News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents for Donald J. Peracchi and Affiliates Annual Water Exchanges at Mendota Pool

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

For Release: June 01, 2012

The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the draft environmental documents for a series of annual water exchange agreements with Donald J. Peracchi and his affiliates through February 2015.

Under the proposed annual exchange agreements, groundwater pumped annually into Mendota Pool, minus losses, would be used by Reclamation to offset existing Central Valley Project (CVP) water contract obligations at the Mendota Pool.

Reclamation would then reduce CVP deliveries to the Mendota Pool by the quantity exchanged and make an equivalent amount of CVP water (up to 3,600 acre-feet per year) available for irrigation purposes to Donald J. Peracchi and affiliates’ lands in Westlands Water District via the San Luis Canal.

The Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (Draft EA/FONSI) were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=9750. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Please email comments to Rain Healer, Bureau of Reclamation at rhealer@usbr.gov. Written comments may also be mailed to Ms. Healer, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721 or faxed to 559-487-5194. Comments are due by June 15, 2012. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Ms. Healer at 559-487-5196 (TTY 800-735-2929). Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Fresno office at the above address.

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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.