - DAsuncion@SantaClaraCA.gov Tahsin Baccioglu, City of Santa Clara - TBaccioglu@SantaClaraCA.gov ENCLOSURE 1 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 1 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara GRAVEL AUGMENTATION PLAN Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring 2026 1 LICENSE REQUIREMENTS Per the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 (Project) license, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and City of Santa Clara (Licensees) are implementing the Gravel Augmentation Plan (Plan; PG&E and City of Santa Clara 2019) that includes the augmentation, monitoring, and maintenance of 37 cubic yards of 0.25- to 2.5-inch-diameter gravel in at least two locations in Bucks Creek (downstream of Lower Bucks Lake Dam spillway) and in Grizzly Creek (downstream of the Grizzly Creek gaging weir). 2 PLAN GOALS AND MONITORING OBJECTIVES The primary goal of the Plan is to improve trout spawning habitat and populations in the upper 2 miles of Project-affected reaches of Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Lake Dam and Grizzly Creek downstream of Grizzly Creek gaging weir. The gravel monitoring component of the Plan provides information on movement and retention of the augmented gravel, changes in spawning habitat, and the volume and location of future gravel augmentation. 3 MONITORING SITES AND FREQUENCY Potential gravel augmentation sites were identified during an initial site visit on September 14, 2023, with representatives of the SWRCB; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest Service); Stillwater Sciences; and PG&E (Table 1; Figure 1). The extent of the gravel augmentation sites was further refined by Stillwater Sciences and PG&E in June 2024 to guide the baseline monitoring. Two nearly adjacent augmentation sites were located in Bucks Creek approximately 1,600 feet (ft) downstream of Lower Bucks Lake Dam; the two sites are located about 30 ft apart and separated by a boulder step. One site was located in Grizzly Creek approximately 880 ft downstream of Grizzly Forebay Dam. Pursuant to the Plan, the Licensees will conduct baseline monitoring at gravel augmentation sites no more than 1 year prior to gravel placement to establish pre-augmentation conditions. Baseline monitoring surveys were previously completed in June 2024 (PG&E and City of Santa Clara 2024); however, gravel placement did not occur following those surveys. In response to PG&Es March 24, 2025 request for time extension, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) included the conditions below for approval: If gravel augmentation occurs after issuance of the May Bulletin 120 and the May Bulletin 120 determines that the 2024-2025 winter season is a Wet Water Year, as defined in Condition 7: Water Year Types, PG&E shall complete another baseline monitoring topographic survey (i.e., item i) to account for any significant changes to the selected sites’ topography. The results of the topographic survey shall be provided to the Deputy Director prior to gravel augmentation. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Page 2 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara The 2024–2025 winter season was defined as a Wet Water Year; therefore, baseline monitoring was repeated on June 8–9, 2026, prior to gravel placement, expected to occur in September 2026. Once gravel is placed, the sequencing of future baseline and post-placement monitoring shall remain as described in the Plan following the first placement year. Future monitoring will occur in the summer or fall when sites are safely accessible, and low flow conditions facilitate data collection. Table 1. Location of gravel augmentation sites, 2026. Site ID Location Coordinates1 (decimal degrees) Location Description Bucks Creek Upstream Augmentation Site 39.904354, -121.231967 Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Lake Dam, upstream augmentation site Bucks Creek Downstream Augmentation Site 39.904396, -121.232228 Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Lake Dam, downstream augmentation site Grizzly Creek Augmentation Site2 39.891082, -121.294690 Grizzly Creek downstream of Grizzly Forebay and the Grizzly Creek gage weir Notes: 1 Location coordinates correspond to the center of the identified gravel augmentation site. 2 Only one gravel augmentation site was selected at Grizzly Creek due to limited access and unsuitable spawning hydraulics throughout portions of stream downstream of the weir. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 3 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 1. Location of gravel augmentation sites. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Page 4 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara 4 METHODS 4.1 Baseline Monitoring In 2026, and consistent with prior baseline monitoring, one survey was conducted at each gravel augmentation site and included topographic surveys of the channel, evaluation of surficial sediment distributions (i.e., facies mapping), determination of particle size distributions (i.e., pebble counts), assessment of fine sediment content in spawnable gravel areas, if present, and photo documentation of the site. 4.1.1 Channel Topography Channel topography of gravel augmentation sites was surveyed using a Trimble S7 Robotic Total Station and Trimble R12i Real Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System (RTK-GNSS) surveying equipment. Channel bed topographic surveys covered an area greater than the planned gravel placement footprint to allow for flexibility in gravel placement. These data were used to reestablish the baseline conditions prior to gravel placement. The upstream augmentation site at Bucks Creek was approximately 40 ft long and consisted of a pool tail that transitioned into a riffle. The downstream augmentation site at Bucks Creek was approximately 60 ft long and consisted of a pool tail downstream of a boulder step. The augmentation site at Grizzly Creek was approximately 85 ft long and consisted of a glide immediately downstream of the gaging weir. Channel topography