South-Central California Area Office

Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation

The Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation is a feasibility study of new surface water storage that is being performed by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation.

The purpose of the investigation is to determine the type and extent of federal, state, and regional interests in a potential dam project in the upper San Joaquin River watershed to expand water storage capacity; improve water supply reliability and flexibility for agricultural, urban, and environmental uses; and enhance San Joaquin River water temperature and flow conditions to support anadromous fish restoration efforts

This investigation is one of five surface water storage studies recommended in the CALFED Bay-Delta Program Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Report Record of Decision of August 2000.

Reclamation released a Draft Feasibility Report in February 2014 that provides an in depth examination into the potential construction of a new dam and reservoir on the upper San Joaquin River, between Friant and Kerckhoff dams. View the feasibility report available here.

Reclamation released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation for public comment on September 5, 2014. Written comments may be provided at any time on or before Oct. 27, 2014. Testimony can also be submitted at the upcoming public hearings on October 14 and October 16, 2014. Comments and testimony will be considered in the Final EIS.

The Draft EIS documents the potential environmental effects of alternatives to increase storage of water from the upper San Joaquin River watershed to improve water supply reliability and operational flexibility in Central Valley Project San Joaquin Valley areas and other regions of California, and to enhance water temperature and flow conditions in the San Joaquin River downstream from Friant Dam for salmon and other native fish. In addition to the No Action Alternative, the Draft EIS documents five action alternatives that include constructing a dam in the upstream portion of Millerton Lake at river mile 274. The action alternatives vary based on operations and intake feature configurations. The Draft EIS was prepared for formal public review and comment, consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act. View the Draft EIS report available here.