News Release Archive

Final Environmental Documents Available for Temporary One-Year Water Transfer and Exchange from Madera Irrigation and Chowchilla Water Districts to Red Top

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916-978-5100, 04/02/2013 16:28

For Release: April 02, 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation today released the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact to facilitate a temporary one-year transfer and exchange of up to 20,000 acre-feet of recaptured San Joaquin River Restoration Program Interim and Restoration flows from Madera Irrigation and Chowchilla Water Districts to the Red Top area. This action would occur during Water Year 2013, from April 1, 2013, through February 28, 2014. The need for the action is to reduce or avoid water supply impacts to Friant Contractors by providing mechanisms to ensure that recirculation, recapture, reuse, exchange or transfer of SJRRP flows occurs.

This action assists in achieving the SJRRP Water Management Goal of the Stipulation of Settlement and the SJRR Settlement Act (part of Public Law 111-11) by allowing MID and CWD, Friant-Division Long-Term Contractors, to deliver water to the Red Top area. 

The area for the proposed action is on the western side of Fresno and Madera counties in the San Joaquin Valley. This area, called Red Top, is a location south of Highway 152, near the areas of Avenue 18 ½ and Avenue 20 ½, near the Eastside Bypass and the San Joaquin River. The land use in the area consists of existing agricultural utilization for the growing of pistachios, vineyards and alfalfa.

The Final EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=12910. If you encounter problems accessing the documents, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 916-978-5608) or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

For additional information or to request a copy of the Final EA and/or FONSI, please contact Michelle Banonis at 916-978-5457 or mbanonis@usbr.gov.

For more information about the SJRRP, please visit www.restoresjr.net.

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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:

The Final EA and FONSI

restoresjr.net.