[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21481]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 31, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation

 

Environmental Impact Statement on the Red Bluff Diversion Dam 
Fish Passage Program, Sacramento Canals Unit, Central Valley Project, 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) intends to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on the fish passage capability at 
the Red Bluff Diversion Dam (RBDD). The EIS, in conjunction with the 
ongoing planning study, will evaluate alternative methods to improve 
fish passage both upstream and downstream on the Sacramento River. 
Inefficient fish passage at RBDD has been identified as a contributing 
factor in the decline in the populations of anadromous fishes (mainly 
salmon and steelhead) in the upper Sacramento River.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Capener (NC-100), Area 
Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Northern California Area Office, 16349 
Shasta Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, California 96019-8400; telephone: 
(916) 275-1554.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Sacramento River supports the largest 
run of Chinook salmon and provides more spawning habitat for them than 
any other river in the State of California. Each year, four different 
runs of Chinook salmon spawn in the Sacramento River (spring, fall, 
late fall, winter). Closure of the RBDD gates in August 1966 restricted 
upstream passage and created additional mortality factors for all four 
Chinook runs and steelhead. The most significant decline has been 
experienced by the winter-run Chinook salmon, now protected under 
Federal and State Endangered Species Acts. The winter-run is listed as 
endangered by both the Federal and State acts.
    The objectives of the planning study are to improve fish passage 
capability at the RBDD for upstream and downstream migrations on the 
river while attempting to:
    (1) Continue water deliveries to the Tehama-Colusa Canal and 
Corning Canal systems in the quantities and according to the timing 
necessary to meet demands;
    (2) Maintain existing authorized purposes of the Central Valley 
Project; and,
    (3) Otherwise prevent serious adverse impacts.
    A public scoping process integrated with the ongoing planning study 
will be used to elicit information for use in determining the scope of 
the environmental impacts and issues related to the proposal and to 
determine alternative methods to accomplish the goals of the project. 
The results of the scoping process will help Reclamation develop 
concepts for improvement of fish passage and to determine the scope and 
extent of the impact analysis. Integration of the scoping study with 
the planning study, before engineering feasibilities of the 
alternatives have been determined, will significantly prolong the 
scoping process and make it more exhaustive. That is typical. However, 
it will maximize the opportunity for public involvement in the 
development of alternatives. The scoping process may consist of public 
meetings, private consultation, written comments or combinations of 
these. A subsequent notice will be published in the Federal Register at 
least 30 days prior to the first formal, public scoping meeting.

    Dated: August 19, 1994.
Rodger K. Patterson,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-21481 Filed 8-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P