Reclamation News Releases

Reclamation Awards $7.8 Million Contract for Guernsey Dam Modification

2012-10-16 00:00:00.0

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $7.8 million contract to Moltz Constructors, Inc., of Cody, Wyo., to complete modifications at Guernsey Dam.

Guernsey Dam is scheduled to undergo modifications in relation to work being performed at Glendo Dam, located 25 miles upstream from Guernsey. The modifications are in response to Reclamation's safety of dams recommendations and will ensure structural integrity of Glendo and Guernsey Dams should a large flood event occur.

Modifications include redesigning the south spillway, installing a filter blanket type drain next to the north spillway and adding a taller parapet wall to the top of the dam. Work is scheduled to be complete in summer 2013.

"Reclamation is pleased to award this contract to a local Wyoming business," said Great Plains Regional Director Michael J. Ryan. "The contract ensures Reclamation facilities continue delivering water and power safely well into the future."

Guernsey Dam is located in a rocky canyon two miles upstream from Guernsey, Wyo. The dam is a diaphragm-type embankment of sluiced clay, sand and gravel, with a structural height of 135 feet. Guernsey Powerplant has two units generating more than 14 gigawatt-hours annually. Power is transmitted to towns and industries down the valley over project and other interconnected transmission system lines.

Reclamation Releases Final Environmental Documents for San Joaquin River Restoration Program Invasive Plant Monitoring and Management

2012-10-15 15:22:00.0

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation today released a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for an invasive plant monitoring and management program funded by Reclamation and conducted by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust.

The action includes plans to conduct invasive vegetation monitoring and management on the San Joaquin River between Friant Dam and the Merced River confluence to limit the spread and reduce existing presence of invasive vegetation. Enhancement of riparian habitat resulting from the action would potentially have beneficial effects for aquatic and terrestrial species.

The San Joaquin River Restoration Program began releasing experimental flows, called interim flows, from Friant Dam in October 2009. Interim flows have the potential to increase the quantity and distribution of invasive plant species. The SJRRP’s EAs supporting the release of the interim flows require Reclamation to monitor and manage invasive vegetation in the San Joaquin River.

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, in collaboration with River Partners and The Nature Conservancy, will complete actions and provide information needed for Reclamation to successfully meet the requirements in the EAs and the Stipulation of Settlement in NRDC, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al. As described in that Settlement, the purpose of the interim flows is to collect relevant data concerning flows, temperatures, fish needs, seepage losses, recirculation and recapture and reuse.

The Final EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=9993 and on the SJRRP website at www.restoresjr.net. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

To request a compact disk containing the documents, please contact Margaret Gidding at 916-978-5461 or mgidding@usbr.gov.

SJRRP Implementing Agencies include Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Water Resources and California Department of Fish and Game. To learn more about the SJRRP, please visit www.restoresjr.net.

Reclamation Announces Availability of EA and FONSI for Alcova-Gray Reef-Pathfinder Resource Management Plan

2012-10-15 00:00:00.0

MILLS, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the availability of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Alcova-Gray Reef-Pathfinder Reservoirs Resource Management Plan, according to Wyoming Area Manager Coleman Smith.

"The purpose of the RMP is to develop and implement land use plans and resource management decisions, and to develop and protect natural, cultural, and recreational resources at Alcova, Gray Reef and Pathfinder Reservoirs," Smith said. "The purpose of the EA is to evaluate the associated environmental effects."

Reclamation assisted Natrona County Roads, Bridges & Parks with the preparation of the integrated RMP and the associated EA. Based on the RMP/EA, Reclamation has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

The public may view the RMP/EA and FONSI at Reclamation's Wyoming Area Office located at 705 Pendell Blvd., Mills, WY.

Inquiries for additional information may be submitted to Reclamation’s Wyoming Area Office at the following address: Wyoming Area Office, P.O. Box 1630, Mills, WY 82644-1630.

Reclamation Announces Seasonal Area Closures at East Park and Stony Gorge Reservoirs

2012-10-12 14:39:00.0

WILLOWS, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation’s Northern California Area Office has scheduled seasonal closures at Stony Gorge and East Park Reservoirs for most of the campgrounds from October 15, through April 1, 2013. The closure of the reservoirs at Stony Gorge and East Park will allow seasonal maintenance work as well as the natural recovery of recreational areas.

The areas that will be closed are:

Stony Gorge:

Figs 1, Figs 2, Hidden Point, Elk Creek Hill, Recreation Cove, Grimy 3

East Park (Stonyford)

Big View, Hideout, Honker Point, Pinto Point, Badlands, Badlands Spur, Diversion Flat

East Park (Ladoga)

Chisholm Cove, Other Side, Palomino, Rodeo 1, Rodeo 2, Rodeo 3, Sidewinder, Serenity, Last Chance, Sleepy Hollow, Hole-in-the-wall, Rocky Ridge, Rattlesnake Point, Rattlesnake Cove, Big Oak, Coyote Cove, Coyote Flat

The areas that will remain open are:

Stony Gorge:

Skipper’s Point Boat Ramp and day use area (all year)
Grimy Gulch 1 and 2 camping areas (Twenty sites are available until the first rain.)

East Park (Stonyford)

Boat Ramp and four camp sites. (Open every Friday from 10 a.m. until Monday at 10 a.m.

rain permitting all year.)

East Park (Ladoga)

Open to Round-up (Twenty sites available plus boat use until the first rain.)

For more information please contact the park rangers’ office at 530-968-5267.

Reclamation to Host Public Meeting on North Platte Water Operations

2012-10-12 00:00:00.0

MILLS, Wyo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled a North Platte River Water Information Meeting in Torrington, Wyo.

The meeting will be held at 10 a.m., on October 23, in the Fire Hall, in Torrington, Wyo. The Fire Hall is located at the corner of West C and Highway 26 in Torrington. To avoid obstruction of emergency vehicles, park north of the Fire Hall along the side of the street by the city park. Use the southwest entrance to the Fire Hall.

Coleman Smith, Wyoming Area Manager, said; "The purpose of the meeting is to present information on the operations and accounting of the North Platte River Reservoirs in Water Year 2012, which covers the period October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012. Scenarios of operations for Water Year 2013 will also be presented using reasonable minimum, most probable, and reasonable maximum water supply conditions."

For additional information contact Mahonri Williams at (307) 261-5624 or mlwilliams@usbr.gov.

Reclamation Announces Two-Year Interim Renewal Central Valley Project Water Service Contracts Available for 60-Day Public Review

2012-10-11 12:20:00.0

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation and seven Central Valley Project contractors intend to execute two-year interim renewal contracts effective March 1, 2013; the existing contracts expire on Feb. 28, 2013. This contracting action will comply with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. Environmental documents supporting this action will be available for public review and comment later this month.

The draft contracts for the cities of Avenal, Coalinga, Huron and Roseville; the California Department of Fish and Game; the Panoche Water District; and the San Luis Water District are available for public review at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvpia/3404c/lt_contracts/index.html. If you encounter problems accessing the draft contracts, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments must be received by close of business Tuesday, Dec. 11, and should be sent to Karen Hall, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-440, Sacramento, CA 95825-1898, faxed to 916-978-5290 or emailed to khall@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the draft contracts, please contact Hall at 916-978-5254 (TTY 800-735-2929).

WaterSMART Program is Stretching Water Supplies, Making Progress toward Sustainable Balance of Supply & Demand

2012-10-11 11:00:00.0

WASHINGTON - The Department of the Interior's WaterSMART program is saving water, finding better ways to stretch existing supplies and helping partners plan to meet future water demands, according to a three-year progress report on the program released today. The program was launched by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in 2010.

Combining new initiatives with existing programs as part of a comprehensive strategy for sustainable management of water supplies in the United States, WaterSMART projects, along with other conservation activities, are expected to save an estimated 587,839 acre-feet of water a year – enough water for more than 2.3 million people. These water conservation results put Interior well on the way toward achieving its high priority goal of saving 730,000 acre-feet per year by the end of 2013.

