80 FR 32604 - Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Hearings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B Improvements Project

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 110 (June 9, 2015)

The Bureau of Reclamation and the State Lands Commission have made available for public review and comment the Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B Improvements Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR). The Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B Improvements Project is a component of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program which seeks to restore flows to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River, and restore a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery in the river while reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts associated with Restoration Flows. The Project includes the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Mendota Pool Bypass and improvements in the San Joaquin River channel in Reach 2B to assist in achieving the San Joaquin River Restoration Program's Restoration Goal.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32604-32605]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14032]



[[Page 32604]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR02013000, XXXR5537F3, RX.19871110.1000000]


Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Hearings for the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for 
the Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B Improvements Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation and the State Lands Commission have 
made available for public review and comment the Mendota Pool Bypass 
and Reach 2B Improvements Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR). The Mendota Pool Bypass and 
Reach 2B Improvements Project is a component of the San Joaquin River 
Restoration Program which seeks to restore flows to the San Joaquin 
River from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River, and 
restore a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery in the river while 
reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts associated with 
Restoration Flows. The Project includes the construction, operation, 
and maintenance of the Mendota Pool Bypass and improvements in the San 
Joaquin River channel in Reach 2B to assist in achieving the San 
Joaquin River Restoration Program's Restoration Goal.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR should be submitted on or 
before August 10, 2015.
    Hearings to receive oral or written comments will be held on:
     Wednesday, July 8, 2015, from 6 to 9 p.m., Fresno, CA;
     Thursday, July 9, 2015, from 6 to 9 p.m., Los Banos, CA; 
and
     Friday, July 10, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Sacramento, 
CA.
    Staff will be available to take comments and answer questions 
during this time.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Ms. Becky Victorine, Bureau of 
Reclamation, San Joaquin River Restoration Program Office, MP-170, 2800 
Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825-1898; or via email to 
[email protected].
    Public hearings will be held in the following locations:
     Fresno--Piccadilly Inn Shaw, 2305 West Fresno Avenue, 
Fresno, CA.
     Los Banos--Los Banos Community Center, 645 7th Street, Los 
Banos, CA.
     Sacramento--Federal Center, 2800 Cottage Way Room C-1002, 
Sacramento, CA.
    The Draft EIS/EIR may be viewed at the Bureau of Reclamation's Web 
site at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=4032. Copies of the EIS/EIR are 
available for public inspection at several libraries and government 
offices.
    To request a compact disc of the Draft EIS/EIR, please contact Ms. 
Becky Victorine as indicated above, or call (916) 978-4624.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Katrina Harrison, Program 
Engineer, Bureau of Reclamation, via email at 
[email protected], or at (916) 978-5465. For 
information regarding California Environmental Quality Act, contact Mr. 
Christopher Huitt, Senior Environmental Scientist, California State 
Lands Commission, 100 Howe Avenue, Suite 100 South, Sacramento, CA 
95825, (916) 574-2080; or via email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B 
Improvements Project (Project) includes the construction, operation, 
and maintenance of the Mendota Pool Bypass and improvements in Reach 2B 
of the San Joaquin River channel in Reach 2B. The Project is a key 
component to restoring flows and a self-sustaining Chinook salmon 
fishery to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of 
the Merced River. Specifically, the Project consists of a floodplain 
width which would be capable of conveying at least 4,500 cubic feet per 
second (cfs), a method to bypass restoration flows around Mendota Pool, 
and a method to deliver water to Mendota Pool. The Project footprint 
extends from approximately 0.3 mile above the Chowchilla Bypass 
Bifurcation Structure to approximately one mile below the Mendota Dam 
in the area of Fresno and Madera counties, near the town of Mendota, 
California. The Draft EIS/EIR assesses the potential environmental 
effects of five alternatives being considered, which are described 
below.
    Under the No-Action Alternative, the Project would not be 
implemented. Although future conditions would not include the 
components described below in the Action Alternatives, other components 
of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) would be 
implemented following completion and receipt of appropriate 
environmental reviews and approvals. Likely future conditions include 
the SJRRP components analyzed in the Program EIS/EIR for the SJRRP, 
Restoration Flows similar to those that started January 2014, and other 
reasonably foreseeable actions expected to occur in the Project area. 
It is assumed for the No-Action Alternative that agriculture would 
continue in the study area, and cropland would be the dominant cover 
type, consistent with the existing condition. The No-Action Alternative 
generally assumes no channel or structural improvements would be made 
in Reach 2B, and Restoration Flows would be limited to the existing 
Reach 2B capacity.
    All four Action Alternatives (Alternatives A, B, C, and D) would be 
designed to provide conveyance of at least 4,500 cfs in Reach 2B and 
through the Mendota Pool Bypass, and diversion and screening of up to 
2,500 cfs from Reach 2B into Mendota Pool. Constructed elements common 
to the Action Alternatives include the provision of fish habitat and 
passage, seepage control measures, removal of existing levees and 
structures, and levee and structure construction and modification, 
among other activities.
    Under Alternative A (Compact Bypass with Narrow Floodplain and 
South Canal), the Compact Bypass Channel would be constructed between 
Reach 2B and Reach 3 in order to bypass the Mendota Pool. Reach 3 of 
the San Joaquin River is located downstream of Reach 2B, from Mendota 
Dam to Sack Dam. Restoration Flows would enter Reach 2B, flow through 
the reach, then downstream to Reach 3 via the Compact Bypass Channel. 
The South Canal would be built to convey San Joaquin River water 
deliveries to Mendota Pool. The San Joaquin River Control Structure at 
the Chowchilla Bifurcation Structure would be removed and a bifurcation 
structure would be built at the head of the South Canal to control 
flood diversions into the Chowchilla Bypass and water delivery 
diversions into Mendota Pool. Fish passage facilities and a fish screen 
would be built at the South Canal Bifurcation Structure to provide 
passage around the structure and prevent fish being entrained in the 
diversion. A fish barrier would be built in Reach 3 to direct up-
migrating fish into the Compact Bypass Channel and a new crossing would 
be built at the San Mateo Avenue crossing.
    Alternative B (Compact Bypass with Consensus-Based Floodplain and 
Bifurcation Structure), the Preferred Alternative, would construct the 
Compact Bypass Channel between Reach 2B and Reach 3 to bypass the 
Mendota Pool. Restoration Flows would enter Reach 2B at the Chowchilla 
Bifurcation Structure, flow through

