This First Stage Consultation Package was prepared for the Borel Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 382, in compliance with Section 16.8 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 18. This package contains the specific information required in Section 16.8 (b) of the regulations. Accordingly, this document contains 1) a description of the Borel Project, including the general engineering design of the existing Project; 2) a summary of the existing operational mode of the Project; 3) a description of the environment affected or to be affected and the significant resources present in the Project area; 4) the existing and proposed environmental protection, mitigation, and enhancement plans; and 5) detailed descriptions of any proposed studies. Additional maps and drawings of the Project facilities are provided in Appendix A. Detailed hydrologic data are contained in Appendix B.

An electronic version of this First Stage Consultation Package, along with other information pertaining to the Borel Project relicensing, is available on the World Wide Web (www.resourceinsights.com).

The current FERC license expires on February 28, 2005. A new Application for License is due to the FERC prior to February 28, 2003. This Application for License, including an Environmental Report, will be prepared by Southern California Edison Company (SCE), the owner and operator of the Borel Project, in consultation with the federal and State agencies, and interested members of the public. SCE will hold a joint agency and public meeting to obtain verbal comments on the issues and concerns to be addressed in the Environmental Report, as follows.

8:30 am - 12 pm. Site visit to inspect the Borel Project facilities, to gain an understanding of the operational characteristics of the Project, and to discuss potential relicensing issues. Meet at the Woodrow Wallace School Cafetorium in the community of Lake Isabella at 8:30 am (see separately enclosely announcement for a location map, or visit the World Wide Web at www.resourceinsights.com).

2 pm - 4 pm. Formal agency/public meeting to explain the relicensing process, describe the Borel Project, and to obtain verbal comments on the scope of the Environmental Report. To be held at the Woodrow Wallace School auditorium in the community of Lake Isabella.

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Informal public outreach meeting to provide information to interested members of the community about the Borel Project and the FERC relicensing process and requirements, and to receive comments on the scope of the Environmental Report. To be held at the Woodrow Wallace School auditorium in the community of Lake Isabella.

The agencies and other interested parties are also requested to submit written comments on the scope of the Environmental Report. The FERC relicensing requirements (Hydroelectric Project Relicensing Handbook, 1990) specify written comments from agencies should include the following information:

• the basis for the agency’s determination,
• the agency’s understanding of the resource issues and its goals and objectives for the resources,
• justification of recommended study methodology,
• documentation that each recommended study methodology is a generally accepted practice, and
• explanation of how the requested studies and information will be useful to the agency in furthering its resource goals and objectives."

Written comments are due to SCE by 5:00 pm, Tuesday, September 12, 2000, at the following address:

Ms. Candace Irelan

Southern California Edison Company

Hydro Generation Division

300 N. Lone Hill Avenue,

San Dimas, California 91773

Telephone: (909) 394-8714

Fax: (909) 394-8967

E-mail: irelanc@sce.com

The Borel Hydroelectric Project is a 12.0 MW (installed capacity) hydroelectric project located on the Kern River in Kern County, California (see Figure 1, following page), and includes private land owned by SCE and public lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the U.S. Forest Service, Sequoia National Forest (SNF) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Borel Project was constructed in 1904 and originally diverted water from the North Fork of the Kern River at a point located just east of the town of Wofford Heights. However, when the Corps constructed Isabella Dam in 1953, the Borel Diversion Dam and about 5.0 miles of the Borel flowline were submerged. The original Diversion Dam still exists beneath Lake Isabella, and when reservoir storage is less than about 110,000 acre feet, the Diversion Dam and flowline are exposed and may divert water from the North Fork Kern River. This situation generally occurs during dry water years.

During most water years, water for the Borel Project is drawn directly from Lake Isabella at the Isabella Auxiliary Dam and conveyed through about 7.0 miles of Project flowline. The flowline is comprised mainly of a combination of open flumes, siphons, and short tunnels and traverses the hillsides to the south and east of the Lower Kern River ("Lower Kern River" refers to the Kern River downstream of Lake Isabella). Water conveyed through the flowline enters four penstocks, two at 526 and 565 feet long to units 1 and 2, respectively, and two penstocks, both 622 feet long which converge to supply water to Unit 3 turbine. The Powerhouse is located on the east side of the Lower Kern River, approximately seven miles downstream of Lake Isabella. The Corps’ operation of Lake Isabella controls the flow into the Borel flowline in the Lower Kern River.

The Borel Project consists of the following facilities (see Figure 2, following page, and Appendix A):

Diversion Dam. The Borel diversion dam is located on the North Fork Kern River. It includes a four-foot-high, 158-foot-long concrete dam, a 61-foot-long intake structure, three ten-foot by ten-foot radial gates, and a 200-foot-long earth dike. These facilities are usually inundated by Lake Isabella.

Settling Basin and Canal Intake. Immediately downstream of the diversion dam and North Fork intake is a settling basin, which includes a 2,850-foot-long earth dike and a canal intake structure. These facilities are usually inundated by Lake Isabella.

Water Conveyance System. The water conveyance system consists mainly of an open, concrete-lined canal, which extends from the original diversion on the North Fork Kern River to the headworks above the Borel Powerhouse. In addition, there are flumes, two siphons, an overflow weir, and four penstocks.

Borel Powerhouse. The Borel Powerhouse contains three turbine generators with a total dependable operating capacity of 11.00 MW (Unit No. 1 - 2. 10 MW; Unit No. 2 - 2.50 MW; Unit No. 3 - 6.40 MW), and an installed capacity of 12.0 MW. The Borel Powerhouse is remotely controlled from the Kern River No. 3 Powerhouse, another SCE owned project, operated under another FERC License.

Transmission Line. The Borel Project currently includes 38.2 miles of 66 kV transmission line, extending from the Borel Powerhouse to Monolith Substation near Tehachapi. SCE has applied to the FERC to remove this transmission line from the license because it is part of the SCE integrated transmission system. The FERC has not yet acted upon this application.

Lake Isabella is administered and operated by the Corps. The lake is formed behind two dams referred to as the "Isabella Main Dam" and the "Isabella Auxiliary Dam", and has a maximum storage capacity of 570,000-acre feet (AF). Lake Isabella is operated as a multipurpose reservoir. Its primary function is flood control, but the reservoir is also managed to meet water supply demands of downstream users, principally those of agricultural interests and energy companies, and to accommodate reservoir recreation. During the summer months, nearly all of the water released from Lake Isabella is used to irrigate approximately one million acres of Kern County land in the San Joaquin Valley.

The Borel Project pre-dates the reservoir and was operated using unregulated stream flow prior to the construction of Lake Isabella in 1953. Therefore, SCE has water rights to 605 cfs, the capacity of the diversion. Since SCE’s water rights predate the construction of Lake Isabella, the Corps accommodates SCE’s water rights. The Corps’ Lake Isabella Reservoir Regulation Manual (1978) indicates that all specified releases from the reservoir must include flow to be released through the Borel Canal outlet at the Auxiliary Dam at all times. In addition, the manual contains the following guidance with respect to the Borel Project:

As indicated in the Corps guidelines, the Borel Project draws water directly from the reservoir when the water level is above the historic dam and intake. However, when the reservoir is drawn down, the original Borel Diversion Dam and intake structure and portions of the flowline are exposed and the Project can no longer operate under reservoir head. When this happens, water is diverted into the Borel Canal directly from the North Fork of the Kern River, at SCE’s historic point of diversion. This is a relatively rare occurrence, typically happening late in the summer, only during particularly dry water years.

There are five hydroelectric projects located on the Lower Kern River. These projects are: the Isabella Partners Hydroelectric Project; the Borel Project; the Kern River No. 1 Project; the Kern Canyon Project; and the Rio Bravo Project. The projects are briefly described below.

Water impounded within Lake Isabella is released in three ways: 1) into the Lower Kern River from the Main Dam, 2) through the Isabella Partners Hydroelectric Project from the Main Dam, and 3) into the Borel Canal from the Auxiliary Dam. The Isabella Partners Project is located at the Isabella Main Dam and operates on releases that exceed those taken by the Borel Project. There are no minimum instream flow requirements for the Isabella Partners Project because diversion and power generation takes place at the dam. However, Isabella Partners is required by their FERC license to cooperate with the fish release associated with the Borel Project. The Isabella Partners Project generates power when water is released by the Corps to meet its flood control and downstream water delivery commitments.

As explained above, water for the Borel Project is drawn directly from Lake Isabella at the Isabella Auxiliary Dam, except when the reservoir level falls below the original diversion dam and intake. The Project has rights to divert water either at the Auxiliary Dam, or at the original intake. The bypassed reach of the Lower Kern River, between Lake Isabella and the Borel Powerhouse tailrace, is about seven miles long.

Below the Borel Powerhouse tailrace, the Lower Kern River is undiverted for 13 miles, at which point Democrat Dam diverts water into SCE’s Kern River No. 1 (KR-1) Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 1930). The KR-1 Project is a run-of-the-river project, which diverts up to 412 cfs of water. The KR-1 bypass reach is 10.2 miles in length.

Water is returned to the Lower Kern River through the KR-1 Powerhouse and is immediately impounded behind Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s diversion dam for the Kern Canyon Project (FERC Project No. 178). The Kern Canyon Project is a run-of-the-river project and diverts up to 720 cfs, the maximum diversion capacity. The diverted reach is about 1.6 miles in length.

The Olcese Water District diverts water at a diversion dam located about 500 feet downstream from the Kern Canyon Project tailrace for use in their Rio Bravo Project. The Rio Bravo Project has a maximum diversion capacity of 1,600 cfs. The bypass reach is approximately two miles in length.

Flow in the Lower Kern River is influenced mainly by the operation of Lake Isabella. The Borel Project also influences flow by bypassing water around about seven miles of the upper portion of the Lower Kern River. Hydrologic information is provided in a series of summary tables, and in a more detailed appendix. Appendix B contains flow duration tables and curves for: 1) the Lower Kern River below Lake Isabella; 2) the Borel Canal; and 3) the combination of the Lower Kern River and the Borel Canal, representing the total outflow from Lake Isabella.

Tables 1, 2 and 3 (see following pages) contain summary examples of inflow to Lake Isabella and outflow from Lake Isabella and the Borel Project during a wet water year (1983), a dry water year (1990) and an average water year (1984). Inflow to Lake Isabella is given by the sum of flows from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) gaging stations 11187000 (Kern River below the KR-3 Powerhouse) and 11189500 (South Fork Kern River prior to Lake Isabella). and 11189500 (South Fork Kern River prior to Lake Isabella). Outflow immediately below Lake Isabella is given by USGS gaging station 11191000 (Kern River below Isabella Dam). Flow in the Borel Canal is given by USGS gaging station 11187500 (Borel Canal below Isabella Dam). Flow in the Lower Kern River immediately below the Borel Powerhouse is obtained by adding the data generated at station 11191000 with the data generated at station 11187500. The two columns on the extreme right (1910 and 1910+1875) show the average flows in the Kern River between Lake Isabella and the Borel Powerhouse, and below the Borel Powerhouse, respectively.

Inflow to Lake Isabella is typical of most streams in the southern Sierra Nevada. That is, river flows are lowest during the winter months when most precipitation falls as snow. River flows increase in the spring due to snowmelt. They begin to decrease in June or July, and flows are lower again by September. The storage of water in Lake Isabella affects the timing of flows downstream of the lake, particularly during average and dry water years. The low flow period downstream of Lake Isabella extends to early spring (March and April). However, the peak flows are dampened and extended throughout the summer irrigation season (June, July, and August), instead of during spring runoff, as would occur on rivers without a large storage reservoir.

