American River Wildlife News

The demands came in a massive Oct. 18 filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is relicensing SMUD's 11 dams and eight powerhouses on the American River's south fork. The new license would allow SMUD to continue operating these facilities for 30 to 50 years. The Forest Service and others hope to improve recreation and wildlife habitat affected by the SMUD system.

Tensions have been high in the licensing process, which began in 2001 and is among the nation's most complex.

Negotiations among the Forest Service, SMUD and other entities including recreation groups came to a halt in May amid disagreement over complicated water management issues.

"It's one of the most important series of negotiations that have taken place in this region for some time," said Bill Center, president of the American River Recreation Association, a party to the negotiations.

The Forest Service filing raises the stakes. Under federal rules, its recommendations will dictate how SMUD operates the dams -- unless the parties agree to different rules in a settlement by Nov. 17.

The document carries extra weight because it is the consensus of 13 government agencies and nonprofit groups including conservation and recreation advocates. SMUD has resisted major changes to its American River operations to protect its power-generating ability and avoid rate increases. The Forest Service and its partners, on the other hand, seek to bring the system in line with current environmental standards.

The dams' current operating rules were set in 1957 -- well before any major environmental laws.

Read the rest of the story at the Sacramento Bee.