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Draft EA Available for the Approval of One-year Temporary Warren Act Contracts for the Conveyance of non-CVP Water in the Delta-Mendota Canal in 2007

Media Contact: Jeffrey S. McCracken, 916-978-5100, 04/25/2007 14:57

For Release: April 25, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) titled, 2007 Approval of One-year Temporary Warren Act Contracts for the Conveyance of Non-CVP Water in the Delta-MendotaCanal.

Reclamation proposes to issue one-year temporary Warren Act Contracts to requesting Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors within the Delta Division and San Luis Unit for up to a combined total of 25,000 acre-feet for the 2007 Water Year ending February 29, 2008, for the delivery of non-CVP water in the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC).  The source of non-CVP water to be delivered in the DMC would be from ground-water pumping by water districts within the Delta Division and San Luis Units.  Conveyance of non-CVP water under a Warren Act contract within Reclamation facilities would also be subject to available capacity as well as water quality standards. 

The district would pump ground water from the wells close to the DMC directly into the DMC and measure.  The district would then take out a like amount from turnouts on the DMC to be conveyed through their distribution systems for agricultural use to water users within the district.  The 2007 Water Year has been classified by Department of Water Resources as "Critical", meaning that less than 2.1 million acre-feet of unimpaired flow are expected in the San Joaquin River basin.  As a result of the dry year, Reclamation has set the water allocation for agricultural South of Delta contractors to 50 percent for the 2007 Water Year.  Water service contractors of the San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority need additional water to supplement their water supply during this water year shortage. 

The Draft EA has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and is available for a 10-day public review and comment period.  The Draft EA will be finalized upon conclusion of the public review period.  The document is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=2707.  If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or e-mail lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.

Comments are due to Ms. Laura Myers by close of business Friday, May 4, 2007.  To request a copy of the draft document, please contact Ms. Myers at 559-487-5179 or e-mail lmyers@mp.usbr.gov, or by mail at 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721.  Comments may be mailed or e-mailed to the above addresses.

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Relevant Link:

Draft EA Available for the Approval of One-year Temporary Warren Act Contracts for the Conveyance of non-CVP Water in the Delta-Mendota Canal in 2007

http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2707