Yuba County Water Agency
Licensee Response to Relicensing Participant
Tunnel Closure Proposal
Yuba River
Development Project
(FERC Project No. 2246)
- YCWA’s Feedback on
Agencies/NGOs’ August 26, 2015
NBB Reach LWM and Sediment Proposal -
October 28, 2015
Yuba River Development Project
Slide 1
Agenda

Issue

Summary of Agencies/NGOs’ New Bullards Bar Reach Large Woody
Material (LWM) Pilot Study

YCWA’s Estimate of Cost for LWM Pilot Study

Summary of Agencies/NGOs’ New Bullards Bar Reach Sediment Pilot
Study

YCWA’s Estimate of Cost for Sediment Pilot Study

Next Steps
October 28, 2015
Yuba River Development Project
Slide 2
Issue
 YCWA does not believe that the cost for adding LWM or sediment to the New Bullards Bar
(NBB) Reach (i.e., the 1.7-mile-long segment of the North Yuba River from New Bullards
Bar Dam to the confluence with the Middle Yuba River) is warranted based on the
potential benefits. YCWA believes the costs would be very high, and the benefits low
because periodic high flows would leave the majority of any added LWM or sediment high
and dry as the high flows recede, or the high flows would flush the material out of the
reach.
 Agencies/NGOs believe that adding LWM or sediment to the NBB Reach does warrant the
benefit. Agencies/NGOs believe the LWM and sediment would remain in the useful areas
of the stream, providing additional salmonid spawning habitat and enhancing riparian
recruitment.
 One possible way to resolve the differing perspectives is to perform pilot studies that
would inform a decision regarding the fate of LWM and sediment if they were placed in
NBB Reach. To that end, the agencies/NGOs proposed pilot studies on August 26.
YCWA’s initial feedback was that the sediment pilot study lacked some key details (e.g.,
monitoring locations and methods), and YCWA thought the studies would be very
expensive. YCWA said it would spend some time to cost out the pilot studies, and then
there could be further discussion.
October 28, 2015
Yuba River Development Project
Slide 3
LWM Pilot Study Proposal
 At 8/26/15 meeting, agencies/NGOs proposed a LWM pilot study in NBB Reach:
 Within 5 years of license issuance, place in the NBB Reach (NYR below NBB Dam)
100 pieces of LWM (≥25’ in length and ≥1’ in diameter), with root wads if possible,
collected from the surface of NBB Reservoir or from other sources agreed to by
agencies. Mark each piece. Take photos from standard locations at each LWM
placement area.
 90 pieces without anchors placed in the water channel or in the floodplain, as widely
dispersed along NBB Reach as possible
 10 pieces with anchors placed at two locations (5 pieces at each site) to be selected by
YCWA, FS, CDFW and SWRCB
 After LWM is placed, monitor the LWM placement areas after each spill of 2,000 cfs
or greater, as soon as feasibly possible and safe, for a total of 4 monitoring events.
During each monitoring event: 1) estimate pieces of LWM remaining at placement
area; 2) survey NBB Reach to find the LWM; and 3) document changes at LWM
anchored sites.
 Within 1 year of final monitoring, consult with FS, BLM, CDFW, SWRCB, FWN and
other interested parties on results and use of new flood control outlet. Based on cost,
feasibility and benefits, agencies and YCWA collaborate on future management
actions (e.g., no additional action, additional pilot study, or long-term management
actions).
October 28, 2015
Yuba River Development Project
Slide 4
YCWA’s Estimate of Cost

Assumptions for placing the 90 unanchored pieces of LWM ($1,119,000):

All 90 LWM pieces from NBB Reservoir in first year with no cost for pieces, and $15,000 to control the pieces at the site on
the reservoir

All LWM pieces placed by Chinook helicopter with an average of 3 pieces carried per each trip, average of 5 hrs per trip from
NBB Reservoir to placement site and for placement, and hourly helicopter cost of $7,000 (i.e., will take ~nineteen 8-hr days
for one helicopter to place the 90 pieces)

2 staff on ground at LWM storage area for hook-up of LWM pieces, and 2 staff on ground at site to assist in placement at
LWM placement area, take initial photos, etc. at $90/hr/staff

Assumptions for placing the 10 anchored pieces of LWM ($274,000):

All 10 LWM pieces from NBB Reservoir in first year with no cost for pieces, and $5,000 to control the pieces at the site on the
reservoir

