News Release Archive

Public Input Sought for Coachella Canal Area Resource Management Plan Alternatives

Media Contact: Jack Simes, 928-343-8334, jsimes@lc.usbr.gov

For Release: May 18, 2005

On May 23, 24, and 25, 2005, the Bureau of Reclamation will host open houses in southern California to provide information and seek public input on alternatives for the Coachella Canal Area Resource Management Plan (RMP).

The open house dates, locations, times, and schedules are:

* Monday, May 23, Coachella Community Center, 84-620 Bagdad Street, Coachella, California, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a presentation about the alternatives from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

* Tuesday, May 24, Indio Community Center, 45-871 Clinton Street, Indio, California, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a presentation about the alternatives from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

* Wednesday, May 25, La Quinta Community Center, 77-865 Avenida Montezuma (in La Quinta Village), La Quinta, California, from 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 2:00 p.m. with a presentation about the alternatives from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

During these open houses, Reclamation representatives will be available to provide information and respond to questions about the draft alternatives and the RMP. Attendees will be able to view information about the area to be included in the RMP and provide written comments.

The portion of the Coachella Canal area to be covered by the RMP is in Riverside County. It consists of about 30 miles of the canal and 3,990 acres of Reclamation withdrawn lands.

The RMP is being updated to provide direction for future management decisions according to currently recognized standards of proper land use. The updated RMP will help Reclamation continue its responsible stewardship of the lands associated with the Coachella Canal. It will be combined with an Environmental Assessment (EA), the National Environmental Policy Act compliance document.

The RMP/EA is expected to be completed within 18 months. During this time, Reclamation will conduct public involvement activities to assure public participation opportunities in this planning process.

All open house facilities are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Please direct requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids to Peggy Haren, English-speaking contact, at telephone (928) 343-8547, or to Jessica Meneses, Spanish-speaking contact, at telephone (928) 343-8100, extension 0. The hearing impaired may contact Ms. Haren or Ms. Meneses at the above numbers via a toll free TTY relay at 1-800-833-6388.

Those unable to attend an open house may send their written comments by June 10, 2005, by mail to Coachella Canal Area RMP, D-8580, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, Colorado 80225-0007; or by fax to Coachella Canal Area RMP, Bureau of Reclamation, at (720) 544-0603. Comments can also be sent by e-mail to ccrmp@do.usbr.gov. Additional information about the RMP/EA and the alternatives is available at www.usbr.gov/lc/yuma. All comments are due by June 10, 2005.

Si decea atender la junta y necesita un interprete en Espanol, por favor llame a Jessica Meneses al (928) 343-8100, extension 0.

# # #

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.