News Release Archive

San Joaquin River Restoration Program Releases Draft Environmental Document on New Groundwater Banking Project

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

For Release: March 31, 2016

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The San Joaquin River Restoration Program has released for public review a draft environmental assessment/initial study for a new groundwater recharge banking project in Tulare County. The proposed project includes constructing a 532-acre groundwater recharge basin, installing a 4.5 mile pipeline connecting the new recharge basin to the Friant-Kern Canal, and installing eleven groundwater recovery wells within the Pixley Irrigation District.

These actions would allow the Pixley and Delano-Earlimart Irrigation Districts to expand groundwater recharge efforts and improve groundwater levels. The proposed project would also contribute to the San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s goal of reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts to Friant Division long-term contractors.

The Bureau of Reclamation would provide partial funding for construction of the proposed project, under Public Law 111-11, which authorizes Reclamation to provide financial assistance to local agencies within its Central Valley Project for planning, designing and constructing local facilities to bank water underground or recharge groundwater.

The Draft EA/IS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and California Environmental Quality Act. Reclamation is the lead agency in accordance with NEPA, and Pixley Irrigation District is the lead agency in accordance with CEQA. The Draft EA/IS may be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=25157. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments are due by close of business April 28, 2016, to Becky Victorine, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-170, Sacramento, CA 95825. Comments may also be faxed to 916-978-5469 or emailed to rvictorine@usbr.gov. For additional information, please contact Victorine at 916-978-4624.

For information on the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, please visit www.restoresjr.net.

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