The combined flow below the Borel Powerhouse is summarized in the last column of Tables 1, 2 and 3 (1910+1875) for the three example water year types. During portions of most years, the flow in the Lower Kern River below Borel Powerhouse is augmented by the operation of the Borel Project with flows that would otherwise be put into storage in Lake Isabella by the downstream irrigators. As described above, the Corps is contractually required to release the full flow of the North Fork Kern River into the Borel Canal. That water is returned to the Lower Kern River below the Project tailrace, augmenting the minimum instream flow releases from the Isabella Main Dam. Without the Borel Project, the Corps might not release that water and instead might only release water when necessary for flood control purposes or to meet the needs of downstream irrigators.

SCE is required to release instream flows for the protection of aquatic biological resources. This release is made by the Corps (on behalf of SCE) at the Isabella Main Dam, through the Isabella Partners Project outlet works, as follows: 15 cfs from October 1st through May 31st and 50 cfs from June 1st through September 30th.

The current FERC license contains several conditions that affect the operation of the Borel Project, as summarized in the following. In general, these conditions were incorporated into the Project license to protect aquatic biological resources in the Lower Kern River by FERC Orders dated September 29, 1997 and March 27, 2000.

Minimum Flow Requirement. FERC requires an instream flow release of 15 cfs from October 1st through May 31st, and 50 cfs from June 1st through September 30th. This release occurs at the Isabella Main Dam, through the Isabella Partners Project outlet works.

Fish Rescues. SCE and California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) personnel conduct fish rescues whenever the Borel canal is drained for maintenance, with the rescued fish being transported by tanker truck back to Lake Isabella proper where they are released. This is a voluntary action, not required by the FERC license. The potential need for fish passage facilities at the original Borel Diversion Dam, on the North Fork Kern River, was reviewed by the resource agencies and FERC as recently as 1990, with the conclusion that such facilities were not required. As noted above, the original Borel diversion is normally inundated by Lake Isabella.

This section contains general information regarding the environmental setting, based on existing sources of information. Much of the information was compiled in 1998 as a part of SCE’s hydropower facilities valuation process. These surveys focused upon the physical facilities, but provide a general guide to the resources found in the Lower Kern River and Lake Isabella area. In addition, three fishery resources and temperature studies were conducted in 1989, 1990, and 1991, that provide site-specific information on the fish population, physical habitat under various flow releases, and summer water temperatures (see following Section 8.3). Information developed by SCE during the relicensing of the Kern River No. 1 Project, in 1993, may also be useful during the relicensing of the Borel Project. SCE is committed to working cooperatively with the resource agencies and other interested parties to develop the information necessary to understand the effects of the Borel Project and to establish appropriate protection measures for the new license. SCE hopes to use as much existing information as possible in preparing the Exhibit E Environmental Report, while collecting new additional information, and performing new analyses sufficient to address the environmental concerns.

Geology. The Kern Canyon was formed by numerous episodes of uplift, deformation, deposition, and intrusion of igneous rocks. The canyon has steep rock walls, cluttered with bedrock outcrops and large boulders. Alluvial fans have formed along the base of the canyon walls. Soils consisting of fine well-sorted sandy loams have developed from the alluvial fans. Coarse sandy loams have developed from the weathering of the bedrock, boulders, and steep canyon walls. The steep rock walls and bedrock outcroppings are a result of the watershed having rapid runoff rates combined with concentrated flows.

Soils. Soils in the Borel Project area are predominantly comprised of coarse sandy loam and sandy clay loam of the Cieneba-Vista series. These soils were formed in place from parent granitic bedrock and limited areas of metamorphic rock. Minor deposits of alluvium and colluvium occur at scattered locations throughout the project location. The only mappable deposits occur as river wash material in the floodplain and along the banks of the Kern River. These deposits consist primarily of sand and gravel formed from parent granitic bedrock.

Geologic Hazards. The Borel Project facilities are located in a very seismically active region that is influenced by three major physiographic and geologic provinces. These provinces include the Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, and, to a lesser extent, the Coastal Range.

The active faults with the highest potential to affect the Project area include the White Wolf fault, 40 miles to the southwest; the Garlock fault, 55 miles to the south; the Owens Valley fault, 60 miles to the northeast; and the San Andreas fault, 90 miles to the west. All these faults have the potential to generate earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or greater on the Richter scale.

Existing Conditions. The Borel Project is located in Kern County, approximately 38 miles east of Bakersfield. It begins at the intake structures located within Lake Isabella and extends down the Kern River, through Kern Canyon to the Borel Powerhouse. The Borel Project takes water from Lake Isabella on the Kern River or from the North Fork Kern River and returns the water to the Kern River approximately seven miles downstream of Isabella Dam. Designated beneficial surface water uses include hydropower generation, water contact and noncontact recreation, fish habitat, wildlife habitat, and rare and endangered species habitat. Water quality along the basin is good due to low-density development in the area. The water is slightly alkaline, clear, and typically low in turbidity and dissolved solids. Temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels are highly variable, depending on the season. Generally, water temperatures tend to be higher and dissolved oxygen levels lower during low-flow periods in the late summer than during the high-flow periods of spring. Temperatures range from 8^o to 23^oC and dissolved oxygen levels range from 4.5 to 13.4 milligrams per liter (mg/L), seasonally.

Existing Conditions. The biological resources in the vicinicy of the Borel Project were surveyed and evaluated by SCE in 1993, in connection with the relicensing of SCE’s Kern River No. 1 Project, and in 1998, in connection with an electric industry restructuring-related hydropower asset valuation process. Additional relevant biological information is available in several relatively recent reports, as follows.

Fish Management Plan for the Borel Reach of the Kern River, California (SCE, 1991).

PHABSIM Analysis for the Kern River, California, Below Lake Isabella (SCE, 1990).

Kern River Temperature Modeling Study (SCE, 1988).

The USGS quadrangle maps encompassing the project area (Lake Isabella South, Lake Isabella North, and Miracle Hot Springs) were searched using the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) and California Native Plant Society (CNPS) electronic databases for the occurrence of special-status biological resources. This was done in 1998 as part of the valuation assessment. The Sequoia National Forest List of Sensitive Species was also consulted for other sensitive species potentially occurring in the area. In addition, several specialists were contacted during this time for information regarding special-status species in the area.

Vegetation and Wildlife. The Lower Kern River watershed is an area influenced by its proximity to the Tehachapi Mountains to the southwest, the San Joaquin Valley to the west and the Mojave Desert to the southeast. In this mix of floristic areas, the habitats are primarily Sierran but transitional, and species such as California juniper (Juniperus californica), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus parryi), brittlebrush (Encelia farinosa), Mormon tea (Ephedra species), and Our Lord's candle (Yucca species) are indicators of the influence of these other bio-geographic regions. The soils in the area are primarily granitic.

Residential-Commercial. Portions of the Project are located within privately owned lands in the suburban developments of Lake Isabella and Bodfish. A highly disturbed creek with some riparian habitat runs over the buried Bodfish Siphon. A typical ruderal species mix is found in these areas, such as common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), wild radish (Raphanus sativa), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), and common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris).

Agricultural-Pasture. Agricultural lands, primarily pasture, are found in the area between the Isabella Auxiliary Dam and State Highway 178. Field mustard (Brassica nigra) and Parry's rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus parryi) dominate the pasture in this area. Common and characteristic wildlife species of this habitat type include common garter snake, common raven, European starling, brown-headed cowbird, Brewer's blackbird, western meadowlark, brush rabbit, black-tailed jackrabbit, California ground squirrel, and badger.

Nonnative Annual Grassland. In the area around the powerhouse, pine-oak habitat is dominant, but areas of annual grassland are interspersed with other habitat types. In these areas, nonnative species dominate with common species such as wild oats (Avena sp.), red brome (Bromus rubens), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus), and rattail fescue (Vulpia myuros).

Granite rock outcrops are common and support a higher percentage of native wildflowers such as winecup clarkia (Clarkia purpurea), elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata), red spot clarkia (Clarkia speciosa ssp. polyantha), miniature lupine (Lupinus species), and milkweed (Asclepias species.). Rabbitbrush is scattered throughout the grassland areas.

Moist alkaline meadows were once common in the Kern Valley area. They provide habitat for several rare plant species, but no habitat of this kind was found near the Project facilities during the 1998 survey.

The following wildlife species were observed in nonnative annual grassland habitat while conducting surveys of the Project facilities: western fence lizard, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, cliff swallow, common raven, and California ground squirrel. Additional common and characteristic wildlife species of nonnative annual grassland include side-blotched lizard, western whiptail, western rattlesnake, California quail, turkey vulture, Say's phoebe, western meadowlark, black-tailed jackrabbit, western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis), California vole (Microtus californicus), and badger.

Foothill Pine-Oak Woodland. The slopes above the powerhouse are dominated by blue oak (Quercus douglasii) with an emergent canopy of widely spaced foothill pine (Pinus sabiniana) and a grassy understory of nonnative annual grassland. Granite rock outcrops are common. On the north slopes and rocky canyon walls, canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis), interior live oak (Quercus wislizenii), California buckeye (Aesuculus californica), and California bay (Umbellularia californica) are more common than blue oak. Cliff-hugging forbs and subshrubs, such as stonecrop (Dudleya spp.) and sticky monkeyflower (Mimulus aurantiacus), dominate the sparse herb layer on the canyon walls. Shrubs are more common in woodland areas than in grasslands, such as scale-broom (Lepidospartum squamatum), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasiculatum), chaparral whitethorn (Ceanothus leucodermis), brittlebrush, and oak gooseberry (Ribes quercetorum).

Where blue oaks are the major component and the canopy is more open, the grassy understory is dominated by introduced species such as wild oats, hedgehog dogtail (Cynosurus echinatus), Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), and red-stem filaree (Erodium cicutarium). Wildflowers are more abundant around rock outcrops and openings in the woodland canopy.

The following wildlife species or their sign were observed while conducting surveys of the project facilities in foothill pine-blue oak woodland habitat: western fence lizard, sideblotched lizard, western rattlesnake, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus), golden eagle, California quail, mourning dove, Anna's hummingbird, acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorous), western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis), scrub jay, common raven, oak titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, Bewick's wren (Thryomanes bewickii), western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), California ground squirrel, coyote, and bobcat. Additional common and characteristic wildlife species of foothill pine-blue oak woodland habitat include: gopher snake, common kingsnake, common garter snake, western screech owl (Otus kennicottii), great homed owl, downy woodpecker, black phoebe, bushtit, house wren, loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), Hutton's vireo, ringtail (Bassariscus astutus), and mountain lion.

Riparian Habitats. The Borel Project includes a concrete-lined, fenced canal that runs from Lake Isabella to the powerhouse. There is very little riparian vegetation and little habitat for wildlife along the canal. Larger areas of riparian vegetation and more extensive habitat occur along the seven-mile-long diverted reach of the Lower Kern River. The powerhouse sits adjacent to the Kern River in an area where the riparian habitat is dominated by red and shining willow (Salix species). A small perennial tributary in the powerhouse area has a riparian corridor dominated by Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii).

The following wildlife species were observed while conducting surveys of the project facilities in riparian habitat: Pacific chorus frog, scrub jay, and yellow warbler. Additional common and characteristic wildlife species of southern riparian habitat include California newt (Taricha torosa), Gilbert's skink, southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinatus), striped racer, western aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis couchi), California quail, mourning dove, western screech owl, long-eared owl, Anna's hummingbird, Nuttall's woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii), northern flicker, western flycatcher, black phoebe, common crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), oak titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), western bluebird, yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), northern oriole (Icterus galbula), black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus), American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), ringtail, and raccoon.

