California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
Public review is now available and comments are being sought for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Long-Term Plan to Protect Adult Salmon in the Lower Klamath River (LTP) by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Draft EIS details the environmental effects of the No-Action and Action Alternatives to augment flows in the Lower Klamath River to reduce the likelihood and the severity of any Ich epizootic event – an ich outbreak event that is restricted to a specific locale or to a time of year in a specific area — that might lead to an associated fish die-off in future years (2017 – 2030).
Ichthyophthirius multifillis – or “ich” –is a deadly parasite. It killed some 35,000 adult Chinook salmon and steelhead fish in 2002 on the Klamath. It is presumed that crowded holding conditions for pre-spawn adults, warm water temperatures due to climate change and California’s drought now entering its sixth year, and the presence of disease pathogens are likely the major factors contributing to the adult salmon mortalities. The proposed increased flows would be provided primarily from releases of water stored in Trinity Reservoir on the main stem of the Trinity River.
Earlier this year Yurok Tribe Chairman Thomas P. O’Rourke said, “We take this threat to our fish very seriously, and we’re looking at every option to protect our fish. We don’t want to go through another catastrophe like the fish kill in 2002, and will do anything we can to avoid that outcome this year.”
To facilitate public review and comments, Reclamation is holding an open house and public hearing on the Draft EIS on:
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016
Holiday Inn, 1900 Hilltop Drive, Palomino Room, Redding, CA
Open House from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.)
Public Hearing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Draft EIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and is available at www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=22021. If you encounter problems accessing the document, please call 916-978-5100 (TTY 800-877-8339) or email [email protected].
Email comments are due by the close of business Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, to [email protected] or mail comments to Julia Long, Bureau of Reclamation, Northern California Area Office, 16349 Shasta Dam Blvd., Shasta Lake, CA 96019.
For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EIS, please contact Julia Long at 530-276-2044 or [email protected]. The document may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Northern California Area Office at the above address and at. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Regional Library, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825
