[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59790-59791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28740]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Woodbridge Irrigation District and City of Lodi's Lower Mokelumne 
River Restoration Program, San Joaquin County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Report/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/DEIS) INT-DES-99-50.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and the 
California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation), Woodbridge Irrigation District (WID), and the City of 
Lodi have

[[Page 59791]]

prepared a joint DEIR/DEIS for the Lower Mokelumne River Restoration 
Program (LMRRP). The LMRRP encompasses an area located in northern San 
Joaquin County along the lower Mokelumne River between Camanche Dam and 
the Mokelumne and Cosumnes Rivers. The Proposed Project comprises four 
elements: (1) Improving fish passage at Woodbridge Dam, (2) upgrading 
the fish screen at the WID diversion, (3) placing screens on unscreened 
or underscreened riparian diversions on the Mokelumne River between 
Camanche Dam and the Cosumnes Rivers on a voluntary basis, and (4) 
restoring riparian vegetation along the Mokelumne River. The DEIR/DEIS 
describes and presents the environmental effects of the four elements 
of the program.

DATES: Submit written comments on the DEIR/DEIS on or before January 4, 
2000. Comments may be submitted to Reclamation or WID at the addresses 
provided below. The public hearing on the DEIR/DEIS will be held on 
November 16, 1999, at 7:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held in the Carnegie Forum, 
located at 305 West Pine Street, next to City Hall, in Lodi, 
California.
    Written comments on the DEIR/DEIS should be addressed to Mr. Anders 
Christensen, WID, 18777 N. Lower Sacramento Road, Woodbridge, 
California 95258, or to Mr. Buford Holt, Reclamation, 16349 Shasta Dam 
Boulevard, Shasta Lake, California 96019.
    Copies of the DEIR/DEIS may be requested from Mr. Christensen at 
the above address or by calling (209) 369-6808.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for locations where copies of 
the DEIR/DEIS are available for public inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Anders Christensen, WID, at (209) 
369-6808; or Mr. Buford Holt, Reclamation, at (530) 275-1554.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The LMRRP was developed to implement 
important elements from resource management plans prepared by the 
CALFED Bay-Delta Program (CALFED), the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, and the Department of Fish and Game. The goal of the LMRRP is 
to substantially increase fall-run chinook salmon and steelhead 
populations, enhance critical and limiting aquatic habitats, and 
restore riparian ecosystem integrity and diversity. In addition to a 
No-Project Alternative, which involves the continued operation of the 
existing Woodbridge Dam and fish passage facilities, four action 
alternatives are examined, including: (1) Construct new fish passage 
facilities on the existing Woodbridge Dam; (2) construct a new 
Woodbridge Dam with operable weir gates and new fish passage 
facilities; (3) construct a new Woodbridge Dam with operable weir gates 
and new fish passage facilities, and diversion pumps; and (4) replace 
the existing Woodbridge Dam and pump water from the river.
    WID applied to CALFED for funding for the entire LMRRP. CALFED has 
provided funding through Reclamation for the environmental 
documentation and permitting of the first two elements, and final 
design for the first element. The remainder of the LMRRP will be funded 
by CALFED or by the State of California as funds are available.
    Copies of the DEIR/DEIS are available for public inspection and 
review at the following locations:
     Woodbridge Irrigation District Office, 18777 N. Lower 
Sacramento Road, Woodbridge, California 95258; telephone: (209) 369-
6808.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Office of Policy, Room 7456, 1849 C 
Street NW, Washington DC 20240; telephone: (202) 208-4662.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Reclamation Service Center Library, 
Building 67, Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, 
Colorado 80225; telephone: (303) 445-2072.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Public Affairs Office, 2800 Cottage 
Way, Sacramento, California 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.
     Lodi Public Library, 201 W. Locust Street, Lodi, 
California 95240-2099.

Hearing Process Information

    WID staff will make a brief presentation to describe the proposed 
project, its purpose and need, and alternatives considered. The public 
may comment on environmental issues addressed in the DEIR/DEIS. If 
necessary due to large attendance, comments will be limited to 5 
minutes per speaker. Written comments will also be accepted.

    Dated: October 22, 1999.
Kirk C. Rodgers,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 99-28740 Filed 11-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P