News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Final Environmental Documents for San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s Eastside Bypass Conveyance Project

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

For Release: February 05, 2016

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s (SJRRP) Eastside Bypass Conveyance Project. The project is designed to restore flow capacity to the channel within the Eastside Bypass, allowing for the passage of Restoration Flows and reintroduced salmonids. The project is authorized under Public Law 111-11, Title X and is consistent with the SJRRP’s goal of restoring and maintaining fish populations in good condition from below Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River.

The project site is located approximately 19 miles southwest of the city of Merced, in the vicinity of El Nido Road and the southern extent of the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. It includes removing accumulated sediments in the channel, constructing a low flow channel, and removing the low-flow crossing and inoperable culverts that are currently impeding flows at El Nido Road. The project is being completed by Reclamation in coordination with the Merced National Wildlife Refuge and local landowners.

The Final EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Reclamation is the lead agency in accordance with NEPA. The documents may be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=23315. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information, please contact Becky Victorine at 916-978-4624 or Tyler Nunes at 916-978-4618. For information on the SJRRP, please visit www.restoresjr.net.

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