DWR Seeks Public Input to Prepare Environmental Documents for Water Management Program

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Bureau of Reclamation are seeking public input to prepare the programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for implementing the short-term Sacramento Valley Water Management (SVWM) Program. Two public scoping meetings will solicit input on the scope of the short-term SVWM Program and the issues to be addressed in the EIS/EIR.

August 20, 2003

3 - 5 p.m.

Expo Inn

Expo Room

1413 Howe Avenue

(Just south of Arden Way)

August 21, 2003

3 - 5 p.m.

Colusa Industrial Properties

Conference Room

100 Sunrise Boulevard

(off Hwy 45/20)

The purpose of the SVWM Program is to promote better water management in the Sacramento Valley and develop additional water supplies through a cooperative water management partnership. The SVWM Program was developed to help resolve water quality and water rights issues arising from the need to meet the flow-related water quality objectives of the 1995 Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan and the State Water Resources Control Board's Phase 8 Water Rights Hearing process. The participants include the Bureau, DWR, Northern California Water Association, and various Sacramento Valley and export water users.

The short-term projects and actions include the development of groundwater to substitute for surface water supplies, reservoir reoperation, and system improvements. These projects and actions will be implemented for a period of 10 years in areas of Shasta, Butte, Sutter, Glenn, Tehama, Colusa, Sacramento, Placer, and Yolo counties.

The public is invited to provide written comments on issues and alternatives that should be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Please send written comments to the Department of Water Resources, Attention: John Fielden, Project Manager, P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, CA 94236-0001 or at [email protected] no later than Friday, September 5, 2003.

Source: California Department of Water Resources