News Release Archive

Reclamation to Begin 2011 Gravel Replenishment Program in the Lower Stanislaus River

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: August 26, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation is beginning the 2011 Gravel Replenishment Program on the Lower Stanislaus River at River Mile 58. Beginning Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, Reclamation will add 5,000 tons of gravel to the Stanislaus River below Goodwin Dam and distribute it across the channel to provide enhanced suitable spawning and rearing habitat conditions for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon. Gravel will be placed in the river at depths ranging from 1 to 7 feet. The work will begin Monday, Aug. 29, and continue through Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, work will be performed Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dump trucks will use Tulloch Road to make about 50 deliveries each day to the work site. Gravel will be placed in the river using front-end loaders that are approved for in-river use. This activity may cause a temporary increase in turbidity in the river as the equipment inserts the gravel. No work will occur on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5.

Reclamation in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game, has been replenishing spawning gravel at restoration sites in the Lower Stanislaus River since 1997 to increase and improve Chinook salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout spawning and rearing habitat. Reclamation prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) in 1997 and Supplemental EAs in 2000 and 2004 for earlier gravel replacement work in the Lower Stanislaus River.

Reclamation issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 2011 project, which is available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=8091. If you encounter problems accessing the FONSI and EAs online, please call 916-978-5100 or e-mail mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information, please contact John Hannon, Program Manager, Reclamation, at 916-414-2413, TTY 916-978-5608, or jhannon@usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)