Merced Irrigation District must redo some of its environmental impact studies

Correction: The Dec. 23 article about MID's relicensing of the Exchequer Dam stated that MID would have to complete for a second time four environmental studies that are part of that process. Instead, MID will not have to complete the four studies at all. The Sun-Star regrets the error.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has decided Merced Irrigation District must reverse course and redo some parts of its environmental impact studies along the Merced River before receiving a new license for its hydroelectric operations there.

The decision was handed down Tuesday by Jeff C. Wright, director of the Office of Energy Projects.

Wright's decision could be characterized as a blow to the irrigation district, which hoped to limit environmental review to just the district's immediate footprint, and a minor victory for environmentalists who pushed for a broader examination of the effects downstream from the dam.

In the final stop in a drawn-out dispute process, Wright decided the irrigation district must change two of the environmental studies by expanding their geographic scope to Shaffer Bridge, nearly 30 miles downstream. Wright also ruled the district must create two new studies with PG&E. The first new study would look at each company's share of sediment downstream, and the second would study water flows downstream of the Exchequer Dam -- MID's hydroelectric plant -- and Merced Falls -- PG&E's power plant.

A copy of the decision was sent to Geoff Rabone, deputy general manager of MID. The irrigation district must file, for the energy commission's approval, a plan for completing the two new studies within 44 days.

To relicense the dam, MID has to complete several environmental impact studies. Of those submitted to the federal government, 16 were disputed by both the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. The State Water Board took issue with five reports, and supported the fisheries service's dispute of eight studies.

Reporter Jonah Owen Lamb contributed to this story.

Reporter Danielle E. Gaines can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or dgaines@mercedsun-star.com.