DRAFT 

Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the 

2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts 

through February 28, 2006 

Central Valley Project, California 

December 2003

Bureau of Reclamation 

Mid-Pacific Region 

2800 Cottage Way 

Sacramento, California 95825-1898
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 1

CHAPTER 1 

PURPOSE AND NEED

1.1 INTRODUCTION

 

In accordance with Section 3404(c) of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act 

(CVPIA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to execute up to 59 

interim water service contracts for a period of up to two years, from March 1, 2004 

through February 28, 2006. Interim renewal contracts (IRCs) are undertaken under the 

authority of the CVPIA to provide a bridge between the expiration of existing long-term 

water contracts and the execution of new long-term water contracts. These interim 

contracts will be renewed for a two-year period from March 1, 2004 through February 

28, 2006. However, in the event that a new long-term water contract is executed with 

an effective date of March 1, 2005, that interim water service contract would then 

expire on February 28, 2005. Interim renewal of these water service contracts is 

necessary to continue delivery of Central Valley Project (CVP) water until the longterm contracts are executed. Water service contracts proposed for interim renewal in 

2004 are listed in Table 1. 

Reclamation has prepared this supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) to 

determine if any actions occurring from an extended interim period of up to two years 

from March 1, 2004 until February 28, 2006 will result in any potential impacts not 

analyzed in the 1994 EA (Bureau of Reclamation 1994a and 1994b), the 1998 

Supplemental EA (Bureau of Reclamation 1998), the 2000 Supplemental EA (Bureau of 

Reclamation 2000), the 2001 Supplemental EA (Bureau of Reclamation 2001), or the 

2002 Supplemental EA (Bureau of Reclamation 2002). These six previous documents 

are incorporated by reference into this analysis. The 2002, 2001, and 2000 IRC 

Supplemental EAs are included in Appendix C. The December 1994 EA, and February 

1998 Supplemental EA are incorporated by reference and available by request. 

This 2004 Supplemental EA provides the sections that have updated information, 

additional discussions, or table changes from the 2002, 2001 or 2000 Final 

Supplemental EAs. In addition to the 42 CVP interim renewal contracts analyzed in the 

previous Supplemental EAs, this 2004 Supplemental EA includes 17 additional CVP 

contractors that also require IRCs at this time. These 17 contractors have long-term 

water service contracts that expired or will expire within the next year, and therefore 

these contractors will also require an interim renewal contract until new long-term 

contracts can be executed in 2005 or 2006. These 17 interim renewal contracts are 

identified in Table 1 of this document. 

This environmental analysis was developed consistent with regulations and guidance 

from the Council on Environmental Quality, and in conformance with the analysis 

provided in NRDC v. Patterson, Civ. No. S-88-1658 (Patterson). In Patterson the Court 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 2

found that “...[on] going projects and activities require NEPA [National Environmental 

Policy Act] procedures only when they undergo changes amounting in themselves to 

further ‘major action’.” In addition, the court went further to state that the NEPA 

statutory requirement applies only to those changes. The analysis in this draft 

supplemental EA and the incorporated EAs finds in large part that the interim renewal 

of the contracts is in essence a continuation of the “status quo,” that is, they continue 

the existing use and allocation of resources (i.e., the same amount of water is being 

provided to the same lands for existing/ongoing purposes). 

1.2 BACKGROUND OF INTERIM CONTRACTS

Section 3409 of the CVPIA stipulates that Reclamation must prepare a programmatic 

environmental impact statement (PEIS) before renewing long-term CVP water service 

contracts. The complexity of the analysis associated with the CVPIA PEIS extended its 

completion until October 1999 with a Record of Decision approved on January 9, 2001. 

The PEIS evaluated CVP-wide impacts of long-term contract renewal. Regional LTCR 

environmental-compliance documents tiered from the PEIS are at various stages of 

completion. NEPA documentation was completed in early 2001 for the Friant Division, 

and the Cross Valley Canal (CVC) Unit, Hidden Unit, and Buchanan Unit LTCRs. 

Twenty-five of the 28 Friant Division long-term contracts were executed in January of 

2001. The Hidden Unit long-term contract and the Buchanan Unit long-term contract 

were approved in February 2001. The CVC Unit’s contract negotiations are essentially 

complete. Final execution of CVC Unit long-term contracts is pending. 

Reclamation is completing the contract negotiations and site-specific environmental 

documentation for long-term contracts with contractors in the American River Division, 

the Corning and Tehama-Colusa Canal Units (Sacramento River Division), the 

Sacramento River Water Rights Settlement Contractors (Sacramento Division), the 

Feather River Division, the Contra Costa Unit (Delta Division), the Mercy Springs 

Water District (Delta Division), the US. Department of Veteran Affairs (Delta 

Division), the City of Fresno (Friant Division), the San Felipe Division, the San Luis 

Unit (West San Joaquin Division),the Delta Mendota Canal Unit (West San Joaquin 

Division), the Shasta-Trinity River Divisions, and the Cross Valley Canal Unit. 

