News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Environmental Documents for San Joaquin Valley Irrigation Districts' Water Exchange

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916 978 5100, 10/20/2014 18:14

For Release: October 20, 2014

FRESNO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review a draft Environmental Assessment analyzing impacts of providing Central Valley Project water to meet water supply needs in four San Joaquin Valley districts in exchange for groundwater from the districts for wildlife refuges in the fall.

The San Luis and Del Puerto Water districts are proposing to fund the costs of pumping and delivery of groundwater supplies of up to 2,000 acre-feet from three existing private wells in the Grassland Water District in exchange for up to 1,000 acre-feet of CVP water. The groundwater would be delivered to private lands within the Grassland Resources Conservation District in Merced County for refuge water supply needs in the fall of 2014. In exchange, districts in western San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced and Fresno counties would receive CVP water delivered by Reclamation to help meet water needs.

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=19281. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments must be received by close of business Mon., Oct. 27 2014, and should be sent to Brad Hubbard, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, emailed to bhubbard@usbr.gov, or faxed to 916-978-5059. For additional information or to request a copy of the draft EA, please contact Hubbard at 916-978-5204 (TTY 800-877-8339). Copies of the document may also be viewed at Reclamation?s Mid-Pacific Regional 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 EA