News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft EIS/EIR for New CVP Water Service Contract with El Dorado County Water Agency; Public Meetings Scheduled

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

For Release: August 17, 2009

The Bureau of Reclamation and El Dorado County Water Agency (EDCWA) have made available for public review and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for a Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contract.  The Draft EIS/EIR evaluates the environmental impacts of the proposed CVP contract.

Reclamation is directed in Public Law 101-514 Section 206 (b)(1)(B) to enter into a long-term CVP Municipal and Industrial water service contract with EDCWA to meet the long-term water supply needs of El Dorado County. The proposed water service contract is for up to 15,000 acre-feet per year for diversion from Folsom Reservoir or for exchange upstream on the American River.  EDCWA proposes to sub-contract this water equally between El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) and Georgetown Divide Public Utility District (GDPUD).  EID proposes to take its water supply from Folsom Reservoir; GDPUD proposes to take its water supply upstream by way of a water exchange with Placer County Water Agency at the American River Pump Station.

Public meetings will be held to receive verbal and written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR: 

The Draft EIS/EIR may be viewed at www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=26 or www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/water.  If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail lwirth@usbr.gov.  The Draft EIS/EIR may also be viewed at the El Dorado County Water Agency, El Dorado County Main Library, El Dorado Hills Branch Library, Folsom Public Library, and Granite Bay Branch Library.

Written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR should be sent by close of business Friday, October 16, 2009, to Ms. Elizabeth Dyer, Bureau of Reclamation, 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630 or e-mailed to elizabethdyer@usbr.gov.  For additional information or copies of the Draft EIS/EIR, please contact Ms. Dyer at 916-989-7256.

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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.