was surveyed within the active channel (i.e., area of the channel that is regularly wetted by normal flows during the spawning season) at each augmentation site. Survey point density varied among sites, with approximately 1.29 points per square foot (ft2) at the Bucks Creek Upstream Gravel Augmentation Site, 0.57 points per ft2 at the Bucks Creek Downstream Gravel Augmentation Site, and 0.42 points per ft2 at the Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site. The estimated horizontal and vertical accuracy of the RTK surveys was approximately 0.15 ft. The horizontal and vertical standard errors of the total station surveys were less than 0.09 ft. Coordinates for both gravel augmentation sites were based on local survey points previously established at each site. Coordinates approximate the North American Datum of 1983 (2011) California State Plane Zone 1, and North American Vertical Datum of 1988. Topographic surveys were used to characterize bed elevation and followed standard survey procedures (e.g., Harrelson et al. 1994, Simon et al. 2016). The area represented by the topographic survey was determined using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, and survey density was calculated by dividing the total number of observations recorded within each gravel augmentation site by the area. 4.1.2 Sediment Facies Sediment facies were mapped within the gravel augmentation sites. Sediment facies were defined for each site by dominant and sub-dominant primary particle size classes listed in Table 2, with all particles 2 millimeters (mm) or smaller classified as sand. Distinct facies were mapped onto aerial photographs following methods outlined in Buffington and Montgomery (1997). The minimum mapped unit was 4 ft2. Facies labels list substrate size classes in order of relative abundance, with the dominant size class listed first. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 5 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Table 2. Particle size classes used for sediment facies mapping, 2026. Sand Not Applicable 2 Gravel 2 64 Cobble 64 256 Boulder 256 Not Applicable Sources: Buffington and Montgomery (1997) and Wentworth (1922) 4.1.3 Particle Size Distributions Particle size distributions were not measured within the gravel augmentation sites at Bucks Creek because the beds were composed of bedrock, boulders, and smaller amounts of coarse cobbles. However, one particle size distribution was evaluated using a pebble count between the two gravel augmentation sites in Bucks Creek. One cross section (XS1) was established in 2024, where the bed was finer than the surrounding boulders and coarse cobbles. This cross section was resampled during 2026 monitoring. XS1 is located at the hydraulic control (i.e., the riffle crest that controls the upstream water surface elevation) between the two augmentation areas. During the pebble count, 100 particles were measured within the bankfull channel across the cross sections using methods described in Wolman (1954). The length each particle was measured using a ruler along the intermediate axis (i.e., the b-axis or width). Because the channel bed was coarse and the bankfull width was relatively narrow, the channel was crossed approximately four times during the pebble count. Pebble counts were not conducted at the Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site, because the site was predominantly bedrock (see the Variances from the Monitoring Plan section for discussion). 4.1.4 Subsurface Substrate Samples Three subsurface substrate samples were to be taken in selected gravel patches using a McNeil sampler or similar method, if gravel-dominated substrate was present. However, because no gravel-dominant patches were identified within the bankfull channel, subsurface substrate samples were not collected in 2026 (see the Variances from the Monitoring Plan section for discussion). Subsurface substrate samples were not collected in 2024 baseline monitoring, based on the same rationale. 4.1.5 Photo Points Photo points were established at the upstream and downstream extent of each gravel augmentation site for pre- and post-placement comparison. Additional photographs were taken from each bank at XS1, looking toward the opposite bank and looking upstream and downstream. The locations of each photo point were collected using a global positioning system (GPS). Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Page 6 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara 4.1.6 Data Processing The spatial distribution and surface area of sediment facies over the monitoring sites were digitized and estimated using GIS software for each monitoring site. Pebble count data were used to characterize the bed particle size distribution. The data were plotted as a cumulative frequency distribution to determine commonly used particle size percentiles. The following percentiles were used: • D16: the particle size (in mm) for which 16 percent of the distribution is finer. • D50: the particle size for which 50 percent of the distribution is finer (or the median size). • D84: the particle size for which 84 percent of the distribution is finer. The diameter of sand and finer particles was not measured but instead classified as less than 2 mm for inclusion in the particle size frequency distribution. 4.2 Monitoring Following Gravel Augmentation Immediately following each gravel augmentation event (first placement event is expected in fall 2026), the Licensees will monitor the distribution of gravel at the gravel augmentation sites pursuant to the schedule in the Plan. Three to four years after the gravel augmentation event, but prior to the next gravel augmentation event, the gravel augmentation sites will be re-assessed using the following methods: • Document topographic changes to areas where gravel was placed (compared to baseline monitoring) and estimate the remaining volume of gravel. • Take photographs of gravel placement areas from established photo points. • Repeat baseline facies mapping, particle size distribution assessments (pebble counts) at three transects per creek, and three subsurface substrate samples per creek. • Describe any observed habitat changes in the vicinity of each site, such as bar formation, presence of woody material (describe size and orientation), and riparian vegetation recruitment. Georeferenced photographs will be taken to document habitat changes over time. • Assess changes in spawnable gravel availability, distribution, and condition, including an estimate of remaining gravel volume and observed changes in habitat (e.g., bar formation, gravel pockets), using facies mapping and other data. Refine future gravel placement locations or methods based on this assessment and consultation with the agencies. