FRESNO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Assessment and Findings of No Significant Impact for the approval of a temporary change in the maximum acceptable concentration of selenium from 2 up to 5 ppb for groundwater pumped into the upper portion of the Delta-Mendota Canal. The temporary change is in response to drought conditions and would allow an additional 13 wells to cumulatively pump up to 30 cubic feet per second of groundwater through Aug. 30, 2015 (approximately 1,841 acre-feet per month).
A similar program was approved in 2014 that allowed 14 wells to pump groundwater into the upper portion of the DMC that had between 2 and 5 ppb of selenium. As shown in the EA for this proposal, the addition of groundwater from the 14 wells did not cause a measurable increase in selenium in the DMC. In addition, the concentration of selenium at Check 13 (O’Neill Forebay) did not exceed 0.4 ppb while the 2014 action occurred, well below the water quality standard for human consumption of 50 ppb and wildlife of 2 ppb.
The Final EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=22373. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.
For additional information or to request a copy of the Final EA and/or FONSI, please contact Rain Emerson at 559-487-5196, (TTY 800-735-2929).
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
