Sacramento, CA…The Bureau of Reclamation is requesting comments on a draft revised environmental analysis for long-term water transfers prepared with the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority. The analysis includes the environmental effects of approving voluntary water transfers from 38 water management agencies and individuals north of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Central Valley Project water contractors south of the Delta and in the Bay Area over the next six years.

Reclamation and the water authority completed a joint environmental document in 2015 for approving water transfers over a ten-year period. The document was challenged in U.S. District Court, resulting in a 2018 court ruling that the document needed further clarification. The draft revised environmental documents provide additional analysis clarifying potential environmental effects of approving these water transfers.

Water transfers analyzed could occur through various methods including groundwater substitution, cropland idling, reservoir releases and conservation.

The Draft Revised Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act is available here.

Comments are due by March 18. Email comments to Daniel Cordova at dcordova@usbr.gov. Written comments must be mailed by March 18 to:

Daniel Cordova
Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Room E-2604
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825

For questions on the project or to request a copy of document, please email Cordova or call 916-978-5483 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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