Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact: Temporary Supply of Incremental Level 4 Water to Willow Creek Mutual Water Company for Wetlands Management

摘要

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to enter into a temporary water service contract (three-year renewable) with the Willow Creek Mutual Water Company (Company) to provide up to 3,000 acre-feet (AF) of Incremental Level 4 Water per year (July 1 to October 31) for wetland habitat management purposes at no cost to the Company. Reclamation purchases Incremental Level 4 Water from willing sellers for wildlife refuges under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) Section 3406(d)(2). The proposed action is being undertaken pursuant to, and would be in full compliance with, Section 3406(d) (106 Stat. 4706) of CVPIA, which authorizes new water supply contracts for fish and wildlife purposes. The proposed temporary actions primary purpose would be to deliver water to enhance migratory waterfowl habitat within the Companys service area. A secondary purpose is to maintain wetlands linking the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (Sacramento NWR) and the Colusa Basin Drain (Drain), a migration corridor for the federally listed giant garter snake (GGS). Approximately 63 properties included within the Companys service area have entered into individual perpetual conservation easements with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for the maintenance and use of the land and waters for the management of migratory birds; however, these properties currently lack a reliable water supply. Collectively, the 63 properties total approximately 4,000 acres and are referred to as the Willow Creek-Lurline Wildlife Management Area. The Service considers the Companys easement lands as a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Central Valley of California and subject to its laws and regulations, thereby supporting the objectives of Central Valley Joint Venture pursuant to CVPIA Section 3406(d). The Companys total area is 7,000 acres (Figure 1). The need for the proposed action arises from the Companys loss of its annual surface water supply provided by the Provident Irrigation District (PID).