DWR and Reclamation Release Draft Environmental Docs for Proposed Yolo Bypass Project

  • by ACWA Staff
  • Dec 26, 2017
  • Water News

The California Department of Water Resources and federal Bureau of Reclamation recently released the draft environmental document for the proposed Yolo Bypass Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage Project in Yolo and Sutter counties. The document is being made available for public review and comment.

The goal of the project is to increase the volume of water entering the Yolo Bypass in an effort to pull more fish onto the bypass and create a larger floodplain area. This would allow juvenile salmon to feed in a food-rich area for a longer time where they can rapidly grow to a large size, thus improving their chances of survival as they travel to the ocean. The project would also reduce migratory delays for adults returning to their spawning grounds.

The draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) analyzes the effects of taking no action and six alternatives that would put one or more gated notches in the Fremont Weir, at the northern end of the Yolo Bypass.

The project increases the availability of floodplain fisheries rearing habitat for juvenile Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead, based on an existing biological opinion from the National Marine Fisheries Service. It also reduces fish passage migratory delays and loss of fish at Fremont Weir and other structures in the Yolo Bypass for salmon, steelhead and sturgeon, per RPA action I.7.

Analysis under CEQA indicates the potential for significant impacts to water quality, fisheries, agricultural resources, air quality, and noise caused by the construction and/or operation of some of the alternatives under consideration.

Two public meetings have been scheduled to receive oral or written comments on the draft EIS/EIR:

  • Jan. 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Woodland Community and Senior Center, 2001 East Street, Woodland, CA 95776.
  • Jan. 18, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., West Sacramento Community Center, 1075 West Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691.

Copies of the draft EIS/EIR, are available online at:

Written comments must be received by close of business Thursday, Feb. 15. They can be submitted to either:

  • Karen Enstrom, California Department of Water Resources, 3500 Industrial Blvd., West Sacramento, CA 95691 or Karen.Enstrom@water.ca.gov.
  • Ben Nelson, Bureau of Reclamation, Bay-Delta Office, 801 I St., Suite 140, Sacramento, CA 95814 or bcnelson@usbr.gov.

For further information, please contact Karen Enstrom at (916) 376-9778 or Karen.Enstrom@water.ca.gov or Ben Nelson at (916) 414-2424 (TTY 800-877-8339) or bcnelson@usbr.gov.

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Comment Letter

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Letter excerpt: […]

2023 Year In Review

ACWA’s “2023 Year in Review” outlines ACWA’s advocacy wins, awards and services provided to members, as well as events and […]

Groundwater Awareness Week 2024 Toolkit

ACWA encourages member agencies to participate in National Groundwater Awareness Week March 10-16 to raise the public’s awareness of groundwater […]

Dam Safety Fact Sheet

ACWA, along with the California Municipal Utilities Association and California Alliance for Jobs, has released a Dam Safety Fact Sheet, […]

Making Conservation a CA Way of Life Fact Sheet – January 2024

  ACWA’s Making Conservation a California Way of Life Fact Sheet provides a summary of the State Water Board’s draft regulatory […]

Comment Letter on Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report Letter excerpt: The Association of California Water […]

Comments on Proposed Updates to the Drinking Water Cost Assessment Model

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Proposed Updates to the Drinking Water Cost Assessment Model: Other Essential Infrastructure, Admin Needs, […]

Draft White Paper: Proposed Updates for the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Draft White Paper Discussion On: Proposed Updates for the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment […]

Division of Drinking Water Reporting Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Presentations

Presentations from ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo held November 28-30 in Indian Wells are available below. Please note that […]

Request for Extension of Public Comment Period for Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Subject: USEPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0801 – Request for Extension of Public Comment Period […]

Joint Comment Letter Regarding Proposed Hexavalent Chromium MCL

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Joint Comment Letter regarding Proposed Hexavalent Chromium Maximum Contaminant Level and Addendum to the […]

2024 ACWA Scholarship Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Attorney Programs

Presentations from the Attorney Programs held during ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo Nov. 28-30 in Indian Wells are available […]

Motion to Consider Renewal of the Electric Program Investment Charge Program

Agency: California Public Utilities Commission Subject: A.19-10-005: Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission’s Own Motion to Consider Renewal of the Electric […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
Creative Vehicle Wrap Contest Highlights Water Education

MANTECA – With over 150 submissions, South San Joaquin Irrigation District’s (SSJID) “Watering the Roots of Our Community” art contest […]

Crowfoot to Deliver Spring Conference Welcoming Keynote

ACWA has announced that California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot will deliver the Wednesday welcoming keynote address during the ACWA […]

Much-Needed Water Improvements Coming to Nearby Disadvantaged Communities

BEAUMONT – Through its successful gap funding program, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) supports South Mesa Water Company (SMWC) […]

MSWD Announces New Strategic Plan and Appointment AGM

Mission Springs Water District is proud to unveil its new strategic plan, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing operations and […]

Forecasted SWP Allocation Doubles

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a second increase in the State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast for […]

Legislation to Ease Water Conservation Mandates Gains Regional Support

In a significant move aimed at alleviating the financial strain on water suppliers and households, Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD), […]

Planning Grant Awarded to NID and Tahoe National Forest for Management Project

GRASS VALLEY – The Nevada Irrigation District (NID), in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, has received […]

EMWD Upgraded to AAA Credit Rating

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)’s commitment to financial excellence has been recognized when it received another AAA credit […]

EMWD Receives National Honor for Recycled Water Outreach Program

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) received national recognition for its recycled water outreach and education program when it […]

ACWA Members Urged to Contact Representatives to Extend NPDES Permit Term Lengths

ACWA is urging member agencies to contact their representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives in time for a March […]

State Water Board Holds Workshop on Revised Draft Regulation for Water Use Efficiency

SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board today held a workshop on the revised draft regulation for Making Conservation […]

Funding Secured for Rancho Water Infrastructure Projects

TEMECULA— With the recent release of the first package of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills, the Rancho California Water […]

JCSD Honors Congressman Takano with Local Leader of the Year Award

JURUPA VALLEY – The Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) honored Congressman Mark Takano with its Local Leader of the Year […]

Sacramento-Area Water Providers Harnessed Historic 2023 Storms to Boost Groundwater Levels

Sacramento-area water providers leveraged the historic winter storms of 2023 to boost groundwater levels through in-lieu recharge, banking over 12.3 […]

City of Folsom Kicks Off Water Vision Project

Folsom’s Environmental and Water Resources Department is continuing its planning effort to guide the management of the city’s water resources […]