News Release Archive

Reclamation Seeks Review and Comment on the Draft Feasibility Report for the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation

Media Contact: Louis Moore, 916-978-5100, wmoore@usbr.gov

For Release: February 18, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation today released a Draft Feasibility Report on the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation that examines the potential to construct a new dam and reservoir on the upper San Joaquin River, between Friant and Kerckoff dams.

Reclamation is releasing this draft feasibility report to share information generated since completion of the Plan Formulation Report in 2008. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared later this year for formal public review and comment, consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act.

“Today's release of the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation Draft Feasibility Report is a vital step to building drought resilience in California," said Regional Director David Murillo. "The unprecedented drought conditions that we are currently facing firmly reinforce the need to investigate projects like this one to help meet the challenges of lean water years."

The potential project would improve water supply reliability and flexibility for the water management system for agricultural, urban and environmental uses. It also would enhance San Joaquin River water temperature and flow conditions to support anadromous fish restoration efforts.

The location of the potential dam site at Temperance Flat is on the upper San Joaquin River, about 25 miles northeast of Fresno, in California’s Central Valley. The dam and reservoir would be 665 feet high with a capacity of 1.33 million acre-feet.

The investigation is one of five surface water storage studies included in the 2000 CALFED Bay-Delta Programmatic Record of Decision. The CALFED Bay-Delta Program is a 30-year program among 25 federal and state agencies with responsibility in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The draft report addresses the potential costs, benefits, and impacts of four action alternatives. The document, which also includes a no-action alternative, is available on Reclamation’s website: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/sccao/storage/index.html. A 60-day public comment period on the study begins on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. Written comments may be provided at any time before midnight Monday, April 21, 2014, and should be mailed to Sharon McHale, Project Manager, Reclamation, Planning Division, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825-1893, 916-978-5086 (TTY 800-877-8339), or email smchale@usbr.gov. All comments will be considered during preparation of the Final Feasibility Report.

For questions, please contact Sharon McHale, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation 2800 Cottage Way, MP-700, Sacramento, California 95825, or fax 916-978-5094 or email smchale@usbr.gov. To request an electronic copy of the draft document, please contact Steve Geissinger at 916-978-5108 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email sgeissinger@usbr.gov. Copies of the documents may also be viewed at the Reclamation Regional Library, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, by calling 916-978-5593. For more information about the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/sccao/storage/index.html.

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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:

Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation