20030147 Ver 2_Report_20150821

DUKE
August 21, 2015
The Honorable Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street N.E.
Washington, DC 20426
Re: Duke Energy Progress, Inc.
Yadkin -Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2206)
License Article 406 — Recreation Flow Release Plan
Dear Secretary Bose:
Duke Energy Corporation
526 South Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Mailing Address:
EC12Y/P.O. Box 1006
Article 406 of the New License for the Yadkin -Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project (Project, No. 2206) issued
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) on April 1, 2015, requires Duke Energy
Progress, Inc. (Duke Energy) to file a Recreation Flow Release Plan for the Tillery Reach of the Pee Dee
River within one year of license issuance. This plan requires Duke Energy to determine how to allocate
1,750 acre -feet (or up to 1,950 acre -feet) of water from Lake Tillery required by Section 2.1.4.3,
Recreational Boating Flows, of the Comprehensive Settlement Agreement for the Relicensing of the
Project and required by Condition 9 of the North Carolina Division of Water Resources (DWR) Water
Quality Certification (WQC) for boating and angling during the recreation season.
Duke Energy developed a Recreation Flow Release Assessment Study Plan that will be implemented on
August 28 -30, 2015. The goal of this study is to learn about river flows preferred for recreation activities
in the Tillery Reach. Study results will help form the basis for allocating the available acre -feet per year
of water for recreation flow releases in the Tillery Reach over the term of the New License. Information
from this study will be used to develop the Recreation Flow Release Plan (Plan) required by Article 406
of the license. The study will begin with a release of 2,800 cfs on August 28th for a period of eight hours
to support the boating activity required by the study. Additional flow releases of 450 cfs and 800 cfs are
scheduled for Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30`h, respectively, both releases for an eight -hour
period.
The New License and Condition 9 of the WQC (New License, Appendix A, II (Reservoir Water Levels))
require Duke Energy to follow a seasonally -based lake level management schedule at Lake Tillery during
the term of the New License. This specifically requires:
Progress Energy will maintain lake level fluctuations to generally within 2.5 ft of full
pool (elevation 277.3 ft [278.2 NGVD] measured at Tillery Dam) on weekdays, and
generally 1.5 ft of full pool on weekends and holidays.

Abnormally dry conditions currently exist in the Yadkin -Pee Dee River Basin and inflows have been
below normal for most of the year but more so in July and August. These dry conditions and the
scheduled flow releases could result in lake level fluctuations greater than 1.5 feet below full pool
required on weekends and holidays at Lake Tillery.
Duke Energy will attempt to begin the flow study with the elevation of Lake Tillery at full pool.
Achieving this starting point is dependent on inflow from the upstream Alcoa project but if reached, it
could avoid a deviation from the minimum reservoir level requirement of the New License. However, the
flow releases during the study are higher than normal for this time of year and are occurring under the
abnormally dry conditions in the basin. Beginning the study at an elevation less than full pool could
result in the reservoir level decreasing more than normal, potentially resulting in a drawdown of greater
than 1.5 feet but it should not exceed the 2.5 feet allowed by the New License on weekdays. Duke
Energy has prepared a press release for the local papers to provide the recreating public and lake residents
notice of this event.
Completing this study is critical in developing the Recreation Flow Release Plan required by Article 406
of the New License. Therefore, Duke Energy respectfully requests Commission approval to temporarily
exceed the 1.5 -foot drawdown over the weekend period, should it be required, in order to complete this
study. If resulting reservoir levels are lower than the allowable 1.5 -foot drawdown, the level will be
returned to normal as soon as possible.
Questions can be directed to Tami Styer at (704) 382 -0293 (Tami.Stver(a),Duke- Enersiv.com).
Sincerely,
Jeffrey G. Lineberger, P.E.
Director, Water Strategy and Hydro Licensing
Duke Energy
cc: Karen Higgins — NC DWR
Fred Tarver — NC - DENR
Jennifer Burdett — NC DWR
John Crutchfield — Duke Energy
George Galleher - Duke Energy
David Scott - Duke Energy
Phil Fragapane - Duke Energy
Tami Styer — Duke Energy
Yadkin -Pee Dee Comprehensive Settlement Agreement Stakeholders
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