News Release Archive

Reclamation Hosts Public Meeting on Resource Management Plan for Black Canyon Reservoir

Media Contact: Diana Cross , (208) 378-5020
Carolyn Coiner

For Release: September 23, 2003

The Bureau of Reclamation will hold a meeting on October 9, to seek public comment and review on the Draft Environmental Assessment for its Resource Management Plan (RMP) for Black Canyon Reservoir and Montour Wildlife Management Area.

The meeting will be held from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Emmett Senior Center, 719 South Johns Avenue, in Emmett, Idaho. The meeting will include a workshop designed to explain the RMP process.

The RMP will serve as a blueprint for the future use, management, and any site development of Reclamation lands and resources for the next 15 years.

The Draft EA document's main purpose is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with a proposed federal action - in this case, implementing the RMP. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Reclamation has examined a range of alternatives to implement the RMP, including a No Action Alternative.

Background

Black Canyon Dam, which impounds Black Canyon Reservoir in the Payette River drainage, was constructed in 1924 with authorized uses including irrigation and power. Reclamation's reservoir lands cover about 1,100 surface water acres and 1,105 land acres. Surrounding land uses are primarily agricultural and rural residential. Land ownership is a mixture of private and federal lands predominantly managed by Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management. The Montour WMA includes 1,100 acres of federal land and is co-managed by Reclamation and Idaho Department of Fish and Game primarily for flood control, wildlife habitat, and recreation use, which is mainly hunting.

Stakeholders for Black Canyon include: private landowners in the area, the community of Emmett; Gem County; federal and state natural resource agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, IDFG, and the Idaho Department of Transportation; Idaho Wildlife Federation; recreation groups; and people who use the area for recreational and other purposes.

In 2002, Reclamation began the 2-year process of preparing the RMP for Black Canyon Reservoir. The first public meeting, in April 2002, allowed Reclamation to introduce the process, the RMP, and obtain public input regarding issues to be addressed by the plan. Since then, a stakeholder work group, called the Ad Hoc Work Group, has been defining the issues and opportunities identified and developing a Problem Statement, Goals & Objectives, and Draft Alternatives to address them within the RMP.

In addition to public meetings, Reclamation will continue to seek input through a website (go to www.usbr.gov/pn and follow the links) dedicated to this planning process.

"The meeting will begin with an informative presentation summarizing the contents of the document," said Carolyn Coiner, Reclamation Resource Specialist. "After the presentation, the RMP Team will be available at workstations where the public can view maps, ask questions, and provide comments on the contents of the Draft EA."

The meeting will be conducted in facilities that meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require special accommodations to attend or participate in please contact Helene Tomaszewski at (208) 383-2217 at least one week in advance so arrangements can be made. Idaho TDD # (800) 377-3529 (T).

For more information contact Carolyn Coiner at Reclamation's Snake River Area Office in Burley, Idaho, at (208) 678-0461 ext 18.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.