News Release Archive

Final EIS/EIR Available for the Fish Passage Improvement Project at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, (916) 978-5100, 05/22/2008 22:41

For Release: May 22, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal lead agency, and the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority (TCCA), the California State lead, announce the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Enviromental Impact Report (Final EIS/EIR) for the Fish Passage Improvement Project at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam (RBDD). This joint document was prepared to meet National Environmental Policy Act and California Environmental Quality Act requirements. The Final EIS/EIR describes and provides analysis of the alternative ways to improve fish passage at the dam. Reclamation provided the Draft EIS/EIR for public comment in 2002 and again in 2006.

Prior to the completion of the RBDD in the mid-1960s, anadromous fish had unimpeded passage to and from the ocean at the dam site. Since construction, the dam creates a barrier across the Sacramento River when its gates are lowered to raise the water level behind the dam, forming Lake Red Bluff and allowing for gravity water diversion for irrigation. Although the dam features fish ladders intended to allow fish passage, the ladders delay and impede the fish. The Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) called for implementing measures to improve anadromous fish passage at the dam.

Reclamation and TCCA analyzed alternative methods to improve adult and juvenile anadromous fish passage at the RBDD pursuant to the CVPIA, while also providing for the continued diversion of irrigation water consistent with the CVP's Sacramento Canals Unit authorizing legislation. The preferred alternative is operating the dam with raised gates for a longer annual period and construction of a new pumping facility, including a positive barrier fish screen to avoid entrainment of fish from the Sacramento River. This would allow for the continued diversion of irrigation water into the Tehama-Colusa and Corning Canals during the periods when gravity water diversion into the canals would not be possible because the dam gates are raised. However, no change in the current annual 4-month "gates-in" operation - May 15 through September 15 - will be made until construction of the new pumping plant is complete.

Reclamation would seek measures to reduce the potential impacts of the proposed action on local recreation and economic interersts, such as providing a short "gates-in" period to accommodate the Memorial Day boat races. Any such measures will be subject to review by fishery agencies, including Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation related to long-term operation of the CVP.

The Final EIS/EIR is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=237. For questions or to request a copy of the document, please call Mr. Don Reck at 530-275-1554. Please send comments to Mr. Don Reck, Bureau of Reclamation, 16349 Shasta Dam Blvd., Shasta Lake, CA 96019-8400 or e-mail dreck@mp.usbr.gov.

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