Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project

Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) proposes the Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project (Proposed Project), which consists of the following features: • Removal of the Sunset Weir and restoration of natural, volitional passage conditions for protected migratory fish species. • Replacement and upgrade of the Sunset Pump Station to operate at a lower surface water elevation and rehabilitation of existing pump discharge pipelines. • Installation of new fish screens that meet current State and federal standards for protecting fish. • Eroded Feather River left bank stabilization downstream of the weir incorporating bioengineering techniques. Removal of the Sunset Weir would restore unimpeded passage so that migratory fish could access the 28.5 miles of the Feather River from the Sunset Weir (River Mile 38.5) upstream to the existing Feather River Fish Barrier Dam (River Mile 67). Weir removal would also allow for a more natural riverine morphology with variable and distinct habitat types (e.g., deep pools and shallow riffles), as compared to the current backwatered and more slough-like conditions that persist for miles upstream of the existing weir; in this way, weir removal would restore natural fish passage conditions for the Feather River channel. Concurrent with weir removal and river restoration, the Sunset Pumps would be replaced and upgraded to be able to operate under the lowered riverine hydraulic conditions to meet existing water supply obligations. This would involve replacing the pumps and motor units and slip-lining or replacing associated discharge piping, constructing a new cast-in-place concrete structure (i.e., wet well) that would house the pumps and motor units, and installing contemporary fish screens that meet current criteria. Bank stabilization work on the left bank of the Feather River would be implemented as part of the Proposed Project. The work would involve flattening the eroding bank to a 3 horizontal to 1 vertical slope and protecting most of it against further failure and erosion using vegetated rock slope protection and bioengineering methods. The toe and lower portion of the vegetated rock slope protection would be stabilized with rock slope protection up to the ordinary high-water mark, with longitudinal peak stone toe protection, and with willow pole baffles planted perpendicularly to the flow.

Live Oak

Sutter, Yuba

Northern California, Unincorporated

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Central Region 2 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 3 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Sacramento Region 5 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Delta Protection Commission, Delta Stewardship Council, Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, District 21, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance

Other (Weir removal)

N/A

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Energy, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire