# 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%3A99-2431 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** February 2, 1999 - **Citation:** 64 FR 5074 ## 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 Final Environmental Impact Statement/Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIS/FEIR) INT # FES 99-7. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 FEIS/FEIR on a proposed program to acquire water identified in the San Joaquin River Agreement (SJRA) 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. Reclamation and the SJRGA prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) and circulated it on September 25, 1998, for a 45-day review. The FEIS/FEIR presents and describes the environmental effects of three alternatives, including no action, and it includes all comments received on the DEIS/ DEIR and responses to those comments. DATES: No Federal decision will be made on the proposed action until March 5, 1999. After the 30-day waiting period, Reclamation will complete a Record of Decision. It is expected that the Board of Directors of the SJRGA will certify the EIS/EIR and approve the project on February 19, 1999, following completion of the 10-day responsible agency review period. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS/FEIR may be obtained from Mr. Michael Delamore, Bureau of Reclamation, 2666 N. Grove Industrial Drive, Suite 106, Fresno, CA 93727, or by calling (209) 487-5039. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for a list of the locations where copies of the FEIS/FEIR 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 River system, including increased instream flows. The SJRA provides protective measures equivalent to the Vernalis flow objectives of the State Water Resources Control Board's 1995 Water Quality Control Plan. Debate over the flow objectives led to a proactive problem-solving process to [[Page 5075]] 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 SJRA 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: (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 percent) is expected to come directly from surface water sources, including reservoir storage, changes in diversions, and release patterns from reservoirs. Other sources of the water include groundwater, tailwater recovery, and conservation. Copies of FEIS/FEIR 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. 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. Dated: January 25, 1999. Roger K. Patterson, Regional Director. [FR Doc. 99-2431 Filed 2-1-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-94-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-2431. Public record. Not legal advice.