News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces the Availability of Environmental Documents for the Trinity River Restoration Program's Channel Rehabilitation Activities

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, 06/12/2009 16:07

For Release: June 12, 2009

A Draft Master (Programmatic) Environmental Impact Report (DMEIR) has been released on the evaluation of proposed Trinity River restoration and sediment management activities at future Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) channel rehabilitation locations. The document also serves as a combined site-specific Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report (EA/DEIR) assessing project specific impacts of proposed channel rehabilitation and sediment management activities at remaining Phase 1 river rehabilitation sites. The DMEIR and EA/DEIR, in combination with the 2000 Trinity River Mainstem Fisheries Restoration Program Final Environmental Impact Statement, meet National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements.

The mechanical channel rehabilitation and sediment management activities evaluated in the DMEIR were identified in the Department of the Interior Secretary's December 19, 2000, Record of Decision (ROD) as a necessary step towards restoration of the Trinity River's anadromous fishery, meeting the TRRP's goals to increase habitat for all life stages of wild salmon and steelhead. The activities proposed in the DMEIR would create additional fish and wildlife habitat at various locations and would increase habitat as riverine processes are restored. Activities include re-contouring bank and floodplain features, developing re-vegetation, and conducting in-river gravel placement and grade control removal. Construction activities within the channel and in the river are scheduled to begin in late summer 2009.

The documents are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=3138 and on the TRRP website at http://www.trrp.net/implementation/remainingP1.htm. If you encounter problems accessing Reclamation's documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail ibr2mprpao@usbr.gov. Hard copies are also available in Weaverville, California, at the TRRP Office, 1313 South Main Street and at the Trinity County Library, 211 N. Main Street.

Comments must be received by close of business, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, and sent to Mr. Brandt Gutermuth, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, Weaverville, CA 96093 or e-mailed to bgutermuth@mp.usbr.gov. For further information or to request a copy of the DMEIR and/or EA/EIR, please contact Mr. Gutermuth at 530-623-1806.

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