News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents for an Amendment to the Meyers Groundwater Banking Exchange Agreement

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: July 02, 2012

FRESNO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) for the proposed amendment to the existing long-term water banking exchange program between Reclamation and the Meyers Family Farm Trust’s groundwater bank.

The amendment would increase the annual rate of extraction from 6,316 acre-feet to 10,526 acre-feet; increase the cumulative total amount of Central Valley Project (CVP) water banked in Meyers Bank at any given time from 35,000 acre-feet to 60,000 acre-feet; increase the amount of Banta Carbona Irrigation District’s non-CVP water conveyed in the Delta-Mendota Canal for banking from 5,000 acre-feet per year to 10,000 acre-feet per year; approve the annual transfer of up to 10,000 acre-feet per year of Banta Carbona Irrigation District’s CVP water in lieu of their non-CVP water for banking at Meyers Bank; and include the delivery of banked water via the existing exchange program to other lands within the service area of the San Luis Water District.

The 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=10152. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Please email comments to Rain Healer at rhealer@usbr.gov. Written comments may also be mailed to Ms. Healer at Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, or faxed to Ms. Healer at 559-487-5194. Comments are due by close of business Tuesday, July 31. 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.

Relevant Link:

The Draft EA/FONSI