State Plan to Improve Delta Conditions Further Refined to Reduce Impacts
Published:
Aerial view of the Delta
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for California WaterFix. The document analyzes several proposed changes designed to reduce the project’s footprint and costs, and minimize impacts on environmental resources in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), including wetlands and other water resources.
Public comment will be accepted through Sept. 17, 2018. DWR will respond to all substantive comments received on the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS and consider them in the decision-making process.
The proposed modifications analyzed in the environmental document released today have not changed the impact conclusions for any resource areas. The modifications include:
• Changing the locations of reusable tunnel material storage sites near the intermediate forebay, on Zacharias Island, on Bouldin Island, and near the relocated Byron Tract Forebay.
• Relocating the tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch shaft and barge landing location on Bouldin Island.
• Creating a new Byron Tract Forebay (eliminating the extensive modifications to Clifton Court Forebay) and relocating the consolidated pumping plant.
• Realigning the 40-foot diameter tunnels slightly to accommodate the relocated Bouldin Island TBM launch shaft and Byron Tract Forebay consolidated pumping plant relocation.
• Relocating or eliminating appurtenant facilities such as barge landing sites, concrete batch plants, and construction access roads to improve facility design.
• Realigning the 40-foot diameter tunnels to avoid the town of Hood and municipal water wells.
DWR released the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS as the lead state agency in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.
As the federal lead agency, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will release the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS separately for public review in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
To access the public review draft and associated environmental documents, please visit the California WaterFix web site.
Contact:
Erin Mellon, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Department of Water Resources
(916) 651-2440 | erin.mellon@water.ca.gov
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