Special-Status Plants. The Kern River drainage is rich in endemics and rare plant taxa. Over 160 Sierran endemics and 91 rare taxa are found in the Kern River drainage, including 22 rare plants endemic to the river basin. Of the many rare plants that occur in the Kern River watershed, 14 occur in the vicinity of the project facilities and have the potential for occurrence at the project site (Table 4, see following page). Rare plants known from the vicinity, and with the highest potential for occurrence, are described in detail below.

Alkali Mariposa Lily (Calochortus striatus). Several populations of this species are known from the Lake Isabella area, particularly the area just south of the lake. All occurrences are on alkali seeps, wet meadows, and ephemeral washes. Common associated species include saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), and Baltic rush (Juncus baliticus). Known populations are found between 200 and 5,000 feet elevation in chaparral and chenopod scrub. Moderate to high potential for this species occurs in the alkali meadows, seeps, and hot springs near Borel Powerhouse. This species was not found during surveys conducted by SCE in 1998.

Kern Canyon Clarkia (Clarkia xantiany ssp. parviflora). This Kern River drainage endemic is found on dry slopes in cismontane woodland between approximately 3,000 and 4,500 feet elevation. A historic population from a 1903 collection was described in the area inundated by the creation of Lake Isabella. Kern Canyon clarkia, a CNPS List 1B species, was the only special-status plant species found in the project area. This species was found near the Borel Powerhouse during surveys conducted by SCE in 1998, and there is high potential for additional populations in the project area.

Piute Cypress (Cupressus arizonica ssp. nevadensis) Southern Interior Cypress Forest. In the Kern River watershed, this fire-maintained, sensitive plant community generally occurs as an isolated grove within a matrix of chamise chaparral. It may also be found in pinyon-juniper woodlands, oak-pine woodlands, chaparral, and riparian habitats in the southern Sierra Nevada. This sensitive community was not found during the 1998 SCE survey, which focused upon the physical project facilities. Most, if not all, of the existing groves within the Kern River area have been mapped.

Gypsum-loving Larkspur (Delphinium gypsophilum ssp. gypsophilum). The range of this species includes the Sierra Nevada foothills. It can be found on slopes in oak woodlands, grasslands, and saltbush scrub at elevations ranging from approximately 500 to 4,000 feet. The potential for this species to occur within the Project area is very low, as it is generally associated with areas of gypsum soil, which are absent from the project area. This species was not found during the 1998 SCE surveys of the project facilities.

Kern County Larkspur (Delphinium purpusii). This perennial herb has known occurrences near the Kern No. 1 diversion dam and another on the slopes above State Highway 178 at Kern River No. 1 Powerhouse. It is known only from Kern and Tulare Counties in chaparral, cismontane woodland, and pinyon-juniper woodland, generally on rocky sites with carbonate soils. Known elevations range from 960 to 4,160 feet. Many of the other known occurrences are from older herbarium labels and need field surveys to determine whether its status should be upgraded. Suitable habitat for this species is found on the rocky slopes of the pine-oak woodland in the vicinity of the Borel Project facilities.

Striped Adobe Lily (Fritillaria striata). This California threatened species of lily is endemic to Kern and Tulare Counties and occurs on adobe soils. It has been reported from the Greenhorn Mountains in both valley and foothill grasslands and in cismontane woodlands at elevations below approximately 5,000 feet. The potential for it to occur in the vicinity of the Borel Project facilities is very low. This species was not found during the 1998 SCE surveys of the facilities.

Shevock's Hairy Golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa var. shevockii). This Kern River Canyon endemic can be found in chaparral, riparian, and cismontane woodland habitats. It is usually found in ditches, crevices, and shallow sands at elevations ranging from about 1,000 to 3,000 feet. There is a moderate to high potential for this species to occur in the vicinity of the Borel Project facilities. This species was not found during SCE’s surveys of the facilities in 1998.

Calico Monkeyflower (Mimulus pictus). This small monkeyflower is known to occur in broad-leafed upland forests and in cismontane woodlands. It can be found on bare granitic soils in sunny areas around shrubs (especially Ribes spp.) and rock outcrops. It could potentially occur in the vicinity of the Borel Project facilities where the above microhabitat conditions exist. This species was not found during the 1998 surveys of the project facilities.

Piute Mountains Navarretia (Navarretia setiloba). This rare plant is found in depressions in clay or gravelly loam soils. It is known to occur in the southern Sierra Nevada (especially the Piute Mountains) and in the Tehachapi Mountains. Known populations occur at approximately 1,600 to 7,000 feet elevation. Habitats where it has been found include cismontane woodlands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and valley and foothill grasslands. There are no known occurrences near the Project facilities. There is a low potential for occurrence because it is on the edge of its known range and suitable habitat is not available. This species was not found during SCE’s 1998 surveys of the Project facilities.

San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst (Pseudobahia peirsonii). This State listed endangered and federally listed threatened species can be found in grasslands on heavy clay soils of the valley floor and foothills. It has been found at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,500 feet. The potential for it to occur near the project facilities is low because the required microsite conditions were not observed during the surveys. This species was not found during SCE’s 1998 survey of the Project facilities.

Special-Status Wildlife. Special-status wildlife species with the potential to occur within the vicinity of the project facilities are discussed below and listed in Table 5 (see following page).

Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus). The adult valley elderberry longhorn beetle feeds and lay its eggs in the spring on elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) shrubs. The larvae bore into the elderberry stems where they feed and make their transformation into flying adults. Although there are few reports of this species in the Kern Canyon, where elderberry shrubs occur near the project facilities there is the potential for these beetles to occur. No observations of characteristic exit holes were observed in any of the elderberry shrubs examined during the 1998 survey. No individuals were found during SCE’s 1998 survey.

Relictual Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps relictus [pacificus]). The range of the relictual slender salamander extends on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada from the Kings River drainage to the Kern River Canyon. This species is found in a wide variety of habitats, usually on damp soil or in moist leaf litter, and also in water from seepages. In the 1960s it was routinely found in seep areas along the Kern River, but it has not been found in the Lower Kern River Canyon (Kern River 1 and Borel project areas) since about 1970. There is a very low potential that it may still occur within the Lower Kern River. No individuals were found during the 1998 survey.

Kern Canyon Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps simatus). There is good potential habitat for Kern Canyon slender salamander in the vicinity of the Borel Powerhouse, and there may be additional potential habitat along the diverted reach of the Lower Kern River. The canal itself does not offer good potential Kern Canyon slender salamander habitat, but the species may be found near the canal: 1) when adequate moisture is present (winter and spring), and 2) where suitable cover exists, including downed woody debris, leaf litter, wood piles, old boards, and talus. The riparian areas found near the current Bodfish siphon and near the canal offer potential habitat year-round, as do springs and seeps found near the project facilities. No individuals were found during the 1998 survey.

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii). The habitat around the powerhouse and the creek running over the Bodfish siphon has the potential for foothill yellow-legged frog. The canal provides some potential habitat, but it is not high quality because of the lack of cover and food resources. There may be areas of suitable habitat along the diverted reach of the Lower Kern River. This species has become very rare in recent years. No individuals were found during SCE’s 1998 survey, which focused on the physical Project facilities.

Southwestern Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata pallida). The canal provides low quality habitat for the southwestern pond turtle primarily because it lacks a muddy or rocky bottom and aquatic vegetation. The banks of the canal, however, may provide suitable basking sites. Overall, the potential for this species to occur near the project facilities is low. No individuals were found during SCE’s 1998 survey of the Project facilities. However, areas of suitable habitat may occur along the diverted reach of the Lower Kern River.

Sierra Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis sierrae). Desert night lizards, of which the Sierra night lizard is a subspecies, were at one time considered to be extremely rare because they were rarely seen, preferring instead to remain hidden in cover. It is now known, however, that they are one of the most abundant lizards in the area. They are known to occur in the southern Sierra Nevada, including the Greenhorn Mountains and the Kern River Canyon. They are found in semi-arid habitats and therefore may possibly be found in the upland habitats surrounding the Kern River Complex facilities, provided there is adequate cover available. For cover they may use downed woody debris, fallen yuccas, cow chips, brush, logs, bark of foothill pine, and rock crevices. No individuals were found during the 1998 survey.

Silvery Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra pulchra). There are scattered occurrences of the silvery legless lizard in the southern Sierra Nevada. They require loose soil for burrowing (sand, loam, or humus), as well as moisture, warmth, and vegetative cover. They may frequent the sparse vegetation of chaparral, pine/oak woodland, and riparian (such as sycamores and cottonwoods) habitats. Although no individuals were found during the 1998 surveys, this species was observed in the vicinity in 1993, when SCE carried out field studies for the relicensing of the nearby Kern No. 1 Hydroelectric Project.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocehalus). Bald eagles are usually associated with a source of permanent water, such as reservoirs, lakes, and free-flowing rivers, with abundant fish and nearby sites for perching, roosting, and/or nesting. These sites include snags or other open perches, such as broken-topped trees and rocks near the water. There are approximately eight bald eagles that winter in the Kern River area, including both the Lower and upper Kern Canyon and Lake Isabella. As such, this species could potentially use areas near the Project while travelling or foraging. No individuals were sighted during the 1998 surveys.

American Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum). Peregrine falcons prefer open country with cliffs. This species may use areas near Borel during the winter, but are not expected to nest there because of the lack of suitable nesting habitat. No individuals were observed during SCE’s 1998 surveys.

California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis). California spotted owls occur in mature coniferous forest. They prefer large trees and high canopy cover for nesting and foraging. No occurrence records for spotted owls in the project area were located in the CNDDB. Habitat around the facilities is generally unsuitable for nesting spotted owls because forested areas are too open and lack large trees. This species may occasionally use the vicinity during harsh winters. There were no observations of this species during SCE’s 1998 surveys.

Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus). The pallid bat is found throughout most of California and is common in lowlands generally below 6,000 feet. It is frequently found in deserts and grasslands with rock outcrops. Day roosts are usually deep crevices in rocks, buildings, and bridges and pallid bats may hibernate in caves. Open water is an essential habitat element for most bat species, however, their ability to fly decreases the need to have immediate access from their roost sites. They drink water while flying, and therefore an open airspace above the water is important for maneuvering. Rock outcrops, crevices, canyon walls and cliff faces along the Kern River canyon walls and loose tree bark offer potential roosts for pallid bats, as do the powerhouse and other buildings associated with the Borel Project. Although not observed during SCE’s 1998 surveys, this species was located throughout the vicinity during a 1993 survey.

Pale Big-eared Bat (Plecotus townsendii pallescens). The distribution of pale big-eared bat appears to be determined by the availability of roosts with suitable temperatures. They are found in all habitats, except alpine and subalpine, but are most abundant in mesic habitats. They are known to occur in the southern Sierra Nevada and there are several records of them in the CNDDB, specifically in the Kern River area. Caves, mines, tunnels, crevices, and masonry structures are used for roost sites. This species was found nearby in local abandoned mine shafts during a 1993 survey.

California Mastiff Bat (Eumops perotis californicus). This species most likely roosts in crevices found on the rock cliffs above the Kern River. Mastiff bats may potentially roost in the SCE buildings as well. They prefer open areas with high cliffs such as can be found in the Lower Kern Canyon. A colony is known to roost in the vicinity of the Kern River No. 1 Project. Occupancy of that roost site was verified in the 1998 surveys, however, none were observed near the Borel Project facilities.

San Joaquin Pocket Mouse (Perognathus inornatus inornatus). The San Joaquin pocket mouse is generally recognized as a species of the Central Valley that requires fine-textured, friable soils and prefers areas with grasses, forbs, or shrubs. It is known to occur in arid or seasonally arid habitats, especially on flat ground and open hills. Typically, it is found in grasslands and blue oak savannas. However, there is a record of an individual of this species found along the Lower Kern River near Bodfish. Despite that report, the potential for it to occur elsewhere within the Lower Kern River area is low. No individuals were observed either in 1998 or in 1993 during a live-trapping effort.

