The Bureau of Reclamation is preparing a Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for Reclamation-managed lands and waters at New Melones Lake in Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties.  New Melones Lake is managed by the Central California Area Office, part of Reclamation's Mid-Pacific Region.

The RMP/EIS will evaluate current and future resource conditions and analyze whether updated or new management actions are needed.  These management actions include public health and safety, recreational and land use, traffic    and transportation, cultural and archaeological resources, and sensitive species and habitats.  The actions will be incorporated into a single document to guide the management of the lake's natural, cultural, and recreational resources.   

To ensure the public has sufficient opportunity to provide their input as Reclamation develops the RMP/EIS, Preliminary Draft Chapters 1-3 of the RMP/EIS are available for public review and comment.  The chapters may be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2536.  If you encounter problems accessing the document on line, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.

Two 'Open House' meetings will be held to answer the public's questions and accept comments on Draft Chapters 1-3.  Attendees are welcome to arrive at any time during the Open House hours, visit with Reclamation staff at several information booths, ask questions, and provide comments. 

The Open Houses will be held:

The public may submit their written comments at the Open Houses; or mail them by close of business Wednesday, September 17, 2008, to Ms. Melissa Brockman, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, 7794 Folsom Dam Road, Folsom, CA 95630; or fax them to 707-966-0409; or e-mail them to mbrockman@mp.usbr.gov. 

For information, please visit the project website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/field_offices/new_melones/rmp.html.  For questions, please contact Ms. Brockman at 707-966-2111, ext. 103, or e-mail mbrockman@mp.usbr.gov.