News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Document for Central California Irrigation District’s East Ditch and Poso Canal Reservoirs Project

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, eccurtis@usbr.gov

For Release: September 03, 2014

FRESNO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation and the Central California Irrigation District have released a Draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Study for the CCID’s East Ditch and Poso Canal Reservoirs Project. Reclamation proposes to award CCID with a CALFED Bay-Delta Restoration Program Water Use Efficiency Grant to fund a portion of the Project, located in Fresno and Merced counties. The Project involves the construction of two separate regulating reservoirs complete with inlet and outlet pump stations, piped discharges, and supervisory control and data acquisition integrated controls.

The grant would allow CCID to improve internal water management on 25 miles of affected canals by providing mid-stream regulation and storage. The Project would also provide CCID with delivery flexibility to approximately 30,000 acres within their service area that would help facilitate irrigation system conversion to the more efficient buried drip and microsprinkler systems. Additionally, the reservoirs would recapture and reuse excess irrigation flow and agricultural tailwater to reduce the spread of suspended solids, pesticides, and other constituents of concern that could ultimately flow into Salt Slough.

The Draft EA/IS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and California Environmental Quality Act and are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=18861. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, 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, Sept. 17, 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/IS, please contact Hatleberg at 916-978-5050. Copies of the Draft EA/IS, 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/Initial Study