News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Availability of Draft Environmental Documents for Development of a Streamlined Water Transfer and Exchange Process Among Contractors

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, 02/08/2008 19:29

For Release: February 08, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for development of a streamlined, conditional pre-approval process for water transfers and exchanges of up to 70,000 acre-feet. The transfers and exchanges would be between Central Valley Project contractors and specific non-CVP contractors in the Friant Division and Cross Valley contractors in the 2008 contract year. The pre-approval process is proposed to encourage efficient water management and allow maximum water management flexibility between CVP contractors and a group of 17 non-CVP contractors through transfers and exchanges.

The non-CVP contractors who are potential recipients of transfers or exchanges are: Buena Vista Water Storage District, Cawelo Water District, Consolidated Irrigation District, Corcoran Irrigation District, Deer Creek & Tule River Authority, Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, Kern County Water Agency, Kern Delta Water District, Kern Water Bank Authority, Kings County Water District, Kings River Conservation District, Lakeside Irrigation District, Liberty Water District, North Kern Water Storage District, Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District, Semitropic Water Storage District, and Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District.

The Draft EA and FONSI are available for a 15-day public review and comment period. The Draft EA is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=3063. If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.

Please send written comments to Ms. Judi Tapia, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, by February 25, 2008. Comments can also be faxed to Ms. Tapia at 559-487-5397, or e-mailed to jtapia@mp.usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the draft documents, please contact Ms. Tapia at 559-487-5138, TDD 559-487-5933. Copies of the Draft EA and FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation's Fresno office.

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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:

Draft EA and FONSI