News Release Archive

Central Valley Project Long-Term Water Service Contracts for the Cities of Fresno and Lindsay Available for Public Review and Comment

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

For Release: September 07, 2004

The Bureau of Reclamation and the City of Fresno and the City of Lindsay have completed negotiation of their Central Valley Project (CVP) long-term water service contracts. The proposed contract for the City of Fresno is for delivery of up to 60,000 acre-feet per year of Friant Class 1 water for municipal and industrial purposes for 40 years. The proposed contract for the City of Lindsay is for delivery of up to 2,500 acre-feet per year of Friant Class 1 water for municipal and industrial purposes for 40 years. The contracts were negotiated in accordance with the Central Valley Project Improvement Act and are available for a 60-day public review and comment period.

Significant terms of both contracts include tiered pricing of water; opportunities for contractors to engage in water management activities such as transfers, water banking, and ground-water recharge; an acknowledgment that the contract will be amended as needed to accommodate any settlement or order related to ongoing litigation; and communication, cooperation, and coordination between the parties to improve management and operation of the CVP.

The City of Fresno has a metering plan setting forth the milestones and schedule that the Contractor will implement to comply with contract requirements. In the event the metering requirements, or any portion thereof, are challenged in a judicial proceeding, the parties agree to meet and confer promptly and as often as necessary to employ their reasonable best efforts to coordinate their response to the challenge and, as appropriate, develop revisions to this contract.

The forms of contract are available on-line at www.usbr.gov/mp/cvpia/3404c/index.html, click on 2004 Forms of Contract and scroll to City of Fresno or City of Lindsay. Written comments must be received by close of business on Wednesday, November 3, 2004, and should be sent to: Mr. Richard Stevenson, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-440, Sacramento CA 95825. Comments may also be e-mailed to rstevenson@mp.usbr.gov or faxed to 916-978-5292.

For additional information or to request a copy of the forms of contract, contact Mr. Stevenson at 916-978-5250, TDD 916-978-5608. Negotiations continue for the renewal of the remaining CVP long-term water service contracts. Additional information on Reclamation's contract renewal process can be accessed online at www.usbr.gov/mp/cvpia/3404c/index.html.

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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.

Relevant Link:

Central Valley Project Long-Term Water Service Contracts for the Cities of Fresno and Lindsay