[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50925-50926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25443]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Meeting Flow Objectives for the San Joaquin River Agreement, 
1999-2010, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft environmental impact 
statement/draft environmental impact report (DEIS/DEIR). DES 98-42

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) and the San Joaquin River Group Authority (SJRGA) have 
prepared a joint DEIS/DEIR on a proposed program to acquire water to be 
used to provide protective measures for fall-run chinook salmon in the 
San Joaquin River system and to support the San Joaquin River flow 
objectives of the 1995 Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco 
Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary. The water would be used to 
provide:
     A pulse flow for a 31-day period at Vernalis during April 
and May in support of the Vernalis Adaptive Management Program, and
     other flows to facilitate migration and attraction of 
anadromous fish, including fall attraction flows.
    The affected portions of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries 
(Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced rivers) are located in the Central 
Valley of California. The rivers and related storage and conveyance 
facilities are located in the following counties: Fresno, Madera, 
Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne.
    The DEIS/DEIR presents and describes the environmental effects of 
three alternatives, including no action. Two public hearings will be 
held to receive comments from interested parties, organizations, and 
individuals on the environmental impacts of the proposal.

DATES: Submit written comments on the DEIS/DEIR on or before November 
9, 1998. Comments may be submitted to Reclamation or the SJRGA at the 
addresses provided below. The public hearings on the DEIR/DEIS will be 
held on October 23, 1998, at 2 p.m. and on October 29, 1998, at 6:30 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing scheduled for October 23, 1998, will be 
held at the Bureau of Reclamation in Basement Conference Room A at 3310 
El Camino Avenue in Sacramento CA. The public hearing scheduled for 
October 29, 1998, will be held at the Modesto Irrigation District in 
the second floor Multi-Purpose Room (use the south entrance), 1231 
Eleventh Street in Modesto CA.
    Written comments on the DEIS/DEIR should be addressed to Mr. 
Michael Delamore, Bureau of Reclamation, 2666 N. Grove Industrial 
Drive, Suite 106, Fresno CA 93727; or to Mr. Allen Short, San Joaquin 
River Group Authority, c/o Modesto Irrigation District, PO Box 4060, 
Modesto CA 95252. Copies of the DEIS/DEIR may be requested from Mr. 
Delamore at the above address or by calling (209) 487-5039.
    See Supplementary Information section for a list of the locations 
where copies of the DEIS/DEIR are available for public inspection and 
review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Delamore, Bureau of 
Reclamation, at (209) 487-5039; or Mr. Dan Fults, Friant Water Users 
Authority, at (916) 441-1931.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action involves providing water 
supplies to meet flow requirements for fall-run chinook salmon and 
other environmental needs on the San Joaquin River. The SJRGA, 
consisting of several water districts in the San Joaquin River basin, 
is working with State and Federal Government agencies to address needs 
on the San Joaquin, including increased instream flows, and compliance 
with the 1995 State Water Resources Control Board Water Quality Control 
Plan flow objectives at Vernalis. Debate over the flow objective led to 
a proactive problem-solving process to develop an adaptive fishery 
management plan (the Vernalis Adaptive Management Program [VAMP]) and 
the water supplies (from willing sellers on the San Joaquin River 
system) to support the plan. The San Joaquin River Agreement identifies 
where the water to support the VAMP and other flow needs would be 
obtained, specifically from the SJRGA whose members are making the 
water available. The water would be used during the period 1999-2010; 
the flows would vary, depending on hydrologic conditions.
    The water supply program consists of three components:

[[Page 50926]]

    (1) A 31-day pulse flow in April-May to support the VAMP that would 
require up to 110,000 acre-feet annually;
    (2) Additional water for a fall attraction flow for salmon in 
October (12,500 acre-feet) from Merced Irrigation District; and
    (3) Additional water from Oakdale Irrigation District (26,000 acre-
feet less up to 11,000 acre-feet contributed by Oakdale to the 31-day 
pulse flow). This additional water would be used for such purposes as 
ramping around the pulse flows, temperature control, water quality, and 
protection of salmon redds during periods of low flow.
    A total of 137,500 acre-feet of water per year could be provided, 
and most of this (up to 92%) is expected to come directly from surface 
water sources, including reservoir storage and changes in diversions 
and release patterns from reservoirs. Other sources of the water 
include groundwater, tailwater recovery, and conservation.
    Copies of DEIS/DEIR are available for public inspection and review 
at the following locations:
     Modesto Irrigation District, 1234 Eleventh Street, 
Modesto, CA 95252; telephone (209) 526-7360.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Program Analysis Office, Room 7456, 
1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240; telephone (202) 208-4662.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, 
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225; 
telephone (303) 445-2072.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: MP-140, 2800 Cottage 
Way, Sacramento CA 95825-1898; telephone (916) 978-5100
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 
20240-0001
    Copies will also be available for inspection at the following 
public libraries:
     California State Library at 914 Capitol Mall in 
Sacramento, CA 94237
     Fresno County Public Library at 2420 Mariposa Street in 
Fresno, CA 93721
     Merced County Library at 2100 O Street in Merced, CA 
95340-3637.
     Merced County, Los Banos Branch Library at 1312 South 
Seventh Street in Los Banos, CA 93635.
     Modesto City Library at 1500 I Street in Modesto, CA 
95354-1220.
     Sacramento Public Library at 828 I Street in Sacramento, 
CA 95814-2589.
     Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library at 605 North El 
Dorado Street in Stockton, CA 95202-1999.
     University of California Berkeley, Government Documents 
Library at 350 Library Annex in Berkeley, CA 94720.
     University of California Davis at Shields Library in 
Davis, CA 95616.

Hearing Process Information

    Reclamation staff will make a brief presentation to describe the 
proposed project. The public may comment on environmental issues 
addressed in the DEIS/DEIR. If necessary due to large attendance, 
comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker. Written comments 
will also be accepted. If special services are required to attend these 
hearings, please contact Mr. Michael Delamore at (209) 487-5039 or TDD 
(209) 487-5933.

    Dated: September 17, 1998.
Roger K. Patterson,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-25443 Filed 9-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P