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Bulletin 160-98 Public Review.Draft 003J73 Appendix 2A. Institutional Framework for Allocating and Managing Water Resources in California effects prepare an environmental impact report, An EIR contains a description of the project; a discussion of the project's environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives; public comments; and the agency's responses to the comments. In other instances, a notice of exemption from the application of CEQA may also be appropriate. NEPA does not generally require federal agencies to adopt mitigation measures or alternatives provided in the EIS. CEQA imposes substantive duties on all California governmental agencies that approve projects with significant environmental impacts to adopt feasible alternatives or mitigation measures that substantially lessen these impacts, unless there are overriding reasons. When a project is subject to both CEQA and NEP A, both laws encourage the agencies to cooperate in planning the project and to prepare j oint environmental documents. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act expresses Congressional policy to protect the quality of the aquatic environment as it affects the conservation, improvement, and enjoyment of fish and wildlife resources. Under this act, any federal agency that proposes to control or modifY any body of water, or to issue a permit allowing control or modification ofa body of water, must first consult with the USFWS and state Fish and Game officials. This requires coordination early in the project planning and environmental review processes. Protection of Wild and Natural Areas I Water use and management are also limited by several statutes designed to set aside resources or areas to preserve their natural conditions. These statutes preclude many activities, including most water development projects, within the areas set aside. Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers System In 1968, Congress passed the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to preserve, in their free-flowing condition, rivers which possess "outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values." The act also states: " . . . that the established national policy of dam and other construction at appropriate sections of rivers ofthe United States needs to be complemented by a policy that would preserve other selected rivers or sections thereof in their free-flowing condition to protect the water quality of such rivers and to fulfill other vital national conservation purposes." 2A-ll