News Release Archive

Trinity River Restoration Program and Trinity County Finalize the Indian Creek Rehabilitation Site Environmental Documents

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

For Release: April 17, 2007

Under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP), the Bureau of Reclamation has acted as the federal lead agency in preparation of the Indian Creek Project (Project) Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Environmental Assessment (EA).  The Trinity County Planning Department (Trinity County), in their role as the state lead agency, has prepared the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR).  This joint environmental document for the proposed Indian Creek Rehabilitation Site:  Trinity River Mile 93.7 to 96.5 (FONSI-EA/Final EIR), meets National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements and fulfills evaluation needs stipulated under Executive Orders 11988 (floodplain management), 11990 (protection of wetlands), and 12898 (environmental justice). 

This mechanical channel rehabilitation project was originally identified in the Department of the Interior Secretary’s December 19, 2000, Record of Decision (ROD) as a necessary step towards restoration of the Trinity River’s anadromous fishery.  The purpose and need of the Project is to increase juvenile salmonid rearing habitat while reducing Trinity River flow impacts to structural improvements located adjacent to the river from implementation of Trinity River ROD flows.  This Project is expected to not only increase fish habitat and decrease water surface elevations locally, but also improve healthy river functioning throughout the reach.  Alternative 3, from the Supplemental EA/Recirculated Partial Draft EIR (SEA/RPDEIR), which minimizes in-channel construction during creation of floodplain habitat and reclaims onsite materials for use as spawning gravel at future project sites, has been found to meet the Project purpose and need, while minimizing environmental impacts.  Construction of the Project is planned for summer 2007. 

Prior to approving the Project, Trinity County will certify that the Final EIR is in compliance with CEQA and Reclamation will sign the FONSI in accordance with NEPA.  After certification and signing of the FONSI in early May, the document will be used to support necessary permit applications as well as to identify and adopt appropriate monitoring and mitigation plans.  

Trinity County has received financial support for Project implementation from the California Department of Fish and Game’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program and from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Targeted Watershed Grants Program.  Trinity County is working as a partner agency under the EPA program with the Yurok Tribe and the Trinity County Resource Conservation District.

All Project documents may be viewed at the TRRP’s website at http://www.trrp.net/implementation/IndianCreek.htm or on Reclamation’s website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=2094.  The documents may also be reviewed at the TRRP Office at 1313 South Main Street; the Trinity County library, 211 North Main Street; or the Trinity County Planning Department, 60 Glen Road, all in Weaverville, California.  If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or e-mail lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.

For further information, please contact Trinity County Planner, Mr. Joshua Allen at 530-623-1351 (x3411)
or email jallen@trinintyCounty.org, or Mr. Brandt Gutermuth, TRRP Environmental Specialist, at 530-623-1806 or bgutermuth@mp.usbr.gov.

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Relevant Link:

All Project Documents May Be Viewed at the TRRPs Website

Reclamations Website