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The Southern California Edison (SCE) Company is seeking public comments in response to three draft plans concerning whitewater flow information, recreation monitoring, and recreation access to the lower Kern River. The Kern River #1 (KR1) hydroelectric project on the lower Kern River was relicensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency (FERC) in 1998. In that license, conservation and recreation organizations convinced FERC to require SCE to develop plans to inform the public about whitewater flows on the river, monitor recreation use, and provide additional provide recreation access. Depending on the time of season, the KR1 hydro project diverts a substantial amount of the flow from the lower Kern River to generate hydroelectricity. Conservation and recreation organizations were unsuccessful in convincing FERC and the Forest Service to require SCE to release more water to enhance fish, wildlife, and recreation values. But partially as mitigation for the obvious flow impacts caused by the project. FERC required SCE to develop plans that would facilitate recreational use on the river and monitor that use over a period of 5 years to determine the need for additional flows in the future. In addition, the FERC license requires SCE to conduct fish population studies to determine whether the existing flow regime benefits fisheries. The fish monitoring plan has not yet been completed by SCE. The recreation monitoring plan is pretty dry stuff and probably doesn^t require public input, but the draft flow information plan is an important advance for whitewater recreation in the region. SCE notes that flow information for both the lower Kern River and the North Fork Kern River is readily available on the internet. But flow information on the internet is not useful for people who may not be connected to the internet and/or who may be traveling to the river from out the region. So SCE is proposing to establish a toll free flow phone that will be updated twice daily and will provide flows for three locations on the North Fork Kern and three locations on the lower Kern. This is a welcome proposal by SCE that will enhance recreation and tourism throughout the Kern River canyon. SCE^s draft recreation access plan for the lower Kern River is significantly more tentative. Up until recently, whitewater recreation on this stretch of the river has been limited because some government agencies assumed that it was illegal and because access is difficult due to rugged terrain and road safety problems. However, the plan identifies two sites where recreational access could be improved by providing more parking areas, a safe highway crossing, and wider trails down to the river so that boaters can easily carry kayaks and rafts. The two lower Kern sites identified for possible access improvements are Lucas Creek and Nude Beach along Highway 178. Access to the river near its confluence with Lucas Creek would provide a take-out for kayakers running the class IV segments of the river upstream. It would also provide a put-in for kayakers and rafters running the class III-IV Rich Bar segment downstream. Improved access at Nude Beach would provide a take-out for the Rich Bar run and a put-in for expert kayakers willing to challenge the class V Cataracts run downstream. However, SCE does not endorse the access plan because the utility "does not believe that recreation use along the Lower Kern River should be encouraged or accommodated given the dangerous river conditions." Whitewater enthusiasts have had to confront this "killer Kern" notion before. The fact is, most injuries along the Kern happen to casual visitors and not to whitewater boaters who are trained to take safety precautions and wear personal safety equipment. But the real reason for not advocating its own plan is only implied. SCE believes that the amount of construction needed to improve access (and left unsaid - it^s cost), would not justify what SCE considers to be "marginal benefits." SCE also notes that the construction needed to improve access could result in the removal of trees and other vegetation, and degrade visual quality. SCE does propose to coordinate with resources agencies and recreation users to establish an Access Improvement Fund, which could be used to fund additional studies and improvements to the Lucas Creek and Nude Beach sites. However, the SCE proposal violates the KR1 FERC license. The license specifically requires SCE to provide a "construction plan and implementation schedule" for access improvements. In addition, the plan should address all issues associated with providing access, including "the cost and entity responsible for constructing and maintaining the recommended improvements." The utility clearly wants some other agency to take the lead in providing recreation improvements, and is expecting agencies and recreation users to help fund the total cost of the improvements. What You Can Do: SCE is soliciting public comments in response to the recreation plans until July 30. 1999. Write to: Candace Irelan Southern California Edison 300 N. Lone Hill Avenue San Dimas, CA 91773. In your letter, support the proposals to establish a flow information phone. In response to the recreation access plan, urge SCE to: Support improved access to the Lucas Creek and Nude Beach sites identified in the study. Proceed with the more detailed engineering and environmental studies needed to finalize the plans, conduct the required environmental review, and gain the necessary permits from all relevant state and federal agencies. Work with the Forest Service and the California Department of Fish and Game to ensure that any impacts to natural habitat and visual quality as a result of the access improvements are avoided or fully mitigated. Work with recreational users and the general public to ensure that the projects meet the needs and have the support of the recreating public. Develop an agreement with the Forest Service to maintain the improvements. Cover all the costs of the recreation access improvements as the FERC license clearly requires. Copies of the three recreation plans are available from SCE by calling (909) 394-8714. For more information, contact Jen Carville at Friends of the River, (916) 442-3155, Ext. 223, or via email at jen@friendsoftheriver.org.

Uploaded: 8/1/1999