On Thursday, the Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) released for public review a joint Partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California WaterFix. The public comment period ends Monday, August 31, 2015.
The document describes changes made to what was previously known as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), now known as California WaterFix. Based on project revisions and in consideration of comments received, state and federal agencies announced in April 2015 a change in their approach to seeking a permit for the project to build twin tunnels to move water south of the Delta. Rather than pursue the project as a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and a Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) under the State’s Natural Community Conservation Planning Act, state and federal agencies have chosen to study additional alternatives for new water conveyance facilities to be built in compliance with Section 7 of the ESA, and Section 2018(b) of the California ESA.
A fact sheet and answers to frequently asked questions can be accessed here, and here.
The draft document released for public review includes analysis of three new sub-alternatives, as well as additional analysis and refinement of the previous draft environmental document. The State proposes to restore more than 30,000 acres of Delta habitat separately through California EcoRestore. The restoration will be implemented on an accelerated timeline independent of the proposed water conveyance facilities.
DWR and the Bureau have both identified sub-alternative 4A (California WaterFix) as their preferred alternative. This alternative would consist of a water conveyance facility with three intakes on the Sacramento River north of Courtland, and actions necessary to minimize or avoid project effects.
The Bureau and DWR are lead federal and state agencies, respectively, for NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act. The RDEIR/SDEIS and details on two upcoming public meetings can be accessed here.