Kern River No. 1 Project Relicensing (FERC No. 1930)
Southern California Edison (SCE) has begun the relicensing process for the Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project (Project) (P-1930). Please use this page to find out how to get involved and stay up to date.
Below are links to Project-related materials, notifications, and documentation (provided as PDFs). All documents related to the Project can also be found on FERC’s eLibrary. This page will be updated throughout the relicensing process as new materials become available or are updated.
Image: Kern River No. 1 Powerhouse and tailrace, returning water to the Kern River.
Stay Informed
Please complete the Contact Registration Form if you are interested in participating in the relicensing proceeding. This will ensure you are included on the distribution list and will receive future relicensing proceeding communications and meeting notifications.
Register online to be notified via e-mail of new FERC filings and issuances related to the Project. Follow the online instructions and subscribe to docket number P-1930.
If you are unable to access information contained on this webpage, please contact Kendra Ryan at Kendra.ryan@stantec.com
Recreation Use Studies
As outlined in the Recreation Technical Study Plans (refer to the Relicensing Documents section below for more information), SCE, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, is soliciting input from Kern River Day users to better understand recreation use in the Project area. These recreation studies are part of the FERC relicensing process. We request your help by completing the surveys below.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Recreation Facility Use
English:
Spanish:
Maps:
Whitewater Boating
SCE developed an online Questionnaire to gather information from individuals who have direct experience boating the Project bypass reach.
The Questionnaire will be accessible for 60 days from September 20, 2024 to November 19, 2024, and can be accessed here.
Maps:
In addition, surveys and QR codes will be provided at onsite survey boxes at recreation facilities and trails in the Project area.
Relicensing Overview
SCE’s operating license for the Project, FERC Project No. 1930, expires on May 31, 2028. Consequently, SCE is taking the initial steps required by the Federal Power Act and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to obtain a new license for the Project using the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) (see SCE's Relicensing Notice here).
As required by the ILP, SCE prepared the Notice of Intent (NOI) and Pre-Application Document (PAD) five years before expiration of the existing license, on May 5, 2023.
General Project Information
The Project is located on the Kern River approximately 15 miles east of the City of Bakersfield in Kern County, California. The Project is operated in a run-of-river mode. Water from the Kern River is diverted at Democrat Dam into a 9-mile-long flowline to the Project powerhouse which has a dependable generating capacity of 24.8 megawatts (MW). All Project facilities are located on National Forest Service lands within the Sequoia National Forest.
Relicensing Documents
All documents related to the Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project can be found on FERC’s eLibrary. Links to relevant documents can also be accessed below.
Cover Letter and Notice of Intent
Section 2.0 Existing Project Location, Facilities, and Operations
Section 3.0-3.8 Existing Resource Information
Section 3.9-3.15 Existing Resource Information
Section 4.0 Preliminary Issues, Draft Technical Study Plans, and Relevant Plans
Section 5.0 Summary of Contacts
Appendix A. Relicensing Process Plan
Appendix B. Summary of Contacts
Upcoming Meetings
Technical Working Groups (TWG)
SCE would like to invite you to participate in the Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Relicensing Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings organized by the following resource areas:
- Aquatics
- Cultural
- Land
- Recreation
- Terrestrial
The TWG meetings are intended to obtain input on the content of the draft Technical Study Plans provided in SCE’s Pre-Application Document, dated May 2023. The meetings are open to federal and state resource agencies, local governments, Native American Tribes, non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties. Participants are expected to prepare for and attend meetings, review documents, and provide technical input to SCE and its consultants on methods, analysis, reporting, and scheduling. Considering this time commitment, it is expected that the TWG process will attract a relatively small number of subject matter experts. SCE will also support a concurrent but separate outreach effort to provide information about the relicensing to the interested public, as well as stakeholders electing not to participate in the TWG process, via electronic communication and updates to the Project website www.sce.com/kr1.
The TWG meeting schedule can be found below.
To be included in the TWG meetings, please complete the Technical Working Group Sign-up Form. If you are unable to attend a meeting, please provide comments by email to Kendra Ryan Kendra.ryan@stantec.com.
TWG Materials
Below are links to TWG-related documentation (provided as PDFs). These links will be updated throughout the relicensing process as new materials become available or are updated.
Resource Area / Technical Study Plan | Technical Working Group | Related Documents |
Aquatic Resources | ||
AQ 1 – Hydrology AQ 2 – Water Quality/Water Temperature AQ 3 – Fish Population | TWG #1 July 7, 2023 10 am- 12 pm |
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TWG #2 July 31, 2023 1-3 pm |
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TWG #3 August 24, 2023 1-3 pm |
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AQ 1 – Hydrology AQ 3 – Fish Population | TWG August 8, 2024 10 am-11:50 am |
Resource Area / Technical Study Plan |
Technical Working Group |
Related Documents |
Cultural Resources |
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CUL 1 – Built Environment CUL 2 - Archaeology TRI - Tribal |
TWG #1 June 29, 2023 1-3 pm |
KR1 Reliscensing Cultural Tribal TWG Meeting Information |
TWG #2 July 27, 2023 1-3 pm |
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TWG #3 August 29, 2023 1-3 pm |
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Resource Area / Technical Study Plan |
Technical Working Group |
Related Documents |
Land Resources |
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LAND – Road and Trail Condition Assessment LAND 2 – Erosion and Sedimentation |
TWG #1 June 28, 2023 1-3 pm |
2.0_Project_Location_Facilities_and_Operations_PAD_4.25.23_KR PPT_KR1_TWG_LAND_June-28-2023_PS LAND 2_Erosion and Sedimentation Draft TSP_4.24.23_KR |
TWG #2 July 26, 2023 1-3 pm |
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TWG #3 August 23, 2023 1-3 pm |
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Resource Area / Technical Study Plan |
Technical Working Group |
Related Documents |
Recreation Resources |
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REC 1 – Recreation Facility Condition Assessment REC 2 – Recreation Facility Use Assessment REC 3 – Whitewater Boating |
TWG #1 July 12, 2023 1-3 pm |
REC 1_Rec Facility Condition Assessment Draft TSP_4.24.23_KR REC 2_Rec Facility Use Assessment Draft TSP_4.24.23_KR REC 3_WWBoating Draft TSP_4.24.23_KR Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 1930) KR 1_TWG_Agenda Recreation-July 12 2023 PPT_KR1_TWG_Recreation_ July_11_2023_PS |
TWG #2 August 10, 2023 1-3 pm |
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TWG #3 September 6, 2023 1-3 pm |
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Resource Area / Technical Study Plan |
Technical Working Group |
Related Documents |
Terrestrial Resources |
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TERR 1 – Botanical TERR 2 - Wildlife |
TWG #1 July 11, 2023 1-3 pm |
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TWG #2 August 8, 2023 1-3 pm |
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TWG #3 September 7, 2023 1-3 pm |
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Reference Documents
Contact Us
Name | Company | Project Role | Address | Phone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wayne Allen | SCE | Principal Manager | 1515 Walnut Grove Ave. Rosemead, CA 91770 | wayne.allen@sce.com | 626-302-9741 |
Martin Ostendorf | SCE | Senior Manager | PO Box 100 54170 Mtn Spruce Road, P.O. Box 100 Big Creek, CA 93605 | martin.ostendorf@sce.com | 559-893-2033 |
Meg Richardson | SCE | Licensing Manager/Project Lead | 1515 Walnut Grove Ave. Rosemead, CA 91770 | mary.m.richardson@sce.com | 626-238-2902 |
Dan Keverline | SCE | Senior Manager-Operations and Maintenance | Kern 3 Hydro Powerhouse Kernville, CA 93238 | keverlds@sce.com | 760-376-3813 |
Jess Fefer | FERC | Assigned Staff | Jessica.Fefer@ferc.gov | 202-502-6631 |