Pacific Fisher (Martes pennanti pacifica). There is a pre-1998 California Natural Diversity Data Base record of a fisher having been sighted about two miles east of` Bodfish. The potential for fisher to occur within the immediate project area is very low due to a lack of suitable habitat. No individuals were found during the 1998 survey.

Aquatic Resources. Lake Isabella is a large, low-elevation reservoir with a fish assemblage consisting of native fishes (Sacramento sucker, Sacramento pike-minnow, and hardhead [Mylopharodon conocephalus]) and introduced game fish (rainbow trout, brown trout, sunfish, bass, and catfish. The diverted reach of the Lower Kern River includes species common to the hardhead/squawfish zone (hardhead, Sacramento pike-minnow, and Sacramento sucker) and several game fish (including smallmouth bass). The game fish were historically introduced to enhance recreational angling opportunities. Information available from past SCE studies (SCE 1988, 1990, 1991) suggests the warm water inflows and releases from Lake Isabella are seasonally limiting to trout. Hatchery rainbow trout are stocked on a seasonal basis in the Lower Kern River to enhance the recreational fishery, but high water temperatures during the summer months impair year-round survival of these fish. Various sunfish, bass, and catfish have also been introduced into the Lower Kern River and many originate in Lake Isabella.

The river runs through a relatively narrow, granite canyon. River substrates are dominated by boulders and bedrock outcrops overlain with deposits of sand in the slower areas. Within the project area, the river habitats are evenly distributed between long, deep runs, pools, and cascades or rapids. True gravel riffles with good spawning gravels comprise less than five percent of the available habitat.

Special-Status Aquatic Species. The Kern River rainbow trout and the hardhead are the only special-status aquatic species that occur, or have the potential to occur, within the Borel Project area (Table 6).

Sources: CDFG 1998b; CNDDB 1998.

CSC = State of California Species of Special Concern.

FSC = Federal Species of Concern.

Kern River Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gilberti). The Kern River rainbow trout is a member of the Golden Trout Complex and is endemic to the main-stem and the North Fork of the Kern River. Historically, these fish were found (seasonally only) downstream as far as Kern Canyon (KR-1 reach), but are currently believed to be extirpated below the Johnsondale Bridge, 40 miles above the project. On-going introductions of hatchery rainbow trout are thought to be a one of several factors responsible for the demise of the Kern River rainbow trout in this area.

Hardhead (Mylopharodon conocephalus). Hardhead are large members of the minnow family typically found in larger mid- and low-elevation streams. These fish prefer deep pools with sand, gravel, or boulder substrates. While hardhead are typically found in riverine habitats, they have become established in some low-elevation reservoirs. Hardhead are common throughout the low- and mid-elevations of the Lower Kern River, including within the Borel Project diverted reach.

Existing Conditions. The Borel Project boundaries and general vicinity include lands administered by the SNF, the BLM, and the County of Kern. The land uses in the area include commercial, residential, rural-residential, recreation, open space, and hydroelectric power generation.

Relevant Plans and Policies. The Borel Project site and surrounding area are governed by the SNF’s Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), the BLM’s Caliente Resource Area Management Plan, and the Kern County General Plan. The Borel Project has been in place since 1904 and its continued operation is consistent with these plans.

Existing Conditions. The Borel Project is located within Kern County. With a total land area of more than 5.2 million acres, Kern County is the third largest County in the State. Kern County is ranked the number one county in oil production and number three in agricultural production in the nation. Kern County's oil production has increased in each of the last four years, and 1996 total gross agricultural production value topped the $2 billion mark for the first time. The communities located nearest to the Borel Project are Lake Isabella and Bodfish, small unincorporated, tourist-oriented towns within Kern County.

Population. Kern County's 1997 population of 628,200 people accounted for 1.9 percent of California's total population of 32.6 million. According to State projections, Kern County's population will almost double by 2020, to 1,200,300 people.

Employment. In 1996, Kern County's top employment sectors comprised the services (44,018), retail (34,741), and manufacturing (11,722) sectors. The County's unemployment rate of 12.1 percent was almost double California's statewide rate (6.3 percent) in 1997.

Housing. Kern County's 1997 housing stock comprised a total of 225,368 units with an average of 2.9 persons per household and a vacancy rate of 8.6 percent.

Public Finance. In fiscal year 1994-1995, Kern County received over $2.1 billion in total revenues and made over $2.1 billion in total expenditures. The County's bonded indebtedness during that period was over $524 million.

The Borel Project facilities are located in a rural area of Kern County. Access to the area is provided by a limited number of State, County, and SNF roads.

State Highways. Access is provided to the various portions of the Borel Project by State Highway 178. State Highway 178 is the major transportation route between the City of Bakersfield and Lake Isabella. This highway is primarily used by recreationists traveling to the SNF and the Lake Isabella recreational area. At the south end of Lake Isabella, State Highway 178 continues northward, skirting the east side of the lake, and is joined by State Highway 155 which generally parallels the western boundary of the lake through the local community of Wofford Heights. Access to the Borel Powerhouse from State Highway 178 is provided by a private SCE access road.

Energy Production and Use. The Borel Project has a dependable operating capacity of 11.00 MW and an installed capacity of 12.0 MW. Electricity generated is transmitted to the SCE transmission system and is sold to retail and wholesale electric consumers. In an average year, the Borel Powerhouse produces about 63,726 MWhrs of electricity. Powerplant lighting and power requirements are provided by SCE.

Utilities and Services. Electric power is provided by SCE. There are no natural gas facilities in the project area. Contel provides the local phone system. Bottled drinking water is used at Borel. Solid waste is hauled to SCE’s Kern River No. 3 Powerhouse where a waste disposal service picks it up and transports it to an approved facility. A septic system is used for liquid waste.

Existing Conditions. The Borel Project facilities include a diversion dam on the North Fork Kern River, a canal system, including flumes, siphons, penstocks, a powerhouse, and a 66 kV transmission line. (SCE has applied to the FERC to remove this transmission line from the license because it is part of the SCE integrated transmission system. The FERC has not yet acted upon this application.) The facilities have been in place since 1904, and have been periodically upgraded, repaired, and painted over the years to their current condition. The facilities generally have an industrial appearance consistent with similar hydropower facilities in rural areas across California. The Powerhouse and penstocks are easily seen by passersby on Highway 178, particularly eastbound drivers. The canal downstream of Lake Isabella is apparent to local residents because, over the years, the community of Lake Isabella has grown up along the canal, generally within view of the Lake Isabella Auxiliary Dam. The urban development along the upper few miles of the canal contrasts with the open space which is characteristic along the canal toward the Powerhouse. In general, the vegetation in these lower foothills elevations consists primarily of evergreen shrub and oak woodland.

The visual characteristic of the western Sierra Nevada foothills varies dramatically between the wet season, November through April, and the dry season, May through October. During the winter wet season, the grassland hills and slopes are green. By the end of May, the grass hillsides and flowers have withered to create a golden wheat color and texture across the landscape. The stunted oak species and evergreen chamise are characteristically an olive green, which contrasts against the wheat-colored grasses. During the summer, the riparian vegetation growing along the streambeds beside the waterways also contrasts with the dry grasses in the surrounding oak woodland.

The SNF has classified the Lower Kern River and adjacent landscapes as distinctive because of the scenic interest created by the perennial flowing waters that support a wide variety of riparian species.

Archaeological Resources. Although the Lower Kern River area is believed to be highly sensitive with regard to archaeological resources, no recorded archaeological sites are located within the Borel Project boundaries. According to local tradition, the Borel canal near the Kernville intake was constructed in 1904 through the unmarked burial place of the Native American victims of an 1862 massacre. Although unconfirmed, this location along the upper Borel Canal is considered a highly sensitive archaeological resource.

Ethnographic Resources. Resources of traditional cultural value to the present-day descendants of the aboriginal peoples are archaeological sites, power (spiritual) places, or locations named in myths or stories, native plants and animals used in traditional foods, craft and building materials, or medicines and potions as well as the places where they were originally procured. As also noted above, according to local tradition, the Borel Canal near the Kernville intake was constructed in 1904 through the unmarked burial place of the Native American victims of an 1862 massacre. Although archaeologically unconfirmed, this location along the upper Borel Canal is considered highly sensitive ethnographically. Apart from this possible mass gravesite, no areas of traditional Native American cultural value have been identified that may be subject to effects from standard Borel operation and maintenance.

Historic Resources. The Borel Project facilities are not believed by SCE to be eligible for National Register listing due to a major loss of original integrity. No other known historic resources are present within the Project boundaries.

Paleontological Resources. The vast majority of the Kern Valley area is underlain by granitic lithic units ranging in composition from granite to gabbro with local inclusions of metamorphic rocks. The Lake Isabella area and most of the wider river bottom are comprised of recent alluvium and older alluvium consisting mainly of slightly consolicated and dissected fan deposits. These lithic units are not expected to have any paleontological sensitivity, and there are no known resources.

The Borel Project facilities are situated on private land and public lands managed by the Corps, the SNF, the BLM, and the County of Kern. Specifically, the original diversion dam and intake structure, about five miles of flowline, and the intake structure at Isabella Auxiliary Dam are located within the boundaries of Lake Isabella, which is administered and operated by the Corps. Below Lake Isabella, the Borel flowline traverses a short segment of Corps land, then traverses private lands managed by the County of Kern, and land managed by BLM. The penstocks and powerhouse are situated on land managed by the SNF. The first 3.5 miles of the Kern River below Lake Isabella traverses public lands managed by the BLM and, occasionally, private land.

SNF Management Objectives. A portion of the Borel Project lands lie within the SNF, and are managed in accordance with the objectives, goals and prescriptions outlined in the SNF’s 1988 Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The Forest Plan indicates that the Lower Kern River downstream from the Borel Powerhouse lies within a management area that emphasizes "water oriented recreation" in "blue oak savanna". The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum along the river corridor in this area is identified as "rural" and the Visual Quality Objective is "retention".

In addition to managing the river and surrounding land in accordance with the direction contained in the Forest Plan, the SNF manages whitewater recreation on the Lower Kern River in accordance with the goals and direction contained in the Kern River Floating Plan and its amendments (SNF 1986). According to the most recent amendments, the SNF manages the Lower Kern River to meet an objective described as semi-primitive, motorized. This objective was established to accommodate the needs of both commercial and non-commercial boaters. Excerpts from the Kern River Floating Plan and its amendments are referred to throughout the remainder of this text.

BLM Management Objectives. The upper 3.5 miles of the Lower Kern River flows through public lands managed by the BLM. This land lies within a Special Management Area referred to by the BLM as either the Keyesville Special Management Area or the Keyesville Recreation Management Area. Management of the Keyesville Special Management Area is dictated by the guidelines contained in the BLM’s 1996 Caliente Resource Area Management Plan. This plan indicates the Keyesville Special Management Area should be managed in accordance with the following objective:

• Manage Keyesville to protect riparian and cultural resources while providing for recreation use (with particular emphasis on whitewater rafting, mountain bicycling, and recreational mining).

Specific recreation-related management prescriptions contained in the plan include the following:

• Lengths of stay for visitors may be shortened to accommodate more visitors.

• Route of travel for Off Highway Vehicles and bicycles shall be designated in the Keyesville Special Management Area and an agreement with user groups should be developed for trail maintenance.

• Recreational mining may be allowed within areas near Keyesville that are withdrawn from the general mining laws, subject to permit. All use must be in compliance with cultural resources legislation. (Permits are subject to several constraints outlined in the plan.)

