News Release Archive

Federal, State Agencies to Participate in Opening Ceremony for Patterson Irrigation District Fish Screen Project

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916 978-5100, 09/26/2011 17:49

For Release: September 26, 2011

Media Contacts:

Pete Lucero, Public Affairs Officer, Reclamation, 916-978-5100
Kirsten Macintyre, Communications Manager, California Department of Fish and Game, 916-322-8988
Peter Rietkerk, General Manager, Patterson Irrigation District, 209-892-6233

News Advisory

This week the Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Fish and Game will join federal, state and local officials at Patterson Irrigation District's opening ceremony for its Fish Screen Project. The new screened intake prevents entrainment of fish species, such as Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, on the San Joaquin River. The media is invited to attend the ceremony.

Thursday, Sept. 29
Event begins at 9 a.m. with refreshments;
Welcome remarks scheduled at 9:30 a.m.
Patterson Irrigation District Fish Screen Intake Project
2990 Old Las Palmas Ave.
Patterson, CA 95363

Congressman Dennis Cardoza will be the keynote speaker and Congressman Jeff Denham will be a special guest speaker at the event, hosted by the Patterson Irrigation District (PID). Other speakers include Reclamation Regional Director Don Glaser, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Ecosystem Restoration Program Coordinator Dave Zezulak, and DFG’s Central Region Manager Jeff Single.

The opening of the multi-benefit fish screen marks another milestone in efforts to restore the California Bay Delta while building a more secure and sustainable water supply for California. The project advances the Federal Interim Action Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, and the CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program.

The $13.8 million fish screen project was funded and constructed through a partnership between Reclamation, DFG and PID. Reclamation awarded about $6.9 million for the project, and DFG contributed about $5.4 million of Proposition 84 bond funds. PID contributed about $1.5 million to complete the cost-sharing agreement.

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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.