News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Final Environmental Document for Recapturing 2017 San Joaquin River Restoration Program Flows

Media Contact: Russ Grimes, 916-978-5100, rwgrimes@usbr.gov

For Release: March 10, 2017

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Finding of No Significant Impact for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program plan to recapture a portion of its Restoration Flows at Patterson Irrigation District (PID) and Banta-Carbona Irrigation District (BCID) in 2017. The FONSI is based on the analysis of potential impacts analyzed and disclosed in the 2016 One Year Recapture of Restoration Flows at Patterson Irrigation District and Banta Carbona Irrigation District Environmental Assessment.

Under the proposed action, Reclamation would enter into a one-year agreement with PID for recapture of up to 28,979 acre-feet of Restoration Flows and a one-year agreement with BCID for the recapture of up to 47,090 AF of Restoration Flows – a maximum of 76,069 AF total. The amount of Restoration Flows recaptured will be dependent on San Joaquin River hydrologic conditions and the availability of Restoration Flows, as well as recapture and conveyance capacity.

Reclamation has requested California State Water Resources Control Board approval for the proposed action. Recapture of Restoration Flows under the proposed action would not be implemented until the board’s approval is received and hydrologic conditions allow for the release of Restoration Flows available for recapture, which is anticipated this spring or summer. The proposed action could continue until Feb. 28, 2018, depending on the availability of Restoration Flows and recapture and conveyance capacity at PID and BCID.

The action is consistent with the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Water Management Goal to reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts to all Friant Division long-term contractors that may result from the Restoration Flows.

The EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=24095. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the documents, please contact Becky Victorine at 916-978-4624 or rvictorine@usbr.gov.

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

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