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- Reclamation Releases Record Of Decision For Banks Lake Drawdown
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Reclamation Releases Record Of Decision For Banks Lake Drawdown
Media Contact:
John Redding, (208) 378-5212, 06/30/2004
Jim Blanchard, jblanchard@pn.usbr.gov
For Release: June 30, 2004
The Bureau of Reclamation has released a Record of Decision for the Banks Lake Drawdown. The ROD signed on June 29 contains Reclamation’s decision to select and implement the No Action Alternative, as described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The No Action Alternative has been identified as the environmentally preferred alternative. Banks Lake, an equalizing reservoir located between two earthfill dams, is about 2 miles west of Grand Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee, Washington.
Reclamation is implementing the No Action Alternative to avoid the adverse impacts identified in the FEIS to recreation, resident fish, vegetation, cultural resources, the local economy around Banks Lake, and Federal and non-Federal power production. Reclamation has concluded the very small incremental benefit to ESA-listed salmon and steelhead associated with the contribution from the drawdown of Banks Lake, 1-2 percent of the flow objective at McNary Dam, is not sufficient to outweigh the adverse impacts to other resources.
The ROD is available for viewing on the Internet at www.usbr.gov/pn. Copies are also available for public review and inspection at Reclamation offices and local area libraries.
Additional information, a printed copy of the ROD, or a compact disk (CD-ROM with reader included) of the ROD, may be obtained by contacting Jim Blanchard at (509) 754-0226.
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