Mid-Pacific Region News Releases

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s CVP Interim Renewal Water Service Contract

FOLSOM, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed execution of an Interim Renewal Contract for Central Valley Project water with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

Interim Renewal Contracts are issued under the authority of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act to provide a bridge between the expiration of the original long-term water service contracts and long-term renewal of those contracts.

Please email comments to John Hutchings, Bureau of Reclamation, at jhutchings@usbr.gov. Written comments may also be mailed to the Bureau of Reclamation, 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630 or faxed to 916-989-7208. Comments are due by close of business Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA, please contact Hutchings at 916-989-7179 (TTY 800-877-8339). Copies of the Draft EA may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Folsom office at the above address.

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Document for the Sacramento County Water Agency’s CVP Interim Renewal Water Service Contract

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Document for the City of Roseville’s CVP Interim Renewal Water Service Contract

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Assessment for San Joaquin River Restoration Program Seepage Management Actions

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has prepared a draft environmental assessment for San Joaquin River Restoration Program seepage management actions up to 2020.

The program’s Restoration Flow releases are currently constrained based on the potential for groundwater seepage impacts to lands adjacent to the San Joaquin River. The purpose of implementing the proposed actions are to account for potential seepage impacts, and enable Restoration Flow releases up to 1,300 cubic feet per second.

Based on landowner input, seepage management actions currently being evaluated include the purchase of easements allowing for higher groundwater tables underneath crops as a result of the release of Restoration Flows or purchase of land affected by groundwater seepage on a willing seller basis.

The Draft EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and is available at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=27373. More information on the Seepage Management Plan is available at: http://www.restoresjr.net/monitoring-data/groundwater-monitoring/. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Comments are due by close of business Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, to rvictorine@usbr.gov. Comments may also be mailed to Becky Victorine, Bureau of Reclamation, MP-170, 2800 Cottage Way W-1727, Sacramento, CA 95825 or faxed to 916-978-5469. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA, please contact Victorine at 916-978-4624.

Final Environmental Documents for WaterFix Released

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Following hundreds of public meetings and thousands of public comments, California today released the final, refined environmental documents for WaterFix, an essential effort to modernize the State’s water infrastructure.

“WaterFix will secure water supplies for 25 million Californians and prepare for a future marked by rising seas, seismic threats and more extreme weather,” said Mark Cowin, Director of the California Department of Water Resources. “After years of scientific study and analysis, we have found the best solution for protecting both the Delta’s ecosystem and a vital water supply for California.”

The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describe environmental impacts that could arise from modernizing California’s infrastructure and includes measures to avoid or minimize those impacts. The document analyzed 18 project alternatives, including the status quo, and ultimately concluded that WaterFix, known as Alternative 4A, was the best option for both increasing water supply reliability and addressing current Delta ecosystem concerns while minimizing environmental impact. WaterFix was chosen because of its ability to provide a reliable source of clean water while minimizing unnatural flows in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that harm native fish and habitat. More than 100 alternatives were also considered in the development of the WaterFix EIR/EIS and screened out for lack of feasibility or public benefit.

WaterFix is the State’s plan to upgrade infrastructure in the estuary where two major rivers – the Sacramento and San Joaquin – meet before flowing to San Francisco Bay. The Delta provides critical habitat for wildlife, including several endangered or threatened species of native fish. The State’s two biggest water projects, the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project, deliver water that passes through the Delta. Together, the two projects deliver water to 25 million people across California. Water project operations in the south Delta are increasingly curtailed to protect listed fish species. WaterFix aims to reduce that conflict so that water supplies are stabilized and harmful reverse flows are reduced. The project consists of three new intakes in the northern Delta and two 35-mile-long tunnels to transport water to the existing pumping plants in the south Delta. New intakes and tunnels would also help guard water supplies against saltwater intrusion as sea levels rise and in the event of an earthquake or storm powerful enough to destroy levees in the low-lying Delta.

The product of 10 years of study, analysis, and public input, California WaterFix is a key element of the Brown Administration’s five-year plan to build more reliable, resilient water systems and to restore important ecosystems. The basic elements of WaterFix were chosen in order to satisfy the 2009 Delta Reform Act, which established the co-equal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem. The 2009 law directed State agencies to analyze a reasonable range of Delta conveyance alternatives, including various routes and carrying capacities.

Now that the EIR/EIS is completed, Biological Opinions are expected to be finalized in early 2017, clearing the way for final environmental clearances, completion of other necessary agreements, and construction beginning as soon as 2018.

Today’s final EIR/EIS was refined after more than 300 days of public review and 600 public meetings throughout the State about the draft versions. It includes responses to and revisions based on more than 30,000 public comments. The final environmental documents are available at http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/FinalEIREIS.aspx

Lake Berryessa’s Dufer Point Visitor Center Invites You to be Wild About Wetlands

Napa, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation announces a new exhibit at Lake Berryessa’s Dufer Point Visitor Center. Wild About Wetlands is an exhibit on loan from, and developed by, the Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael, California.

The exhibit shows the importance of wetlands in filtering water and providing a location for habitat and recreation. In addition to several exhibit panels, the loan includes interactive children’s games to occupy visitors who are young or young-at-heart. The exhibit will remain on display at Lake Berryessa until September 2017.

The Dufer Point Visitor Center is currently open from 12 to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, except for Christmas Day. The Visitor Center is located at 5520 Knoxville Road, Napa CA 94558.

Park Rangers are available at the Visitor Center to answer questions about natural resources, recreational opportunities, wildlife and the area’s history. Brochures, maps, trail guides and other educational information are available free of charge.

Please contact the Park Rangers at 707-966-2111 ext. 113 for more information about park exhibits, events and programs.

Reclamation Increases Releases into Lower American River for Storage Management

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation is scheduled to increase releases below Nimbus Dam Dec. 15 at 9 a.m. from 15,000 cubic feet per second to reach 35,000 cfs by 1 p.m. Should inflows continue at current levels or increase, additional releases may be required.

The increased releases are based on changing conditions and are necessary to maintain space in Folsom Reservoir for projected Sierra runoff. Current storage in the reservoir is around 158 percent of its 15-year average for December.

Folsom Reservoir, located 26 miles northeast of Sacramento, provides water for people, fish and wildlife, hydropower, and environmental and salinity-control requirements in the Bay-Delta.

People recreating in or along the lower American River downstream of Folsom Dam to the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers can expect river levels to increase and should take appropriate safety precautions. Some inundation along the American River’s recreational trails and at Discovery Park are expected.

Midnight Reservoir Elevation and Flows for Folsom may be found at Reclamation’s Central Valley Operations Office website at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/vungvari/wtr_rpt.pdf. Current American River conditions may be found at the Department of Water Resources’ California Data Exchange Center website at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/americanStages.html.

Reclamation Announces Water Management Plan Standard Criteria Revision for 2017

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has updated the Standard Criteria for evaluating its Water Management Plans in response to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 and in accordance with the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982. The purpose of the Standard Criteria are to promote the highest efficiency of water delivery.

Section 210 of the Reclamation Reform Act requires contractors to prepare and submit Water Management Plans every five years with definite goals, delivery timetables and appropriate water conservation measures. Section 3405(e) of the CVPIA requires the Standard Criteria be reviewed every three years and revised if necessary. With no additional requirements set for 2017, the updated criteria will become effective Feb.1 following public review.

Please visit https://www.usbr.gov/mp/watershare/docs/2017/2017-water-management-planner.pdf to view the proposed 2017 Standard Criteria. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Comments must be received by close of business, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. Written comments should be sent to Angela Anderson, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-410, Sacramento, CA 95825 or emailed to aanderson@usbr.gov. For additional information, please contact Anderson at 916-978-5215.

