News Release Archive

Reclamation Issues Draft EA for Palmer Creek Water District in Oregon

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Tanya Sommer, tsommer@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: March 21, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation issued a Draft Environmental Assessment for a proposed water-service contract that would allow the Palmer Creek Water District to use up to 12,250 acre-feet of water annually for irrigation in Yamhill County, Oregon. The source of the water is the reservoirs operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Willamette River Basin.

The water district, which manages and distributes water to farmers around Dayton, Ore., has Willamette River water rights and a contract for reservoir water. The additional reservoir water storage contract would be used primarily as a backup to the existing water supply. The Bureau of Reclamation issues contracts for irrigation use of reservoir water in the Willamette Basin.

The Draft EA describes and analyzes the impacts of two alternatives, the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Alternative. The No Action Alternative is a decision by Reclamation to deny the District's application. The Proposed Action is an affirmative decision by Reclamation to enter a contract and provide the water.

The public is invited to provide written comments concerning the proposed contract. Written comments should be sent to Bureau of Reclamation, Attn: Tanya Sommer, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 750, Portland OR 97232-1295, or faxed to (503) 872-2797. For information, telephone Sommer at (503) 872-2995. The draft EA for Palmer Creek Water District will be located at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/oregon/palmer/index.html. The deadline for public comments is April 24, 2007.

# # #

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:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/oregon/palmer/index.html