News Release Archive

Reclamation Completes East Park Reservoir Resource Management Plan and Related Environmental Documents

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

For Release: September 23, 2004

The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of the East Park Resource Management Plan (RMP), along with the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The RMP presents three different management alternatives. The RMP preferred alternative outlines various strategies to continue current management activities to maintain the primitive nature of the East Park Reservoir area. The RMP preferred alternative also outlines new management strategies to consider additional agreements and partnerships to enhance and protect the area's resources while protecting public health and safety. Consideration of new management strategies is necessary in order to correct a number of health and safety problems, including overcrowding on holiday weekends. Any new management strategies considered would be analyzed under a separate environmental review.

The EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The Draft RMP and Draft EA were made available for public review and comment from January 9 to February 6, 2004. The RMP/EA was finalized April 2004 and the FONSI was signed on September 9, 2004. Reclamation's public review process included the organization of a work group that helped identify issues, actions, and alternatives; the presentation of three open houses in Colusa County that outlined the work group efforts, issues analyzed, and recommendations made; the preparation and distribution of nine newsletters to interested parties; and the development of a study web site which provided access to newsletters, draft materials, and meeting announcements.

The documents are available online at www.usbr.gov/mp/ncao/eastpark/info/info.htm. The documents may also be reviewed at Reclamation's Red Bluff Division Office, located at 22500 Altube Road, in Red Bluff, California, telephone number 530-529-3890. For additional information or to request a copy of the RMP/EA, please contact Ms. Basia Trout at 530-528-0512 or e-mail btrout@mp.usbr.gov.

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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:

Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)