WALNUT GROVE, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed closure of the Delta Cross Channel gates for up to 10 days during the first half of October over the next five years (2012 through 2016). Reclamation will evaluate in-season water quality modeling to determine the duration of the closure, ensuring compliance with water quality standards and minimization of potential impacts to water supply.

The purpose of the proposed action is to evaluate the effects of short term modifications to DCC gate operations annually in the fall over a five-year period on reduction of lower Mokelumne River fall-run Chinook salmon straying.

The DCC is located on the Sacramento River and connects to Snodgrass Slough, which in turn connects to the lower Mokelumne River. Natural production of Chinook salmon in the lower Mokelumne River has been significantly impacted over the past several years. One factor that has been identified as a contributing factor to low returns in the lower Mokelumne River is straying to other rivers, particularly the lower American River. It is hypothesized that having the DCC closed during a portion of October would strengthen migration cues for migratory fish, including Chinook salmon. Reclamation released the draft EA/FONSI for public review and comment from August 8 to August 23. Comments are addressed in the Final EA/FONSI.

The Final EA/FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=10650. If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Final EA/FONSI, please contact Rebecca Victorine at 916-414-2429 (TTY 916-978-5608). Copies of the final documents may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Bay-Delta Office at 801 I Street, Suite 140, Sacramento, CA 95814.