News Release Archive

Public Input Sought for Update of Coachella Canal Area Resource Management Plan

Media Contact: Jack Simes, 928-343-8334, jsimes@lc.usbr.gov

For Release: January 26, 2005

On February 1, 2 and 3, 2005, the Bureau of Reclamation will host three open houses in southern California to provide information and seek public input for updating a 1993 Resource Management Plan (RMP) for a portion of the Coachella Canal area.

The open house dates, locations, times, and schedules are:

* Tuesday, February 1, Coachella City Hall, 1515 6th Street, Coachella, California, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a program briefing from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

* Wednesday, February 2, Max T. McCandless Memorial Library (Indio Public Library), 200 Civic Center Mall, Indio, California, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a program briefing from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

* Thursday, February 3, La Quinta City Hall, 78 495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a program briefing from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

During these open houses, Reclamation representatives will be available to provide information and respond to questions. Attendees will be able to view information about the area to be included in the RMP and provide written comments.

The portion of the Coachella Canal area to be covered by the RMP is in Riverside County. It consists of about 30 miles of the canal and 3,990 acres of Reclamation withdrawn lands.

The RMP is being updated to provide direction for future management decisions according to currently recognized standards of proper land use. The updated RMP will help Reclamation continue its responsible stewardship of the lands associated with the Coachella Canal. It will be combined with a National Environmental Policy Act compliance document.

The RMP update is expected to be completed within 18 months. During this time, Reclamation will conduct public involvement activities to assure public participation opportunities in this planning process.

Si decea atender la junta y necesita un interprete en Espanol, por favor llame a Jessica Meneses al (928) 343 8100, Ext. 0.

All open house facilities are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Please direct requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids to Peggy Haren, English speaking contact, at telephone (928) 343 8547, or to Jessica Meneses, Spanish speaking contact, at telephone (928) 343 8100, extension 0. The hearing impaired may contact Ms. Haren or Ms. Meneses at the numbers above via a toll free TTY relay at 1 800 833 6388.

Those unable to attend an open house may send their written comments by March 1, 2005, by mail to Coachella Canal Area RMP, D 8580, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, Colorado 80225 0007; or by fax to Coachella Canal Area RMP, Bureau of Reclamation, at (720) 544 0603. Comments can also be sent by e mail to ccrmp@do.usbr.gov. All comments are due by March 1, 2005.

# # #

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.