News Release Archive

Reclamation releases final environmental documents for Widren Water District's water quality, supply and drainage enhancement pilot projects

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

For Release: December 04, 2017

FRESNO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released final 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 effort aimed at reducing dissolved minerals like salt and selenium in a 97,000 acre area known as the Grassland Drainage Area.

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

A final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact 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.

For additional information or to request a copy of the documents, please contact Jennifer Lewis at 559-487-5197 (TTY 800-877-8339) or jllewis@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.