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Federal Register Volume 80, Number 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 41061-41062] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2015-17208]

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Long-Term Plan To Protect Adult Salmon in the Lower Klamath River, Humboldt County, California

Klamath Falls meeting Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Klamath Falls, OR.

COMMENTS DUE Aug. 20, 2015

** (KBC received this link from the Bureau that works..the link in their press release did not work: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao/docs/long-term_plan_protect_lower_klamath_04-2015.pdf )

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and scoping meetings.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of the Long-Term Plan for the Protection of Adult Salmon in the lower Klamath River. The proposed action is to increase lower Klamath River flows to reduce the likelihood, and potentially reduce the severity, of any fish die-off in future years due to crowded holding conditions for pre-spawn adults, warm water temperatures, and presence of disease pathogens as the likely major factors contributing to the adult 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, with the potential for some of the flows to be derived from the Klamath River above the confluence with the Trinity River depending on existing hydrologic and related environmental conditions. The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the likelihood, and potentially reduce the severity, of any Ich epizootic event that could lead to an associated fish die-off in future years. The need is based on the past extensive fish die-off in 2002.

DATES: Submit written comments on the scope of the draft EIS by August
20, 2015. Four public scoping meetings will be held on the following dates and times:
Wednesday, August 5, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Arcata, CA.
Thursday, August 6, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Weaverville, CA.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Klamath Falls, OR.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Sacramento, CA.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the scope of the draft EIS, or requests to be added to the EIS mailing list, to Mr. Paul Zedonis, Northern California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 16349 Shasta Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, CA 96019; or by email to sha-slo-klamath-LTP@usbr.gov. Environmental documents for the Long-Term Plan EIS will be available for review and download at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=22021. The public scoping meetings will be held at the following locations: Arcata--Red Roof Inn, 4975 Valley W Blvd., Arcata, CA
95521. Weaverville--Trinity County Library, 351 Main Street, Weaverville, CA 96093. Klamath Falls--Shilo Inn, 2500 Almond Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Sacramento--Cafeteria Conference Rooms 1001 & 1002, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Zedonis, Bureau of Reclamation, 530-275-1554; or by email at sha-slo-klamath@usbr.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In August and September 2002, an estimated 170,000 fall-run Chinook salmon returned to the Klamath River, and a significant number of adult Chinook salmon (~33,000) and other salmonids died prematurely in the lower Klamath River. This included an estimated 344 coho salmon listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Federal, tribal, and state biologists studying the die-off concluded that: (1) Pathogens Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) and Flavobacterium columnare (Columnaris) were the primary causes of death to fish; and (2) warm water temperatures, low water velocities and volumes, high fish density, and long fish residence times likely contributed to the disease outbreaks and subsequent mortalities. Flows in the lower Klamath averaged about 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) during September 2002. In 2003, 2004, 2012, and 2013 predictions of large runs of fall-run Chinook salmon to the Klamath River Basin and drier than normal hydrologic conditions prompted the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) to arrange for late-summer flow augmentation to improve environmental conditions in the lower Klamath River to reduce the probability of a disease outbreak. The State Water Resources Board has advised Reclamation that, as the operator of Trinity Dam, Reclamation may bypass and/or release water for various purposes, including releases made to improve instream conditions for the benefit of aquatic resources, without State Board approval. In these years, 38 thousand acre-feet (TAF) of supplemental water was released from Trinity Reservoir in 2003, 36 TAF in 2004, 39 TAF in 2012, and 17.5 TAF in
2013. In 2013 a legal challenge occurred over implementing the flow augmentation action, which subsequently resulted in a delay. Also, accretions were greater than forecasted and ultimately lead to the smaller volume used in that year. General observations regarding the effectiveness of the sustained higher releases are that no significant disease or adult mortalities occurred suggesting flow augmentation was effective at meeting its intended purpose. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews (Environmental Assessments) were conducted in each of these years concluding in Findings of No Significant Impacts. The initial decision in 2014 was to not provide augmentation flows on a preventive basis due to the small run size and lack of any disease outbreak. However, during the first half of August, hydrologic conditions and observed fish health worsened. It was reported the adult return began much earlier than expected, and thousands of fish were stalled at the mouth of Blue Creek on the lower Klamath River mainstem. After consulting with fish agencies, Reclamation determined that an emergency release from Trinity Reservoir was necessary to avert a potentially significant fish loss. In response to a continued and unprecedented concern that a fish die-off was imminent, Reclamation extended the release of augmentation flows on an emergency basis for a longer duration (and higher magnitude) than in prior years based on the emergency criteria established for the releases. In 2014 the total volume released was 64 TAF. As in prior years of implementing flow augmentation, and despite the unprecedented high incidence of infection, no significant mortalities of fish occurred. In 2014 due to the rapid worsening of conditions in the lower Klamath River and the documented occurrence of disease, NEPA compliance was implemented through the ``Emergency'' provisions as identified by the Council of Environmental Quality. In response to the need to provide augmentation flows in several of the past years, and the indication that such flows will be needed in future years, Reclamation committed to developing a long-term plan to address this need along with the appropriate NEPA compliance. Reclamation has determined an EIS is the appropriate level of NEPA compliance for the Long-Term Plan, and will serve as the Lead Agency.

