SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation, in coordination with the Interagency Refuge Water Management Team, has determined that the Central Valley Project Improvement Act Refuge Water Management Plan Criteria for 2010 shall be used as guidance for the 2015 Refuge Water Management Plan submittals.
Reclamation requires the submittal of Refuge Water Management Plans using criteria developed to promote the highest planned efficiency of water delivery under the provisions of the 1992 CVPIA and in response to a 1995 Department of the Interior administrative review process. Refuge Plans are required every five years. Previous Refuge Plans were submitted in 2010 and 2004.
In order for the refuges to complete the 2015 Refuge Plans, Reclamation must first provide the criteria for development of these plans. A comprehensive update to the Refuge Criteria occurred prior to the adoption of the 2010 Refuge Criteria. Reclamation requested review by an internal working group of water management specialists in early 2015, and no changes to the 2010 Refuge criteria were recommended. Therefore, the 2010 Refuge Criteria shall remain in effect as guidance for the 2015 Refuge Plans.
Plans are due by close of business Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, to David White, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA, 95825 or dwhite@usbr.gov. For additional information, please contact White at 916-978-5208 (TTY 800-877-8339).
The Refuge Criteria can be found at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/watershare/grants/index.html. When an individual Refuge Water Management Plan has been determined to meet the requirements of the 2010 Refuge Criteria, a Notice of Availability will be published in the Federal Register.
To be placed on the Water Conservation mailing list or for general water conservation information, please contact Anna Sutton, Water Conservation Office, Division of Resources Management, at 916-978-5214 (TTY 800-877-8339) or asutton@usbr.gov.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
