Sediment Management Practices at Democrat Dam for the Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025060219
Public Agency
State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights
Document Title
Sediment Management Practices at Democrat Dam for the Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/5/2025
Document Description
Southern California Edison Company (SCE or Applicant) owns and operates Democrat Dam as part of the Kern 1 Hydroelectric Project (Hydroelectric Project; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 1930). SCE is proposing the Sediment Management Practices at Democrat Dam for the Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project (Project) to implement ongoing sediment management actions at Democrat Dam consistent with SCE’s 2007 Revised Sediment Management Practices (2007 Sediment Management Practices). SCE's implementation of the 2007 Sediment Management Practices at Democrat Dam which includes the following sediment management activities: (1) operational sluicing, (2) full pond drain, and (3) peak flow sediment bypass. Each of these practices is further described below.
Contact Information
Name
Annabelle Long
Agency Name
State Water Resources Control Board
Job Title
Water Resource Control Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Kenneth Borngrebe
Agency Name
Southern California Edison
Job Title
Director of Major Projects
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Bakersfield
Counties
Kern
Regions
Countywide, Unincorporated
Zip
93255
Waterways
Kern River
Township
28S
Range
31E
Section
5
Other Location Info
The KR1 Project site is reached by driving east from Bakersfield on CA-178. To access Democrat Dam continue on CA-178 for 25.8 miles then turn left onto Willow Spring Creek Road. Continue straight for 0.6 miles then keep right onto Powerline Road.
Other Information
The Project is in the Lucas Creek Kern River Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 12 watershed (21,743 acres), within the Middle Kern-Upper Tehachapi-Grapevine HUC 8 watershed (1,671,512 acres) at an elevation of approximately 1,937 feet above mean sea level (msl).
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 15301 - Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
The Sediment Management Practices are maintenance procedures for maintaining the impoundment behind Democrat Dam in good condition and represent no expansion of use.
County Clerk
Kern
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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