Laserfiche WebLink
<br />0024't.3 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-.. <br /> <br />.The purpose of these hearings was to receive public comments and suggestions on the draft <br />ElRlEIS, particularly in the context of impacts to species and habitats associated with the proposed transfer <br />of water from the lID to the San Diego County Water Authority. Additionally, comments were received <br />on the Draft Habitat Conservation Plan prepared by the Imperial Irrigation District for species and habitat <br />impacts in the Imperial Valley and Salton Sea. Reclamation's notice of the public hearings is included in <br />the Board folder. <br /> <br />Finally, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region (Regional <br />Board), prepared a comment letter dated March 8, 2002, on the draft ElRlEIS. The Regional Board states <br />that the draft EIRlEIS presents a very limited scope of impacts associated with the water conservation <br />activities and proposed transfer, particularly in the context of the Salton Sea. The Regional Board <br />maintains that the transfer of water and Salton Sea restoration are interconnected and should not be <br />considered independently. Although the EIRlE1S presents the Habitat Conservation Plan as a mechanism <br />to mitigate the impacts to the Salton Sea, all of the other beneficial uses of the Sea are essentially ignored. <br />A copy of Regional Board's comment letter is included in the Board folder. <br /> <br />Finding of Director of Fish and Game Pursuant to California Water Code <br /> <br />The CVWD and MWD have been working cooperatively with the California Department ofFish <br />and Game (CDFG) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) toward the completion of the <br />environmental review process for the Coachella Canal Lining Project, and requested a finding by the <br />Director of CDFG. Reclamation and CVWD propose to line 33.2 miles of the unlined canal between <br />Siphons 7 and 14, and between Siphons 15 and 32. The State ofCalifomia has appropriated $200 million <br />from the General Fund for use by the California Department of Water Resources, in part, to finance lining <br />of the unlined portion ofthe Coachella Canal by December 31, 2006. <br /> <br />Before the appropriated State funds can be expended on the Coachella Canal Lining Project, a <br />finding is required from CDFG that the lining project will avoid or mitigate all significant impacts and <br />effects on fisheries and other wildlife. Design of the canal facilities and environmental commitment plan <br />for the lining project is now ready to commencc, and the appropriated State funds are needed so that design <br />can begin. <br /> <br />The requested funding must be accompanied by a statement from the Secretary of the Interior <br />certifYing that the proposed measures for the replacement of incidental fish and wildlife values adjacent to <br />the canal foregone as a result ofthe lining of the cana~ or the proposed mitigation of resulting impacts on <br />fish and wildlife resources from construction of a new canal meet the statutory requirement of Section <br />203(a)(2) of Public Law 100-675. <br /> <br />WATER QUALITY <br /> <br />Total Maximum Dailv Load for Nutrients to the Salton Sea <br /> <br />Included in the Board folder is a copy of Regional Water Quality Board's notice dated March I, <br />2002, for a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Scoping meeting associated with the proposed <br /> <br />9 <br />