"WaterSMART allows us to manage water in a more sustainable manner to achieve balance between the water we have and the water we need for humans and ecosystems," said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Anne Castle. "Using the best available science, WaterSMART provides relief for immediate water shortages while planning for long-term needs through collaborative processes."

The water savings and other accomplishments are detailed in the report, WaterSMART: A Three-Year Progress Report. "SMART" stands for "Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow."

In addition to saving water, the WaterSMART Program has conserved 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – enough power for 3,400 households.

"Water and energy are linked," Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor said. "Water is necessary to generate power, while energy is required to store, move and treat water. Water saved is energy earned, and energy saved is water earned."

"The WaterSMART initiative has given a big jumpstart to our work on a National Water Census," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "This is the first survey in more than 30 years to determine the quantity, quality, and use of the nation’s water supply. Our hope is that this information will enable water resource managers and other stakeholders to optimize how water is used for future human, economic, energy production and environmental purposes."

Other accomplishments identified in the WaterSMART three-year progress report include:

Since 2009, about $94 million in federal funding was awarded through Reclamation’s WaterSMART Grants for 158 projects, leveraging more than $280 million in water management improvements across the West.
Reclamation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service began a new partnership in 2011 to leverage funding for water delivery agencies and agricultural producers in California. Reclamation made $4.1 million in competitive WaterSMART Grants available to five irrigation districts for water management improvements within the delivery systems used by farmers. NRCS committed $7 million to farmers who receive water from those districts so on-farm conservation improvements can be made.
About $231 million in federal funding was provided for Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects since 2009. Eight projects have finished construction since that time, and eight others are expected to be completed in 2013. Project sponsors delivered about 262,000 acre-feet of recycled water in 2011, providing a drought-resistant supply and new flexibility for water managers.
Reclamation provided cost-shared funding for 129 smaller-scale efficiency projects through the Water Conservation Field Services Program. 69 of those projects are now completed.
Reclamation has also provided more than $2.6 million in funding for 18 System Optimization Reviews since 2009, assisting project sponsors in their assessments of the potential for water management improvements in the future.
As part of the National Water Census, the USGS has begun Geographic Focus Areas Studies – comprehensive technical assessments of water availability and use – in the Colorado, Delaware, and Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basins.
Interior agencies are also taking steps to conserve water at more than 2,400 of their own facilities across the Nation.
Reclamation contributed more than $12 million toward 17 Basin Studies in states across the West, assisting partners plan for the long-term challenges of water scarcity, supply and demand imbalances, and the impacts of climate change.
Launched in 2012, the Cooperative Watershed Management Program provided eight entities $333,500 in grants during the first year. Its purpose is to improve water quality and ecological resilience and to reduce conflicts over water through collaborative conservation efforts in the management of local watersheds.

WaterSMART: A Three-Year Progress Report is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART.

Road at Belle Fourche Reservoir Temporarily Closed for Improvements

2012-10-10 00:00:00.0

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has closed Susie Peak Road at Belle Fourche Reservoir in Butte County, S.D., through the end of November, in order to continue improvements to public access. The entire road will be closed from the junction of Fisherman's Road to Gaden's Point.

"Improvements to the road include compacting the gravel surface and the addition of several more inches of gravel," said Jeff Nettleton, Chief of Facility Operation and Maintenance and Engineering Services for Reclamation's Dakotas Area Office.

Alternate road access from Fisherman’s Road to Gaden's Point and the northwest portion of the reservoir will not be provided through Reclamation land during this time.

"The temporary closure will maximize public safety and allow the work to be completed in an efficient, cost effective manner," said Nettleton.

For additional information on this road closure, please contact Ryan Alcorn at 605-394-9757, ext. 3004. Follow up news releases related to this closure will be available on our website at www.usbr.gov/gp/dkao.

