Title
Consider receiving a report on the Nacimiento Dam 7th Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Part 12D Safety Inspection Report findings and recommendations.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Receive a report on the Nacimiento Dam 7th Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Part 12D Safety Inspection Report.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to Title 18, Chapter 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR 12) titled "Safety of Water Power Projects and Project Works", Nacimiento Dam is regulated with regard to dam safety matters by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Office of Energy Projects, Division of Dam Safety and Inspections as a condition of operating the Nacimiento Hydroelectric Plant. Pursuant to 18 CFR 12, Part D, every five years a qualified Independent Consultant, in summary, must review project records, inspect the dam and its appurtenant structures, identify potential failure modes, and prepare a report with findings and any recommendations needed for the safe operation of the dam and compliance with FERC regulations. An Agreement with GEI Consultants, Inc. was approved by the Board of Directors in June 2018 to complete the Nacimiento Dam 7th FERC Part 12D project records review, safety inspection, potential failure mode analysis, and report. Qualified GEI Independent Consultants, FERC staff and Monterey County Water Resources Agency engineering and maintenance staff participated in the inspection and potential failure mode analysis workshops. The report was completed in April 2019.
The GEI Independent Consultants, upon evaluation of project records, the safety inspection, and potential failure mode analysis, provided the following recommendations for safe dam operation and compliance with FERC regulations:
R-1: Spillway operation in 2017 resulted in increased erosion in the spillway plunge pool. Temporary measures during the spill event were taken, whic...
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