Reclamation is aggressively pursuing completion of environmental compliance and 

execution of remaining long-term water service contracts within this interim period. 

1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION

The purpose of the proposed action is to execute interim contracts for up to two years 

between March 1, 2004 through February 28, 2006. Execution of interim contracts is 

needed to continue delivery of CVP water to interim contractors until the long-term 

contracts can be executed.
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 3

1.4 ISSUES RELATED TO CVP WATER USE UNDER THE PROPOSED INTERIM 

CONTRACTS

 

1.4.1 Interim Water Contract Service Areas

No changes to any water service area are part of the proposed action. Appropriate 

environmental compliance and documentation will be completed for any request from 

interim contractors for Reclamation approval of service area boundary changes. 

1.4.2 Water Transfers

No water transfers are part of the proposed action. Any water transfers would be 

separate independent actions. Pursuant to Section 3405 of the CVPIA, appropriate 

environmental compliance and documentation will be completed for any request from 

an interim contractor for Reclamation approval of a water transfer. 

1.4.3 Water Assignments

Potential future assignments of CVP water are not included in the proposed action. Any 

changes in CVP water assignments would be separate independent actions and would 

require their own environmental compliance and documentation. 

1.4.4 Other Issues 

The following actions are also not included in the Proposed Action: 

• Warren Act contracts for conveyance of non-federal water using federal 

facilities; 

• The Mendota Pool Pumpers Exchange Agreement and other non-Central 

Valley Project Waters that are pumped into the Mendota Pool; 

• Inclusions and exclusions to Interim Renewal Contract service area 

boundaries. 

• Future changes in use from agricultural irrigation only to Ag/M&I 

involving these interim renewal contractors. 

• Changes to the existing Operations Criteria and Plan (OCAP). 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 4

1.5 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The public will be invited to review and comment on this draft 2004 Supplemental EA 

for a 30-day review period beginning in December 2003. A press release announcing 

the EA/FONSI publication will be sent to all interested parties, announced on the MidPacific Region web page, and announced at meetings conducted by Reclamation for 

proposed renewal of the long-term water service contracts. 

Public participation requirements for water service, repayment, and other water-related 

contracts are established in Section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939, 43 

U.S.C. 485h, and by RRA rules and regulation (43 CFR 426.22). Public participation 

procedures are composed of two basic elements: 1) publicize proposed contract actions, 

and 2) provide an opportunity for public comment. Reclamation provides public 

notices of proposed contract actions at least 60 days prior to execution of any contract 

with a term greater than 1 year. Negotiations have been completed for the draft form of 

the 2004 contracts, and a press release announcing their availability was sent to all 

interested parties on December 12, 2003. The draft forms of the contract are available 

for a 60-day public review and comment period and can be viewed on-line at 

www.usbr.gov/mp/cvpia/3404c/2004InterimCts/index.html. 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 5

Table 1. Central Valley Project 2004 Interim Renewal Contractors, IRC contract quantities, the 

existing contract number, and the existing contract expiration date. 

CVP Contractor 

Contract 

Quantity 

(A/F) 

Existing Contract No. 

Contract 

Expiration 

Date 

AMERICAN RIVER DIVISION 

Folsom Lake Unit: 

El Dorado Irrigation District* 7,500 14-06-200-1357A 12/31/2004 

El Dorado Irrigation District (Lake Hills Estates) 50 14-06-200-7312-IR6 2/29/2004 

San Juan Water District 11,200 14-06-200-152A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Sly Park Unit: 

El Dorado Irrigation District (Transferring title to EID, 

but will include in this impact analysis) 23,000 14-06-200-949-IR7 2/29/2004 

DELTA DIVISION 

Delta-Mendota Canal: 

Banta-Carbona Irrigation District 20,000 14-06-200-4305A-IR7-A 2/29/2004 

Broadview Water District 27,000 14-06-200-8092-IR7 2/29/2004 

Centinella Water District 2,500 7-07-20-W0055-IR7 2/29/2004 

Coelho Family Trust* (Formerly Traction Ranch) 2,080 14-06-200-7859A-IR1 2/29/2004 