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 7 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara 5 RESULTS Baseline monitoring of the Bucks Creek and Grizzly Creek gravel augmentation sites was completed on June 8–9, 2026. The augmented gravel may improve suitable spawning hydraulic conditions or act as a source of gravel to downstream areas. The results below represent the current pre-augmentation baseline conditions documented during the June 2026 surveys. Because gravel placement did not occur between the June 2024 and June 2026 baseline surveys, this report focuses only on the 2026 baseline conditions and does not include a comparison between baseline survey years. 5.1 Bucks Creek Gravel Augmentation Sites 5.1.1 Channel Topography The topographic survey area at the Bucks Creek Upstream Gravel Augmentation Site was 770 ft2 and covered the channel bed within the active channel (Figure 2). The contour interval in Figure 2 is much coarser than the vertical resolution of the survey. This site includes a pool between two boulder/cobble steps with a coarse cobble bed and bedrock along the left channel margin (Figures 3 and 4). No gravel was observed in the low flow channel. The Bucks Creek Downstream Gravel Augmentation Site topographic survey extent was 2,170 ft2 (Figure 2) and covered the channel bed within the active channel. This site includes a large pool bounded by a vegetated floodplain on the right bank and a steep hillslope on the left bank (Figures 5 and 6); similar to the upstream site, no gravel was observed in the low flow channel. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Page 8 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 2. Bucks Creek Upstream (right) and Downstream (left) gravel augmentation sites topographic survey, 2026. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 9 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 3. Bucks Creek Upstream Gravel Augmentation Site, top of site looking downstream, June 8, 2026. Figure 4. Bucks Creek Upstream Gravel Augmentation Site, bottom of site looking upstream, June 8, 2026. Downstream extent of augmentation site Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 Gravel Augmentation Monitoring 2026 Page 10 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 5. Bucks Downstream Gravel Augmentation Site, top of site looking downstream, June 8, 2026. Figure 6. Bucks Downstream Gravel Augmentation Site, bottom of site looking upstream, June 8, 2026. Downstream extent of augmentation site Upstream extent of augmentation site Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 11 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara 5.1.2 Sediment Facies The channel bed at the Bucks Creek gravel augmentation sites was composed primarily of boulder- and cobble-dominated facies (38 percent and 21 percent of mapped area, respectively), with no gravel-dominated facies observed (Figure 7). Bedrock-dominated facies accounted for the remaining 41 percent of the mapped area and were concentrated primarily along channel margins. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring 2026 Page 12 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 7. Sediment facies at the Bucks Creek gravel augmentation sites, 2026. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 13 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara 5.1.3 Particle Size Distributions The D50 at XS1 (Bucks Creek) was cobble-sized (88 mm) and 32 percent of particles measured during the pebble count were gravel-sized (Table 3 and Figures 8 through 12). The gravel-sized particles were distributed throughout the cross section rather than occurring in a coherent patch. The transect was placed in a finer-grained section of the reach and is not representative of the entire reach. Sand-sized particles were observed at XS1, but made up less than 5 percent of the measured particles. Table 3. Location of gravel augmentation site cross sections and summary of particle size distributions at Bucks Creek, 2026. Cross Section ID Cross Section Center Coordinates (decimal degrees) Particle Size (millimeter) D16 D50 D84 XS1 39.904415, -121.232152 45 88 188 Note: ID – identification Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring 2026 Page 14 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Note: XS1 is located between the upstream and downstream augmentation sites Figure 8. Particle size distributions of the channel bed at XS1 (Bucks Creek), 2026. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 15 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 9. XS1 pebble count location between the Bucks Creek gravel augmentation sites, looking upstream, June 8, 2026. Figure 10. XS1 pebble count location between the Bucks Creek gravel augmentation sites, looking downstream, June 8, 2026. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring 2026 Page 16 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 11. XS1 pebble count location between the Bucks Creek gravel augmentation sites, looking toward left bank, June 8, 2026. Figure 12. XS1 pebble count location between the Bucks Creek gravel augmentation sites, looking toward right bank, June 8, 2026. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 17 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara 5.2 Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site 5.2.1 Channel Topography The channel topographic survey extent of the Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site was 4,120 ft2 (Figure 13) and covered the bed within the active channel. The site is a large glide bounded by steep hillslopes with very little gravel present on the bed (Figures 14 and 15). Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring 2026 Page 18 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 13. Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site topographic survey, 2026. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 19 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 14. Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site, top of site looking downstream, June 9, 2026. Figure 15. Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site with the stream gaging weir in the background, bottom of site looking upstream, June 9, 2026. Downstream extent of augmentation site Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring 2026 Page 20 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara 5.2.2 Sediment Facies The channel bed at the Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site was composed primarily of bedrock with scattered boulders, cobbles, and concrete debris (Figure 16). 81 percent of the mapped area was bedrock-dominant and the remaining 19 percent of the mapped area was boulder- dominant. Gravel patches ≥ 4 ft2 were not observed within the Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 21 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara Figure 16. Sediment facies at site Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site, 2026. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Page 22 August 2026 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara 5.2.3 Particle Size Distributions Because the gravel augmentation site was almost entirely bedrock and immobile boulders, pebble counts were not conducted at the Grizzly Creek Gravel Augmentation Site. 6 DISCUSSION This report includes the results of the updated baseline monitoring conducted in 2026. Gravel augmentation is currently planned for implementation in fall 2026. Post placement monitoring will follow in accordance with the schedule specified in the Plan (adjusted for the delay in implementation). 7 VARIANCES FROM MONITORING PLAN Consistent with the baseline report in 2024 (PG&E and City of Santa Clara 2024), only one location for gravel augmentation was selected at Grizzly Creek. The Plan calls for gravel augmentation in two locations in each stream with suitable spawning hydraulics; however, Grizzly Creek has limited accessible locations with suitable spawning hydraulics. Therefore, one larger 500 ft2 site was identified in the field for placement and baseline monitoring was conducted within a larger 4,120 ft2 area to accommodate potential adjustments due to challenges with gravel placement. Consistent with 2024, subsurface substrate samples were not collected in 2026 because no gravel- dominated patches were identified within the gravel augmentation sites. Therefore, fine sediment content of spawnable gravel areas could not be assessed prior to augmentation during either of the baseline monitoring efforts. Because the implementation of the initial gravel augmentation effort was delayed by two years, the post-placement monitoring will be delayed by two years as well. 8 RECOMMENDATIONS OR PLAN REVISIONS Any recommendations or Plan revisions will be included after gravel augmentation. 9 REFERENCES Buffington, J.M., and D. R. Montgomery. 1997. Channel-reach morphology in mountain drainage basins. GSA Bulletin 109: 596-611. Harrelson, C.C., C.L. Rawlins, and J.P. Potyondy. 1994. Stream channel reference sites: An illustrated guide to field technique. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-245. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, Colorado. 61 p. PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) and the City of Santa Clara. 2019. Gravel Augmentation Plan. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619. September. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 August 2026 Page 23 Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619 ©2026, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the City of Santa Clara PG&E and the City of Santa Clara. 2024. Gravel Augmentation Monitoring 2024. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619. July. Simon, A., J. Castro, and M. Rinaldi. 2016. Channel form and adjustment: characterization, measurement, interpretation and analysis. In Tools in Fluvial Geomorphology, pp.235–259. SWRCB (State Water Resource Control Board). 2025. Approval of Time Extension for Completing the Year 2 Gravel Augmentation Event and Conditional Approval of Modifications to the Streamflow and Reservoir Level Gaging Plan. Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 619. March 24. Wentworth, C.K. 1922. A Scale of Grade and Class Terms for Clastic Sediment. The Journal of Geology Vol. 30, No. 5. July-August 1992. Wolman, M.G. 1954. A method of sampling coarse river-bed material. Transactions American Geophysical Union. Volume 35. Number 6. pp. 951–956. ENCLOSURE 2 From:Moore, Trevor To:"Juliet.Christian-Smith@Waterboards.ca.gov" Cc:Muro, Bryan@Waterboards; Fisch, Nathan@Waterboards; Salve, Rohit; Wise Jr., Larry; Larson, Anika; Joseph, Matthew Subject:Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 619) - Notification of Topographic Survey Completion Date:Tuesday, August 25, 2026 3:59:00 PM Attachments:image001.png Gravel Augmentation_2026_Bucks.pdf Good Afternoon Juliet, Attached is the 2026 Gravel Augmentation Baseline Monitoring Report. The report documents the baseline topographic survey completed in accordance with SWRCB correspondence and FERC's May 6, 2026 Order authorizing an extension of time for implementation of gravel augmentation at the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 619) under the license Gravel Augmentation Plan. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Respectfully, Trevor Moore Senior Hydroelectric License Coordinator Pacific Gas & Electric Company (530) 205-7345