[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 145 (Monday, July 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43785-43786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17230]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Lake Casitas Resource Management Plan (RMP), Ventura County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and notice of public hearing.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as the National 
Environmental Policy Act Federal lead agency, has made available for 
public review and comment the Lake Casitas draft EIS. The draft EIS 
describes and presents the environmental effects of the No-Action 
Alternative and two (2) Action Alternatives. A public hearing will be 
held to receive comments from individuals and organizations on the 
draft EIS.

DATES: Written comments on the draft EIS will be accepted on or before 
September 26, 2008.
    A public hearing has been scheduled to receive oral or written 
comments regarding environmental effects. The hearing will be held from 
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 28, 2008 in Oak View, CA.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the draft EIS to Mr. Robert 
Epperson, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721.
    The public hearing will be held at Oak View Park and Resource 
Center, 555 Mahoney Avenue, Oak View, CA 93022.
    Copies of the draft EIS may be requested from Mr. Robert Epperson, 
by writing to Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721; 
by calling 559-269-4518 (TDD 559-487-5933); or by e-mailing 
[email protected].
    The draft EIS is also accessible from the following Web site: 
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/casitas/docs/index.html. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION Section for locations where copies of the draft EIS are 
available for public review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Epperson, Bureau of 
Reclamation, at 559-269-4518 (TDD 559-487-5933) or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EIS documents the direct, 
indirect, and cumulative effects to the physical, biological, and 
socioeconomic environment that may result from various resource 
management alternatives at Lake Casitas.
    The Lake Casitas draft EIS evaluates the existing resource 
management at Lake Casitas. The project purpose consists of: (1) 
Protecting the water supply and water quality functions of Lake 
Casitas; (2) protecting and enhancing the natural and cultural 
resources in the Plan area, consistent with federal law and Reclamation 
policies; and (3) providing recreational opportunities and facilities 
consistent with the original Lake Casitas project purposes, Reclamation 
policies, and state water policies.

[[Page 43786]]

    Lake Casitas is an existing reservoir formed by Casitas Dam, and 
located in Ventura County, California. The dam, which stores water for 
irrigation, municipal and industrial use within the Casitas Municipal 
Water District (CMWD), was completed in November 1958. Lake Casitas has 
a storage capacity of 254,000 acre-feet and delivers between 15,000 and 
23,000 acre-feet each year. Although Reclamation owns Casitas Dam, the 
CMWD owns and operates the Plan Area pursuant to the 1956 agreement for 
the Ventura River Project. The 1956 agreement did not consider the 
current level of recreation activity the Plan Area now serves. 
Therefore, under a new long-term management agreement, the managing 
partner for the Open Space Lands may be different than the managing 
partner for the Park. The RMP will have a planning horizon of 25 years, 
and will begin when a new management agreement is reached between 
Reclamation and the managing partner(s).
    The new plan would: (1) Ensure safe storage and timely delivery of 
high-quality water to users while enhancing natural resources and 
recreational opportunities; (2) protect natural resources while 
educating the public about the value of good stewardship; (3) provide 
recreational opportunities to meet the demands of a growing, diverse 
population; (4) ensure recreational diversity and the quality of the 
experience; and (5) provide the updated management considerations for 
establishing a new management agreement with the managing partner(s).
    The draft EIS outlines the formulation and evaluation of 
alternatives designed to address these issues by representing the 
varied interests present at the Plan Area. Alternative 1 (No Action) 
would continue current management practices. Alternative 2 
(Enhancement) would balance natural resource protection with recreation 
opportunities. Alternative 3 (Recreation Expansion) would emphasize 
expanded recreation opportunities.
    The draft EIS has been developed within the authorities provided by 
Congress through the Reclamation Recreation Management Act of 1992 
(Pub. L. 102-575, Title 28, U.S.C. 460L), Title IV of the Recreational 
Development Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 93-493), Reclamation Act, Federal 
Water Project Recreation Act, and other applicable Federal agency and 
U.S. Department of the Interior policies.
    Copies of the draft EIS are available for public review at the 
following locations:
     Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Regional 
Library, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
     Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area 
Office, 1243N Street, Fresno, CA 93721.
     Ojai Ranger District Station, 1190 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai, 
CA 93023.
     E.P. Foster Public Library, 651 Main Street, Ventura, CA 
93001.
     Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, 
Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225.
     Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the 
Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 
20240-0001.

Public Hearings

    A brief presentation, including a project overview, will open the 
public hearing. This will be followed by an open house during which 
individual concerns and questions will be addressed through interaction 
with the project team.
    If special assistance is required at the public hearings, please 
contact Mr. Robert Epperson at 559-269-4518, TDD 559-487-5933, or by e-
mailing [email protected]. Please notify Mr. Epperson as far in 
advance as possible to enable Reclamation to secure the needed 
services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be 
notified.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 
be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: July 3, 2008.
John F. Davis,
 Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. E8-17230 Filed 7-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P