Last updated: January 2025

Final License Application Filed January 22, 2025

In accordance with Section 15(c)(1) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) and sections 5.17(a) and 5.18 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Integrated Licensing Process regulations, Southern California Edison Company (SCE) filed a Final License Application (FLA) for the Rush Creek Hydroelectric Project (P-1389) on January 22, 2025. The public portions of the FLA are provided below under Relicensing Documents and can also be accessed on FERC’s eLibrary system at https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/elibrary under docket P-1389-059. In addition, the public volumes of the FLA can be viewed electronically during regular business hours at the June Lake Library located at 90 West Granite Avenue, June Lake, California 93529 or at the Lee Vining Library located at 51710 Hwy. 395 Library Bldg., Lee Vining, California 93541.

To receive timely and direct communication from FERC regarding all filings associated with the Rush Creek Project (Docket No. P-1389), follow the directions to register for an “eSubscription” at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.

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 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 Rush Creek Project. Follow the online instructions and subscribe to docket number P-1389.

Relicensing Overview

SCE’s operating license for the Rush Creek Project (Project), FERC Project No. 1389, expires on January 31, 2027. 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). The ILP requires that SCE prepare a Notice of Intent (NOI) and Pre-Application Document (PAD) to be filed with FERC between five and five and one-half years before the expiration of the existing license (i.e., January 31, 2022).

• Relicensing Process Schedule
• Rush Creek Project Relicensing Notice
• FERC’s Integrated Licensing Process

Project Documents

FERC's eLibrary contains all documents related to the Rush Creek Project. Below are links to relevant relicensing documents (in descending chronological order).

Relicensing Documents

• Biological Assessment (USFWS Endangered Species Act Consultation)
• Revised LAND 1 – Aesthetics Technical Study Report
• Final License Application
• Updated Study Report Meeting Summary
• Updated Study Report
• Draft Licensing Application
• FERC’s Determination on Requests for Study Modifications (Feb 2024)
• SCE’s Response to Comments on 2023 Initial Study Report Meeting Summary
• SCE’s Initial Study Report Meeting Summary
• SCE’s Initial Study Report
• FERC's Study Plan Determination
• SCE's Revised Study Plan
• SCE's Proposed Study Plan
• FERC's Scoping Document 2
• SCE's Response to Scoping Document 1 (2)
• SCE's Response to Scoping Document 1 (1)
• FERC's Scoping Document 1

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SCE's Pre-Application Documents

• Table of Contents
• Cover Letter and Notice of Intent
• Section 1, Introduction
• Section 2, Existing Project Location, Facilities, and Operations
• Section 3, Proposed Project Alternatives
• Sections 4.1–4.6, Existing Resource Information
• Sections 4.7–4.15, Existing Resource Information
• Section 5, Preliminary Issues, Draft Technical Study Plans, and Relevant Plans
• Section 6, Summary of Contacts
• Appendix A, Relicensing Process Plan
• Appendix B, Summary of Contacts
• Appendix C, Draft Technical Study Plans

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Reference Documents and Information

• Existing FERC License (February 4, 1997)
• Project Information Questionnaire
• FERC's Notice of Commencement
• FERC's Scoping Document 1
• FERC's Scoping Document 2

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Existing Project Description

The Rush Creek Project is located on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Mono County, California. It is approximately four miles southwest of the unincorporated community of June Lake. The majority of the Project occupies federal lands within the Inyo National Forest, which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service (portions of the Project are located within the Ansel Adams Wilderness Area). The Project was constructed between 1915 and 1918 and later modified in 1924 and 1925 before the formation of the Wilderness.

The 13.01-megawatt Project includes three dams and associated reservoirs – Agnew Dam (Agnew Lake), Gem Dam (Gem Lake), and Rush Meadows Dam (Waugh Lake); a water conveyance system; the Rush Creek Powerhouse; and ancillary facilities. The three Project reservoirs historically provided storage for lake recreation during the summer and allowed for electricity generation at the Rush Creek Powerhouse in the fall/winter. Water exiting the powerhouse enters a short tailrace and returns to Rush Creek upstream of Silver Lake.

Recently, SCE conducted fault studies, structural testing, and engineering analyses of Agnew, Gem, and Rush Meadows dams after the Silver Lake Fault was identified as a potential safety concern in 2007. As a result of the analyses and subsequent consultation with FERC and DSOD, SCE implemented storage restrictions at the three reservoirs beginning in 2012, as well as structural modifications at the Agnew and Rush Meadows dams in 2017 and 2018 and Gem Dam in 2020 and 2021.

Upcoming Public Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings planned at this time.

Past Public Meetings

May 20, 2025 – Community Relicensing Meeting

• Meeting Slide Deck

November 7, 2024 – Updated Study Report Meeting

• Meeting Slide Deck

October 16, 2024 – Environmental Measures Meeting

• Meeting Slide Deck

October 8, 2024 – Conceptual Restoration Plan Meeting

• Meeting Slide Deck

February 13, 2024 - Local Community Meeting (June Lake)

• Meeting Slide Deck

November 9, 2023 - Initial Study Report Public Meeting

• Agenda
• Meeting Slide Deck
• Meeting Summary

July 6, 2022 – East Shore Silver Lake Improvement Association Presentation

• Presentation

June 16, 2022 – Proposed Study Plan Meeting

• Announcement
• Presentation

January 20, 2022 – Pre-Application Document Overview / Technical Study Plan Development Meeting

• Announcement
• Presentation

October 19, 2021 - Relicensing Kick-off Meetings

• Announcement
• Presentations
• Afternoon Meeting Notes
• Evening Meeting Notes

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Technical Working Groups (TWG)

The TWG process is open to all interested parties, including public agencies, Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations, and individuals. Participants are expected to make a significant time commitment to prepare for and attend meetings, review documents, and provide technical input to SCE and its consultants on methods, analysis, and interpretation in a timely fashion. Given this time commitment, the TWG process is expected to 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 and stakeholders electing not to participate in the TWG process via electronic communication and updates to the Project website.

Meetings with TWGs were held in the winter of 2023 and spring of 2024 to discuss the first round of Technical Study Reports. Prior meetings were held in February and March 2022 to solicit input on developing Technical Study Plans. 

To be included in the TWG process, please complete the Technical Working Group Sign-up Form.