Hydro relicensing
A new 50-year operating license
Under a license granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), SMUD operates a 688-megawatt hydroelectric system – the Upper American River Project (UARP) – in the El Dorado National Forest. Following an extensive relicensing process that began in the late 1990s, SMUD’s application for renewal of its 50-year license was granted in 2014.
Click here to view a copy of the FERC license order.
Hydro relicensing documentation
Here you will find key documents related to the license renewal effort, including study plans and reports.
This page is updated annually. The reports available here may not be the latest versions.
- Amphibians and Aquatic Reptiles Technical Report (8.5mb pdf includes Appendices A and C with exceptions listed below)
- Project Sources of Sediment Technical Report
- Channel Morphology Technical Report (6.2mb pdf includes Appendices A, C, D, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, P, & Q)
- Aquatic Bioassessment Technical Report (11.mb pdf includes Appendices A, B, C, D, E, F, H, & I)
- Hydrology Technical Report (5.7mb pdf includes Appendices A, B, C, D, F, & G)
- Fish Passage Barriers Technical Report (9.6mb pdf includes Figures, Appendices B, C & D)
- Physical Habitat Simulation Technical Report Volume 1 (6.7mb pdf includes Appendices B, C, D & F)
- Deepwater Intake Entrainment Technical Report
- Amphibian Habitat Test Flow Technical Report (7.6mb pdf)
- Stream Fisheries Technical Report (pdf includes Appendices B, C, D, & E with exceptions listed below)
- Stream Habitat Mapping Technical Report (2mb pdf includes Appendix B)
- Reservoir Shoreline Habitat Technical Report
- Reservoir Fisheries Technical Report (5.8mb pdf)
- Water Temperature Technical Report (3mb pdf includes Appendices B, C, D, & E with exceptions listed below)
- Water Quality Report (2.4mb pdf includes Appendix A, B2, C & D)
- Shallow Water Entrainment Technical Report (2mb pdf)
- Carbon Cycle Disruption White Paper
- Water Balance Model Technical Report
Cultural Resources Reports
Land Use Resource Reports
- Ice House Reach Whitewater Boating Flow Study Technical Report (pdf includes Appendices A, B, C, D, E, & I with the following exceptions)
- Recreation Supply Technical Report (9.9 mb pdf includes Appendices A)
- Visitor Use and Impact Technical Report (7.7mb pdf)
- Visual Assessment of Upper American River Project Features Technical Report (6.9mb pdf includes Appendices A, B, C, E & F)
- Recreation Carrying Capacity Technical Report
- Recreation Demand Technical Report
- Whitewater Boating Feasibility Technical Report (3.7mb pdf)
- Visual Assessment of Upper American River Project Operations Technical Report (9.1mb pdf)
- Whitewater Boating Flow Study for Slab Creek Reach (9mb pdf includes Appendices A, B, D, E, G, H, I & L with the following exceptions)
- Camino Reach Whitewater Boating Flow Study for Slab Creek Reach (9mb pdf includes Appendices A, B, D, E, F, H, I & L with the following exceptions)
- Recreation Needs Assessment (8.3mb pdf)
- Stream Angler Focus Group Technical Report
Socioeconomic Technical Resource Reports
Terrestrial Resources Reports
- Mesocarnivore Technical Report (7.2mb pdf)
- Bald Eagle and Osprey Technical Report (4.8mb pdf)
- California Spotted Owl Technical Report (3.8mb pdf)
- Northern Goshawk Technical Report (1.9mb pdf)
- Riparian Vegetation and Wetlands Technical Report (4.6mb pdf includes Figures, Tables, Appendix A Summary & E)
- Special-Status Plants and Invasive/Noxious Weeds Technical Report (pdf incudes Appendices A & B)
- Black Bear Technical Report
- Mule Deer Technical Report
- Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle Technical Report
- Willow Flycatcher Nesting Habitat Technical Report
- Bats Technical Report (9.2mb pdf)
- Bird-Powerline Associations Technical Report (8.1mb pdf)
- Waterfowl Nesting Habitat Technical Report (pdf includes Appendices A,B & D)
- Vegetation Mapping Technical Report
- CEQA Facts, Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations
- CEQA Supplement (Draft)
- CEQA Supplement (Final)
- Addendum to CEQA Supplement
- Notice of Determination
- Scoping Document 1 and Notice of Preparation
- Scoping Document 2
- Notice of Scoping Meeting and Soliciting Scoping Comments
- Draft Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
- Final Environmental Impact Statement
- 401 Water Quality Certification
- Appendix G – California Department of Fish & Game Fish Tissue Sampling Report
- Appendix H-1 – Comments on the Draft Supplemental Analysis
- Appendix H-1 – Comments on the Draft Supplemental Analysis (2)
- Slab Creek Reservoir Sediment Investigation Report (4/22/2008)
- Slab Creek Reservoir Sediment Investigation Report (Appendix F: Figures)
- Slab Creek Reservoir Sediment Investigation Report (Appendix F: Certification)
- Slab Creek Reservoir Sediment Investigation Report (4/24/2008)
- Slab Creek Reservoir Fish Tissue Bioaccumulation Study Report
- Mitigation Monitoring Program including Construction and Operation of the Iowa Hill Pumped-storage Development
- Iowa Hill Mitigation Measures Recommendation
- Iowa Hill Mitigation Measures Recommendation (appendix)
- Iowa Hill Public Comments: Visual Impacts
- Iowa Hill Public Comments: Transportation Impacts
- Iowa Hill Public Comments: Socioeconomic Impacts
- Iowa Hill Public Comments: Noise Impacts
- Iowa Hill Public Comments: Fire Protection
- Iowa Hill: Written Responses to Public Comments
- Iowa Hill Appendix A: Comments (General)
- Iowa Hill Appendix B: Draft Mitigation Monitoring Program
- Iowa Hill Appendix C: Visual Resources Technical Report
- Iowa Hill Appendix D: Transportation Route Technical Report
- Iowa Hill Appendix E: Turbidity Analysis