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Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents for Water Exchanges between Paramount Citrus Association and Tulare Irrigation District
Media Contact:
Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100 TTY 916-978-5608 , plucero@usbr.gov
Ned Gruenhagen, 559-487-5227 TTY 800-735-2929, ngruenhagan@usbr.gov
For Release: June 18, 2010
The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact for the long-term annual exchanges of up to 4,000 acre-feet of water between Paramount Citrus Association and related companies and the Tulare Irrigation District.
The project would allow the annual exchanges, from 2010 through 2027, from the Tulare Irrigation District (TID) Central Valley Project (CVP) water allocation, under a Friant Division long-term water service contract, for an equal amount of Paramount Citrus Association's (PCA) non-CVP water that is derived from its ownership of Rayo Ranch.
Rayo Ranch holds shares to Wutchumna Water Company (WWC). WWC began diverting Kaweah River water in the 1800s, historically diverting an average of 56,000 acre-feet per year under its pre-1914 appropriative right. The Rayo Ranch water would be delivered to TID for use within its contract service area, in compliance with the Reclamation Reform Act and Friant Biological Opinion. PCA and Paramount Farming Company have historically transferred and exchanged water among their companies.
TID's CVP water would be delivered to various PCA and Paramount Farming Company lands in Cawelo Water District, Kern-Tulare Water District, Madera Irrigation District, North Kern Water Storage District, Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District, and Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District.
The Draft Environmental Assessment/Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available online. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mpPublicAffairs@usbr.gov.
Please send written comments to Ned Gruenhagen, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, Calif., 93721, by July 2, 2010. Comments may also be faxed to Ms. Gruenhagen at 559-487-5397 or e-mailed to ngruenhagen@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Ms. Gruenhagen at 559-487-5227 (TTY 800-735-2929). Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation's Fresno office at the above address.
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