The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Draft Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) for the proposed 2-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Project (Demonstration Project) for public review.  The document was developed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.  Reclamation will hold three public meetings to provide information on the proposed Demonstration Project:

The proposed Demonstration Project is a 5-year experiment to validate a new delta smelt behavioral model and study the effects of modifying flows in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) to protect delta smelt and other sensitive aquatic species from entrainment in Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) export pumps.  Research suggests that the pre-spawning migration of adult delta smelt is tied to sediment/suspended particles in the water (turbidity).  Temporary gates would be placed across Old River and Connection Slough in the central Delta and operated from December to March to keep turbid water away from the CVP and SWP export pumps, thus keeping adult delta smelt away from the pumps, and in March and June to prevent larvae and juvenile delta smelt from being entrained by the export pumps.

The Draft EA/FONSI is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=4472.  If you have problems accessing the document, please contact Public Affairs at e-mail mpPublicAffairs@usbr.gov or 916-978-5100.  Additional information on the Demonstration Project is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/2gates/. 

Comments are due by close of business Tuesday, November 17, 2009, and should be sent to Mr. Mario Manzo, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP-730, Sacramento, CA 95825, or e-mailed to mmanzo@usbr.gov, or faxed to 916-978-5094.  For additional information or a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please call 916-978-5060 (TDD 916-978-5608).  To be added to the Demonstration Project mailing list or if special assistance is needed to attend a meeting, please contact Ms. Janet Sierzputowski at 916-978-5112 (TDD 916-978-5608) or e-mail jsierzputowski@usbr.gov.