News Release Archive

Reclamation releases draft feasibility addressing improved water quantity and quality in San Luis Reservoir

Media Contact: Christie Kalkowski, 916-978-5100, ckalkowski@usbr.gov
Matt Keller, 408-630-2881, mkeller@valleywater.org

For Release: April 08, 2019

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation and Valley Water released today a draft feasibility report addressing improved water quantity and quality in San Luis Reservoir. The San Luis Low Point Improvement Project Draft Feasibility Report addresses the potential costs, benefits and environmental impacts of four action alternatives and is available for public comment until May 6.

“We’ve been wrestling with this issue for a long time, and we’re glad to see forward progress on the project,” said Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Regional Direction Ernest Conant. “This report engages the local community and provides a path toward a more sustainable, reliable water supply in San Luis Reservoir.”

The proposed project will help solve the “low point” problem, which occurs when the water drops to 300,000 acre-feet during certain dry years. The low water level fosters algae growth, making the water supply unsuitable for municipal and industrial use by Valley Water.

“It is great to see this project move forward with various solutions. We’re particularly excited to see that the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project has risen to the top of the list, which will increase our water emergency storage capacity and provide ecosystem benefits to our region,” said Valley Water Board Chair Linda J. LeZotte.

The draft feasibility report suggests avoiding water supply interruptions by increasing available water throughout the year to south-of-Delta contractors, including Valley Water, dependent on San Luis Reservoir for municipal and industrial water deliveries. It would also improve the reliability and quantity of yearly allocations to south-of-Delta contractors, again dependent on San Luis Reservoir.

The report incorporates the locally preferred plan, the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Alternative. The alternative would be located on Pacheco Creek upstream of North Fork Dam and would inundate most of the existing Pacheco Reservoir area.

Reclamation is releasing this draft feasibility report to share information generated since completion of the Plan Formulation Report in 2011. A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared later this year for formal public review and comment.

The document, which also includes a no-action alternative, is available on Reclamation’s website. Please email comments to Nicole Johnson at njohnson@usbr.gov. Written comments may be mailed to Nicole Johnson, Project Manager, Reclamation, Planning Division, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825-1893 or faxed to 916-978-5094.

For additional information or to request a copy of the documents, please contact Nicole Johnson at 916-978-5085 (TTY 800-877-8339) or at the email address above. Copies of the documents may also be viewed at the Reclamation Regional Library, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, by calling 916-978-5593.

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