The Bureau of Reclamation and Meyer Crest, Limited, have completed negotiations of their Sacramento River Settlement contract. The proposed contract is for the annual delivery of up to 195 acre-feet of base supply and 230 acre-feet of project water for municipal and industrial purposes for 40 years. The contract was negotiated and completed under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) and is available for a 60-day public review and comment period.

Significant terms of the contract include an initial 40-year term of contract; Central Valley Project (CVP) water to be priced at an annually adjusted cost-of-service rate; payment of a charge to the CVPIA Restoration Fund; opportunities for contractors to engage in water management activities such as transfers, water banking, and ground-water recharge; and communication, cooperation, and coordination between the parties to improve management and operation of the CVP.

The form of contract is available on-line at www.usbr.gov/mp/cvpia/3404c/index.html, click on 2004 Settlement Contractors Forms of Contract and scroll to Meyer Crest, Limited. Written comments must be received by close of business on Tuesday, February 15, 2005, and should be sent to: Mr. Donald Bultema, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 988, Willows, CA 95988. Comments may also be faxed to 530-934-1302 or e-mailed to dbultema@mp.usbr.gov. To request a copy of the form of contract, contact Ms. Nancy Anderson at 916-978-5254, TDD 916-978-5608, or e-mail nlanderson@mp.usbr.gov. Exhibits referenced in the individual contracts will not be posted in most cases. The rate exhibits that will be effective when the contracts are signed will not be available until January 2005 (see Article 7 of contracts). If you would like a copy of the exhibit to the current contract, contact Ms. Anderson.

Negotiations continue for the renewal of the remaining CVP long-term water service contracts. Additional information on Reclamation's contract renewal process is available at www.usbr.gov/mp/cvpia/3404c/index.html. If you need help accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or e-mail lwirth@mp.usbr.gov.