Deb Sally, Albion, CA.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Office of Energy Projects
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20426

May 16, 2025

RE: Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project, 
FERC No. 77-CA2025 Minimum Instream Temporary Flow Amendment Request

Dear Secretary Reese,

As a resident and property owner in Mendocino and Lake County respectively, I am writing today in support of PG&E’s request for a temporary license flow amendment (variance) for their Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project (Project), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 77. Article 52 of the Project license requires PG&E to comply with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPA), as described in their 2002 Biological Opinion. Subsequently, the RPA prescribed minimum instream flows became license requirements following FERC’s Order Amending License, issued January 28, 2004.

As stated in their request dated February 14, 2025, “it has become increasingly challenging for PG&E to maintain compliance under Article 52. From 2013 to 2022, PG&E operated under temporary flow amendments in 7 out of 10 years due to insufficient water supply. In 2023 and 2024, PG&E requested temporary flow amendments to conserve reservoir storage and support cooler water temperature releases from Lake Pillsbury due to changes in operations resulting in lower water storage. The cumulative number of and repetitive nature of these temporary amendment requests has demonstrated to PG&E and FERC that the current flow regime under Article 52 does not provide adequate resource protection within the operational limitations and factors affecting the Potter Valley Project’s existing operations.”

I believe this variance will result in less of a chance of reduced reservoir levels and maintain better habitat for fish and water delivery to downstream users.

Respectfully,
Deb Sally