Mid-Pacific Region Sacramento, California

MP-04-Trinity SEIS Jeffrey S. McCracken
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2004 Federal Register Notice Posted on April 23, 2004

Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hoopa Valley Tribe (Tribe) and Trinity County (County) have made available for public review and comment the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft SEIS/EIR) for the Trinity River Fishery Restoration Program (Program).

A final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Program was issued in November 2000, and a Record of Decision (ROD) executed on December 19, 2000. Central Valley water and power interests filed suit in U. S. District Court seeking to enjoin the ROD's implementation. On March 22, 2001, the court issued a Memorandum Decision and Order preliminarily enjoining the Federal defendants from implementing certain flow related aspects of the ROD. The court found that the effects of reasonable and prudent measures in the two biological opinions, as well as the effects on power in light of the California energy crisis, were not adequately analyzed in the EIS. This Draft SEIS/EIR addresses the court's concerns and updates alternatives.

The purpose for the Program as set forth in the original EIS/EIR is to restore and maintain the natural production of anadromous fish on the Trinity River mainstem downstream of Lewiston Dam. The revised purpose discussed in the Draft SEIS/EIR is to restore and maintain the natural production of anadromous fish in the Trinity River basin downstream of Lewiston Dam and to meet the United States' tribal trust obligations.

Secondary consideration is given to: (a) meeting the Trinity Basin fishery and wildlife restoration goals of the Act of October 24, 1984, Public Law 98-541, and (b) achieving a reasonable balance among competing demands for use of Central Valley Project water, including the requirements of fish and wildlife, agricultural, municipal and industrial, and power contractors.

Submit written comments on the Draft SEIS/EIR by June 22, 2004, to Russell Smith at Reclamation's Northern California Area Office at: Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 723, Shasta, CA 96087, by fax at 530-275-2441, or via e-mail to:rpsmith@mp.usbr.gov.

Two public hearings have been scheduled to receive oral or written comments in:

In Redding, CA

Tuesday, June 1, 2004, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Holiday Inn, 1900 Hilltop Drive

In Hoopa, CA

Thursday, June 3, 2004, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Hoopa Fire Department, Highway 96

Copies of the Draft SEIS/EIR (but not the original EIS/EIR) may be requested from Mr. Smith at the above address, by calling 530-275-1554 (TDD 700-450-6000), or viewed on Reclamation's website at:www.usbr.gov/mp/ncao.