Reclamation Releases Environmental Documents for Firebaugh Canal Water District Second Lift Canal Lining

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation released the Finding of No Significant Impact for the Firebaugh Canal Water District Second Lift Canal Lining Project Phase 5 – Washoe Avenue to Ashlan Avenue. The Environmental Assessment details Reclamation’s proposed grant of $564,000 to FCWD through CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grant Funding to reduce canal seepage, improve water reliability, and update structures to allow conversion to high-efficiency irrigation systems. The public was provided an opportunity to review and comment on the EA from November 30, 2016 to December 7, 2016; no comments were received.

The grant would partially fund the concrete lining of 1.7 miles of the Second Lift Canal of the FCWD Lift System, from Washoe Avenue to Ashlan Avenue, to reduce seepage losses. Grant funds would also go towards replacing control structures along that segment of canal to improve water management capabilities. Water conserved by the project would also reduce the discharge of subsurface drainage to the San Joaquin River.

The EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=27228. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For questions on the project or to request a copy of the EA and FONSI, please contact Alexandra Woodward at (916) 978-5056 (TTY 800-877-8339), or email aawoodward@usbr.gov.

Children Flock to Lake Berryessa for Fun and Education

This fall, Bureau of Reclamation park rangers at Lake Berryessa welcomed over 180 students, teachers, and chaperones to education programs at Acorn Beach within Oak Shores Day Use Area. Acorn Beach is an ideal location for children and families, as the swimming area is closed to personal watercraft and boats. The amenities available at Acorn Beach include the free lifejacket loaner program, plenty of picnic tables, grills and restrooms nearby.

Nelda Munday Elementary School fifth-graders braved the tail end of a very warm summer Sept. 26-27, 2016, while St. Helena’s fourth-graders were accompanied by far more moderate temperatures and even some rain showers! Through it all, students learned about a variety of topics including the history of Lake Berryessa, the water cycle, water quality, local habitats and food webs, and the diversity of oak woodlands.

One activity students complete during their visit is a study of the water quality at Lake Berryessa. Students on the education field trips form a hypothesis regarding Lake Berryessa's water quality and collect aquatic invertebrates by the waterline to test it. It was good news for Lake Berryessa and our students, as the water quality turned out to be very good. Students found plenty of little critters, although not all were aquatic invertebrates, to identify including water boatmen, leaches, grass spiders and piles of clam shells.

To find out more about Lake Berryessa, recreation and educational opportunities visit our website at: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/berryessa/index.html.

Students collect water samples at Lake Berryessa during field trip.

Park ranger introducing students to Lake Berryessa.

A park ranger shares about the water cycle to students visiting Lake Berryessa.

Click on dot to advance photos.

Reclamation Releases Environmental Documents for the Western Area Power Administration's Security Upgrades Project

FRESNO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Western Area Power Administration's Security Upgrades Project. The proposed project would authorize WAPA to install security upgrades at Reclamation’s Tracy Substation Facility.

The FONSI was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=27328. If you encounter problems accessing the document, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the FONSI, please contact Jennifer Lewis at 559-487-5197 or email jllewis@usbr.gov.

Reclamation Releases Final Environmental Documents for Camp Nine Whitewater Events

FOLSOM, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released the final environmental documents for a program to issue Special Event Permits (SEP) to local outfitter companies to conduct commercial whitewater boating operations on the main stem Stanislaus River between the Camp Nine area and Mark Twain Day Use Area at New Melones Lake. The whitewater boating program was identified in the 2010 New Melones Lake Area Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.

As water-level conditions allow, Reclamation would issue SEPs to up to four local outfitter companies (permittees) to conduct whitewater boating operations at New Melones Lake. The permittees would use existing roads to transport customers, outfitter staff, and equipment along Highways 4 and 49, Parrotts Ferry Road, and Camp Nine Road, including the access route to Mark Twain Recreation Area on former Highway 49. The Camp Nine Road extends about nine miles from Parrotts Ferry Road to the Collierville Power Plant. The put-in would be located below Camp Nine Road near Mile 8 and the former Camp Nine Bridge. The former bridge and an adjacent weir were removed in 2008.

The Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=25758. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Final EA/FONSI, please contact Sarah Perrin at 916-989-7173 (TTY 800-877-8339). Copies of the Final EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Central California Area Office, 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630.

Reclamation Releases Final Environmental Documents for Transfer or Exchange of Recirculated Restoration Flows to Red Top

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, the Bureau of Reclamation has made available the Final Environmental Assessment/Initial Study and Finding of No Significant Impact for a new turnout and pipeline to facilitate a 10-year transfer and exchange of recaptured San Joaquin River Restoration Flows to Red Top.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce reliance on deep aquifer groundwater pumping in the Red Top area to reduce the rate of subsidence, as well as avoid water supply impacts to Friant Contractors by providing a mechanism to recirculate, reuse, exchange or transfer recaptured Restoration Flows.

Red Top is located in western Fresno and Madera counties, south of Highway 152, near the San Joaquin River and Eastside Bypass. Restoration Flows are water releases from Friant Dam that are made for environmental purposes, as authorized in the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act.

The turnout and pipeline will connect Central California Irrigation District’s (CCID) Poso Canal to pumping and conveyance facilities in Red Top. Construction of the pipeline will begin in December 2016 and the new facility will allow for the transfer or exchange of up to 10,000 acre-feet per year during water years 2016 – 2026.

The Final EA/IS and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. Reclamation is the lead agency in accordance with NEPA, and CCID is the lead agency in accordance with CEQA in preparing the analysis. The documents are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=24552. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information, please contact Becky Victorine at 916-978-4624 or rvictorine@usbr.gov. More information on the San Joaquin River Restoration Program is available at www.restoresjr.net.

Reclamation to Perform Maintenance on Nimbus Dam Powerplant; Water to be Released through Spillway Gates

GOLD RIVER, Calif. – From Monday, December 12, through Monday, December 19, 2016, the Bureau of Reclamation will shut down the Nimbus Dam Powerplant to perform preventative maintenance on the facility. Maintenance activities are required to satisfy North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) requirements as well as Reclamation Power Recommendations for the equipment.

During the maintenance activities, 1,250 cubic feet per second will continue to be released through Nimbus Dam into the Lower American River to maintain river flows. These water releases are generally made through the powerplant for power production; however, during the preventative maintenance work, the releases will be made through the spillway gates and will be visible to the public.

MP Region Joins the Fun at Winters Salmon Festival

On Nov. 4, 2016, the Bureau of Reclamation joined the Solano County Water Agency, Solano County Parks, Putah Creek Council, the City of Winters, and many others in celebrating the first ever Winters, CA Salmon Festival. Staff from the Lake Berryessa Field Office participated in the event in downtown Winters, where they shared with over 130 visitors many ways that Sal the Salmon could make better use of water.

The festival highlighted years of successful work in the Putah Creek Watershed to restore habitat for salmon, which are returning to the creek to spawn in noticeable numbers. Leading up to the event, Reclamation Rangers Jennifer Onufer and Todd Eggert assisted with school programs at Lake Solano County Park aimed at educating Winters’ fourth-graders about salmon, their habitat, and their life cycle in advance of the festival.

During the festival, visitors enjoyed live music, face painting, a salmon derby, food and beverages, raffle items, an opportunity to meet Quagga Mussel Dogs, and more. To wrap up the event, there was a parade and drum circle to and from the Putah Creek Bridge. Thanks to everyone who came out to the event, hope to see you at next year’s!

Park rangers help visitors learn about Putah Creek and salmon at the Winters Salmon Festival

Lake Berryessa staff teach children about Sal the Salmon