News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Final Environmental Documents on Buena Vista Water Storage District 2014 WaterSMART Grant for Section One of the Northern Area Project

Media Contact: Shane Hunt, 916-978-5100, shunt@usbr.gov

For Release: September 18, 2015

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released final environmental documents for a proposed pipeline project that would be partially funded with a WaterSMART grant.

Under the proposed action, Reclamation would award the Buena Vista Water Storage District with a $1,000,000 WaterSMART grant to assist in funding the construction of section one of the Northern Area Plan which involves the installation of approximately 10 miles of buried pipeline to move water through the district and service agricultural production. The BVWSD lies in California’s southern San Joaquin Valley, approximately 16 miles west of the city of Bakersfield. The proposed project would reduce transport and delivery losses within the district by approximately 4,737 acre-feet per year.

Through the WaterSMART grants (formerly Challenge Grants) Reclamation provides 50/50 cost share funding to irrigation and water districts, Tribes, states and other entities with water or power delivery authority.

The Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and may be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?project_ID=22041. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@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.