PG&E's Plan: Temporarily Lower Butte County River Flows for Safety
Published Date: 5/11/2026
Notice
Summary
Pacific Gas and Electric Company wants to temporarily change how much water flows in two rivers in Butte County, California, to lower amounts for up to 48 hours at a time. This change, if approved, will last until September 30, 2026, and won’t harm the environment thanks to safety measures. People who live near these rivers and enjoy the outdoors might notice the difference during this time.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary cut to Feather River flow
Pacific Gas and Electric Company proposes temporarily lowering the West Branch Feather River minimum flow from 15 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 7 cfs for periods up to 48 hours. The change could be carried out as soon as FERC approves it and would be allowed through September 30, 2026, so people living near or using the river may notice reduced flows during those short periods.
Short-term lower flows on Philbrook Creek
The licensee proposes temporarily lowering Philbrook Creek minimum flow from 2 cfs to between 1 and 2 cfs for up to 48 hours at a time. If approved, the change could begin upon FERC approval and continue until September 30, 2026, and people near the creek or who use it for recreation may notice the lower flows during those intervals.
FERC EA finds no significant effect
FERC staff prepared a final Environmental Assessment and concluded that the proposed temporary flow variance, with appropriate environmental protective measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The final EA is available in the FERC docket (P-803-129).
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