PG&E and Caltrans costs and coordination emerge as major considerations for Middle Creek restoration

At the April 6 meeting the committee reviewed utility and transportation impacts of the proposed Middle Creek inundation area and discussed approaches to protect infrastructure. County notes recorded two general approaches for protecting PG&E transmission towers: constructing earthen berms around tower bases or raising tower foundations and platforms above projected water elevations. Other concepts included elevated access structures and concrete platforms.

Minutes recorded preliminary PG&E estimates previously cited at about $5 million for transmission infrastructure protection and about $2 million for distribution infrastructure; committee members agreed on the need for recurring coordination among Army Corps, PG&E, Caltrans and county staff to refine concepts, standards and cost estimates.

Caltrans participation was emphasized as critical. Daniel Gjerde, Caltrans District 1 Local Development Review Coordinator, will attend future Middle Creek meetings to assist with packaging information for internal Caltrans review and to help evaluate highway-level alternatives. The committee discussed the potential raising of roughly 3,000 feet of Highway 20 and noted that raising a highway would require additional designs for recovery slopes, guardrails, right-of-way acquisitions and environmental review. Committee members flagged concern about flood protection near Robinson Rancheria and the casino property and agreed to maintain coordination and follow-up meetings.