Additional Information

The purpose of the scoping process is to solicit early input from the public regarding the development of reasonable alternatives and potential environmental impacts to be addressed in the EIS for the lower Klamath River Long-Term Plan. Written comments are requested to help identify alternatives and issues that should be analyzed in the EIS. Federal, State and local agencies, Tribes, and the general public are invited to participate in the environmental review process.

Special Assistance for Public Scoping Meetings

Requests for sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired and all other special assistance needs to participate in the meetings may be submitted by any of the following methods at least five working days before the meeting: Email to: Mr. Paul Zedonis, sha-slo-klamath-LTP@usbr.gov. U.S. Mail to: Mr. Paul Zedonis, Northern California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 16349 Shasta Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, CA 96019.

Telephone: Mr. Paul Zedonis, 530-275-1554.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PRESS RELEASE:

Mid-Pacific Region
Sacramento, Calif.

MP-15-111

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, eccurtis@usbr.gov

For Release On: July 14, 2015

Open House/Scoping Meetings Scheduled on Long-Term Plan for Protecting Adult Salmon in the Lower Klamath River

(KBC NOTE: this link to the long term plan works: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao/docs/long-term_plan_protect_lower_klamath_04-2015.pdf . It was sent to KBC by the Bureau 8/20/15)

SHASTA LAKE, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled four open house/public scoping meetings to begin preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the effects of the Long-Term Plan for the Protection of Adult Salmon in the Lower Klamath River. The lower Klamath River is located in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, Calif.

The purpose of the scoping meetings is to solicit early input from the public regarding the development of alternatives to be evaluated and their potential environmental impacts. The scoping meetings will be held in:

Arcata, Calif.: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Red Roof Inn, 4975 Valley West Blvd.

Weaverville, Calif.: Thursday, Aug. 6, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Trinity County Library, 351 Main Street

Klamath Falls, Ore.: Tuesday, Aug. 11, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Shilo Inn, 2500 Almond Street

Sacramento, Calif.: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Cafeteria Conf. Rooms C-1001&1002, 2800 Cottage Way

The open house will start at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., there will be a brief presentation. The open house will resume after the presentation and continue until 7 p.m.

Written comments will be accepted at the scoping meetings or may be mailed to Paul Zedonis, Bureau of Reclamation, Northern California Area Office, 16349 Shasta Dam Blvd., Shasta Lake, CA 96019 or emailed to sha-slo-klamath-LTP@usbr.gov. Written comments must be received by close of business Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015. For more information, please contact Zedonis at 530-275-1554 (TTY 800-877-8339).

To request special assistance to attend an open house/scoping meeting, please contact Zedonis at the number listed above at least five days prior to the open house/scoping meeting.

Information regarding the draft Long-Term Plan is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ncao/docs/long-term_plan_protect_lower_klamath_04-2015.pdf.

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at http://www.usbr.gov.


 

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