Kern River No. 1 Project Relicensing (FERC No. 1930)

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Kern River No. 1 Powerhouse and tailrace, returning water to the Kern River.

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.

Stay Informed

If you are interested in participating in the relicensing proceeding, please complete the Contact Registration Form. This will ensure you are included on the distribution list and will receive future relicensing proceeding communications and meeting notifications.

Register online here 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.

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). The ILP requires that SCE prepare a Notice of Intent (NOI) and Pre-Application Document (PAD) to be filed with FERC between 5 and 5 1/2 years before the expiration of the existing license (i.e., May 31, 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.

SCE’s Pre-Application Documents

Table of Contents

Cover Letter and Notice of Intent

Section 1.0 Introduction

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

Appendix C. Draft Technical Study Plans

FERC Notices 

Notice of Intent to File License Application for a New License

Scoping Document 1

Upcoming Meetings
 

FERC Scoping Meetings and Site Visit, August 1st, and 2nd, 2023.  See FERC Scoping Document above.

Past Meeting Materials
 

Kern River No. 1 Hydroelectric Project Relicensing FERC Project No. 1930 – Notice of Rescheduled Stakeholder Meeting

June 13, 2023 Stakeholder Meeting Presentation

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 schedule. 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 and here. 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

 

TWG #2

July 31, 2023

1-3 pm

 

TWG #3

August 24, 2023

1-3 pm

 

Cultural Resources

 

 

CUL 1 – Built Environment

CUL 2 - Archaeology

TRI - Tribal

TWG #1

June 29, 2023

1-3 pm

KR1 Reliscensing Cultural Tribal TWG Meeting Information

KR 1 TWG Cultural Tribal Agenda 6_29_23

PPT KR1 TWG Cultural 6_29_23

TWG #2

July 27, 2023

1-3 pm

 

TWG #3

August 29, 2023

1-3 pm

 

Land Resources

 

 

 

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

LAND 1_Roads and Trails Draft TSP_4.24.23_KR

KR 1_TWG_Agenda Land -June 28 2023

TWG #2

July 26, 2023

1-3 pm

 

TWG #3

August 23, 2023

1-3 pm

 

Recreation Resources

 

 

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

3.11_Recreation_Resources_PAD_Map3.11_1a_Page_25

3.11_Recreation_Resources_PAD_Map3.11_1b_Page_27

TWG #2

August 10, 2023

1-3 pm

 

TWG #3

September 6, 2023

1-3 pm

 

Terrestrial Resources

TERR 1 – Botanical

TERR 2 - Wildlife

TWG #1

July 11, 2023

1-3 pm

 

TWG #2

August 8, 2023

1-3 pm

 

TWG #3

September 7, 2023

1-3 pm

 

Reference Documents

FERC Relicensing Process

Study Plan Development and Participation

Project Literature Library

Contact Us

Name Company Project Role Address Email 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
David Moore SCE Licensing Manager/Project Lead 1515 Walnut Grove Ave. Rosemead, CA 91770 David.Moore@sce.com 626-302-9494
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