Reclamation is estimating that up to 60,000 acre-feet of Interim Flows will be recaptured and made available in San Luis Reservoir for conservation during Water Year 2010, from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010, to be recirculated back to the 16 Friant Division Class 2 contractors as Class 2 supplies. Class 2 is additional water, when available, beyond the firm amount of 800,000 acre-feet, or Class 1 water.

The 2006 Stipulation of Settlement (Settlement) in NRDC et al. v. Rodgers, et al. provides for the development of a recapture and recirculation plan, as a part of the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) water management goal. The goal is to reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts to all of the Friant Division long-term contractors that may result from the Interim Flows and Restoration Flows.

The Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft of No Significant Impact (Draft EA/FONSI) for the proposed action was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and is available online at www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=5962. If you encounter problems accessing the document online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov. 

Please send written comments to Michelle Banonis, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-170, Sacramento, CA, 95825, by 5 p.m. Friday, July 16, 2010. Comments may also be faxed to 916-978-5469 or e-mailed to mbanonis@usbr.gov. For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Margaret Gidding at 916-978-5461 (TTY 800-735-2922) or mgidding@usbr.gov. Copies of the Draft EA/FONSI may also be viewed at Reclamation’s South-Central California Area Office in Fresno, California, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA, 93721, 559-487-5041.

For more information about the SJRRP, visit www.restoresjr.net.

Contact:
Pete Lucero 916-978-5100/ TTY 800-735-2922
Margaret Gidding 916-978-5461