News Release Archive

Trinity River Restoration Program and North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Finalize Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites Environmental Documents

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

For Release: October 03, 2006

Under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP), the Bureau of Reclamation (the Federal lead agency) and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) (the State lead agency) have finalized a joint environmental document for the Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites Project: Trinity River Mile 73 to 78 (Project). The Environmental Assessment (EA) meets National Environmental Policy Act provisions and fulfills evaluation needs stipulated under Executive Orders 11988 (floodplain management), 11990 (protection of wetlands), and 12898 (environmental justice). A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been signed for the project, and the RWQCB has certified that the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) meets all California Environmental Quality Act requirements.

The proposed Project will conduct river rehabilitation activities at four locations downstream of the TRRP's recently constructed Hocker Flat Channel Rehabilitation Project at Junction City, California. These channel rehabilitation projects are identified in the Secretary of the Interior's December 19, 2000, Record of Decision as a necessary step towards restoration of the Trinity Rivers anadromous fishery. Together, Hocker Flat and the proposed Project include work at five sites that will enhance river processes locally and are also expected to increase and maintain fisheries habitat throughout the Trinity River reach below Canyon Creek. The proposed Project will accomplish this by re-contouring bank and floodplain features during fall 2006.

The FONSI-EA/Final EIR includes the EA/Draft EIR (incorporated by reference), a list of persons and agencies commenting on the EA/Draft EIR, written comments, Lead Agency responses to comments, revised EA/Draft EIR text, and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the proposed Project. The document will be used to support necessary permit applications as well as identify and adopt appropriate monitoring and mitigation plans.

All Project documents may be viewed online at http://trrp.net/RestorationProgram/CanyonCreek.htm or at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=1854 . For further information, please contact Mr. Brandt Gutermuth, TRRP, at 530-623-1806.

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Relevant Link:

Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP)

Reclamation's Environmental Documents Database