Media Contact: Jeffrey S. McCracken, 916-978-5100, 10/07/2005 22:07

For Release: October 07, 2005

The Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal lead agency, and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the State lead agency, announce the availability of a Notice of Preparation (NOP) for a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites: Trinity River Mile 73 to 78. The Draft EIR/EA will be a joint document prepared under the guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program, and it will meet California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act requirements.

The Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites is located along approximately 6.3 miles of the mainstem Trinity River between the communities of Junction City and Helena. The project includes four mainstem Trinity River sites: (1) Conner Creek at River Mile (RM) 77.4, (2) Valdor Gulch at RM 75.4, (3) Elkhorn at RM 73.6, and (4) Pear Tree at RM 73.1. Together, this project and the Hocker Flat project (implemented in 2005) will work to reconnect the river with its floodplain at their particular locations and are expected to enhance river processes and ultimately increase fisheries habitat as described in the December 19, 2000, Record of Decision for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement. Actions which may be conducted in areas of the project include removal of vegetation, earthwork in the Trinity River floodplain, material transportation and disposal, and revegetation.

A 30-day public scoping period will be held October 7 to November 7, 2005, to solicit comments to assist the lead agencies in identifying the range of actions, alternatives, mitigation measures, and significant effects to be analyzed in the Draft EIR/EA. A public scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2005, at 6:30 p.m. at the Junction City Community Hall, 71 Dutch Creek Road (just south of Hwy 299), Junction City. Project information will be presented and comments on the scope of the Draft EIR/EA will be accepted.

Comments must be received by close of business on Monday, November 7, 2005, and should be sent to Mr. Brandt Gutermuth, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, Weaverville, CA 96093, or e-mailed to bgutermuth@mp.usbr.gov. For further information or to receive a copy of the NOP, contact Mr. Gutermuth, Bureau of Reclamation, at 530-623-1806, or Mr. Dean Prat, NCRWQCB, at 707-576-2801.

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