News Release Archive

Public Input Sought on Drop 2 Reservoir Project Environmental Assessment

Media Contact: Jack Simes, 928-343-8334, 06/23/2005 19:58

For Release: June 23, 2005

On July 12 and 13, 2005, the Yuma Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) will host open houses to provide information and to seek public input on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Drop 2 Reservoir Project.

Project Summary

The proposed project is one of many potential actions that may be taken to maximize beneficial use of Colorado River water in the United States. Specific objectives of the proposed project include: providing additional operational flexibility in the lower Colorado River system for the Imperial Irrigation District, Coachella Valley Water District, and other river system users; and providing additional storage capacity needed to reduce currently non-storable flows of the Colorado River below Parker Dam.

Project Location

The proposed Drop 2 Reservoir Project would be located on an approximately 621-acre site formerly used for the Brock Ranch Experimental Research Station in Imperial County, California. The proposed reservoir site is north of the All-American Canal and Interstate Highway 8, west of the Coachella Canal, approximately 30 miles southeast of the City of El Centro, California, and 25 miles west of the City of Yuma, Arizona. The 8,000 acre foot reservoir would receive water from a connection to the Coachella Canal to the east, via an approximately 5 to 7 mile long inlet canal (depending on alignment selected) and thereby the project would also affect lands to the east of the proposed reservoir site. Water released from the reservoir would be returned to the All-American Canal directly to the south, via an approximately 3,500 foot long outlet channel.

Open House Details

The open house dates, locations, times, and schedules are:

* Tuesday, July 12, Imperial Irrigation District, 1285 Broadway Street, El Centro, California, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a presentation about the project from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

* Wednesday, July 13, Yuma Crossing State Historic Park, 201 North Fourth Avenue, Yuma, Arizona, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a presentation about the project from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

A period for oral comments and questions will be held from 6:30 p.m. until completion on both days.

All open house facilities are physically accessible to people with disabilities.

During these open houses, Reclamation representatives will be available to provide information and respond to questions about the Drop 2 Reservoir Project and proposed alternatives. Attendees will be able to view information about the proposed reservoir, its interconnection to the existing All-American and Coachella Canal systems, and existing site conditions in the area that would be affected by the proposed project (e.g., land uses, biological and cultural resources).

The open house will provide an opportunity for agencies and the public to comment on the scope of the issues to be addressed in the EA. The EA, a National Environmental Policy Act compliance document, will integrate consideration of environmental values into planning and decision making process. A Draft EA is anticipated to be available for public review and comment in late Fall 2005. Final design, project approval, and ultimate construction would not be complete until approximately Fall 2008.

Those unable to attend one of the open houses should send their written comments by July 29, 2005, by mail to Mr. Rex Wahl, Bureau of Reclamation, Yuma Area Office, 7301 Calle Agua Salada, Yuma, Arizona 85364; or by fax to Mr. Rex Wahl at 928-343-8320. To give Reclamation the opportunity to effectively consider comments within the Draft EA, comments should be provided no later than July 29, 2005.

Si decea atender la junta y necesita un interprete en Espanol, por favor llame a Sra. Jessica Meneses al 928-343-8298.

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