News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Document for Feather Water District Fish Screen Project

Media Contact: Margaret Gidding, 916-978-5100, mgidding@usbr.gov

For Release: April 16, 2014

SACRAMENTO,  Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review a Draft Environmental Assessment for the Feather Water District Fish Screen Project (Proposed Action). Reclamation proposes to provide federal funding to the FWD to screen two of their existing unscreened diversions along the Feather River in Sutter County, Calif. This effort is a feature of the Anadromous Fish Screen Program, part of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act; Reclamation would manage the project together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Proposed Action is a cooperative effort among the AFSP, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Family Water Alliance, and FWD. The District operates two unscreened diversions on the Feather River. The Proposed Action involves the installation of barriers and fish screens in the existing pump intake channels to improve fish passage in the Feather River. Installation of the fish screens would help prevent listed and other migratory or resident fish species in the Feather River from becoming entrained or otherwise impacted by the continued use of FWD’s pumps.

Reclamation is the lead federal agency under the National Environmental Policy Act and would 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 CVPIA, 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=17041. If you encounter problems accessing the document, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) 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 Wednesday, April 30, 2014. Comments may also be faxed to Hatleberg at 916-978-5290 or emailed to shatleberg@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA, please contact Hatleberg at 916-978-5050. 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.