All LWM pieces placed by Chinook helicopter with an average of 2 pieces carried per each trip, average of 5 hrs per trip from
NBB Reservoir to placement site, and hourly helicopter cost of $10,000 (i.e., will take three 8-hr days for one helicopter to
place the 10 pieces)

2 staff on ground at LWM storage area for hook-up of LWM pieces, and 2 staff on ground at site to assist in placement and
anchoring of LWM, take initial photos, etc. at $90/hr/staff, and $10,000 cost for anchoring material

Assumptions for permitting, monitoring and reporting ($146,000):

$50,000 for permitting (assumes at least Section 1602 and 404 permit needed) and $20,000 for complying with permit
requirements

Four monitoring events with 2 staff person per event, and five 10-hr days in field per event at $90/hr/staff

$40,000 for final report preparation

Total = $1,539,000
October 28, 2015
Yuba River Development Project
Slide 5
Sediment Pilot Study Proposal
 At 8/26/15 meeting, agencies/NGOs proposed a sediment pilot study in NBB Reach:

Within 5 years of license issuance, map channel geometry at NBB spillway pool to determine
critical velocities to move stockpiled sediment at that site; develop plan in consultation with FS,
BLM, CDFW, SWRCB, FWN and others to place 5,000 tons of sediment (0.25” to 6” in diameter)
at the site; place the sediment with portion of sediment marked; conduct evaluation to document
size and extent of stockpile; and establish standard photo points at stockpile and at 3 downstream
locations.

After sediment placed, monitor the stockpile and the 3 selected sites after each spill of 2,000 cfs or
greater, as soon as feasibly possible and safe, for a total of 4 monitoring events. Also, monitor
areas of downstream deposition. During each monitoring event: 1) survey change to stockpile; 2)
survey NBB Reach to find sediment depositions; 3) quantify amount of sediment retained at two
LWM anchored sites; and 4) describe habitat changes (e.g., gravel bar formation and riparian
recruitment) at sites to be determined.

Within 1 year of final monitoring, consult with FS, BLM, CDFW, SWRCB, FWN and other
interested parties on results and use of new flood control outlet. Based on cost, feasibility and
benefits, agencies and YCWA collaborate on future management actions (e.g., no additional
action, additional pilot study, or replenish the sediment stockpile each year).
October 28, 2015
Yuba River Development Project
Slide 6
YCWA’s Initial Estimate of Cost

Difficult to cost due to uncertainties, but YCWA best guess at this time is below using a helicopter for
placement

Assumptions for placing the 5,000 tons ($7,735,000):








Assumptions for permitting, monitoring and reporting ($216,000):




Map spillway pool and determine critical velocities to move stockpiled sediment for $40,000
Purchase 5,000 tons of sediment at $25/ton
$10,000 to develop plan to place sediment (assumes plan is to use helicopter)
Place 5,000 tons of sediment by Chinook helicopter with an average of 14 tons carried per each trip, average of 3
hours per trip from sediment stockpile to placement site, and hourly helicopter cost of $7,000 (will take one
hundred and thirty-four 8-hr days for 1 helicopter to place sediment)
2 staff on ground at sediment laydown site, and 2 staff on ground at site stockpile site to assist in placement, take
initial photos, establish initial stockpile dimensions, etc. at $90/hr/staff
$15,000 to consult and select 3 downstream monitoring sites
Additional costs related to transport to and stockpile material at undetermined location; repair any public roads
damaged by increased heavy traffic; other unknowns not estimated at this time
$50,000 for permitting (assumes Section 1602 and 404 permit needed) and $30,000 for complying with permit
requirements
Four monitoring events with 2 staff person per event, and one hundred and thirty-four 8-hr days in field per event at
$90/hr per staff
$40,000 for final report preparation
Total = $7,951,000
October 28, 2015
Yuba River Development Project
Slide 7
Next Steps
 The estimated costs and underlying assumptions in this presentation are
YCWA’s: other parties are free to use whatever assumptions and costs they feel
are appropriate. YCWA is not asking Relicensing Participants to modify their
proposals based on this presentation.
 YCWA is doing some additional research regarding costs for the pilot studies,
including looking at USACE’s costs for the sediment injection effort below
Englebright, and will report back.
 YCWA proposes that, after YCWA finishes its investigations, YCWA and
Relicensing Participants discuss the pilot studies more (schedule next discussion
at November 9 Process Team meeting).
October 28, 2015
Yuba River Development Project
Slide 8