First major fish passage project for San Joaquin River Restoration Program moves forward

Written by: Todd Plain

Reclamation project manager Katrina Harrison presents the Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B Project during a tour Nov. 2, 2016SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation signed a Record of Decision Oct. 31, 2016, officially starting the implementation phase of a project to facilitate fish migration along a 150-mile stretch of California's second-longest river, the San Joaquin. The phase includes completing design, real estate acquisition and construction.

The Mendota Pool Bypass, about 40 miles west of Fresno, will allow for fish passage around Mendota Dam—the largest fish passage impediment in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program area. The project will also separate reintroduced spring-run Chinook salmon from critical water supply infrastructure above the dam, in Mendota Pool.

Construction of the approximately $420 million project is expected to begin in late 2017 and take about 10 years to complete.

It’s the first major project called for in the program's 2006 settlement to reach the construction phase. In addition to providing improved fish passage, the Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B Project is critical to providing sufficient fish habitat in the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam.

See the ROD news release here: http://on.doi.gov/2e6zqjQ
For more on the SJRRP, please visit www.restoresjr.net.

Published on November 04, 2016