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- Reclamation Schedules Two Public Open House Sessions on the Nimbus Hatchery Fish Passage Project Draft EIS/EIR
News Release Archive
Reclamation Schedules Two Public Open House Sessions on the Nimbus Hatchery Fish Passage Project Draft EIS/EIR
Media Contact:
Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@mp.usbr.gov
Harry Morse, 916-322-8962, HMorse@dfg.ca.gov
For Release: October 27, 2010
The Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will hold two public Open House sessions to provide information and receive comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Nimbus Hatchery Fish Passage Project (Project). The public is welcome any time during either of the two sessions to visit with staff members at information stations, ask questions, and provide comments:
Reclamation, the lead federal agency for the EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act, and DFG, the lead state agency for the EIR under the California Environmental Quality Act, released the Draft EIS/EIR on October 4, 2010. It identifies and evaluates three alternatives: (1) replace the existing weir with a new weir structure, (2) extend the fish ladder from the hatchery to the Nimbus Dam stilling basin, using the basin itself to hold and divert fish into the ladder, and (3) no action. With the second alternative, the existing weir would be permanently removed and DFG would assess potential changes in local fishing regulations.
The Nimbus Fish Hatchery is located along the lower American River, one quarter mile downstream from Nimbus Dam in Gold River. Reclamation built the hatchery in 1955 to mitigate for the loss of spawning habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead trout by the construction of Nimbus Dam; DFG operates and maintains the hatchery. The existing fish weir, which helps adult salmon enter the fish ladder, is aging, susceptible to damage from high flows, and requires annual flow reductions for maintenance activities.
The Draft EIS/EIR may be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=5216. Should you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov. The Draft EIS/EIR may also be viewed at Reclamation's Central California Area Office (CCAO), 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630 or at the DFG Regional Office, 1701 Nimbus Road, Gold River, CA 95670.
Please mail written comments by Tuesday, November 30, 2010, to David Robinson, Bureau of Reclamation, CCAO, 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630, or e-mail to HatchPass@usbr.gov, or fax to 916-989-7208. For more information, please contact Mr. Robinson at HatchPass@usbr.gov or 916-989-7179 (TTY 916-989-7285), or Joe Johnson, DFG, at 916-358-2943 or jrjohnson@dfg.ca.gov, or visit the project website at www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/hatchery.
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