Del Puerto Water District 140,210 14-06-200-922-IR9 2/29/2004 

Eagle Field Water District 4,550 14-06-200-7754-IR7 2/29/2004 

Fresno Slough Water District* 4,000 14-06-200-4019A-IR1 2/29/2004 

James Irrigation District* 35,300 14-06-200-700-A-IR1 2/29/2004 

Laguna Water District 800 2-07-20-W0266-IR7 2/29/2004 

Mercy Springs Water District 2,842 14-06-200-3365A-IR7-A 2/29/2004 

Pajaro Valley Water Management Area, Westlands 

Water District (District # 1), Santa Clara Valley Water 

District 

6,260 14-06-200-3365A-IR7-B 2/29/2004 

Westlands Water District (District # 2)* (assignment 

final) 4,198 14-06-200-3365A-IR7-C 

(assign from MercySprings WD 2/29/2004 

Oro Loma Water District 4,600 14-06-200-7823-IR7 2/29/2004 

Patterson Irrigation District 16,500 14-06-200-3598A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Plain View Water District 20,600 14-06-200-785-IR9 2/29/2004 

Reclamation District 1606* 228 14-06-200-3802A-IR1 2/29/2004 

The West Side Irrigation District 5,000 7-07-20-W0045-IR7-A 2/29/2004 

Tracy, City Of* (assignment pending) 5,000 

14-06-200-4305A-IR7-B

(partial assign. from Banta 

Carbona ID) 

2/29/2004 

Tracy, City Of* (assignment pending) 2,500 

7-07-20-W0045-IR7-B 

(partial assign. from The West 

Side ID) 

2/29/2004 

Tranquillity Irrigation District* 13,800 14-06-200-701-A-IR1 2/29/2004 

Tranquillity Public Utility District* (Formerly 

Hughes, Melvin) 70 14-06-200-3537A-IR1 2/29/2004 

US Department of Veterans Affairs* (San Joaquin 

National Cemetery) 450 3-07-20-W1124-IR0 2/29/2004 

West Stanislaus Irrigation District 50,000 14-06-200-1072-IR9 2/29/2004 

Widren Water District 2,990 14-06-200-8018-IR7 2/29/2004 

FRIANT DIVISION 

Friant-Kern Canal: 

Lewis Creek Water District* (Did not renew, but will 

include action in this impact analysis) 1,450 14-06-200-1911A-IR1 2/29/2000 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 6

CVP Contractor 

Contract 

Quantity 

(A/F) 

Existing Contract No. 

Contract 

Expiration 

Date 

 

SACRAMENTO RIVER DIVISION 

Corning Canal Unit: 

Corning Water District 23,000 14-06-200-6575-IR7 2/29/2004 

Proberta Water District 3,500 14-06-200-7311-IR7 2/29/2004 

Thomes Creek Water District 6,400 14-06-200-5271A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Tehama-Colusa Canal Unit: 

Colusa County Water District 62,200 14-06-200-304-A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Colusa, County Of (Subs: Colusa County WD, Cortina 

WD, 4-M WD, Glenn Valley WD, Holthouse WD, La Grande 

WD, Myers-Marsh MWC)

60,000 14-06-200-8310A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Davis Water District 4,000 14-06-200-6001A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Dunnigan Water District 19,000 14-06-200-399A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Glide Water District 10,500 7-07-20-W0040-IR7 2/29/2004 

Kanawha Water District 45,000 14-06-200-466-A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Kirkwood Water District 2,100 7-07-20-W0056-IR7 2/29/2004 

La Grande Water District 5,000 7-07-20-W0022-IR7 2/29/2004 

Orland-Artois Water District 53,000 14-06-200-8382A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Westside Water District 25,000 14-06-200-8222-IR7 2/29/2004 

Westside Water District* (assignment final) 40,000 14-06-200-8310X-IR1 

assignment from Co. of Colusa 2/29/2004 

FEATHER RIVER DIVISION: 

Feather Water District 20,000 14-06-200-171A-IR8 2/29/2004 

SHASTA DIVISION 

Shasta Lake, City Of 2,750 4-07-20-W1134-IR9 2/29/2004 

Mountain Gate County Service District* 350 14-06-200-6998-IR1 2/29/2004 

Shasta County Water Authority* 5,000 14-06-200-3367A 12/31/2004 

TRINITY RIVER DIVISION 

Bella Vista Water District 24,000 14-06-200-851A-IR8 2/29/2004 

Clear Creek County Service District 15,300 14-06-200-489-A-IR8 2/29/2004 

Shasta County Service District* 1,000 14-06-200-862A-IR1 2/29/2004 

Miscellaneous 

Colusa Basin Drain: 

Colusa Drain MWC (New Contract - 1988)* 100,000 8-07-20-W0693 12/31/2004 

Cross Valley Canal: 

Fresno, County Of 3,000 14-06-200-8292A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Hills Valley Irrigation District-Amendatory 3,346 14-06-200-8466A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Kern-Tulare Water District 40,000 14-06-200-8601A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Lower Tule River Irrigation District 31,102 14-06-200-8237A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Pixley Irrigation District 31,102 14-06-200-8238A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Rag Gulch Water District 13,300 14-06-200-8367A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Tri-Valley Water District 1,142 14-06-200-8565A-IR7 2/29/2004 

