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RECLAMATION BEGINS PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/INITIAL STUDY ON DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL AND CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT INTERTIE

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

For Release: May 25, 2003

Reclamation is seeking public input for the preparation of a draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Study (EA/IS) being prepared for the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC) and California Aqueduct (CA) Intertie. The Intertie is a proposed action in the August 2000 CALFED Bay-Delta Program Programmatic Record of Decision.

The Intertie consists of a pipeline connection between the DMC and CA with a pumping plant at the DMC. Two Intertie alignments being considered are at DMC mileposts 7.1 and 7.69 where the DMC and CA are about 400 feet apart. The Intertie would be near Interstate 205 where it crosses the DMC and CA. The Tracy Pumping Plant (Tracy) has an average daily pumping capacity of 4,600 cubic feet per second (cfs), limited by the intake channel and DMC capacity. DMC capacity is designed to gradually reduce from 4,600 cfs to about 4,200 cfs at O’Neill Forebay. When DMC diversions between Tracy and O’Neill Forebay are low, Tracy cannot pump to 4,600 cfs due to capacity limitations in the DMC. The proposed Intertie linking the upper DMC with the CA would allow year-round Tracy pumping up to 4,600 cfs, subject to all applicable water quality and fishery related pumping restrictions. The Intertie would not change the existing average daily pumping capacity of 4,600 cfs at Tracy, which would remain constrained by the capacity of the intake channel and DMC.

The public is invited to provide written comments on issues and alternatives that should be addressed in the EA/IS. Please send comments to Dan Meier, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, or dmeier@mp.usbr.gov no later than Friday June 27, 2003. For additional information, please contact Mr. Meier through e-mail or by calling 916-978 5086, TDD 916-978 5608.

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