News Release Archive

Reclamation FONSI Will Result From Exchange of CAP Water Between Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation and SRP

Media Contact: Patricia Cox , (623) 773-6214 , pcox@usbr.gov
Sandra Eto, seto@usbr.gov

For Release: March 27, 2013

PHOENIX – The Bureau of Reclamation issued a draft environmental assessment in November 2012 on its proposed approval of an exchange agreement between the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District/Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association (collectively known as SRP).

Following a public comment period which ended Dec. 14, 2012, Reclamation has determined that its approval of the Exchange Agreement, and subsequent implementation, will not result in significant environmental impacts and concludes an environmental impact statement is not required.

A 1994 settlement agreement entitles the Nation to up to 13,933 acre-feet annually of Central Arizona Project water. The CAP water can only be delivered via an exchange which allows the Nation to divert water from the Verde River. SRP will then receive an equivalent amount of the Nation's CAP water entitlement at its CAP/SRP Interconnection Facility. Because this is a federal action, compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act is required, and Reclamation is required to approve the agreement on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior.

The FONSI and draft environmental assessment are posted for public review on Reclamation’s Phoenix Area Office website, www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix. A hard copy or CD version of the documents are available by calling the Environmental Resource Management Division at (623) 773-6251, or by e-mailing jharagara@usbr.gov.

Questions should be directed to Ms. Eto at (623) 773-6254.

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