Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project

The Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project is a large-scale environmental restoration initiative led by the California Department of Water Resources to restore natural fish migration routes and modernize water infrastructure along the Feather River in Live Oak, California. Central to the project is the removal of the Sunset Weir at River Mile 38.5, which currently obstructs access to 28.5 miles of upstream habitat critical for protected migratory fish species such as salmon and sturgeon. Weir removal will restore riverine morphology by eliminating backwatered, slough-like conditions and reestablishing natural flow patterns with deep pools and shallow riffles, enhancing spawning and rearing environments. Concurrently, the existing Sunset Pump Station will be replaced with a new system designed to operate efficiently at lower river elevations, ensuring continued water supply delivery. This includes installing new pumps and motor units, constructing a cast-in-place concrete wet well, and upgrading discharge pipelines with slip-lining or full replacement. New fish screens compliant with current state and federal standards will be installed to protect juvenile fish from entrainment. Additional work involves stabilizing the eroded left bank of the Feather River downstream of the weir using bioengineering techniques, including flattening the slope to 3:1, applying vegetated rock slope protection, installing longitudinal peak stone toe protection, and planting willow pole baffles perpendicular to flow to reduce erosion. The lower bank will be allowed to naturally accrete over time to form off-channel refugia beneficial to migrating salmonids. Construction is scheduled to occur over three years, from April 15, 2027, through September 2029, with dry season work permitted April 16 to October 31 each year and limited in-water work confined to July 15 through September 30 to avoid peak flow and fish migration periods. All construction activities must comply with stringent environmental regulations including the Clean Water Act, California Environmental Quality Act, and Endangered Species Act, requiring adherence to General Protection Measures and Species Protection Measures. Equipment used must meet EPA Tier 4 Final and CARB emission standards, and stormwater and erosion control plans must be rigorously maintained. Inspections and compliance monitoring will be overseen by the Department of Water Resources, with Kevin Marr serving as the primary point of contact for environmental and regulatory matters. The project adheres to state-level permitting and environmental review processes under CEQA, with no federal acquisition regulations or contract clauses apparent in the available documentation, indicating its administration is governed by California state environmental and