• The existing two white-water launch sites along the Lower Kern River shall be maintained and an additional site may be constructed at the Bodfish off-ramp (for use during low-water years) to replace the Keyesville Bridge site. These sites will be managed as day use sites. The Memorandum of Understanding with the SNF for managing the Lower Kern River for commercial and individual raft trips shall be continued and updated periodically.

• The Lower Kern River shall be studied in conjunction with the SNF for Wild and Scenic River suitability.

Wild and Scenic River Status. The upper 3.5 miles of the Lower Kern River flows through public land managed by the BLM. The BLM has determined this stretch of the Lower Kern River to be eligible for study under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act due to its outstanding recreation, wildlife, historic and possibly plant resources (BLM 1996). The SNF determined the Lower Kern River, from the Lake Isabella Main Dam to the mouth of the canyon at Kern Canyon Powerhouse, is eligible for study under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. According to SNF, the Lower Kern River between the Lake Isabella Main Dam and the Borel Powerhouse (Segment 1) is eligible to be studied under the W&SR Act due to its outstandingly remarkable scenic values. The portions of the Kern River from the Borel Powerhouse to Democrat Dam (Segment 2) and from Democrat Dam to the mouth (Segment 3) are eligible due to their outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreation and wildlife values (SNF 1994).

Although the Lower Kern River has been found to be eligible for study under the Wild and Scenic River Act, Suitability Studies have not been conducted for any of the Lower Kern River segments by either the BLM or the SNF. Accordingly, none of the Lower Kern River has been incorporated into the Wild and Scenic River System. Regardless, both the SNF and the BLM manage rivers and streams found eligible for study as a Wild and Scenic River to preserve the values for which the river was found eligible.

Developed Recreation Areas. Developed recreation areas on the Lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam include three river access sites managed by the BLM, and three campgrounds and two day use areas managed by the SNF (see Figure 3, following page). The BLM river access sites are referred to as Slippery Rock, BLM South and BLM at Keyesville Bridge (BLM North). The SNF campgrounds are referred to as Main Dam Campground, Sandy Flat Campground, and Hobo Campground; the day use areas are referred to as Miracle Hot Springs and Democrat Beach. In addition to the developed recreation areas, the State and federal agencies are working together on the development of a new river access and boat launching site - the Delonegha Access and Boat Launch.

Main Dam Campground. This campground is located on the north side of the Kern River, just below Lake Isabella’s Main Dam, off of Highway 155. The campground is situated on a small parcel of land managed by the SNF that is enveloped to the west and south by land managed by the BLM, and to the east by privately held parcels. The Campground consists of 82 family units with fire rings, tables and grills. Water, flush and vault toilets, and a recreation vehicle dump station are also available. The campground is open from May through September and accommodates visitors using both Lake Isabella and the Kern River.

Sandy Flat Campground. This campground is located on the south side of the Kern River, about 0.5 miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse. The campground is accessible by vehicle via the Old Canyon Highway, or from the river by boat. The campground is managed by a concessionaire under contract to the SNF and includes 35 family camping units, toilets and drinking water. The campground can accommodate recreation vehicles up to 24 feet long and is suitable for trailers. Sandy Flat Campground is open from May 1st through September 30th, on a first come first served basis. It is also used as a day use area.

The Sandy Flat area provides good river access for anglers and boaters. The SNF recently improved the area to provide better access for anglers and boaters. Among other things, the SNF improved the road access to the site and constructed boat launches. The site now serves as one of four designated launch sites.

Hobo Campground. This campground is located on the south side of the Kern River, about one mile downstream of the Borel Powerhouse. The campground is accessible via the Old Canyon Highway and by boat. The campground is managed by a concessionaire under contract to the SNF and includes 35 family camping units, toilets, and trash bins. Hobo Campground is open year round on a first come first served basis. The Hobo Fishing Trail extends from Hobo Campground to Sandy Flat Campground and provides good river access. According to the SNF, the campground can accommodate recreation vehicles up to 24 feet long but is not suitable for trailers. Boat launching is not permitted at this campground.

Slippery Rock River Access Site. This site is located on the north side of the Kern River, immediately adjacent to Highway 155 on land managed by the BLM. The site was recently improved by the BLM in coordination with the California Department of Boating and Waterways. Slippery Rock can be accessed from Highway 155 by a short paved road, which leads to a relatively large paved unloading area. The paved unloading area provides access to a sandy slope, which has been graded and terraced to facilitate boat launching. Other amenities at the site include double vault accessible toilets, information signs, garbage bins, and large unpaved, but graded parking areas. The entire site has been fenced to direct traffic and pedestrian flow, and to protect the surrounding soils and vegetation from damage.

Slippery Rock is heavily used by commercial and private boaters. In addition, it accommodates visitors participating in dispersed streamside activities, such as fishing, and is used for overnight camping, although no designated campsites are present.

BLM South River Access Site. This site is located on the easterly side of the Lower Kern River, just below Lake Isabella, on land managed by the BLM. The site was recently improved by the BLM in coordination with the California Department of Boating and Waterways. The site can be reached via an unpaved road that begins at Highway 155, about 0.5 miles north of its intersection with Highway 178. The unpaved road traverses gently sloping terrain for about 0.5 miles, where it intersects a short paved road, which leads to a small paved unloading area. The paved unloading area provides access to a natural bedrock slope that is used as a boat launch. Other amenities at the site include double vault accessible toilets, information signs, garbage bins, and large unpaved, but graded parking areas.

BLM South is heavily used by commercial and private boaters. In addition, it accommodates visitors participating in dispersed streamside activities such as fishing and is used for overnight camping, although no designated campsites are present. A network of unimproved roads traverses the hillsides between Highway 155 and the Kern River. These roads provide access to segments of the Kern River immediately upstream and downstream of the BLM South site. These areas also receive heavy dispersed overnight and day use.

BLM River Access Site at Keyesville Bridge (BLM North). This site is located on the north side of the Kern River, about 3.5 miles downstream of Lake Isabella, on land managed by the BLM. The site can be reached via an unpaved road that diverges from Keyesville Road. The access site is located immediately below a Highway 178 bridge crossing, but is not accessible from the Highway. The site is unimproved but provides good river access. This site is a designated whitewater boat launch site but is usually only used during dry water years when flows in the Lower Kern River are low (Pers. Comm, M. Ayers, 12/21/99).

Delonegha Access and Boat Launch (Planned). This site is located on the south side of the river about 13 miles downstream of Lake Isabella, where Delonegha Creek enters the Lower Kern River. The SNF, the California Resources Agency, and the California Department of Boating and Waterways are developing this site to provide another river access site and boat launching area. Once complete, visitors will be able to access the river or launch/take-out boats, just downstream of the Highway 178 bridge. Plans for the site are complete and the the California Department of Boating and Waterways and Resources Agency have provided funding. CalTrans is currently reviewing the plans for permitting and approval.

Miracle Hot Springs Day Use Area. Miracle Hot Springs is situated just downstream of Hobo Campground, about 1.5 miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse, and is accessible via the Old Canyon Highway. Historically, the Miracle Hot Springs area was the site of a spa and hotel, however, the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1975. Currently, the Miracle Hot Springs area consists of a day use area, which includes a graded but unpaved parking area, a picnic area, a small boat launch, and a trail, which leads to the hot springs. The hot springs are located about 0.25 miles downstream of the parking area, on river left (looking downstream) and consist of several small cement and boulder pools situated immediately adjacent the Lower Kern River. A small unpaved parking area is also available across the highway from the entrance. The main parking area, picnic area, and hot springs are managed by a concessionaire arrangement with Kern River Tours, under a SNF Special Use Permit. Visitors can park in the parking area and/or use the hot springs. The boat launch area is managed by the SNF and provides river access for boaters and anglers. Boaters dropping off or retrieving their boats may use the ramp for free provided they exit within half an hour (Kern River Update #4, 1999). The Miracle Hot Springs day use area is open year round.

Democrat Beach Day Use Area and Take-out. This facility is located about one mile upstream of Democrat Dam and provides river access for rafting, fishing, picnicking, swimming and wading. It is accessible from Highway 178 via a winding, partially paved one-lane road. The site consists of a large, unpaved parking area that is connected to a smaller paved parking area located near the river. The site is not designated as an overnight facility and no campsites. Toilet facilities are present. The site is the designated take-out for the whitewater run upstream and is extensively used by private and commercial boaters. Following consultation with the SNF, SCE proposed a number of improvements to this site during the relicensing of the Kern River No. 1 Project. They were subsequently included in the new Kern River No. 1 Project license. SCE’s improvements will include paving and striping the upper currently unpaved parking area, constructing accessible pathways, upgrading the existing toilets to be accessible, and installing a shade shelter with accessible picnic table and barbecue grill. Currently there is a $5.00/day fee for parking at Democrat Beach. However, the SNF is considering discontinuing this fee (Kern River Update #4, 1999).

Other Public Recreation Areas and Access Points. Aside from the developed recreation areas described above, and the planned Delonegha Access site, access to the Lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam is relatively limited. The river parallels Highway 178 but road access from the Highway is difficult owing to the steep terrain and distance between the river and the Highway. Near Lake Isabella, where the river traverses BLM and private land, the river is accessible via secondary and unimproved roads that originate in the towns of Kernvale, Garfield and Bodfish and via Keyesville Road. Both day and overnight dispersed use is allowed on most of the public lands managed by the BLM, but overnight camping is not allowed within 100 feet of a freshwater source. Dispersed day and overnight use is particularly common in the vicinity of the BLM South access site described earlier.

Whitewater boating accounts for much of the dispersed use along the Lower Kern River. In addition, hiking is popular. Accordingly, dispersed recreation areas used by whitewater boaters and hiking trails are described in the following.

Dispersed Recreation Areas Used by Whitewater Boaters. The SNF conducted an inventory of the areas along the Lower Kern River that could accommodate overnight camping and documented the location of these sites in the Kern River Floating Plan. The Plan identifies seventeen sites along the river that are suitable for overnight camping. According to the Plan, nine of them can serve groups of twenty-five, one will accommodate a group of twenty, two will serve groups of fifteen, and the remaining five will accommodate groups of ten. All of these sites are located downstream of the Borel Powerhouse.

The Lower Kern River is boated both privately and commercially. Presently, four commercial outfitters operate on the Lower Kern River under Special Use Permits issued by the SNF. These include Kern River Tours, Chuck Richards Whitewater, Whitewater Voyages and Outdoor Adventures. The commercial outfitters commonly run two-day trips on the Lower Kern River, camping overnight. As such, the SNF has assigned four large camping areas along the Lower Kern River to the commercial outfitters. These four sites are accessible by unpaved roads that are gated and locked to discourage use by non-commercial boaters or other visitors. The Kern River Tours, Chuck Richards Whitewater, and Whitewater Voyages sites are located about two miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse on river left. The Outdoor Adventures site is located about five miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse on river left.

According to the SNF, private boaters do not typically camp at dispersed sites along the river. Most private boaters boat for one day, shuttling gear between put-ins and take-outs by car. Those that boat for two or more days generally camp at the developed campsites or dispersed areas that are accessible by car. As such, the SNF has not designated camping areas for private boaters.

Trails. The Lower Kern River is heavily used by hikers and mountain bikers and for Off Highway Vehicle use. Neither the BLM nor the SNF restricts these uses along the Lower Kern River, but bicycles and Off Highway Vehicles are required to stay on designated roads and trails. According to the BLM, Off Highway Vehicle "use continues to increase in the Keyesville area, sometimes resulting in an unsightly network of trails and ways" (BLM 1996). However, "the BLM is working with the SNF and local user groups such as the Southern Sierra Fat Tire Association, to keep useable trails open and to designate other areas which present safety concerns or potential for resource damage" (BLM 1996). Mountain biking is also popular in the Keyesville area, and each year the National Off Road Bicycle Association sponsors a stage race called the Keyesville Classic. In 1996, the eighth year of the event, 848 participants competed and more than 2,500 spectators watched the action" (BLM 1996). No formal trails are identified in the BLM’s management plan for the area. However, several SNF trails are identified on USGS 7.5-minute topographic maps and in SNF information pamphlets.

