Pacific Gas and Electric Company Seeks Extension of Time for Bucks Creek Gravel Augmentation Plan

Strategic Insights -

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has submitted a request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend the completion date for the Bucks Creek Gravel Augmentation Plan (GAP) from October 31, 2025, to October 31, 2026. The GAP is a critical component of the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 619, which requires PG&E to implement gravel augmentation at two locations: Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Dam Spillway and Grizzly Creek downstream of the Grizzly Creek gaging weir. PG&E's request for an extension is necessitated by the recent additional permitting requirements imposed by the State Water Resources Control Board under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Improvement Rule.

Key Takeaways:

  • PG&E is requesting an extension of time to complete the Bucks Creek Gravel Augmentation Plan (GAP) until October 31, 2026, due to new permitting requirements imposed by the State Water Resources Control Board.
  • The GAP requires PG&E to implement gravel augmentation at two locations: Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Dam Spillway and Grizzly Creek downstream of the Grizzly Creek gaging weir.
  • In November 2023, PG&E requested an extension of time until August 1, 2024, to conduct baseline topographic surveys required by the GAP, which was granted by the Forest Service and FERC.
  • The Forest Service granted a second extension of time in November 2024, setting a new deadline of October 31, 2025, which PG&E is now seeking to extend.
  • The new permitting requirements under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Improvement Rule necessitate a one-year statutory review period for Section 401 certifications, making it no longer feasible for PG&E to complete the permitting process in time for 2025 gravel augmentation implementation.
  • Rachel Birkey, Acting Forest Supervisor, has approved the extension of time through October 31, 2026, citing the additional permitting requirements.

Statistics:

  • The number of locations requiring gravel augmentation under the Bucks Creek GAP is 2.
  • The number of months PG&E has requested to extend the completion date for the GAP is 1 (from October 2025 to October 2026).
  • The number of days in the one-year statutory review period for Section 401 certifications is 365.
  • The number of email addresses listed for contact purposes is 2 (Jamie Visinoni and Leslie Edlund).

Sources:

  • PG&E. (2025, August 8). Re: Bucks Creek Gravel Augmentation Plan Extension of Time. Email to Jamie Visinoni, Hydro License Coordinator/Power Generation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
  • Forest Service. (2025, August 8). Caring for the Land and Serving People. Printed on Recycled Paper. File Code: 2770.