[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5074-5075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2431]


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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 Final Environmental Impact 
Statement/Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIS/FEIR) INT # FES 99-7.

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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 FEIS/FEIR on a proposed program to acquire water 
identified in the San Joaquin River Agreement (SJRA) 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.
    Reclamation and the SJRGA prepared a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) and circulated 
it on September 25, 1998, for a 45-day review. The FEIS/FEIR presents 
and describes the environmental effects of three alternatives, 
including no action, and it includes all comments received on the DEIS/
DEIR and responses to those comments.

DATES: No Federal decision will be made on the proposed action until 
March 5, 1999. After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will 
complete a Record of Decision. It is expected that the Board of 
Directors of the SJRGA will certify the EIS/EIR and approve the project 
on February 19, 1999, following completion of the 10-day responsible 
agency review period.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS/FEIR may be obtained from Mr. Michael 
Delamore, Bureau of Reclamation, 2666 N. Grove Industrial Drive, Suite 
106, Fresno, CA 93727, or by calling (209) 487-5039. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for a list of the locations where copies of the 
FEIS/FEIR 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 River system, including increased instream flows. 
The SJRA provides protective measures equivalent to the Vernalis flow 
objectives of the State Water Resources Control Board's 1995 Water 
Quality Control Plan. Debate over the flow objectives led to a 
proactive problem-solving process to

[[Page 5075]]

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 SJRA 
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:
    (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 percent) is expected to come directly from 
surface water sources, including reservoir storage, changes in 
diversions, and release patterns from reservoirs. Other sources of the 
water include groundwater, tailwater recovery, and conservation.
    Copies of FEIS/FEIR 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.
     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.

    Dated: January 25, 1999.
Roger K. Patterson,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 99-2431 Filed 2-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P