News Release Archive

Reclamation Extends Public Comment Period on Draft Water Banking Criteria for Banking Central Valley Project Water Outside of a Contractor’s Service Area

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

For Release: June 19, 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation announces a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the Draft Water Banking Criteria for banking Central Valley Project water outside of a contractor’s contract service area. The original comment period was scheduled to end on Friday, June 21, 2013 and will now end on Monday, July, 22.

Reclamation developed these Draft Criteria to implement water banking as authorized by the Central Valley Project Improvement Act and as allowed by certain Federal contracts. When finalized, the Criteria will apply to water service contractors as well as repayment, water rights settlement, exchange or other applicable contractors requesting to bank CVP water outside of their contract service area. The Criteria sets forth the standards under which Reclamation may approve banking and recovery of CVP water outside of the contractor’s contract service area boundary while protecting the integrity of the CVP. Reclamation recognizes groundwater banking as an important water management tool in optimizing the use of CVP water, while addressing groundwater overdraft in certain areas.

Written comments on the Draft Criteria must be received by close of business Monday, July 22. Send comments to Sheri Looper, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-400, Sacramento, CA 95825. Comments may also be faxed to 916-978-5290 or emailed to slooper@usbr.gov. The document is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/waterbanking. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information, please contact Looper, CVP Water Resource Program Specialist, at 916-978-5556.

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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:

Draft Criteria