News Release Archive

Negotiation Sessions Scheduled for Proposed Contract with Sacramento County and the Sacramento County Water Agency for the Lower American River's Flow Management Standard

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: July 09, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation will hold negotiation sessions with representatives of Sacramento County and the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA), who are acting on behalf of the Water Forum, for a Lower American River Flow Management Standard (FMS).  Since 1994, the Water Forum, a group of local environmental, agency, business, and water purveyor interests in the Sacramento region, have advocated an enhanced Lower American River flow regime.  This effort is reflected in the Water Forum Agreement of 2000 and in the Water Forum Environmental Impact Report certified by the City and County of Sacramento in 1999.  The Water Forum has proposed to apply the FMS in a contract between Reclamation, Sacramento County, and SCWA.

The FMS components of the contract include a temperature and flow regime and facility operations discussions with the American River Group (ARG) which includes the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Reclamation. 

Biological monitoring activities designed to support the FMS are currently being conducted by Reclamation and CDFG, but all ARG members share the responsibility of assessing the biological effects of various activities and procedures.  The FMS is intended to improve the condition of aquatic resources in the Lower American River, particularly fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead.  In addition, the FMS will benefit other fish species, the aquatic environment, and the riparian ecosystem of the Lower American River Corridor.

The contract negotiation sessions will be held:

Sacramento
Friday, July 18, 2008, 8-10 a.m. Sacramento County Offices 700 I Street, Room 6111	Monday, August 4, and Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 8-10 a.m. Sacramento County Offices 700 I Street, Room 5661

 

 

The public is welcome to observe the negotiations.  For additional information, please contact Mr. Richard Stevenson, Reclamation, at
916-978-5264 (TDD 916-978-5608) or by e-mail at rstevenson@mp.usbr.gov.

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