News Release Archive

Reclamation Promotes New Water Storage: Releases Draft Environmental Documents for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project Phase 2; Public Hearings Announced

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, eccurtis@usbr.gov

For Release: July 03, 2017

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As part of a continuing effort to increase storage capability throughout California, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) have prepared the Draft Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for public review and comment on the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion (LVE) Project Phase 2. The LVE Draft Supplement to the Final EIS/EIR evaluates expanding the existing Los Vaqueros Reservoir, increasing the capacity from 160,000 acre-feet up to 275,000 acre-feet and adding new conveyance facilities.

The LVE is a joint investigation between Reclamation and CCWD authorized by Congress in 2003. The objectives of the expansion are to develop water supplies for environmental water management, increase water supply reliability for water providers within the San Francisco Bay Area, and improve the quality of water deliveries to municipal and industrial customers.

Six public hearings have been scheduled to receive oral or written comments regarding environmental effects. Meeting details are as follows:

• Sacramento: Tuesday, July 11, 2017, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I Street

• San Jose: Wednesday, July 12, 2017, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Santa Clara Valley Water District, 5750 Almaden Expressway

• Concord: Tuesday, July 18, 2017, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Contra Costa Water District, 1331 Concord Avenue

• Oakland: Thursday, July 20, 2017, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. East Bay Municipal Utility District, 375 11th Street

• Brentwood: Tuesday, July 25, 2017, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street

• Los Banos: Thursday, July 27, 2017, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters and Visitors Center, 7376 S. Wolfsen Road

The Draft Supplement to the Final EIS/EIR was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=903. If you encounter problems accessing the document, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

Written comments on the Draft Supplement to the Final EIS/EIR may be submitted at the meetings or mailed by close of business Friday, September 1, 2017, to: Lisa Rainger, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-700, Sacramento, CA 95825; faxed to 916-978-5094; or emailed to lrainger@usbr.gov. You may also email Rainger to request electronic CD copies of the Draft Supplement to the Final EIS/EIR.

For additional information on the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project or to request special assistance at the public hearings, please contact Rainger, 916-978-5090, lrainger@usbr.gov or visit the project website at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/vaqueros/index.html.

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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.