News Release Archive

San Joaquin River Restoration Program Releases Final Environmental Documents on Porterville Irrigation District In-Lieu Groundwater Project

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

For Release: September 19, 2016

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, the Bureau of Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Assessment/Initial Study and Finding of No Significant Impact for a new water conveyance project that would allow Porterville Irrigation District to supply surface water to 2,120 acres that currently utilize groundwater for irrigation.

The project will connect two areas, Service Area 1 (1,400 acres) and Service Area 2 (720 acres) to surface supplies. Service Area 1 will connect pipelines to the Wood Central Ditch and Service Area 2 will connect new pipelines to the Friant Kern Canal. The pipelines will be installed into existing agricultural fields. These actions will allow landowners to take surface water diversions in lieu of pumping groundwater, allowing the aquifer to passively recharge and slow groundwater overdraft in the system.

Reclamation’s proposed funding for construction of the project is in accordance with Part III of Title X, Subtitle A of 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 in order to reduce or avoid water supply impacts of implementing the San Joaquin River Settlement.

The Final EA/IS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and California Environmental Quality Act. The FONSI was prepared in accordance with NEPA. Reclamation is the lead agency in accordance with NEPA and Porterville Irrigation District is the lead agency in accordance with CEQA. The documents are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=26057. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information, please contact Adam Nickels at 916-978-4415 or anickels@usbr.gov. For information on the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, please visit www.restoresjr.net.

# # #

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.