News Release Archive

Negotiation Session CANCELLED for Proposed Contract with Sacramento County and the Sacramento County Water Agency on the Flow Management Standard for the Lower American River

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

For Release: August 13, 2008

The Bureau of Reclamation has cancelled until further notice a negotiation session with Sacramento County Representatives and the Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA), acting on behalf of the Water Forum, for a Lower American River Flow Management Standard (FMS). Since 1994, Local environmental, agency, business and water purveyor interests in the Sacramento region (the Water Forum) have advocated an enhanced Lower American River (LAR) flow regime. This effort is reflected in the Water Forum Agreement of 2000, and in the Water Forum EIR 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 contract negotiation session, previously scheduled for Thursday, August 14, 2008, is:

CANCELLED until further notice

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

There are also biological monitoring activities designed to support the FMS. The biological monitoring activities for the LAR 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.

For additional information, please contact Mr. Richard Stevenson, Reclamation, at 916-978-5264 (TDD 916-978-5608) or e-mail at rstevenson@mp.usbr.gov.

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