Battle-Creek Watershed Conservancy

04/23/2026

First Winter-Run Chinook above Eagle Canyon for 2026!

Snow pack may be low, but lots of Winter Run in Battle Creek and late rain & snow plus PG&E ditch maintenance will keep water in the North Fork higher for Winter Run passage and holding until spawning.

03/30/2026

Don't forget PG&E is hosting an online public meeting to talk about the License Surrender and Decommissioning process and timelines tomorrow Tuesday March 31 at 5:30pm.

PG&E's Battle Creek Decommissioning website just went live so check it out.

PG&E is giving up the federal license that allows it to operate the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project.

03/29/2026

https://www.stewardshipcouncil.org/battlecreek

Did you know that all of PG&E’s land in the Battle Creek Watershed have conservation easements that prevent development.

Find out more and see where PG&E’s land are.

PG&E Retained (Western Shasta Resource Conservation District) | CAL FIRE Donated  |  USFS Donated  |  PG&E Retained (Norther California Regional Land Trust) |  Public Information Meeting/Maps

03/28/2026

https://www.loc.gov/item/ca1023/

The Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project was built by The Northern California Power Company between 1900 and 1910.
In 1979 the Historic American Engineering Record wrote a book about its construction and the role it played in the development of the North State.

It's an in-depth look at the system and our region with lots of cool pictures and diagrams. Check it out by clicking the link.

03/26/2026

PG&E’s Water Rights in Battle Creek.

There has been a lot of speculation about PG&E’s planned decommissioning of its Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project and its effects on watershed residents, specifically North Battle Creek Reservoir, Lake McCumber and other water rights.

The Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy (BCWC) is here to educate and inform watershed residents while advocating for local stewardship of land and water rights. Our mission from 1997 to today to is to preserve and protect the economic and environmental values of the watershed. All of us recognize the connection between the environmental values and economic values in Battle Creek, and all of us recognize locals’ role in stewarding our land.

PG&E has 35 registered water rights, 2 reservoirs (North Battle & McCumber), 5 powerhouses, 25 canals stretching over 70 miles, and 3 forebays (Grace, Nora & Coleman) in Battle Creek,. Many of these have a direct impact on watershed landowners and residents. PG&E, and only PG&E, can submit a plan to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), to determine what happens next. Here is a link to PG&E water rights in Battle Creek https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1VFn5oLrTg2_QjXspnbqcgzl7iOQ5ao8b?usp=sharing and here is a link to the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1elLzIe86rhp_bGCKgLWhoxBN1m_SPPUs?usp=sharing . Click on any of the features in the map and it will tell you more including water rights and usage.

PG&E is getting out of the hydro business in Battle Creek. This puts North Battle Creek Reservoir and Lake McCumber at risk, not to mention Lakes Grace & Nora and other water rights that are connected to PG&E. No one that lives in the watershed wants to lose these resources.

But PG&E is a highly regulated utility and many state and federal agencies have “conditional authority” to speak into and permit whatever plan PG&E comes up with for decommissioning Battle Creek. Those agencies include the State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB), US Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) and others.

BCWC has spent the last 4 years developing relationships and entering into discussion with PG&E, local, state & federal resource agencies, elected officials and land owners & residents of the watershed to find a path forward.

Watershed residents have the support of our elected officials. Supervisors Chris Kelstrom (Shasta) and Steve Zane (Tehama), Assemblymember Heather Hadwick, and Senator Megan Dahle have all been incredible advocates for Battle Creek. We thank them for their continuing support.

Now it's our turn to support Battle Creek.

PG&E is hosting an online meeting to talk about Battle Creek’s decommissioning and you are needed. Attend next Tuesday’s meeting March 31 at 5:30pm. https://bit.ly/BattleCreekMeeting&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1774982035439721&usg=AOvVaw1c2sbnaMpIEKAHYPx7FHJr This is PG&E first public outreach regarding decommissioning, and we need all of you to show up, speak up, and help find a path forward.

If you have questions, concerns or other issues please contact our director Trey Hiller. [email protected]

03/25/2026

Tuesday March 31, 2026 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm PG&E is hosting a meeting to provide information on the surrender application process and anticipated schedule. This is the first outreach by PG&E regarding Battle Creek's decommissioning.

Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/BattleCreekMeeting

Meeting ID: 274 723 249 868 45

Passcode: Qg2ki9J3

Dial-in: (833) 255-2803 (Conference ID: 345259779 #)

[email protected]
pge.com/battlecreekhydro

03/18/2026

Lady for Mayor of Manton, CA

Ensure local water and land rights while supporting Salmon, Steelhead and the Battle Creek Watershed!

Vote Lady Hiller for Mayor of Manton!

$1 = 1 vote. Manton’s Mayoral Race: It’s the most honest election money can buy, and a $10 donation makes you and your family a member of the Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy.

Battle Creek is home to Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lassen National Forest, Coleman & Darrah Springs Fish Hatcheries and hundreds of square miles of forest and ranch land from the Lower Cascades to the Sacramento. Battle Creek is the last cold water refuge below Shasta Dam and its hatcheries produce over 16 million fish per year. PG&E is decommissioning its Hydroelectric system and we all need to work together and determine what comes next.

Be a voice for the future of Battle Creek and support a Lady for Mayor of MANto(w)n!

Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/BattleCreekConservancy

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7QT8BTD9VQFSE

03/15/2026

PG&E has begun it's public outreach for the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project's Decommissioning Plan. PG&E's first public meeting will be online Tuesday, March 31 at 5:30pm.

BCWC has been working with PG&E, Resource Agencies, NGO's, elected officials and many of you in the watershed that may be impacted by decommissioning. We will continue to represent local rights and local interests and will do our best to keep everyone up to date.

DM us and please let us know if you have any questions or comments.

03/15/2026

Lady for Mayor of Manton, CA

Ensure local water and land rights while supporting Salmon, Steelhead and the Battle Creek Watershed!

Vote Lady Hiller for Mayor of Manton!

$1 = 1 vote. Manton’s Mayoral Race: It’s the most honest election money can buy, and a $10 donation makes you and your family a member of the Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy.

Battle Creek is home to Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lassen National Forest, Coleman & Darrah Springs Fish Hatcheries and hundreds of square miles of forest and ranch land from the Lower Cascades to the Sacramento. Battle Creek is the last cold water refuge below Shasta Dam and its hatcheries produce over 16 million fish per year. PG&E is decommissioning its Hydroelectric system and we all need to work together and determine what comes next.

Be a voice for the future of Battle Creek and support a Lady for Mayor of MANto(w)n!

Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/BattleCreekConservancy

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7QT8BTD9VQFSE

11/11/2025

Three great meetings happening at Manton Parks tomorrow and Thursday.

Wednesday
9am - 12pm the Greater Battle Creek Watershed Working Group will meet and there will be a presentation and Q & A about PG&E's Decommissioning. You can participate via Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86226281217

We are serving lunch to those that attend in person.

1pm - 3pm is the Battle Creek Adaptive Management Team's Meeting. Find out about the Battle Creek fishery, hatcheries, habitat, passage & population, and there is a panel discussion and Q&A with USFWS, CDFW and PG&E biologists. We have Spring and Winter Chinook in Manton for the first time in 115 years. You can participate via Zoom - https://kearnswest.zoom.us/j/89893383901

Thursday
5:30pm is the Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy's Annual Meeting, and dinner is being served at 5:00pm.

The Conservancy was founded by locals in 1997 to preserve and protect the economic and environmental resources of our watershed, and today more than ever we need representation.

We need to come together as a community and deal with PG&E's decommissioning and other natural resource issues in our community. Ranching, forestry, agriculture, homeowners and everyone in the watershed will be affected by these large scale plans.

The Conservancy has worked hard over the last three years to establish itself with Federal & State Agencies, NGO's, elected officials, businesses, and residents of the community. We have a long way to go, so it's important that we hear from you on how to move forward.

Come to Thursday's meeting. Become a member. It's $10 per family or individual or company. We charge nominal dues because everyone should have skin in the game, but we don't want anyone excluded because of cost.

05/16/2025

Big meetings in Battle Creek and your presence and your voice is critical. We all care deeply about our home and locals need to come out in force to demonstrate our commitment and concern for the watershed. This is too important for our future to sit on the sidelines

Monday’s meeting is focused on the fish. Winter Run Chinook Salmon are above Eagle Canyon. Lots to learn and talk about as Battle Creek is the last refugee for all for runs of Chinook Salmon. TEAMS Link here
https://tinyurl.com/AMP-Tech-Team

Tuesday’s meeting is everything Battle Creek including PG&E planned decommissioning. Representatives from agencies and organizations working in Battle Creek are there to give updates and answer questions about anything and everything in Battle Creek. ZOOM link here
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88417337698