News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Draft Environmental Documents; Public Meeting on Trinity River Channel Rehabilitation Project

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

For Release: February 26, 2015

WEAVERVILLE, Calif. – As part of the Trinity River Restoration Program, the Bureau of Reclamation has released the Draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Study for the Trinity River Channel Rehabilitation Site: Limekiln Gulch. A public meeting will be held to receive comments on Wednesday, March 11, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Douglas City School, Douglas City, Calif.  

Representatives from Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management (federal co-lead agencies) and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (California state lead agency) invite you to learn about the scope of the project and submit public comments at the meeting. The Limekiln Gulch channel rehabilitation site is located on the mainstem Trinity River about 0.3 miles upstream of Steel Bridge Campground near Douglas City. The project proposes to start construction and rehabilitation this summer. Constructing this project would increase salmon and steelhead habitat downstream of Lewiston Dam, as described in the Dec. 19, 2000, Record of Decision for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement.

The proposed project would enhance the quality of terrestrial and aquatic habitat and increase habitat complexity by (1) constructing slow water refuge habitats, such as side channels, for juvenile salmon and steelhead, (2) reconnecting the floodplain with the river, (3) re-vegetating with native plants, and (4) placing wood and rock structures that react with flow to create and maintain habitat.

The Draft EA and IS for this project were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=20621or the Trinity River Restoration Project website at www.trrp.net. If you have problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments must be received by close of business Tuesday, March 31. Please send comments to Brandt Gutermuth, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, Weaverville, CA 96093 or bgutermuth@usbr.gov. For further information, please contact Gutermuth at 530-623-1806 or bgutermuth@usbr.gov.

# # #

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.