News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents for 10-Year Transfer of Up to 36,000 Acre Feet to Santa Clara Valley Water District

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

For Release: May 16, 2014

FRESNO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation announced today the availability of draft environmental documents for the proposed 10-year transfer of up to 36,000 acre-feet of Patterson Irrigation District’s Central Valley Project water, Replacement Water, or pre-1914 San Joaquin River Water Rights water to Santa Clara Valley Water District over a period of four years (March 1, 2014 through February 29, 2024).

Reclamation would also issue Warren Act contracts for conveyance of any non-CVP water delivered throughout this 10-year period. Conveyance of non-CVP water under a Warren Act contract would be subject to available capacity.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District primarily serves the urban, southern San Francisco Bay Area.

The proposal is due to drought conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows that conditions in the San Joaquin Valley have intensified from “severe” drought in May 2013 to “exceptional” drought in May 2014. “Exceptional” is the worst of the five stages of the U.S. Drought Monitor Classification. Other locations in the United States that are classified “exceptional” are in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Nevada.

The Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=17461.  If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail ibr2mprpao@usbr.gov.

Please email comments to Ms. Rain Emerson, Bureau of Reclamation at remerson@usbr.gov. Written comments may also be mailed to Emerson, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721 or faxed to Emerson at 559-487-5397. Comments are due by May 30, 2014. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Emerson at 559-487-5196 (TTY 800-735-2929). Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Fresno 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.