News Release Archive

Reclamation releases draft environmental documents for Widren Water District’s water quality, supply, and Drainage Enhancement Pilot Project

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

For Release: October 27, 2017

FRESNO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released draft environmental documents for a pilot project for Widren Water District that would allow the district to convey up to 1,000 acre-feet of reverse osmosis treated groundwater through the Delta-Mendota Canal and potentially store it in San Luis Reservoir. The pilot project is part of a larger project aimed at reducing dissolved minerals like salt and selenium in the Grassland Drainage Area.

Widren Water District, located in northwestern Fresno County west of the City of Firebaugh, has recently constructed a reverse osmosis (RO) treatment plant to extract and treat their in-district shallow groundwater. It has been shown in the region that the removal of shallow groundwater can assist in reducing drainage impacts by lowering poor-quality drain water below the crop root zone.

A draft Environmental Assessment and draft Finding of No Significant Impact for the land use authorization for the project and one-year exchange and/or Warren Act contract to Widren Water District 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=30446 Comments are due by close of business Nov. 11, 2017, please send comments to jllewis@usbr.gov. Written comments may also be mailed to Jennifer Lewis, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721 or faxed to Lewis at 559-487-5504.

For additional information or to request a copy of the documents, please contact Lewis at 559-487-5197 (TTY 800-877-8339). Copies may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Fresno office at the above address.

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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.