BOR Releases Final Impact Documents to Deliver Non-Project Water Through Project Facilities
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Irrigation Pump, carlpenergy (Flickr)
Reclamation releases final environmental documents to convey non-project water through Klamath Project facilities
Klamath Falls, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released a final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact to disclose potential environmental effects associated with the issuance of contracts with districts and/or individual water users for conveying non-project water through Klamath Project facilities.
“One use of this will be if/when a well owner pumps water out of his/her well and sells it to his neighbor who doesn't have a well, but needs water for his crop. Because they are using a federal facility (canal) to convey the water, the environmental impacts must be studied.” Said Laura Williams, Public Relations Klamath Basin Office, Bureau of Reclamation.
Under this proposal, the amount of conveyance capacity available under such contracts will be limited to:
(1) the amount of non-project water a given contractor has legal right to, as determined by the applicable state; and
(2) the extent excess capacity is actually available in project facilities for conveyance purposes.
The resultant contracts would be for a term of between one and five years, expiring no later than 2022, and would require and include a process where the use of non-project water must be verified to be compliant with state law and restrictions.
As part of the proposed action, Reclamation intends to coordinate with Oregon and California in making determinations consistent with state law with respect to potential third-party impacts, and groundwater impacts within the project service area.
The draft and final assessments, and finding of no significant impact are available at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=21661.
For additional information or to request document copies, please contact Kirk Young at 541-880-2589 (TYY 800-877-8339) or byoung@usbr.gov. They may also be viewed at Reclamation’s Klamath Basin Area Office at 6600 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls, OR 97603.