Reclamation's Invasive Mussel Research Laboratory Awarded Colorado Governor's Award for High Impact Research

2012-10-09 15:24:00.0

DENVER – The Bureau of Reclamation's Invasive Mussel Research Laboratory in Denver, Colo., has been selected by CO-Labs to receive its 2012 Governor's Award for High Impact Research. The lab was recognized for its advances in the early detection of invasive zebra and quagga mussels and evaluation of potential control methods.

"Invasive species, particularly zebra and quagga mussels, have the potential to impact ecosystems and restrict the ability of Reclamation and other entities to deliver water and generate hydropower," said Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor. "Detecting their presence as early as possible is key to providing Reclamation and its partners the greatest lead time for proper mitigations to be put in place."

Reclamation began monitoring its reservoirs soon after adult mussels were detected in Lake Mead and the lower Colorado River system. The early detection of mussels involves taking water samples and then testing those samples for the presence of microscopic mussel larva. The tests start by using microscopes and polarized light. If mussel larvae are seen, the samples are then verified using a very high power scanning electron microscope, Polymerase Chain Reaction testing – a type of DNA test – followed by gene sequencing.

Since Reclamation began testing, it has tested water from 420 reservoirs throughout the western states. These water bodies include Reclamation reservoirs, other federal reservoirs and non-federal water bodies. If a water body is found to have mussel larva, Reclamation notifies the respective state of the findings.

"Early detection also gives reservoir managers the opportunity to implement additional public education, boat inspections and cleaning programs that may prevent further introduction of mussels and reduce the chances of an infestation," said Curt Brown, Reclamation's Research Director.

In addition to early detection, Reclamation is conducting research on potential control measures. These measures studied help Reclamation’s water projects deal with the presence of mussels and help them to keep delivering water and generating hydropower. These measures include ballast filters, ultraviolet lights and various surface coatings to prevent mussels and larva from settling on facility infrastructure or to make it easier for mussels to be removed once they do attach.

Reclamation will receive the 2012 Governor's Award for High-Impact Research at a ceremony on October 25 at the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building, University of Colorado, Boulder, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Reclamation's lab is one of six federal labs in Colorado to be recognized.

To learn more about Reclamation's invasive mussel program, please visit www.usbr.gov/mussels.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company to Begin Removing the Stanislaus Afterbay Dam Located on Reclamation Land

2012-10-05 08:46:00.0

ANGELS CAMP, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company has notified the Bureau of Reclamation of its schedule for demolishing and removing the Stanislaus Afterbay Dam on the upper arm of the Stanislaus River, approximately 12 miles east of Angels Camp, Calif., between Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. The dam is located on Reclamation land within the New Melones Lake Area and is part of the Spring Gap-Stanislaus Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission No. 2130, owned by PG&E.

The timber-faced, steel-buttress dam, built in 1962, is obsolete and no longer fulfills its intended function, which was to buffer the flows from the Stanislaus Powerhouse. The dam is submerged when flows in the Stanislaus River are greater than 800 cubic feet per second, and it has been damaged by accumulated debris, including logs and tree branches. Further, FERC, PG&E and Reclamation have determined that the dam poses a public safety hazard.

PG&E is removing the dam in compliance with Article 302 of FERC Project No. 2130 – Spring Gap-Stanislaus Project’s operating license to enhance public safety and increase fish passage and public accessibility for recreation. The anticipated schedule follows:

Preparation work – Oct. 8-19 (daylight hours only)
Dam removal – Oct. 20-Nov. 4 (day and night operations)
Clean up and demobilize – Nov. 5-12 (daylight hours only).

The work will require extensive trucking with traffic controls along Camp Nine Road. Traffic delays of up to 30 minutes are possible; flaggers will hold traffic only when necessary. Truck traffic noise will only occur between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Because of the dam’s remote location, any noise impacts associated removal activities will be minor. The contractor will follow all best management practices to minimize construction impacts to local residents.

