News Release Archive

Public Scoping Meetings Scheduled on the Proposed Water Service Contract with El Dorado County Water Agency

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, jmccracken@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: September 12, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation and El Dorado County Water Agency (EDCWA) intend to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for a Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contract. In 1990, Congress passed Public Law 101-514, directing Reclamation to enter into a long-term CVP Municipal and Industrial (M&I) water service contract with EDCWA to meet the long-term water supply needs of El Dorado County. The proposed water service contract with EDCWA is for up to 15,000 acre-feet per year for diversion from Folsom Reservoir or for exchange upstream on the American River. EDCWA proposes to sub-contract this water equally between El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) and Georgetown Divide Public Utility District (GDPUD). EID proposes to take its supply from Folsom Reservoir. GDPUD proposes to take its supply upstream by way of a water exchange with Placer County Water Agency at the American River Pump Station.

The EIS/EIR focuses on potential environmental impacts resulting from implementation of the proposed CVP contract and will include evaluation of the "no project" alternative as well as alternative delivery quantities. The project will address a comprehensive range of potential effects resulting from the new water service contract, including a detailed evaluation of the effects to both water and land related resources. The EIS/EIR will also identify, at a programmatic level, possible future infrastructure projects that would be needed to fully utilize this contract water.

A Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS will be published in the Federal Register on Friday, September 15, 2006. Two scoping meetings are being held to solicit public input on topics that will be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Meeting participants will have the opportunity to interact directly with the study team. The meetings are scheduled as follows:

Placerville                                                                   Greenwood
Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 6-8 p.m.               Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 6-8 p.m.
El Dorado Irrigation District                                      Greenwood Community Center 
2890 Mosquito Road                                                 4411 Highway 193

Written comments on the scope of the environmental document must be received by close of business Monday, October 16, 2006. Written comments should reference the Bureau of Reclamation/EDCWA CVP Water Service Contract EIS/EIR and be sent to: Mr. James A. Roberts, EDCWA, 3932 Ponderosa Road, Suite 200, Shingle Springs, CA 95682. For further information, contact Mr. Brian Deason, Reclamation, at 916-989-7173 or e-mail bdeason@mp.usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.