News Release Archive

Reclamation Releases Habitat Assessment for Shasta Dam Fish Passage; Public Webinar Meeting on Thursday, Dec. 4

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, eccurtis@usbr.gov

For Release: November 28, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation, National Marine Fisheries Service and federal and state partner agencies have released an assessment detailing the ability of two major tributaries to Shasta Reservoir to support the spawning, rearing and migration of Chinook salmon.

The Shasta Dam Fish Passage Evaluation Final Habitat Assessment contains results of surveys of the McCloud River and upper Sacramento River and provides a comparison of habitat for each river system. The assessment is available for download at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/BayDeltaOffice/Documents/Shasta_Fish_Passage/index.html.

Methodology and key results of the surveys will be presented during a subcommittee meeting of the Interagency Fish Passage Steering Committee from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4. The public, riverine landowners and other interested parties are invited to participate in the meeting, which will be held via webinar. To attend the meeting via webinar, please register at the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/63640095752776449. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The Shasta Dam Fish Passage Evaluation is a joint effort of Reclamation, NMFS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water Resources Control Board and the University of California. The project is part of Reclamation’s response to the NMFS June 4, 2009, Biological Opinion on the coordinated long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. The BO concluded, in part, that CVP and SWP operations were likely to jeopardize the continued existence of salmonids protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The BO outlines a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative that obligates Reclamation to evaluate the feasibility of reintroducing federally listed salmonids upstream of Shasta, Folsom and New Melones dams.

The Habitat Assessment will assist in the development of approaches to reintroduce Chinook salmon. A Draft Environmental Assessment for the Pilot Implementation Plan is scheduled for a 30-day public comment period in January 2015. Comments received will be considered for inclusion in the Final Environmental Assessment and will contribute to the completion of the Pilot Implementation Plan. The Pilot Implementation Plan will describe how the feasibility for fish passage at Shasta Dam will be evaluated.

For contacts and additional information on the Shasta Dam Fish Passage Evaluation, please visit Reclamation’s website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/BayDeltaOffice/Documents/Shasta_Fish_Passage/index.html.

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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.