PG&E will coordinate with the Oakdale and South San Joaquin Irrigation Districts (the Tri-Dam Project) and with the Northern California Power Agency on decreasing water releases from their respective dams during in-river activities. Decreases are anticipated to begin Oct. 20 and end Nov. 12. A qualified biologist will capture any stranded fish with dip nets and move them to an area downstream of the dam. Short-term, temporary disruptions to recreational activities may occur near the site.

For additional information, please see the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=7851 or contact Sandra Suchodolski, New Melones Recreation Resources Branch, at 209-536-9094 (TTY 800-877-8339) or ssuchodolski@usbr.gov, or Michael Decarlo, PG&E, at 801-518-6501 or M2DA@pge.com.

Reclamation Reduces Colorado River Releases Below Davis Dam in Response to Central Arizona Project Canal Break

2012-10-04 15:53:00.0

BOULDER CITY, Nev. - Beginning today and continuing through October 2012, Colorado River water releases from Davis Dam north of Laughlin, Nevada, will be uncharacteristically low due to reduced water demands downstream. The Bureau of Reclamation is also reducing releases from Hoover Dam creating flow conditions that are lower than usual for this time of year.

The reduced water releases will result in lower than normal river water levels throughout the Laughlin/Bullhead City area. While Colorado River levels in the area normally fluctuate, this reduction from Davis Dam will result in peak flows dropping from about a 4-unit flow or 19,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), to no higher than a 2-unit flow or 9,200 cfs. A 1-unit change in flow is equivalent to approximately 2 feet in the river’s depth below Davis Dam.

Boaters below Hoover and Davis Dams should exercise extra caution during this period of reduced river flows as sandbars, boulders and gravel will be exposed creating more hazardous river conditions.

The temporary reduction in water releases is necessary because of a break in the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal near Bouse, Arizona, approximately 50 miles southeast of Lake Havasu City. While this part of the canal is out of service, Colorado River water deliveries are being temporarily halted. For additional information on the CAP canal break go to: http://www.cap-az.com/PublicInformation/PressReleases/tabid/284/ID/85/CAP-Canal-Breach-Floods-Highway.aspx .

Daily and hourly information on releases from the Bureau of Reclamation's Colorado River dams is available on Reclamation's web site at www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html under Current Conditions. For further information contact the Boulder Canyon Operations Office Water Control Center at 702-293-8373, or BCOOWaterops@usbr.gov.

Central Valley Project Begins Water Year 2013 with 6.9 Million Acre-Feet of Storage (98 Percent of the 15-Year Average)

2012-10-04 14:16:00.0

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project began Water Year 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012 – Sept. 30, 2013) with approximately 6.9 million acre-feet of water (98 percent of the 15-year average on Oct. 1) in six key CVP reservoirs.

The total reservoir storage is the combined amount of water remaining at the end of WY 2012 in Shasta, Trinity, Folsom, New Melones and Millerton Reservoirs and the federal share of the joint federal/state San Luis Reservoir. The 15-year average carry-over for these reservoirs on Oct. 1 is 7.0 million acre-feet of storage. One acre-foot is the volume of water sufficient to cover an acre of land to a depth of 1 foot, enough water to sustain a typical California household of four for one year.

Two tables follow, one showing reservoir capacities and end-of-year storage comparisons for WY 2012 and 2011 for key CVP reservoirs and one comparing end-of-year storage for 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 1977 (the driest year).

CVP Reservoir Capacities and End of Water Year 2012 Storage in Million Acre-feet
Reservoirs	Annual Storage Comparisons						15-Year Average Storage
CVP Reservoirs and Capacities	2012	% of Capacity	% of 15 Yr Average	2011	% of Capacity	% of 15 Yr Average	1997-2012
Shasta 4.552	2.6	57	96	3.3	73	124	2.7
New Melones 2.42	1.5	62	97	2.1	85	128	1.6
Trinity 2.448	1.8	74	108	2.2	89	135	1.7
Folsom .977	.45	46	84	.74	76	135	.54
Millerton .52	.32	61	124	.36	68	148	.26
Federal San Luis .966	.25	26	78	.64	67	268	.32
Total 11.8	6.9	58	98	9.3	78	135	7.0

Comparison of Previous End-of-Year Storage
Million Acre-feet
2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	1977 (Driest Year)
6.9	9.3	7.4	4.8	4.1	1.5

Precipitation in WY 2012 was about 83 percent of the historic seasonal average or 41.6 inches as measured at eight key locations in Northern California from the Upper Sacramento River watershed near Shasta, Calif., to the American River watershed near Blue Canyon, Calif. (California Department of Water Resources’ Northern Sierra Nevada 8-Station Index). For the Friant Division, the precipitation total for the Huntington Lake station was 24.89 inches or 57 percent of the historic seasonal average.

