BREAKING NEWS:

This week, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Denied the Irrigation Districts’ request to waive the State’s authority to oversee water quality compliance.

What this means:

For the first time since Don Pedro Dam received its original license in 1966, FERC is requiring a new license, making this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve dam operations, including instream flow requirements.

FERC denying the petition to waive the State's authority for Tuolumne River Hydropower Projects means that unless overturned on appeal, the State Water Board’s Final Water Quality Certification will stand. Thus giving us a better chance to improve instream flow requirements.

Why this is important:

On average, only 21% of the Tuolumne’s unimpaired flow reaches its confluence with the San Joaquin River. In order to avoid ecosystem collapse, we are working to restore flows that more closely resemble the natural flow of the river to benefit fish, wildlife, and people.