News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Environmental Document for the Natomas Mutual Water Company Pritchard Lake Fish Screen Project

Media Contact: Louis Moore, 916-978-5100, 01/31/2014 16:25

For Release: January 31, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released a Draft Environmental Assessment for the Natomas Mutual Water Company Pritchard Lake Fish Screen Project.

Reclamation proposes to provide cost-share funding to NMWC through the Anadromous Fish Screen Program to screen NMWC’s existing 150 cubic feet per second unscreened diversion at Pritchard Lake along the Sacramento River with a fish screen that meets current National Marine Fisheries Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife fish screen design criteria. The Proposed Action is aimed at minimizing diversion impacts to out-migrating anadromous fish on the Sacramento River without impairing the ability of NMWC to divert water consistent with their existing water rights. The new intake facility would be located at the same location of the existing diversion structure and would not increase NMWC’s overall diversion capacity from the Sacramento River.

Reclamation is the federal lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act. Reclamation’s AFSP will contribute up to 50 percent of the cost of the fish screen intake and pumping facility. This funding will be provided under Section 3406(b)(21) of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, which authorizes the Department of the Interior to develop and implement measures to avoid losses of juvenile anadromous fish resulting from unscreened diversions on the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and their tributaries.

The Draft EA was prepared in accordance with NEPA and is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=16321. If you encounter problems accessing the document, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Please send written comments to Shelly Hatleberg, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-410, Sacramento, CA 95825, by close of business Friday, Feb. 14, 2014. Comments may also be faxed to Hatleberg at 916-978-5290 or emailed shatleberg@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA, please contact Hatleberg at 916-978-5050 (TTY 800-877-8339). Copies of the Draft EA may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Sacramento 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:

Draft Environmental Assessment - Natomas Mutual Water Company Pritchard Lake Fish Screen Project