During WY 2012, CVP powerplants generated about 4.8 billion kilowatt-hours. Project use consumed about 25 percent of this energy. The remaining energy was made available for marketing. The Mid-Pacific Region’s hydroelectric generators have a combined capacity of approximately 2.1 million kilowatts.

As WY 2013 gets under way, Reclamation will continue to monitor and evaluate hydrologic conditions as they develop. The initial forecast of CVP water supply allocations for the contract year (which begins March 1) will be made in late February. The allocation will be adjusted monthly or more often if warranted, to reflect the updated snowpack and runoff. The current allocations and other background information are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water.

For additional information on the end-of-year storage for specific reservoirs or for general information about Reclamation programs, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo or contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 916-978-5608) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Informational Release: Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources Issue Decision Documents for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program; Agencies Select the Preferred Alternative

2012-10-04 14:09:00.0

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources have signed decision documents selecting the preferred alternative from the Final Program Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program for implementation.

The final environmental documents describe the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of implementing the Settlement in NRDC, et al., v. Kirk Rodgers, et al. that resolved more than 18 years of litigation related to Reclamation’s operation of Friant Dam and established the SJRRP.

Of the seven alternatives studied in the Final PEIS/R, Reclamation’s Record of Decision and DWR’s Notice of Determination select Alternative C1, the Preferred Alternative. This alternative includes the use of the river channel and bypass system to convey restoration flows and allows for recapture of these flows at existing facilities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and in the San Joaquin River upstream of the Delta at existing facilities or at new facilities that may be constructed in the future. Alternative C1 provides the greatest flexibility in implementing the Settlement and the greatest opportunity to fulfill the purpose and need of the SJRRP.

Both the ROD and NOD are available on the SJRRP website at www.restoresjr.net. The ROD is also available on Reclamation’s website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2940.

For additional information or to request a copy of the ROD, please contact Michelle Banonis, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-170, Sacramento, CA 95825-1898, 916-978-5457, TTY 916-978-5608, mbanonis@usbr.gov or at peisrcomments@restoresjr.net. To request a copy of the NOD and/or related CEQA documents, please contact Karen Dulik, DWR, at 559-230-3361 or kdulik@water.ca.gov.

The SJRRP is a comprehensive, long-term effort to restore flows to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River (153 miles), restoring a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery in the river while reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts from the release of restoration flows. The SJRRP is being implemented by Reclamation, DWR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the California Department of Fish and Game.

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents for Clayton Regency Mobile Home Park Out-of-Area Service Agreement

2012-10-04 10:47:00.0

FRESNO, Calif. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Clayton Regency Mobile Home Park Out-of-Area Service Agreement.

Reclamation proposes to permit the delivery of Central Valley Project water by Contra Costa Water District to customers outside of the district’s traditional service area to address public health concerns in accordance with the district’s approval from the Contra Costa County Local Area Formation Commission to extend service outside its jurisdictional boundary for the sole purpose of providing water service to the park. The district and the Clayton Regency Mobile Home Park would install and operate a water pipeline from the current service terminus to the mobile home park, located in unincorporated Contra Costa County.

The Draft EA/FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=11090. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments may be mailed to Ben Lawrence, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, e-mailed to blawrence@usbr.gov or faxed to NEPA staff at 559-487-5397. Comments are due by November 2, 2012. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Ben Lawrence at 559-487-5039 (TTY 800-735-2929). Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Fresno office at the above address.

