[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29128-29129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4685]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Seven Oaks Dam Water Quality Study, San Bernadino County, CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: With the construction of Seven Oaks Dam, during and 
immediately after storm events, water flows into the pool of water 
impounded behind the dam may be turbid. Once water is impounded behind 
the dam, all water flowing in the Santa Ana River that enters Seven 
Oaks Reservoir must pass through that impoundment before being released 
at the dam. To the extent that water impounded behind the dam can have 
a higher level of sediment or algae than water flowing in the Santa Ana 
River below the Southern California Edison (SCE) No. 1 Powerhouse, the 
quality of water released from Seven Oaks Dam into the Santa Ana River 
may be reduced.
    The purpose of the study is to evaluate the potential impacts, if 
any, of the Seven Oaks Dam regarding downstream water quality and to 
characterize upstream water quality. This will entail characterization 
of the water quality conditions that existed

[[Page 29129]]

prior to dam construction and determination of how or whether the dam 
has contributed to water quality impairment as part of the ``baseline 
conditions analysis''. After the analysis, future studies would be 
determined with the resource agencies, Local Sponsors, and 
Stakeholders.

ADDRESSES: Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles 
District, Environmental Resources Branch, CESPL-PD-RN, 915 Wilshire 
Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Attention to Randy Tabije, Ecosystem 
Planning.

DATES: A public scoping meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 
31, 2006 at 7 p.m. at the San Bernardino County Flood Control District 
Offices, 825 East Third Street, San Bernadino, CA 92415.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Tabije, Environmental 
Coordinator, (213) 452-3871 or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authorization

    A specific appropriation to initiate the study was provided in the 
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, 2006, approved May 
18, 2005: ``Santa Ana River Mainstem, California--* * *; and $1,000,000 
is available for the Seven Oaks Dam Water Quality Study.''

2. Background

    The Seven Oaks Dam is part of the Santa Ana River Mainstem Project 
that provides flood control to downstream communities in three 
counties. All of the storage space (currently computed at 147,900 acre-
feet) behind Seven Oaks Dam is allocated to flood control and estimated 
sediment deposition purposes. The basic plan of operation is to store 
flood runoff until the reservoir elevation at Prado Dam (35 miles 
downstream) peaks and starts to fall. The flood control and 
environmental operation plan for Seven Oaks Dam provides substantial 
incidental water conservation benefits. Flood events that normally 
sweep rapidly past water conservation diversion facilities are now 
captured by the dam, and released at rates that are much smaller than 
the inflow to the dam. The relatively slower release of flood runoff is 
also for a much longer duration than the natural flood event. The 
anticipated net result is a greatly enhanced capability for water 
agencies to divert flood runoff than without the dam.

3. Proposed Objectives

    The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impacts, if any, of 
the Seven Oaks Dam and present an array of recommendations to achieve 
and sustain water quality to the pre-Seven Oaks Dam level(s). Based on 
the results of the water quality analysis, determinations would be made 
for the need of any further studies. No proposed alternative plans have 
been formulated to date. Proposed objectives are:
    a. Identify links between water quality, water conservation, and 
other environmental impacts.
    b. Identify degraded water quality and quantify the types and 
sources of pollution.
    c. Develop targets for water quality, based on pre-dam conditions.
    d. Inventory and evaluate a suite of structural, non-structural, 
and other measures capable of improving water quality.
    e. Integrate planned and existing water-quality, restoration, and 
management programs with other Federal, State, Tribal (if applicable), 
and local programs and projects.
    f. Recommend additional programs and projects needed for 
improvement of water quality.
    g. Identify appropriate sources of funding.

4. Scoping Process

    a. Potential impacts associated with the proposed action will be 
evaluated. Resource categories that will be analyzed are: land use, 
physical environment, geology, biological resources, agricultural 
resources, air quality, ground water, recreational usage, aesthetics, 
cultural resources, transportation/communication, hazardous waste, 
socioeconomic and safety.
    b. Participation of affected Federal, State and local resource 
agencies, Native American groups and concerned interest groups/
individuals is encouraged in the scoping process. Time and location of 
the Public Scoping meeting will also be announced by means of a letter, 
public announcements and news release. Public participation will be 
especially important in defingin the scope of analysis in the 
Environment Impact Statement (EIS), identifying significant 
environmental issues and impact analysis in the EIS and providing 
useful information such as published and unpublished data, personal 
knowledge of relevant issues and recommending mitigative measures 
associated with the proposed action. Those interested in providing 
information or data relevant to the environmental or social impacts 
that should be included or considered in the environmental analysis can 
furnish this information by writing to the points of contact (see 
ADDRESSES). A mailing list will also be established so pertinent data 
may be distributed to interested parties.

    Dated: May 9, 2006.
Alex C. Dornstauder,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 06-4685 Filed 5-18-06; 8:45 am]
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