News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Addendum and FONSI to Final EA for Recirculation of Recaptured WY 2010 SJRRP Interim Flows

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

For Release: February 07, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation has released an Addendum to the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and an updated Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Recirculation of Recaptured Water Year (WY) 2010 San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) Interim Flows Project. The project develops and implements a plan to recirculate, recapture, reuse, exchange or transfer Interim Flows to avoid impacts to the Friant Division contractors from the release of water from Friant Dam. The project includes recirculating up to 60,000 acre-feet of Interim Flows stored in San Luis Reservoir.

The Addendum to the Final EA includes additional information consistent with the State Water Resources Control Board Water Rights Order, WR 2010-0029-DWR (WY 2011 Order) for the WY 2011 Interim Flows Project, issued on September 30, 2010, and the revised Order issued on October 21, 2010. The WY 2011 Order elaborates on the ability for transfers and exchanges to occur, stating in Condition #2 that, "Any San Joaquin River water temporarily stored or routed through San Luis Reservoir shall not be delivered to south-of-Delta contractors other than Friant Division Contractors. The water need not be directly delivered, but can be made available through transfers and exchanges. Reclamation shall document that it has taken all practicable measures to provide contract water to the Friant Division Contractors, while complying with all other conditions of this Order."

The WY 2011 Order is applicable to recirculation actions resulting from the recapture of Interim Flows between October 1 and December 3, 2010.

Additional clarification and correction provided to the project description states that the Final EA shall mimic the timing of the discretionary action of Reclamation, which is the contract action for the water deliveries, transfers or exchanges of recirculation water. This timeframe is from March 2010 through February 2011, and water may be rescheduled into contract year 2011. In addition, the Proposed Action includes activities for delivery, transfer and exchange of water already analyzed in the Final EA as well as the addition of the transfer of Friant water to the San Luis Water District. An analysis of environmental impacts associated with this additional information was performed, and no new impacts will occur. 

The 2006 Stipulation of Settlement (Settlement) in NRDC, et al., v. Rodgers, et al. provides for the development of a recapture and recirculation plan, as a part of the implementation of the water management goal. The goal is to reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts to all of the Friant Division long-term contractors that may result from the Interim Flows and Restoration Flows.

Reclamation released the Draft EA and FONSI for public review and comment in June 2010, reviewed and responded to comments as part of the Final EA, and signed the FONSI on July 22, 2010. The Addendum was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and is available online, with the EA and FONSI for the action, at www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=5962. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mpPublicAffairs@usbr.gov.

For more information, please contact Michelle Banonis, Environmental Compliance Specialist, Reclamation,  at mbanonis@usbr.gov or 916-978-5457. For more information about the SJRRP, please visit www.restoresjr.net.

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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.