News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Environmental Document for South Sutter Water District Pleasant Grove Canal Fish Screen Project

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

For Release: August 18, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released a Draft Environmental Assessment for the South Sutter Water District Pleasant Grove Canal Fish Screen Project, located near the city of Lincoln.

Reclamation proposes to provide cost-share funding to SSWD through the Anadromous Fish Screen Program to screen SSWD’s existing 80 cubic feet per second unscreened diversion at Pleasant Grove Canal along Auburn Ravine with two conical fish screens that meet design requirements of the National Marine Fisheries Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Project is needed to minimize diversion impacts to out-migrating anadromous fish on Auburn Ravine without impairing the ability of SSWD to divert water, consistent with their existing water rights. The fish screens would be placed at the Canal’s existing intake at Auburn Ravine and would not increase SSWD’s overall diversion capacity from Auburn Ravine.

Reclamation’s AFSP involvement is limited to contributing up to 50 percent of the cost of the Project’s fish screen intake and pumping facility. The funding will be provided by Reclamation under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Section 3406(b)(21), 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 the National Environmental Policy Act and is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=18221. 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 Tuesday, Sept. 2, 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.