Hobo Fishing Trail. This trail is about 0.5 miles long and begins at Hobo Campground and parallels the Lower Kern River northward to Sandy Flat Campground. The trail traverses relatively gentle slopes and provides good river access for fishing and other streamside activities.

Kern River Trail (32E49). This trail is 5.3 miles long and begins on the north side of Highway 178 near the confluence of Delonegha Creek and the Lower Kern River. From Delonegha Creek, the trail heads southwestward, paralleling the Lower Kern River, through open hillsides of grass and oak woodland, terminating about 1.5 miles west of China Garden. The trail provides good opportunities for wildflower viewing, particularly from mid March through late April.

Mill Creek Trail (31E78). This trail is 6.6 miles long and begins about 1.5 miles east of the SNF’s Democrat Station, on Old Kern Canyon Road. The trail heads southeast away from the Lower Kern River and ascends the Mill Creek drainage towards Breckenridge Mountain. The trail traverses terrain characterized by open oak/grass and riparian woodlands and terminates at a small spur road just north of Squirrel Meadow on Breckenridge Mountain. The trail provides good opportunities for wildflower viewing. Mill Creek is a tributary stream that enters the Lower Kern River about several miles downstream of the Borel Powerhouse.

Patch Corner (31E82). This trail is 2.0 miles long and begins 0.4 miles east of Democrat Station on Highway 178 and parallels the Lower Kern River, to China Gardens. This trail provides good access to beaches along the Lower Kern River and good opportunities for wildflower viewing.

Remington Ridge Trial (32E51). This trail is 7.4 miles long and begins about 1.75 miles west of Hobo Campground on Old Kern Canyon Road. The trail heads due south climbing Hobo Ridge towards Lightner Peak. From Lightner Peak the trail descends Hobo Ridge, terminating near O’Brien Spring Road. The trail traverses moderate to steep terrain characterized by open oak/grass woodland with spring wildflowers and brush fields to pin/oak forest at the O’Brien Spring Road. Views of Lake Isabella, Kern Canyon and the Kern Plateau can be seen from the higher portions of the trail.

East Kern Canyon Trail (31E74). This trail is 8.5 miles long and begins at the intersection of Highway 178 and Delonegha Road and ends at Keyesville. The trail parallels the Kern River through open hillsides of grass and oak and provides good wildflower viewing opportunities, particularly from mid-March through late April.

Badger Gap Trail (31E76). This trail is 10.2 miles long and begins on Rancheria Road, near Badger Flat. From Badger Flat, the trail heads northeastward, traversing the Greenhorn Mountains to Delonegha Creek. At Delonegha Creek the trail heads south towards the Kern River, and eventually connects with the Kern River Trail just above Highway 178. The trail traverses moderately sloping hillsides characterized by oak woodland and mixed brush and provides good views of the Lower Kern Canyon. A spur trail leads off of the Badger Gap trail towards the Greenhorn Cave.

Private Recreation Areas and Access Points. Aside from the public recreation areas described above, there are three privately owned areas that have historically been used for recreation and may be used for recreation in the future. These include 1) a private parcel just west of China Gardens, 2) Delonegha Hot Springs, and 3) Democrat Hot Springs. The property owners currently restrict access to these parcels. However, the SNF is considering purchasing and developing the parcel near China Gardens. In addition, the owner of Delonegha Hot Springs has expressed an interest in opening the hot springs as a commercial business. The latter has not been approved owing to the poor access conditions from Highway 178.

Recreation Activities. Recreation activities that occur along the Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam, and in the vicinity of the Borel Project facilities include whitewater boating, fishing, hiking, biking, equestrian use, camping, nature viewing and/or viewing scenery, picnicking, recreational mining, swimming and wading, and Off Highway Vehicle use. Anecdotal information suggests that, of these, whitewater boating is the most popular activity on the Lower Kern River and represents the highest amount of use. Accordingly, it is the focal point of most management activities by the BLM and the SNF, and is described further in the following.

Whitewater Boating. The Lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam is about 18 miles long and, with the exception of one portage, is boatable for its entire length. It is possible to run the entire reach in one day but many boaters take two days, camping along the way. The portage is cumbersome with a lot of heavy gear so those boaters who camp generally do so at the designated campgrounds where they can bring in supplies and gear in vehicles. The whitewater resources from Lake Isabella to Democrat Dam are described in a SNF information pamphlet and in two published whitewater guidebooks, The Best Whitewater in California (Lars Holbeck and Chuck Stanley, 1998) and California Whitewater (Jim Cassidy and Fryar Calhoun, 1990), and summarized in the following.

Boaters generally access the Lower Kern River between Isabella Dam and Democrat via five designated launch sites: 1) Slippery Rock, 2) BLM South, 3) BLM at Keyesville Bridge (BLM North), 4) Sandy Flat, and 5) Miracle Hot Springs. Democrat Beach, located about one mile upstream of Democrat Dam, is the designated take-out.

Cassidy and Calhoun rate the Lower Kern River class IVp on the International Scale of Difficulty. The "p" denotes that there is one mandatory portage. In this case, the mandatory portage is located at a rapid referred to as Royal Flush. The rapid can be portaged on river right via a relatively wide trail that was constructed by the local commercial outfitters in coordination with the SNF.

According to Cassidy and Calhoun, the Lower Kern River between Lake Isabella and Democrat Dam is runnable in kayaks at flows greater than about 400 cfs and in rafts at flows ranging from about 700 to 5000 cfs. Flows above 400 cfs are typically present year round during wet and average water years, and from March through August during dry years, both upstream and downstream of the Borel Powerhouse. Flows high enough for rafting are rarely present either upstream or downstream of the Borel Powerhouse during dry years. However, during both wet and average years rafting flows (> 700 cfs) are present during most months upstream of the Borel Powerhouse. The Borel Project augments flows downstream of the Borel Powerhouse. As such, downstream of the Powerhouse, rafting flows are typically present all year round during average and wet years.

Boating Flow Information. Flow information is available by accessing a toll-free "flow phone" recently established by SCE. The local number is: (760) 376-8821. The toll-free number is: (877) 537-6356. Flow information is also available on various web sites.

Recreation Use Monitoring. The Lower Kern River is boated both privately and commercially. Current monitoring of private recreation use along the Lower Kern River consists of a manifest system administered by the SNF for private boaters, and informal recording of use at developed recreation facilities by SNF personnel from the fire prevention and recreation patrols. Commercial boating use is tracked using a permit system. SCE is conducting a recreation use monitoring study as part of the Kern River No. 1 Project’s new FERC license. This study does not include the Borel Project reach.

SNF Manifest System. Private boaters who use the Lower Kern River above Democrat Dam are required to obtain annual permits from the SNF. Private boaters also are required to complete a manifest form prior to each launching. The forms can be obtained at the SNF offices or at designated access points along the river. Information about the permit system is posted on signs located along the river at the designated access points. An information folder available at these sites states that the completed form should be left prior to a trip in a manifest box near the launch site for the specific river run. The SNF also provides a form designed to solicit comments from river users.

In general, the existing manifest system is recognized to be an ineffective means of measuring use along the Lower Kern River. Noncompliance is a problem and the manifest form does not allow users to identify which specific run on the Lower Kern River they are boating.

Observational Visitor Counts. SNF personnel also periodically record information on use of the developed recreation sites along the Lower Kern River. According to the SNF, these "counts" are considered only ballpark estimates and are done primarily on holiday weekends. Personnel from either the fire prevention or recreation patrols conduct the counts, which are used to determine District-wide estimates for annual reporting purposes.

Commercial Permits. Commercial use of the Lower Kern River requires a SNF Special Use Permit. Currently, four commercial whitewater outfitters hold Special Use Permits to operate on the Lower Kern River. The commercial outfitters are required to report the numbers of users that participated in trips to the SNF. The SNF uses these numbers to track commercial recreation use.

SCE will collect information and conduct a variety of studies for the Exhibit E of the Application for New License. SCE expects to work closely with the resource agencies and the interested parties in evaluating the usefulness of existing information, and in developing additional information, studies, and analyses to address the potential issues and concerns relating to SCE’s continued operation of the Borel Project. The Exhibit E is an environmental report prepared in compliance with Section 4.51 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 18 (18 CFR), which sets forth the required contents of the environmental report for the relicensing of a major project with an existing dam. The following nine separate sections constitute the Exhibit E Environmental Report:

• General Description of the Locale;
• Report on Water Use and Quality;
• Report on Fish, Wildlife and Botanical Resources;
• Report on Historical and Archaeological Resources;
• Report on Recreational Resources;
• Report on Land Management and Aesthetics;
• Comprehensive Plans and Cumulative Impacts;
• References and Literature Cited; and
• Consultation Documentation.

SCE’s proposed Work Plan for the preparation of the Environmental Report is described in the several subchapters that follow. The chapters are organized according to the list of required reports. Each chapter begins with a summary of the applicable regulations taken from Section 4.51 of 18 CFR.

This Exhibit E will be prepared to comply with the informational requirements outlined in Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR) Section 4.51(f)(1), as follows:

The General Description of the Locale follow this outline, and will also summarize the key issues and findings presented in the Exhibit E Environmental Report.

The Report on Water Use and Quality will be prepared to comply with the informational requirements outlined in Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR) Section 4.51(f)(2), as follows:

The Report on Water Use and Quality will be prepared to address topics and issues listed in the FERC regulations, along with those raised during the First Stage Consultation process. SCE expects to work with the resource agencies and interested parties to identify existing information that can be used to develop this section of the Exhibit E, and to identify areas where additional data collection and analysis may be required. SCE intends to collect additional data, as necessary to understand the effects of the Borel Project upon water quality in the Lower Kern River. Our current thoughts on preparing the water quality section include the following.

The USGS 7.5 minute and 15 minute topographic maps of the area may provide the data base necessary for 1) the calculation of the area and length of the drainage areas, 2) the identification of the tributaries that affect the Borel Project reach, 3) the measurement of the gradients of the Project reach, and 4) the discussion regarding the distribution of waters as they flow through the Project area. The report will describe any consumptive uses of water as they flow through the Project area, including irrigation, domestic water, power production, industrial, and instream flow requirements. In addition, the report will describe the flow in the Kern River and the operation of Isabella Reservoir, and the relationship of the Borel Project to the reservoir.

The informational requirements concerning streamflow (flow duration curves, seasonal and location variations) will likely be completed based upon existing streamflow data. These data will be entered into a computerized database and subsequently analyzed using two modular computer programs developed to facilitate analysis of streamflow data for hydropower licensing studies. The first program reads chronologically sequenced streamflows by water year for the entire period of record and reformats these data by month, season, or any windowed time period of interest. The second computer program generates exceedence tables from the reformatted daily streamflows. Collectively, the output from these two computer programs are adequate to describe the seasonal and annual variability of streamflow as required by the FERC Regulations.

In general, the water quality work plan will be carried out in two steps. The first step will involve collecting all currently available information and data concerning surface water quality within the Project area. The second step will involve collecting new data to supplement the existing data as necessary to assure agency acceptance. SCE wants to work with the agencies and interested parties to try to get the most out of what data already exists in government reports, files, and databases, and within SCE files. However, if existing data are not adequate, field studies will be conducted to assure FERC acceptance of the Exhibit E and to ensure the agencies and interested parties have the information necessary to evaluate the effects of the Project. The locations of the water quality sampling stations, and the parameters to be measured, are expected to be determined during First Stage Consultation, which will end in September 2000.