[[Page 32605]]

Reach 2B, then downstream to Reach 3 via the Compact Bypass Channel. 
The existing Chowchilla Bifurcation Structure would continue to divert 
San Joaquin River flows into the Chowchilla Bypass during flood 
operations, and a fish passage facility and control structure 
modifications would be included at the San Joaquin River Control 
Structure at the Chowchilla Bypass. A bifurcation structure would be 
built at the head of the Compact Bypass Channel to control diversions 
into Mendota Pool. Fish passage facilities and a fish screen would be 
built at the Compact Bypass Bifurcation Structure to provide passage 
around the structure and prevent fish being entrained in the diversion. 
The San Mateo Avenue crossing would be removed.
    Under Alternative C (Fresno Slough Dam with Narrow Floodplain and 
Short Canal), Fresno Slough Dam would be constructed across Fresno 
Slough to contain the Mendota Pool, utilizing the existing river 
channel to bypass the Mendota Pool. Restoration Flows would enter Reach 
2B at the Chowchilla Bifurcation Structure, flow through Reach 2B, then 
downstream to Reach 3 over the sill at Mendota Dam. The Mendota Pool 
would be contained south of the Fresno Slough Dam. The existing 
Chowchilla Bifurcation Structure would continue to divert San Joaquin 
River flows into the Chowchilla Bypass during flood operations, and a 
fish passage facility and control structure modifications would be 
included at the San Joaquin River Control Structure at the Chowchilla 
Bypass. The Short Canal would be built adjacent to the Fresno Slough 
Dam to convey San Joaquin River water deliveries to Mendota Pool. The 
Mendota Dam, along with a control structure built at the head of the 
Short Canal, would be used to control diversions into Mendota Pool 
through the Short Canal. Fish passage facilities at Mendota Dam and a 
fish screen on the Short Canal would be built to provide passage around 
Mendota Dam and prevent fish from being entrained in the diversion. A 
fish barrier would be built downstream of the Fresno Slough Dam to keep 
up-migrating fish in Reach 2B and a new crossing would be built at the 
San Mateo Avenue crossing.
    Alternative D (Fresno Slough Dam with Wide Floodplain and North 
Canal) would consist of building the Fresno Slough Dam across Fresno 
Slough to contain the Mendota Pool, and utilizing the existing river 
channel to bypass the Mendota Pool. Restoration Flows would enter Reach 
2B, flow through the reach, then downstream to Reach 3 over the sill at 
Mendota Dam. Mendota Pool would be contained south of the Fresno Slough 
Dam. The North Canal would be built to convey San Joaquin River water 
deliveries to Mendota Pool. The San Joaquin River Control Structure at 
the Chowchilla Bifurcation Structure would be removed and a bifurcation 
structure would be built at the head of the North Canal to control 
flood diversions into the Chowchilla Bypass and water delivery 
diversions into Mendota Pool. Fish passage facilities and a fish screen 
would be built at the North Canal bifurcation structure to provide 
passage around the structure and prevent fish being entrained in the 
diversion. A fish barrier would be built downstream of the Fresno 
Slough Dam to keep up-migrating fish in Reach 2B and the existing San 
Mateo Avenue crossing would be removed.

Public Review of Draft EIS

    Copies of the Draft EIS/EIR are available for public review at the 
following locations:
    1. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Regional Library, 
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
    2. Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 
1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721.
    3. Los Banos Library, 1312 S 7th St, Los Banos, CA 93635.
    4. Fresno County Public Library--Mendota Branch Library, 1246 
Belmont Ave, Mendota, CA 93640.
    5. Fresno County Public Library--Firebaugh Branch Library, 1315 O 
St, Firebaugh, CA 93622.
    6. Natural Resources Library, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 
C Street NW., Main Interior Building, Washington, DC 20240-0001.

Special Assistance for Public Hearings

    If special assistance is required to participate in the public 
meeting, please contact Ms. Margaret Gidding at (916) 978-5461, or via 
email at [email protected]. Please contact Ms. 
Gidding at least 10 working days prior to the meeting. A telephone 
device for the hearing impaired (TTY) is available at 1-800-877-8339.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

     Dated: June 3, 2015.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-14032 Filed 6-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P