Battle Creek Restoration Project implementation includes modification of facilities at Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project diversion dam sites located on the North Fork Battle Creek (North Fork), South Fork Battle Creek (South Fork), and Baldwin Creek in three phases (Phases 1A, 1B and 2).

Phase 1A includes installing fish screens and ladders at the North Battle Creek Feeder and Eagle Canyon diversion dams and removing Wildcat diversion dam and appurtenant conveyance systems on the North Fork; and constructing a fish barrier on Baldwin Creek near the Asbury Pumped Diversion Dam.

Phase 1B includes installing an Inskip Powerhouse tailrace connector and bypass on the South Fork, and Phase 2 includes installing a fish screen and ladder on Inskip diversion dam, installing a South Powerhouse tailrace connector, and removing Lower Ripley Creek Feeder, Soap Creek Feeder, Coleman and South diversion dams, and appurtenant conveyance systems.

March 2013 Status:

Phase 1A - The majority of fish screen and ladder construction has been completed at the Eagle Canyon and North Battle Creek Feeder (NBCF) diversion dams; hydraulic evaluations and physical modeling of the new facilities are currently occurring. Modifications to the fish facilities are required to improve the diversion, screening, and passage of the new facilities; and engineering designs are being developed this year, follow by construction planned for 2014 and 2015.

For the Wildcat site, the work associated with the diversion dam and pipeline removal was completed in 2010. Additional work was completed in October 2011 along the Wildcat Canal Access Road to correct drainage problems and install permanent erosion control measures.

For the Asbury/Baldwin Creek site, a contract was awarded to Contractor Services Group, Inc on January 8 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has amended Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E’s) hydroelectric license to implement the work. The contractor has completed non-ground disturbing vegetation clearing and in-stream work is planned to begin in this summer. Construction of the new fish barrier, access road and canal culvert crossing, and flow measurement weir are anticipated to be complete in December 2013.

Phase 1B - A contract was awarded in June 2010 and in two summer seasons the contractor has completed construction of the Inskip Powerhouse penstock bypass system and a tailrace connector on the South Fork Battle Creek near Coleman Diversion Dam. The penstock bypass system is consisted of 5,685 feet length of buried reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) and open chute and their associated appurtenance structures including a wasteway overflow, an upper jump basin, a lower jump basin, and an outlet structure; the tailrace connector is consisted of 654 feet length of 84-inch diameter RCP with a new inlet structure at the powerhouse and a gated outlet transition. The project is 99% completed with a few contractor punch-list items to be carried out in March 2013. In early December a significant storm event occurred causing damages to the newly constructed access roads, drainage system and erosion at the outlet structures. Additional work is currently under review to address these issues.

Phase 2 - Reclamation received $6.7 million in OCAP BO, RPA Action 1.2.6 State Funds via an agreement between DWR and Reclamation. An amendment to the DFG-Reclamation Phase 1A funding agreement and a Phase 2 DFG-Reclamation funding agreement are nearly complete so that excess Phase 1A funds can be used for Phase 2. Construction will occur on South Fork Battle Creek and its tributaries, and is currently planned to occur under two construction contracts; one construction contract would involve the installation of a fish screen and ladder at Inskip diversion dam, installation of a tailrace tunnel connector from South Powerhouse to Inskip Canal, and removal of Lower Ripley Creek Feeder and Coleman diversion dams, and another construction contract would involve the removal of Soap Creek Feeder diversion and the removal of South diversion dam and appurtenant conveyance system, including the removal of South Canal. Phase 2 design works will be occurring in 2013 and construction is anticipated to occur between 2014 and 2015.

Coleman National Fish Hatchery Adaptive Management Plan – A contract was awarded in March 2012 to Cramer Fish Sciences (CFS) for facilitation and development of a CNFH AMP. Adaptive management is needed for CNFH in order to address “scientific uncertainties” that underline aspects of Battle Creek fisheries management, including the interactions between the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project and CNFH. The CFS team continues to work with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to develop several AMP components including: 1) a draft AMP outline, 2) a comparison of purposes, goals, and objectives for the Battle Creek Restoration project, the CNFH, and the CNFH AMP, 3) an adaptive management framework and process, 4) a detailed description of the issue statements, 5) conceptual models to analyze the issues, 6) a proposed governance structure and funding sources, and 7) defining the diagnostic studies and action alternatives. A public scoping meeting was held in the Red Bluff Community Center in May 2012 to solicit public input on issues and potential remedies to be addressed in the AMP; and additional public outreach to the Tehama Board of Supervisors occurred in July 2012. A first draft of the AMP document will be completed this winter and will be provided to an independent science panel for peer review in spring 2013. A revised draft AMP will be available for public review in fall 2013 and the final CNFH AMP is anticipated to be completed in mid-2014.

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For additional information or assistance, please contact
Mary Marshall, Restoration Project Manager - (916) 978-5248

Last updated on: April 8, 2013