News Release Archive

Reclamation releases final environmental documents associated with Tesoro Viejo

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, 08/01/2017 17:21

For Release: August 01, 2017

FRESNO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released a Finding of No Significant Impact for the issuance of land use authorizations to the County of Madera for the Tesoro Viejo Master Planned Community. Tesoro Viejo is bisected by Reclamation’s Madera Canal and Lateral 6.2 and would impact approximately 11 acres of waters of the U.S.

The land use authorizations are for the proposed construction, operation, and maintenance of four free-span bridge crossings over the Madera Canal, the piping of approximately 1.12 miles of Lateral 6.2, and various road crossings through Reclamation right-of-way. Reclamation also proposes to add Lateral 6.2 and the San Joaquin River as points of delivery for up to 3,000 acre-feet per year of Madera Irrigation District’s existing Warren Act Contract pre-1914 appropriative water rights water.

Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in order to jointly fulfill National Environmental Policy Act requirements, have agreed to share responsibility for environmental compliance through the review and preparation of the Corps’ Decision Document/Environmental Assessment. Reclamation’s FONSI is supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Decision Document/Environmental Assessment.

Reclamation’s FONSI and the Corps Decision Document/Environmental Assessment were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and are available at

https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=28921. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the FONSI, please contact Rain Emerson at 559-487-5196 or email remerson@usbr.gov.

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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.