SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review a draft environmental assessment analyzing the impacts of approving a 5-year exchange of up to 6,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater for up to 3,000 af per year of refuge (or Level 2) water with the San Luis Water District.
Level 2 water must be of suitable quality to maintain and improve wetland habitat areas on 19 federal, state and private lands-collectively referred to as refuges. The pumped groundwater would be discharged directly into Bear Creek and delivered to the East Bear Creek Unit of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge to meet a component of its Level 2 water demand. This water exchange is authorized under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Sections 3406(d)(2) and 3406(b)(3).
The draft EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=26827. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.
Written comments must be received by close of business Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, and should be sent to Brad Hubbard, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-410, Sacramento, CA 95825, or bhubbard@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of document, please contact Hubbard at 916-978-5204 (TTY 800-877-8339). Copies may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific regional office at the above address.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
