News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft EA and FONSI for the Friant-Kern/Cross Valley Canals Intertie Construction Project

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

For Release: September 12, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation announces the release of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Friant-Kern/Cross Valley Canals Intertie Construction Project for public review and comment. 

Reclamation proposes to issue a permit to the Kern County Water Agency allowing construction on Federal facilities and operation of a turnout on Federal lands at mile post 151.81 (southeast of the intersection of Coffee and Brimhall Roads in the City of Bakersfield).  The permit would allow for the construction of an interconnection (or intertie) between the Friant-Kern Canal, a Federal Central Valley Project facility, and the Cross Valley Canal, a privately owned facility, at their closest point.  The intertie would allow flexibility of surface water conveyance and therefore flexibility of surface water use in the San Joaquin Valley.  

Roughly 880 feet of 8-foot diameter underground pipeline would be installed parallel to the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District's Intake Canal to provide up to 500 cubic feet per second of flow between the Friant-Kern Canal and the Cross Valley Canal in either direction.  The turnout in the Friant-Kern Canal would be roughly 23-feet wide.  The footprint of the project on Federal land would be 100 feet by 240 feet for a total of 0.55 acres.

The Draft EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=2846.  The Final EA will address any substantive comments received during the comment period.  If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.

Written comments on the Draft EA and FONSI should be received by close of business Tuesday, September 25, 2007.  Comments should be mailed to Ms. Judi Tapia, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 1243 N Street, SCC-413, Fresno, CA 93721 or e-mailed to jtapia@mp.usbr.gov.  For additional information or to request a copy of the documents, please contact Ms. Tapia at 559-487-5138, TDD 559-487-5933. 

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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.

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