Corps to discuss potential project in Sacramento River watershed at public scoping meetings

Published Oct. 23, 2015

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the California Department of Water Resources will host public scoping meetings Nov. 3 and Nov. 9 to begin identifying flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration opportunities along the Sacramento River.  

The meetings will provide a brief overview of the study purpose, National Environmental Policy Act/California Environmental Quality Act processes, and how the public can help shape a potential project for federal participation.

The study is a general reevaluation of the existing Sacramento River Flood Control Project, and is looking at opportunities along the Sacramento River and a number of its tributaries, from Elder Creek, near Tehama, to its confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.  Project features are also located along tributaries, sloughs, and bypass channels, including the Feather River, American River, Sutter Bypass, and Yolo Bypass.

Comments will be accepted during the two public meetings, and can also be submitted at any time during the 30-day public comment period, which opens today and will continue through Nov. 23, 2015. Comments can be submitted to:

Mr. Dan Artho
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
Planning Division
1325 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814
daniel.f.artho@usace.army.mil

Or

Attn: Shelly Amrhein
Central Valley Flood Protection Board
3464 El Camino Ave, Room 150
Sacramento CA 95821
Rochelle.amrhein@water.ca.gov

Staff from the Corps, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the Department of Water Resources will be on hand to discuss the study and answer questions during the two open house sessions.

The public scoping meetings will be held:

Tuesday, Nov. 3; 3 – 7 p.m.
West Sacramento City Hall
1110 W. Capitol Ave
West Sacramento, CA  95691

Monday, Nov. 9; 3 – 7 p.m.
Yuba County Board of Supervisors Chambers
915 Eighth Street
Marysville, CA 95901

A draft environmental impact statement/environmental impact report will be developed to evaluate potential environmental effects of a number of alternatives integrating a combination of ecosystem restoration and flood risk management measures.  Proposed measures to be considered include, among others, widening existing bypasses, modifying existing weirs, optimizing weir operations, constructing setback levees, developing floodplain management plans, restoring riverine aquatic and riparian habitat, removing barriers to fish passage, and restoring natural geomorphic processes.

The draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be available for public review and comment in spring 2017.  

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.


Contact
Tyler Stalker
916-557-5107
tyler.m.stalker@usace.army.mil

Release no. 15-048