The focus of the impact assessment is expected to be in comparing existing instream conditions to objective standards to, as far as possible, provide a basis for determining the significance of any Project-related impacts. For example, the results of the water quality investigation will be interpreted based upon a comparison to historical data and regulatory limits. Specifically, the results will be compared to the known background concentrations for other similar sized rivers in the region, and compared to the Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Criteria for both aquatic and human health, and to Maximum Contaminant Level Criteria (drinking water standard). The results will be further compared to the goals and objectives of the Basin Plan. Based on the evaluation of the biological and chemical data, it should be possible to identify on-going impacts to water quality that may be related either directly or indirectly to the operation of the Borel Project.

SCE will develop mitigation that considers 1) the degree to which Project operation may be a contributing factor, 2) other contributing factors, such as agency management policies, recreational uses, and County land use policies, and 3) the effects of mitigation upon other resources, such as fishery resources, wildlife, recreation, and land management. Understanding Lake Isabella and the relationship between the lake and the Borel Project will be important in evaluating impacts and developing any necessary mitigation measures.

The Report on Water Use and Quality will include a section on hazardous materials. Hydropower projects are not generally associated with hazardous waste problems, but small quantities of hazardous materials, such as gasoline or solvents, are commonly kept at the powerhouse and/or other centers of operation. This section will include a summary of the type and quantity of materials that may be stored at facilities associated with the Borel Project. A Hazardous Materials Spill Contingency Plan and a Business Plan is expected to be included as an Appendix of the Exhibit E.

This Exhibit E report will be prepared to include the information required in Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR) Section 4.51 (f)(3), as follows:

This Exhibit E will describe the fish, wildlife, and botanical resources in the vicinity of the Borel Project. Each of these major disciplines within the document will contain a description of species and populations in the Project area, an assessment of the potential continuing impacts of the Project, and a summary of any concerns and recommendations received through agency consultation. A mitigation plan will be developed which sets forth methods by which adverse project effects might be reduced or alleviated.

This section of the Exhibit E will address the fish resources potentially affected by the Borel Project. SCE will work with the resource agencies and interested parties to review the existing information on fish resources in the vicinity of the Borel Project, and to determine whether additional studies are necessary to understand the Project’s effects on fish. SCE hopes to use the existing information as much as possible, and to build upon the recent FERC decision on minimum flows for the Borel Project.

This section of the Exhibit E will include a description of the fish, benthic and plankton communities, aquatic habitat, fish entrainment, instream flow effects on fish habitat, and existing and future water temperature conditions. This information will be used to evaluate the impacts of the Borel Project on these resources. Potential mitigation measures will be developed in considering the results of the evaluations and in consultation with the resource agencies and interested parties.

The existing information suggests the Borel Project diverted reach is currently occupied by a mixture of fish, including hatchery planted trout, naturalized smallmouth bass, and several native species. In 1997, FERC issued an Order establishing a minimum instream flow (fish flow) release requirement in this reach of 15 cfs during winter months and 50 cfs during summer months. This required flow regime was established with the goal of maintaining suitable conditions for both a seasonal recreation trout fishery and a year-round self-sustaining smallmouth bass fishery. We expect the relicensing process to include a review of the information that led to the new minimum flow release requirements. SCE’s preference would be to adopt the 1997 minimum release requirements in the new license, based upon the information used by the agencies and FERC in setting these requirements.

SCE believes that relatively recent studies on Kern River water temperatures, Lake Isabella thermal stratification, and fish microhabitat availability (SCE 1988, 1990, 1991) show that the Borel diverted reach is better suited for smallmouth bass than for trout, with the current instream flow regime providing over 95% of the maximum possible habitat for all life stages of smallmouth bass. The relatively low gradient, deep water, pool-dominated conditions which characterize the Borel diverted reach create excellent habitat for smallmouth bass, as opposed to trout which prefer riffle and run hydrologic conditions more characteristic of higher gradient streams. Similar characteristics in the two nearby downstream diverted reaches associated with SCE's Kern River No. 1 plant and PG&E's Kern Canyon plant have resulted in resource agencies selecting smallmouth bass as the target management species for those reaches.

Recent studies conclude Lake Isabella creates an isothermal heat sink effect, in which essentially no summer hypolimnion (cool stratification) is formed (as would be the case in other higher elevation Sierran reservoirs), and in which there is typically a difference of only 1.0 F between the warmer upper layer and the cooler bottom layer of the reservoir. During summer months, temperatures of the water released from Isabella Dam typically range from 68^o to 77 ^oF, in some cases going above 80^oF (e.g., 82^oF in 1981). Water temperature measurements suggest the temperature of the inflows to Lake Isabella during summertime are already above the lethal limit for trout even before entering the reservoir. Consequently, it appears releases from Lake Isabella, even in excess of the Borel Project waters, would not change the existing warm thermal conditions below the dam.

SCE wants to work with the resource agencies and interested parties to review these studies, and to determine whether these findings and conclusions should be carried into the new license.

The objectives of the wildlife tasks are to provide the environmental setting, analysis, and assessments of wildlife resources in the Project area to comply with the pertinent FERC regulations and to address the issues and concerns of the resource agencies and other interested parties. Specifically, the wildlife study tasks will provide the following information:

• a description of wildlife resources of the Project area and its vicinity;
• an evaluation of existing or potential impacts resulting from project operations or maintenance, especially impacts to sensitive species including State-listed special concern species, State or federally-listed endangered, threatened, candidate, or proposed species, those listed as sensitive species or management indicator species by the BLM or SNF, and recreationally and economically important wildlife resources;
• a description of measures or facilities recommended by resource agencies to mitigate impacts on wildlife resources, or for the protection or improvement of wildlife populations; and,
• a description of existing measures or facilities to be continued or maintained and a description of new measures or facilities proposed by SCE for mitigation of acts to wildlife resources.

The Exhibit E will describe the distribution and abundance of existing wildlife resources within the Project area. The study area for intensive field surveys will be restricted to those areas occurring within 200 feet of Project facilities and areas that would be disrupted during operation and maintenance activities during the term of the new license.

The analysis of occurrence, distribution, and abundance of wildlife resources will be accomplished by combining literature surveys, aerial photo interpretation, field surveys, and agency consultation. Initially, a review of existing information for the study area will be conducted. Based on this information, the wildlife resources of the Project area will be described with an emphasis on State or federal listed threatened and endangered, species proposes for listing, California species of special concern, and other sensitive species, including those listed as sensitive or as management indicator species by the SNF. Existing data will be used to the maximum extent possible, including SCE’s field surveys conducted in 1998.

Data searches will include 1) the California Natural Diversity Data Base, 2) the California Wildlife Habitat Relationship System, 3) scientific literature, 4) unpublished reports contained in the files of resource agencies, and 5) environmental and research documents from the area, including available Environmental Impact Reports and Environmental Impact Statements, Land Resource Management Plans for the Sequoia National Forest, and relevant information in SCE files.

A review of the existing information will identify sensitive species likely to occur in the Project area, including habitat requirements, seasonal use, and known occurrences in the Project area. Site visits will be conducted to verify the suitability of wildlife habitat potentially affected by the Project. These visual surveys will focus on conducting a habitat assessment for sensitive species. We do not anticipate performing individual species surveys at this time.

The impact analysis will focus on identifying continuing impacts of the Project on special-status wildlife species. Impacts resulting from changes in the use of an area that result from the relicensing process, such as increased recreational use, also will need to be assessed. For the purposes of this analysis, continuing impacts will be defined as those associated with current operation of the Borel Project. We will identify any measurable impacts to special-status wildlife that may result from the ongoing operation of the Borel Project. These will be measured against regional changes or trends from ongoing management of wildlife resources by SNF. Mitigation measures will be proposed, as necessary, to avoid or reduce impacts to wildlife.

The objectives of the botanical tasks are to provide the description, analysis, and assessments of botanical resources required by FERC, as follows:

• A description of the botanical resources of the Project area and its vicinity;
• An evaluation of existing or potential impacts resulting from project operations or maintenance, especially impacts to species of concern such as State or federal endangered, threatened, candidate, or proposed species, or those listed as sensitive species by the BLM or SNF;
• A discussion of measures recommended by resource agencies to mitigate impacts to botanical resources, or to protect or improve botanical resources; and
• A description of existing measures or facilities to be continued or maintained and a description of new measures or facilities proposed by SCE for mitigation of impacts to botanical resources.

A combination of literature review and field surveys will be used to describe the botanical resources related to the Project. In addition, consultation with agency specialists will assist in identifying the important botanical resources of the study area. Prior to field investigations, existing information on the botanical resources (plant communities and special-status species), will be reviewed using the California Natural Diversity Data Base, California Native Plant Society Electronic Inventory, and existing documentation prepared for other projects within the region. Additional occurrence information on special-status plants will be requested from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the resource managers of the SNF. The focus of these pre-field investigations will be to identify special-status species that potentially occur within the Project area, identify known occurrences of these special-status plants, and determine areas where previous investigations have adequately described botanical.

Where the review identifies information gaps, field investigations will be conducted to map and document plant communities and survey for special-status species. Field mapping of plant communities will utilize the conventions of the DFG (Holland 1986) and be based on aerial photography or USGS 7.5 quadrangles of the Project area. The plant surveys will be floristic in approach according to the guidelines of the DFG and FWS. Such floristic surveys reduce the possibility of overlooking special-status species. The intensive field surveys for special-status species will focus on the areas within 200 feet of Project facilities.

A description of the botanical resources associated with the Borel Project will be prepared based on the review of existing information and field investigations. In keeping with the FERC requirements, this description will include a discussion of the current condition and characteristics of plant communities related to the Project; a plant community map indicating the location and extent of each community within the Project vicinity, and a discussion of any special-status species that occur at or near the Project facilities. This discussion will be preceded by a brief description of the methods used to survey for and map botanical resources.

The impacts analysis will focus on describing and evaluating impacts on threatened or endangered species, species of local significance, riparian communities, and wetland areas. An important element of this evaluation will be determining the extent to which existing botanical resources are being affected by current land management activities. This analysis will include both direct and indirect impacts on botanical resources.

Direct Project-related impacts on botanical resources may occur when special-status species or important plant communities are disturbed during regular operations and maintenance activities (i.e. vegetation clearing, road maintenance, or other ground disturbing activities). Therefore, the focus of this analysis will be on understanding routine maintenance and proposed construction activities in the vicinity of special-status plant populations or special plant communities. Evidence of ongoing impacts to botanical resources will be assessed during the field survey. Where this review identifies potential ground disturbing activities at or near an important botanical resource, these potential conflicts will be discussed in a local, regional, and historical context. Mitigation measures will be developed, as necessary, to avoid or reduce impacts.

This Exhibit E will be prepared to comply with the informational requirements outlined in Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR) Section 4.51 (f) (4), as follows,

In addition, the resource report will address the following topics outlined in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Hydroelectric Project Relicensing Handbook, Appendix G: Guidelines for Preparing Cultural Resources Sections of Exhibit E [April 1990].

SCE will conduct a systematic inventory of the water conveyance system and the roads associated with access to the Project area. In addition, each of the previously recorded prehistoric archaeological sites in the Project area will be revisited to ensure that they are adequately recorded. These data will then be presented to the State Historic Preservation Officer and federal land management agency, either BLM or SNF, for their review and concurrence that an adequate inventory has been undertaken.

At the same time that consultation on the adequacy of surveys is undertaken with the State Historic Preservation Officer and the federal land management agencies, a plan will be presented delineating proposed methods for completing a National Register of Historic Places assessment. Upon the concurrence of these agencies that the proposed assessment methods are adequate, work will proceed. The results will be presented in another round of consultation along with an assessment of effects and a management plan.

