SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District today released its final Environmental Impact Statement and draft Chief’s Report for the Delta Islands and Levees Feasibility Study for public review and comment.
The documents outline the study’s recommended plan to implement ecosystem restoration opportunities within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta through beneficial reuse of dredged material from the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel.
The recommended plan proposes to restore 340 acres of intertidal marsh at Big Break, a historical marsh area previously converted into farmland until a levee break in 1928 inundated the island. Since then, Big Break has remained unvegetated open water.
The final EIS and draft Chief’s Report are published on the district’s website at http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Sacramento-San-Joaquin-Delta/.
Comments may be submitted until Oct. 27, 2018 by email to deltastudy@usace.army.mil or by postal mail to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District
Attn: Robert Kidd
1325 J Street Room 1513
Sacramento, CA 95814
All comments received on the draft document during its public review period in 2013 were addressed and have been incorporated into the final report as appropriate.
A record of decision will be signed after the review period concludes to outline the selected alternative, its environmental effects and appropriate minimization measures. This will also formally complete the National Environmental Policy Act process for the study. Congressional authorization and funding would be required to move forward with design and construction.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District provides planning, engineering, project management, environmental restoration and construction services to military and civilian customers in parts of eight western states, including California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming.