News Release Archive

Reclamation Continues Negotiations with Byron Bethany Irrigation District for an Operational Water Exchange Contract

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

For Release: November 23, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation will conduct a meeting with the Byron Bethany Irrigation District on contract terms and conditions for the direct delivery and/or exchange of up to 4,500 acre-feet of its non-Central Valley Project water supply for CVP water. Byron Bethany Irrigation District (Byron Bethany) is requesting a long-term exchange with Reclamation in order to provide operational flexibility and an annual water supply to the Tracy Hills Development, near Tracy, Calif.

Byron Bethany would introduce non-CVP water, in excess of its demands, into the Delta-Mendota Canal, downstream of the C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant. The non-CVP water Byron-Bethany makes available in excess of its demands would be used by Reclamation to meet a portion of CVP water demands. In exchange, Reclamation would deliver an equal amount of CVP water at a later time to Byron Bethany’s Tracy Hills Development for Municipal and Industrial use in accordance with the negotiated terms and conditions of the contract. The negotiation session will be held: Thursday, December 1, 2011 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region 2800 Cottage Way, E-2901 Roosevelt A and B Sacramento, CA

The public is welcome to attend and will have the opportunity to provide comments. Participation instructions will be available at the session. The proposed contract and other draft documents will also be available at the session.

For more information or to obtain copies of the proposed contract, please contact Eileen Jones, Repayment Specialist, South-Central California Area Office (Tracy), at 209-836-6271, fax 209-826-6264, or enjones@usbr.gov.

# # #

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.