Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) are seeking public input on the preparation of the programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for implementing the short-term Sacramento Valley Water Management Program (SVWM Program). Two public scoping meetings will be held to solicit input on the scope of the short-term SVWM Program and the issues to be addressed in the EIS/EIR:

In Sacramento Wednesday, August 20, 2003, 3-5 p.m. Expo Inn - The Expo Room 1413 Howe Avenue (just south of Arden Way)

In Colusa Thursday, August 21, 2003, 3-5 p.m. Colusa Industrial Properties - The Conference Room 100 Sunrise Boulevard (off Hwy 45/20)

The purpose of the SVWM Program is to promote better water management in the Sacramento Valley and develop additional water supplies through a cooperative water management partnership. The participants include Reclamation, DWR, Northern California Water Association, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, some Sacramento Valley water users, and Central Valley Project and State Water Project contractors. The SVWM Program was developed to help resolve water quality and water rights issues arising from the need to meet the flow-related water quality objectives of the 1995 Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan and the State Water Resources Control Board’s Phase 8 Water Rights Hearing process. The short-term projects and actions include the development of groundwater to substitute for surface water supplies, reservoir reoperation, and system improvements. These projects and actions will be implemented for a period of 10 years in areas of Shasta, Butte, Sutter, Glenn, Tehama, Colusa, Sacramento, Placer, and Yolo counties.

The public is invited to provide written comments on issues and alternatives that should be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Please send written comments to the Department of Water Resources, Attention: John Fielden, Project Manager, P.O. Box 94286, Sacramento, CA 94236-0001 or via e-mail at jfielden@water.ca.gov no later than Friday, September 5, 2003.

For additional information, please contact John Fielden with DWR at (916) 651-7053 or Bob Eckart with Reclamation at reckart@mp.usbr.gov or (916) 978-5051. Information is also on www.dwr.water.ca.gov