All studies pertaining to Project resources, along with documentation of consultation with State Historic Preservation Officer and the federal land management agencies, will be presented as appendices in SCE’s Application for License. A summary of findings, withholding specific-site locations, will be included in Exhibit E for public review.

SCE will review and summarize appropriate regional ethnographic literature and will undertake additional interviews, as necessary, to complete the ethnographic inventory of the Project area. SCE plans to present the overview documents to the Native American organizations representing the peoples most likely to have resource concerns within the Project area. Input will be solicited from these groups regarding current concepts of significance, Project effects, and components of a management plan. The results of these consultations will be presented to State Historic Preservation Officer and the federal land management agencies.

All studies pertaining to Project resources, along with documentation of consultation with the Native Americans, State Historic Preservation Officer and the federal land management agencies, will be presented as appendices in the Application for License. A summary of findings, withholding specific site locations, will be included in Exhibit E for public review.

SCE will conduct a systematic inventory of the areas surrounding the Project facilities in areas where Project-related activities could cause impacts. In addition, each of the previously recorded historic sites in the Project area will be revisited to ensure that they are adequately recorded. These data will then be presented to the State Historic Preservation Officer and the federal land management agencies for their review and concurrence that an adequate inventory has been undertaken.

At the same time consultation on the adequacy of surveys is undertaken with State Historic Preservation Officer and the federal land management agencies, a plan will be presented delineating proposed methods for completing the National Register of Historic Places assessments of any remaining historic properties. Upon the concurrence of these agencies that the proposed assessment methods are adequate, work will proceed. The results will be presented in another round of consultation along with an assessment of effects and a management plan.

All studies pertaining to Project resources, along with documentation of consultation with State Historic Preservation Officer and the federal land management agencies, will be presented as appendices in Application for License. A summary of findings, withholding specific site locations, will be included in Exhibit E for public review.

The Report on Recreational Resources will be prepared to address the informational requirements outlined in Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR) Section 4.51(f)(5), as follows:

In addition, the April 1990 Hydroelectric Project Relicensing Handbook contains some additional FERC staff guidance regarding the desired contents of the Report on Recreational Resources, as follows:

• Existing and potential recreational uses in the project area, including downstream use, whether or not facilities have been developed to support such uses and irrespective of who is responsible for development and use;
• Existing and potential future recreation use data, not merely unsubstantiated estimates;
• Evaluation of recreation needs in the area and a determination of whether the need can be accommodated by existing facilities or by additional recreational facilities at the project;
• Adequacy and condition of existing recreation facilities;
• Effects the project would have on Land and Water Conservation Fund properties (see Public Law 92-347, July 11, 1972);
• Maps showing the location and nature of existing and proposed recreation facilities, public access areas, undeveloped informal use locations, and areas set aside for future recreational development;
• Identification of existing and proposed handicapped-accessible recreational facilities;
• Construction schedule for new or expanded recreation facilities and identification of the entity responsible for construction, operation, and maintenance;
• Impacts of any proposed project modifications and project operations on downstream or reservoir-based recreation; and
• Identification of safety features to protect the public engaged in recreation.

SCE will provide the information required by the FERC, and intends to work with the resource agencies and interested parties to determine whether additional information, beyond the FERC requirements, is needed to assess the impacts of the Borel Project on recreation.

SCE wants to work with the resource agencies and interested parties to review the existing information on recreation, and to determine whether additional studies or analyses will be necessary to describe the resources, current use, carrying capacity, and future demand for additional resources.

To the extent possible, SCE prefers to rely upon existing information to describe the recreation resources within the Borel Project boundaries and in any adjacent areas that might be affected by Project activities. The existing information includes the SNF’s Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), and other reports and data prepared and maintained by the SNF, the California Department of Boating and Waterways, the National Park Service (NPS), the BLM, and the County of Kern. The description will include the recreation opportunities in the Project area, use by type, existing demand, facility capacity, accessibility, user demographics, user conflicts, and safety and accident statistics. If available, current use data and theoretical capacities will be obtained from the SNF’s computerized Recreation Information Management and Recreation Resource Information System. At this point, SCE expects some field surveys may be needed to verify the location and condition of campgrounds, day use areas, picnic areas, foot and equestrian trails, and launching facilities.

This section of the Exhibit E would also include descriptions of existing plans for future recreation facilities. Such plans are normally expected to be documented by agencies that have recreation-related goals and objectives for the area, the SNF, Department of Boating and Waterways, the NPS, and potentially other State, federal and local agencies. Any planned facilities will be shown on maps and their proposed capacities will be documented in a table in the Report on Recreational Resources. Planned facilities could include private facilities that would be constructed and operated under SNF special use permits and SNF recreation facilities adjacent to the Borel Project area, along the Lower Kern River.

The design capacity of any planned facilities will be described and combined with the known design capacities of the existing facilities, and this total will be evaluated against the estimated recreational carrying capacity of the Borel Project area. The Report on Recreational Resources will document the existing and planned capacities in comparison with the carrying capacity, and consider the potential need for enhancements to existing facilities or new facilities to accommodate demand.

SCE will provide information on the existing demand for recreational facilities in the vicinity of the Project and the extent to which that demand is met by the existing recreational facilities. SCE will use data from existing surveys, the SNF, and other federal, State and local agencies. The data will be used to create recreational profiles of the existing use and use types at each facility and will be used to document the extent to which existing facilities are presently used. SCE is considering expanding the current Kern River No. 1 Project recreation survey program to include the Borel Project area.

The section will provide information on the estimated long-term demand for recreational facilities in Borel Project area. We are expecting to estimate long-term demand for a period of not more than 30 years, the likely term of a new license term. Demand analysis data will be derived using the results of existing surveys and studies, data included in the State of California "Recreation Patterns Study" which studied the period from 1980 to 2000 using California Parks and Recreation demand data, SNF Recreation Information Management trends, and County population trends. Census data from nearby population centers will be used for the future demand analysis along with current energy and population forecasts. Long-term demand will be identified both by extent of use at each existing recreation facility and by type of recreational experience. The analysis of the future situation will be compared to the actual use and capacities of existing and planned recreational facilities within the Borel Project area. In addition, the analysis will consider whether the existing and planned facilities can accommodate long-term demand.

The Report on Recreational Resources will describe the rivers or streams in the Project area that have been designated for special protection under State or federal law. The Report will describe the location of rivers listed or eligible for study as Wild, Scenic or Recreational under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. In addition, the Report will describe the management of Wilderness Areas, Further Planning Areas, and areas included in the National Trails System. The Report will identify any restrictions imposed by the SNF, the BLM, the NPS, or others and the implications of those restrictions relative to the Borel Project.

The Report on Recreational Resources will evaluate the effects of on-going operation and maintenance upon the existing recreational facilities, recreational use, and short-and long-term demand for recreational facilities. The Report will also consider the impacts of the existing and planned recreational facilities upon other environmental resources. The information presented in the Report on Recreational Resources will be coordinated with information contained in the Exhibit E Report on Land Management and Aesthetics.

The results of the impact analyses will be used to determine whether the continued operation of the Borel Project would result in impacts to recreational resources. If impacts are identified, SCE will develop mitigation measures in consultation with the resource agencies and other interested parties. Mitigation measures could include improvements to existing facilities, construction of new facilities, or changes in Project operations. SCE also intends to discuss with the BLM, SNF, and other interested parties, the enhancement of recreation opportunities in the Project area as a way of mitigating Project-related impacts. Any mitigation or enhancement measures identified during the course of relicensing will be documented in a Recreation Plan and attached as an Appendix to SCE’s Application for License.

This Exhibit E report will be prepared to comply with the informational requirements outlined in Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR) Section 4.51 (f)(6), as follows.

The Report on Land Management and Aesthetics will describe the existing land uses, planned land use designations and adopted policies of the jurisdictional agencies, property ownership and the existing visual characteristics of lands and waters in the vicinity of the Project generation facilities. The study area for the Report on Land Management and Aesthetics will be based upon the boundaries of the jurisdictions in which the facilities are located.

The assessment will address the consistency of the Project facilities with the adjacent existing and planned land uses and policies. The existing land uses will be described based upon field survey in the vicinity of the Project facilities, along with information from the jurisdictions, including personal interviews with their planning staffs. Planned land uses and land management policies for lands within the study area will be documented through review of adopted plans, meetings with relevant agency representatives, and input received from planning departments, the BLM, and the SNF regarding any specific planned developments within the vicinity of the Project. The extent of floodplains and wetlands will be determined and coordinated with the botanical resources section of the Exhibit E.

The visual character of the Borel Project facilities and their surroundings will be described and documented using color photography. Field observations and the interpretation of the USGS topographic quadrangles help define the viewshed of the generation facilities. Key observation points will be identified where the facilities may be viewed by potentially sensitive receptors. The visual character of the generating facilities, including the dams and conveyance structures and the powerhouse will be described with respect to the policies of the County of Kern, BLM, and SNF.

The data analysis task will identify the types, intensity, and significance of any on-going Project-related impacts. Long-term impacts related to land uses may include the on-going loss of agricultural/grazing lands, recreation developments and loss of commercial timberlands. Impacts to these types of land uses will be described according to the amount of land not available for these uses due to Project access roads, and right-of-way clearance requirements. Recreational impacts, including effects on dispersed and developed recreational activities, will be addressed in the Report on Recreational Resources.

The data analysis for planned land uses will document the degree of consistency the Project has with currently adopted federal, State, and local plans and policies. This assessment will be based upon the policies contained in the adopted plans and the expressed policies of the jurisdictional agencies. In addition, this analysis will address the consistency of the Project with specific development proposals that may be approved for nearby or adjacent private lands. Mitigation recommendations will be made where such measures may be effective in reducing on going impacts to levels consistent with the existing and planned land uses and management plan and policies.

The potential of floodplain and wetland effects will be addressed. Any Project facilities located within floodplains will be identified narratively and in map form and will be assessed in accordance with federal wetlands/floodplains regulations.

The visual compatibility of the facilities with the surrounding land uses and sensitive receptors will be addressed in the Report. The extent to which the Borel Project facilities within the SNF meet the applicable Visual Quality Objectives will be assessed based upon the degree of visibility and contrast the facilities impose and the visual absorption capability of the landscape character types.

The rating of landscape visual absorption capability will be made in the field using adopted SNF criteria. Assessments will be made from all visually sensitive locations. The results of this analysis, and suggested mitigation measures, such as facility paint treatments or vegetative screens, will be reviewed with the BLM and SNF to assure that the recommendations are consistent with the policies and applicable management guidelines.

The Report will review the Scenic Elements of the Kern County General Plan to determine whether the Project is consistent with these elements, and thereby visually compatible with the existing and planned land uses.

The regulations concerning comprehensive plan evaluations are included in Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR) Sections 2.19 and 16.8 (f)(6). The regulations in Section 2.19 are as follows:

The regulations in Section 16.8 (f)(6) are as follows:

SCE will compile a list of all applicable State and federal comprehensive plans. Generally, this list would include those plans identified on the most recent version of the FERC’s Revised List of Comprehensive Plans. However, SCE will also evaluate planning documents identified through consultation with various State, federal, and local agencies as possibly qualifying as "comprehensive."

SCE will evaluate each of the applicable plans, and will explain whether the Borel Project complies with each comprehensive plan with respect to improving, developing, or conserving waterways affected by the Project. Consideration will be given to each of the resource types including water quality, fisheries, wildlife, botanical resources, recreation, aesthetics, and land use.

The cumulative impact evaluation is expected to build on the information available from the FERC’s fairly recent environmental assessments for the relicensing of the Kern River No. 1 Project and the Kern River No. 3 Project. It would also consider in general the potential effects of the relicensing of PG&E’s Kern Canyon Project, which is located on the Lower Kern River downstream of the Borel Project.