News Release Archive

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

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5104, eccurtis@usbr.gov

For Release: June 17, 2015

FRESNO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Assessment and Findings of No Significant Impact for the proposed transfer of up to 500 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water facilitated by a storage substitution. The proposed transfer is in response to drought conditions in the San Joaquin Valley.

Under the proposal, Contra Costa Water District would take delivery of up to 500 acre-feet of its water rights water purchased by the Byron Bethany Irrigation District that is currently stored in Los Vaqueros Reservoir. The water rights water would be delivered in-district for use by Contra Costa’s customers. Byron Bethany Irrigation District would then take delivery of up to 500 acre-feet of Contra Costa’s CVP water from the Delta.

Temporary transfer petitions, required to add Byron Bethany’s point of diversion on the Banks Intake Channel as a point of diversion/rediversion for CVP water rights, were filed on May 22 and 26, 2015 with the State Water Resources Control Board.

The Final EA and 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=21799. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Final EA and/or FONSI, please contact

Rain Emerson at 559-487-5196, (TTY 800-735-2929).

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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.