[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44099-44100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18952]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Lake Casitas Resource Management Plan, Ventura County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2) (c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation proposes to prepare a 
draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Lake Casitas Resource 
Management Plan (RMP), which will be issued concurrent with the DEIS. 
Reclamation will be conducting two public scoping meetings to elicit 
comments on the scope and issues to be addressed in both the RMP and 
EIS. The date and time of these meetings are listed below. Reclamation 
is also seeking written comments, as noted below. The Draft RMP and 
DEIS are expected to be issued in late 2004.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before September 23, 2003.
    The two scoping meetings will be held as follows:
    [sbull] September 24, 2003, at 7 p.m., Ojai, CA 93023
    [sbull] September 25, 2003, at 7 p.m., Ventura, CA 93001

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the RMP and DEIS should be 
sent to Mr. Dan Holsapple, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central 
California Area Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721-1813; or by 
telephone at 559-487-5409; or faxed to 559-487-5130 (TDD 559-487-5933).
    The meeting locations are:
    [sbull] Ojai, California, at the Soule Golf Course, Banquet Room, 
1033 East Ojai Avenue
    [sbull] Ventura, California, at the E.P. Foster Library, Topping 
Room, 651 East Main Street

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dan Holsapple, Bureau of 
Reclamation, 559-487-5409.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Casitas Project (originally called the 
Ventura Project) was constructed in the early 1950's by Reclamation on 
behalf of Ventura County and Casitas Municipal Water District 
(Casitas). The project includes Casitas Dam, Lake Casitas, the 
developed Recreation Area at the north end of the lake, and the Open 
Space Lands north of the lake, purchased in the late 1970's. Casitas 
operates the dam and manages the Open Space Lands under contracts with 
Reclamation. Casitas manages the Recreation Area, although a formal 
contract has not been established with Reclamation to date.
    Reclamation is preparing a RMP for government lands associated with 
the Casitas Project, including the Recreation Area. The RMP will 
include long-term management actions to protect natural resources while 
maintaining and enhancing recreational opportunities. The RMP will be 
used to guide the development of a long-term recreation contract 
between Reclamation and the non-Federal Managing Partner, Casitas.
    The RMP will specifically address the Recreation Area, the entire 
lake, and all government land surrounding the lake. The objective of an 
RMP is to establish management objectives, guidelines, and actions to 
be implemented by Reclamation directly, or through its recreation 
contract with Casitas, that will protect the water supply and water 
quality functions of Lake Casitas; protect and enhance natural and 
cultural resources in the Recreation Area consistent with Federal law 
and Reclamation policies; and provide recreational opportunities and 
facilities consistent with the Project purposes and Reclamation 
policies.
    The development of the RMP will be performed within the authorities 
provided by the Congress through the Reclamation Act, Federal Water 
Project Recreation Act, Reclamation Recreation Management Act, and 
applicable agency and Department of the Interior policies.
    The RMP will be developed based on a comprehensive inventory of 
environmental resources and Project facilities. It will include an 
analysis of the natural resources of the area, the identification of 
land use suitability and capability, and the development of management 
policies, objectives, responsibilities, guidelines, and plans. The 
overall purpose of an RMP is to foster stewardship of Reclamation 
lands. The RMP will enable managers to make land-use and resource 
decisions that are consistent with the overall management objectives of 
Reclamation land and water areas and the needs of the public. The RMP 
will assist Reclamation in minimizing conflicts among the competing 
interests and types of use at Lake Casitas.

[[Page 44100]]

    The plan will be developed with input from various agencies and 
parties, including (but not limited to) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
and National Marine Fisheries Service, Ventura County (various 
departments), Casitas, City of Ojai, environmental and community 
groups, and the public. The plan will be used to guide future 
recreational uses and administrative arrangements to be considered by 
Reclamation in the establishment of a recreation contract with Casitas.
    The primary emphasis of the RMP will be protecting Project water 
supply, water quality, and natural resources, while enhancing 
recreational uses at and surrounding the lake. Specific issue areas to 
be addressed include (among others): management of the Casitas Open 
Space lands north of Highway 150 to protect water quality; improvements 
and expansion of recreational facilities in the Recreation Area; 
potential new trails surrounding the lake; expanded areas for boat 
fishing; protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources; 
coordination with adjacent activities on the National Forest; and fire 
management practices.
    The environmental impacts of the RMP and associated alternatives 
will be assessed in an EIS that will be prepared concurrent with the 
RMP. The environmental review will focus on the potential for 
management actions to cause adverse environmental impacts to natural 
and cultural resources such as water quality, endangered species, 
public safety, and historic resources. It will include an analysis of 
alternative land, recreation, and natural resource management 
approaches.
    Reclamation practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review. Individual 
respondents may request that we withhold their home address from public 
disclosure, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There 
also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a respondent's 
identity from public disclosure, as allowable by law. If you wish us to 
withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at 
the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public disclosure in their entirety.

    Dated: July 3, 2003.
Robert Eckart,
Chief, Environmental Compliance Branch, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 03-18952 Filed 7-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P