Reclamation Hosts 14th Annual C.A.S.T. for Kids – Let’s Move Outside! Event at Lake Mead Saturday

2012-10-02 16:31:00.0

BOULDER CITY, Nev – With visions of boats, tackle, and wriggling catches, about 40 disabled, developmentally-challenged or disadvantaged participants from throughout the Las Vegas valley will enjoy a morning on the water and learn the art of fishing. The Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region Office is hosting the 2012 C.A.S.T. (Catch a Special Thrill) for Kids/Let’s Move Outside! event Saturday, Oct. 6 2012, at Lake Mead’s Las Vegas Boat Harbor/Lake Mead’s Hemenway Harbour from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

C.A.S.T. for Kids is a water-recreation event providing children and adults with disabilities or who are economically disadvantaged a day for an on-the-water fishing experience they may not have had before. The Region’s Boulder City office C.A.S.T for Kids event incorporates the Department of the Interior’s Let’s Move Outside! initiative to encourage healthy lifestyles and outdoor activity. Let’s Move Outside is an integral component of the First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign to reduce childhood obesity. The Region’s Phoenix Area Office also hosts a C.A.S.T. event at Lake Pleasant with Arizona partners annually in spring.

As part of its participation in Let’s Move Outside, Reclamation has updated its long-standing relationship with the C.A.S.T. Foundation to promote the health benefits of physical activity and fishing for disabled and disadvantaged youth around the country. Upwards of 1,000 kids each year are able to engage in hands-on fishing activities at 30 different Reclamation sites through C.A.S.T./Let’s Move Outside! programs. The activities engage participants from all backgrounds in a range of educational programs and self-guided activities in America’s Great Outdoors.

“Being selected as part of this initiative is a big plus for the Lake Mead event and the national program,” said Regional Office C.A.S.T. event coordinator Phil Aurit. “This is our 14th C.A.S.T. event and we are coupling a fun, outdoor fishing experience with healthy eating choices and an expanded emphasis on recycling.” Regardless of their fishing luck, each participant will receive fishing gear, a C.A.S.T. T-shirt and cap, trophies, commemorative awards, and other gift items. Volunteers also receive a large dose of “warm and fuzzy” from assisting the novice anglers. “Every safety precaution is being taken to ensure a safe outdoor experience,” Aurit said. “All anglers must wear life vests while fishing, and like last year, the kids will fish only from pontoon boats tied to the dock. Also, the best fishing on the lake is at the boat dock which is normally closed to fishing.”

In addition to Reclamation, volunteer agencies include the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the National Park Service. Sponsors and organizational participants include the Nevada Striper Club, Give me A Break, Inc., AmeriFace, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Southern Nevada, the Knights of Columbus, the Nevada Bass Anglers, Blind Center of Nevada, the Las Vegas Boat Harbor, and the Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is arranging a special guest appearance by “Coastie,” its robotic tugboat and mascot.

“C.A.S.T. for Kids has proven to be a wonderful activity in which children with disabilities and special needs can participate as their abilities permit,” said Scherrie Adams-Ambre, executive director of Give me A Break, Inc. “In the 10 years that Give me A Break, Inc., (GAB, Inc.) has partnered with the C.A.S.T. for Kids Program, we have seen the amount of love that has been expressed to the families participating continue to grow each year,” Adam-Ambre added. “Families that GAB, Inc., has invited to participate in C.A.S.T. for Kids have expressed to us how much they enjoyed the event.”

“We are extremely proud to again partner with C.A.S.T. for Kids for this very special event,” said Debbie Oliver, executive director of AmeriFace, a national nonprofit community organization headquartered in Las Vegas. “And it’s a privilege to work with volunteers from Reclamation and local fishing clubs to bring smiles to the faces of these children.” Oliver noted that pediatric patients born with a condition known as cleft lip and palate, the most common birth defect in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control, undergo several facial reconstructive surgeries by the time they reach elementary school age.

“Ongoing medical care often leaves little time for leisure activities like fishing and boating,” Oliver said.