PG&E Wants to Reroute Rivers: Power vs. Nature Clash?
Published Date: 3/3/2026
Notice
Summary
Pacific Gas and Electric Company wants to temporarily change how much water flows through its DeSabla-Centerville hydroelectric project in Butte County, California. This affects local rivers and lands managed by federal agencies and could impact water users and the environment for a short time. The public has until March 30, 2026, to share their thoughts or get involved before any changes happen.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
West Branch Feather River flow change
The licensee proposes temporarily changing the instantaneous minimum flow in the West Branch Feather River from 15 cubic feet per second (cfs) in a normal water year (and 7 cfs in a dry year) to 7 cfs over 48 hours regardless of water year type. The change would run from May 4, 2026 through September 30, 2026 in Butte County, California, and is intended to increase delivery to Butte Creek, preserve cold water storage, and help minimize high-temperature effects on Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon.
Philbrook Creek minimum flow reduction
The licensee proposes temporarily modifying the instantaneous minimum flow in Philbrook Creek from 2 cfs (both normal and dry years) to between 1 and 2 cfs over 48 hours. These modifications would run May 4, 2026 through September 30, 2026, but could begin sometime between April 1 and May 4, 2026 if Philbrook Reservoir storage has not exceeded 2,116 acre-feet by April 1, 2026. The filing says this would maximize deliveries from Philbrook to Butte Creek and could affect water users and the environment for a short time.
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