# Meeting Flow Objectives for the San Joaquin River Agreement, 1999-2010, California > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A98-25443 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** September 23, 1998 - **Citation:** 63 FR 50925 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Meeting Flow Objectives for the San Joaquin River Agreement, 1999-2010, California AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft environmental impact statement/draft environmental impact report (DEIS/DEIR). DES 98-42 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the San Joaquin River Group Authority (SJRGA) have prepared a joint DEIS/DEIR on a proposed program to acquire water to be used to provide protective measures for fall-run chinook salmon in the San Joaquin River system and to support the San Joaquin River flow objectives of the 1995 Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary. The water would be used to provide: A pulse flow for a 31-day period at Vernalis during April and May in support of the Vernalis Adaptive Management Program, and other flows to facilitate migration and attraction of anadromous fish, including fall attraction flows. The affected portions of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries (Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced rivers) are located in the Central Valley of California. The rivers and related storage and conveyance facilities are located in the following counties: Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne. The DEIS/DEIR presents and describes the environmental effects of three alternatives, including no action. Two public hearings will be held to receive comments from interested parties, organizations, and individuals on the environmental impacts of the proposal. DATES: Submit written comments on the DEIS/DEIR on or before November 9, 1998. Comments may be submitted to Reclamation or the SJRGA at the addresses provided below. The public hearings on the DEIR/DEIS will be held on October 23, 1998, at 2 p.m. and on October 29, 1998, at 6:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public hearing scheduled for October 23, 1998, will be held at the Bureau of Reclamation in Basement Conference Room A at 3310 El Camino Avenue in Sacramento CA. The public hearing scheduled for October 29, 1998, will be held at the Modesto Irrigation District in the second floor Multi-Purpose Room (use the south entrance), 1231 Eleventh Street in Modesto CA. Written comments on the DEIS/DEIR should be addressed to Mr. Michael Delamore, Bureau of Reclamation, 2666 N. Grove Industrial Drive, Suite 106, Fresno CA 93727; or to Mr. Allen Short, San Joaquin River Group Authority, c/o Modesto Irrigation District, PO Box 4060, Modesto CA 95252. Copies of the DEIS/DEIR may be requested from Mr. Delamore at the above address or by calling (209) 487-5039. See Supplementary Information section for a list of the locations where copies of the DEIS/DEIR are available for public inspection and review. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Delamore, Bureau of Reclamation, at (209) 487-5039; or Mr. Dan Fults, Friant Water Users Authority, at (916) 441-1931. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action involves providing water supplies to meet flow requirements for fall-run chinook salmon and other environmental needs on the San Joaquin River. The SJRGA, consisting of several water districts in the San Joaquin River basin, is working with State and Federal Government agencies to address needs on the San Joaquin, including increased instream flows, and compliance with the 1995 State Water Resources Control Board Water Quality Control Plan flow objectives at Vernalis. Debate over the flow objective led to a proactive problem-solving process to develop an adaptive fishery management plan (the Vernalis Adaptive Management Program [VAMP]) and the water supplies (from willing sellers on the San Joaquin River system) to support the plan. The San Joaquin River Agreement identifies where the water to support the VAMP and other flow needs would be obtained, specifically from the SJRGA whose members are making the water available. The water would be used during the period 1999-2010; the flows would vary, depending on hydrologic conditions. The water supply program consists of three components: [[Page 50926]] (1) A 31-day pulse flow in April-May to support the VAMP that would require up to 110,000 acre-feet annually; (2) Additional water for a fall attraction flow for salmon in October (12,500 acre-feet) from Merced Irrigation District; and (3) Additional water from Oakdale Irrigation District (26,000 acre- feet less up to 11,000 acre-feet contributed by Oakdale to the 31-day pulse flow). This additional water would be used for such purposes as ramping around the pulse flows, temperature control, water quality, and protection of salmon redds during periods of low flow. A total of 137,500 acre-feet of water per year could be provided, and most of this (up to 92%) is expected to come directly from surface water sources, including reservoir storage and changes in diversions and release patterns from reservoirs. Other sources of the water include groundwater, tailwater recovery, and conservation. Copies of DEIS/DEIR are available for public inspection and review at the following locations: Modesto Irrigation District, 1234 Eleventh Street, Modesto, CA 95252; telephone (209) 526-7360. Bureau of Reclamation, Program Analysis Office, Room 7456, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240; telephone (202) 208-4662. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Office Library, Building 67, Room 167, Denver Federal Center, 6th and Kipling, Denver, CO 80225; telephone (303) 445-2072. Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: MP-140, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825-1898; telephone (916) 978-5100 Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 20240-0001 Copies will also be available for inspection at the following public libraries: California State Library at 914 Capitol Mall in Sacramento, CA 94237 Fresno County Public Library at 2420 Mariposa Street in Fresno, CA 93721 Merced County Library at 2100 O Street in Merced, CA 95340-3637. Merced County, Los Banos Branch Library at 1312 South Seventh Street in Los Banos, CA 93635. Modesto City Library at 1500 I Street in Modesto, CA 95354-1220. Sacramento Public Library at 828 I Street in Sacramento, CA 95814-2589. Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library at 605 North El Dorado Street in Stockton, CA 95202-1999. University of California Berkeley, Government Documents Library at 350 Library Annex in Berkeley, CA 94720. University of California Davis at Shields Library in Davis, CA 95616. Hearing Process Information Reclamation staff will make a brief presentation to describe the proposed project. The public may comment on environmental issues addressed in the DEIS/DEIR. If necessary due to large attendance, comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker. Written comments will also be accepted. If special services are required to attend these hearings, please contact Mr. Michael Delamore at (209) 487-5039 or TDD (209) 487-5933. Dated: September 17, 1998. Roger K. Patterson, Regional Director. [FR Doc. 98-25443 Filed 9-22-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-94-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A98-25443. Public record. Not legal advice.