The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a public workshop on the Mid-Pacific Region’s Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy (M&I WSP). In 2011, Reclamation held several stakeholder workshops and public scoping meetings to solicit public input on the updated M&I WSP and to receive comment on the scope of a proposed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The proposed draft EIS is being prepared and will be used to analyze the potential effects of implementing the updated M&I WSP. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was posted in the Federal Register on Tuesday, March 8, 2011.

At the upcoming public workshop, Reclamation will present and discuss the proposed alternatives that will be considered and analyzed in the EIS. In addition, key computer modeling (CALSIM II) assumptions and other related information will be shared with workshop participants. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to provide comment and input to Reclamation that will be considered in the analyses and EIS. The draft EIS is anticipated to be available in early December 2012.

Reclamation’s Central Valley Project (CVP) is operated under federal statutes authorizing the CVP and by the terms and conditions of water rights acquired pursuant to California law. During any year, certain water supply and/or operational conditions may limit the availability of CVP water and require the Policy be implemented during water short years. A public workshop is scheduled in:

Sacramento, Friday, February 10, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 2800 Cottage Way Cafeteria Conference Rooms C-1001 and C-1002

For information on the project, please visit Reclamation’s M&I WSP website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvp/mandi/.

For additional information, please contact Tim Rust, Program Manager, Reclamation, via e-mail at trust@usbr.gov or at 916-978-5516.