PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY ANNOUNCES INCREASED WATER FLOWS ON THE FALL RIVER AND PIT RIVER TO PIT 1 POWERHOUSE

PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY ANNOUNCES INCREASED WATER FLOWS ON THE FALL RIVER AND PIT RIVER TO PIT 1 POWERHOUSE

Increased Water Flows Will Create Additional Whitewater Boating Opportunity

FALL RIVER -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company will be increasing the water flow through Fall River Pond beginning Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22. The flushing flows are a requirement of the state Water Resources Control Board’s certification for PG&E’s Pit 1 hydroelectric project. The three annual flushing flows provide help control the growth of aquatic vegetation and mosquitoes in Fall River Pond., as well as provide an opportunity for whitewater boating in the Pit 1 bypass reach.

Normal flow for this waterway at this time of year is 150 cubic feet per second. To meet the water board’s requirement, the flow through Fall River Pond is increased to 1,250 cubic feet per second or the natural inflow from Fall River, whichever is less. At present, the natural inflow from the Fall River is approximately 970 cubic feet per second. The flows will be increased incrementally beginning Friday at 3 p.m. and will attain maximum flow at 2 a.m. June 21, and maintained through 3 p.m. June 22, after which they will be incrementally decreased to 150 cubic feet per second. Flow will be released from the Pit 1 Forebay through the Fall River Pond, thereby increasing flows in Lower Fall River and the Pit River from Fall River Mills to Lake Britton.

Additional increased flows for the same purpose will occur on the weekends of July 18-20 and August 15-17, 2008.  Recreational and environmental flows are a result of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission License issued for the Pit 1 Project in March 2003. The flows are required for two consecutive weekend days three times per year. Another benefit to recreationists resulting from the new license is real-time and forecasted flow information for a variety of rivers on the American Whitewater’s website. Boaters can now find all the information they need to plan a whitewater trip in the nationwide guidebook currently available on the American Whitewater’s website.

Residents and recreationists are to be advised of the increase in water flow during the flushing process and are cautioned if entering the waterway to please do so safely.

For additional flow information visit:  http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/