News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Final Environmental Documents for the Transfer of Water Between Contra Costa Water District and Byron Bethany Irrigation District

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, 09/12/2014 16:24

For Release: September 12, 2014

FRESNO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released the final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the approval of a transfer of up to 4,000 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water between Contra Costa Water District and Byron Bethany Irrigation District.

Due to extraordinary dry hydrological conditions, CCWD and BBID are working together to share resources and facilities as part of an integrated regional water management plan to the mutual benefit of their collective customers. Under the partnership, BBID purchased 4,000 acre-feet of CCWD water stored in Los Vaqueros Reservoir for use during this drought year.

Because there is no direct conveyance mechanism to deliver water from Los Vaqueros to BBID’s distribution system, CCWD would instead make use of the 4,000 acre-feet BBID purchased and stored in Los Vaqueros; BBID would then accept delivery of up to 4,000 acre-feet of CCWD’s CVP supply from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a substitution.

A temporary transfer petition was completed to add BBID’s point of diversion on the Banks Intake Channel as a point of diversion/rediversion for CVP water rights.

The final EA/FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=18781. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Final EA/FONSI, please contact Rain Emerson at 559-487-5196 (TTY 800-877-8339) or remerson@usbr.gov.

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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.