News Release Archive

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY - DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE BROADVIEW WATER CONTRACT ASSIGNMENT PROJECT

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, JMCCRACKEN@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: April 23, 2004

Reclamation is making available the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Broadview Water Contract Assignment Project (Proposed Action/Project) to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. The primary purpose of the Proposed Action/Project is to provide the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) with a long-term, reliable, and cost-effective Central Valley Project (CVP) water supply to meet its short- and long-term water management needs to bring existing and projected agricultural water demand and supply into balance and alleviate extensive sea water intrusion problems.

PVWMA is in escrow to purchase, on a willing-seller/willing-buyer basis, approximately 9,100 acres of lands within the Broadview Water District (BWD) and take assignment of BWD's CVP water service contract for a total of up to 27,000 acre-feet per year of entitlement. BWD is located in Fresno County near Firebaugh. PVWMA is located mainly in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties with a small portion in San Benito County. BWD landowners have agreed to sell their land due to economic conditions resulting in decreased profitability of farming. As a result, approximately one third of the BWD's lands (3,100 acres) have been fallowed in recent years and this year approximately 42 percent or 3,800 acres are being fallowed.

The Draft EA provides a summary of the Proposed Action/Project and evaluates the potential for environmental impacts. The Proposed Action/Project is also the subject of a separate Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The EIR was sent out for public review in January 2004 and PVWMA is in the process of responding to comments and preparing the Final EIR.

For additional information, please contact Lynne Silva of Reclamation's Fresno Area Office, at 559-487-5807 (TDD 559-487-5933), by mail at Reclamation's South-Central California Area Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721, or by email at: lsilva@mp.usbr.gov. Copies of the draft EA may be requested by writing or calling Ms. Silva, or can be viewed on the Internet at: www.usbr.gov/mp/sccao; click on Documentation. Written comments must be submitted to Ms. Silva at the above address by May 25, 2004.

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Relevant Link:

Broadview Water Contract Assignment Project