Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: November 5, 1999

MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACTS: Jon Tremayne, PG&E Corporation, 415-267-7063
Lisa Randal, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, 530-894-4766
Stanley Young, Resources Agency, 916-653-5656
Jeff McCracken, Bureau of Reclamation, 916-978-5101
Tim Ahern, Interior Department, 202-208-6416
Sydney Kapchan, The Nature Conservancy, 650-348-6819

One of California's most significant and far-reaching environmental restoration projects will be previewed during a tour and press conference at Battle Creek on Monday, November 8, 1999, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Battle Creek is a major tributary of the Sacramento River, entering at a point 12 miles north of Red Bluff.

As a result of the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project, Battle Creek will be the first stream in California where several species of salmon will return to their historic spawning grounds. Five Pacific Gas and Electric Company dams will be removed, additional structures will be made fish-friendly and stream flows will be significantly increased.

The project symbolizes the success of the Cal-Fed process, and exemplifies how public-private partnerships can deliver numerous benefits including avoiding contentious regulatory processes, litigation and lengthy delays. This project has also achieved a balance between providing restoration of a valuable fishery and preserving a renewable energy resource.

Reporters attending the event will be given tours highlighting key points of the restoration project. With the winter run of the chinook salmon currently near its peak, it also offers an opportunity to witness the salmon returning to its native habitat to complete its life cycle.

Participants:

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt
Resources Secretary Mary Nichols
Robert D. Glynn Jr., President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, PG&E Corporation
Dick Schlosberg, Chief Executive Officer, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Steve McCormick, California State Director, The Nature Conservancy

Schedule for November 8:

10:00 --10:30 TOUR OF NORTH BATTLE CREEK FEEDER

This spot on the North Fork is two miles downstream from the furthest point that salmon historically reached - and salmon will soon be returning in great numbers. It is a lush canyon, with many of the cold water springs that make this watershed unique, and is a great place to see what this restoration will ultimately accomplish.

11:00 --11:45 TOUR OF COLEMAN DIVERSION DAM AND REMARKS

This is one of the South Fork dams that will be removed. After the tour, Secretary Babbitt, Secretary Nichols, Mr. Glynn and Mr. Schlosberg will make remarks and take questions from the media.

Directions to North Battle Creek Feeder Site from Red Bluff

� From I-5 at Red Bluff, take the Highway 36/99 turnoff to Chico and Lassen Park and proceed east 3 miles to the Highway 36 split.

� Turn left onto Highway 36 toward Lassen Park and proceed approximately 11 miles to the junction with the Manton Road at Dales.

� Turn left at Dales onto the Manton Road.

� After traveling approximately 14 miles on the Manton Rd., you will arrive in the community of Manton. At the wye (Manton Volunteer Fire Dept. visible straight ahead), turn left. The PG&E headquarters is situated adjacent to the Fire Dept.

� Approximately 1 mile beyond the Pacific Gas and Electric Company headquarters, take a left at the next wye onto Wilson Hill Rd. The road drops down to a bridge crossing North Battle Creek and curves sharply left and ascends the other side of the narrow canyon.

� At the top of the canyon about � mile from the creek crossing, turn right off of Wilson Hill Rd. onto a secondary road leading toward Pacific Gas Electric Company's Volta Powerhouse.

� After about a mile on this secondary road you will pass a pipe gate and cross a bridge over Cross-Country Canal. Immediately after crossing the bridge, bear right onto the dirt road paralleling the canal.

� Proceed along the dirt road a short distance to the pond area where the canal opens up to an intake facility. Parking will be at this location and access to North Battle Creek Feeder will be on foot down the paved access road to Volta 2 Powerhouse. A vehicle will be provided to ferry camera equipment from the parking area down to the powerhouse and back.

-DOI-