Tulare, County Of 5,308 14-06-200-8293A-IR7 2/29/2004 

 * IRC was not included in the 2002 Supplemental EA 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 7

CHAPTER 2 

ALTERNATIVES

2.1 PROPOSED ACTION ALTERNATIVE

The Proposed Action alternative evaluated in this document is the execution of up to 59 

interim renewal water-service contracts between the United States and the CVP 

contractors listed in Table 1. Forty-two of the CVP contractors listed on Table 1 entered 

into interim renewal contracts on February 28, 2002. The Proposed Action would 

continue these existing interim contracts, with only minor, administrative changes to the 

contract provisions. Seventeen CVP contractors on Table 1 have long-term waterservice contracts expiring now or within the next year, and will also require an interim 

contract in 2004 to allow continued delivery of CVP water until long-term waterservice contracts can be executed. The Proposed Action would continue their existing 

water service contracts, with only minor, administrative changes to the contract 

provisions. 

A sample Existing Interim Contracts are provided in Appendix B [The Existing Interim 

Contract used for six contractors in the Delta-Mendota Canal Unit (Coelho Family 

Trust, Fresno Slough WD, James ID, RD 1606, Tranquillity ID, and Tranquillity PUD) 

is slightly different, and is presented in Appendix B(2)]. The terms and conditions of 

the Existing Interim Renewal Contract are incorporated by reference into the Proposed 

Action contract except for these revisions: 

(a) The first sentence in Subdivision (a) of Article 1 is modified as follows: “This 

renewal contract shall be effective from March 1, 2004, and shall remain in effect 

through February 28, 2006, and thereafter will be renewed as described in 

Subdivision (a) of Article 2 of the Interim Renewal Contact if a long-term renewal 

contract has not been executed with an effective commencement date of March 1, 

2006; Provided, that if a long-term renewal contract has been executed with an 

effective commencement date of March 1, 2005, this interim renewal contract shall 

expire on February 28, 2005”. 

(b) Subdivision (b)(1) of Article 2 of the Existing Interim Renewal Contract is 

amended by deleting the date “November 30, 2001," and replacing same with the 

date “February 15, 2006.” 

(c) Subdivision (b) of Article 1 of the Existing Interim Renewal Contract is 

amended by deleting the dates “February 1, 2004," “February 15, 2004," and 

“February 28, 2006," and replacing same with the dates “February 1, 2006," 

“February 15, 2006," and “February 28, 2006," respectively. 

These revisions would take effect on the date of the execution of the 2004 interim 

contract. Except for date changes, the 2004 interim contracts will remain the same 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 8

as the existing interim contract. 

The Proposed Action alternative is comparable to Alternative 1, continuation of 

existing interim contracts, analyzed in the 2000 Supplemental EA. The period of 

renewal for each 2004 contract would be for two years, as permitted under 

subsection 3404(c)(1) of CVPIA. Subsection 3404(c)(1) specifies that interim 

renewal contracts will not exceed three years in length, and be for successive 

interim periods of not more than two years in length. The current contract 

provisions are those that are included in the existing interim renewal contracts and 

specified in the 2002 Supplemental EA. They contain only minor variations from 

the provisions described in the 1994 EA, the 1998 Supplemental EA, and the 2000, 

and 2001 Supplemental EAs. 

All other existing contract provisions such as contract supply, payment, water quality, 

water measurement, water conservation, water shortage, discretionary provisions of the 

Reclamation Reform Act, Endangered Species Act compliance, and standard articles 

are not changed (see Section 2.1.1 of the 2000 Supplemental EA, presented in 

Appendix C). 

2.2 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER ANALYSIS

2.2.1 No Renewal of Interim Contracts 

Nonrenewal of existing contracts is considered infeasible based on Section 3404(c) of 

the CVPIA. Section 3404(c) states “...the Secretary shall, upon request, renew any 

existing long-term repayment of water service contract for the delivery of water from 

the CVP....” The non-renewal alternative was considered, but eliminated from analysis 

in this EA because Reclamation has no discretion not to renew existing water service 

contracts. 

2.2.2 Reduction In Interim Contract Amounts 

 

Reduction in contract water amounts due to the current delivery constraints on the CVP 

system (identified in the PEIS) was considered in certain cases, but rejected from 

analysis for several reasons: 

First, the Reclamation Project Act of 1956 and the Reclamation Project Act of 1963 

mandate renewal of existing contract amounts when beneficially used. Water-needs 

analyses have been completed for all CVP contracts to identify the amount of water 

that could be beneficially used by each water service contractor. In almost all cases, 

the needs exceed or equal the current total contract amount. The contract amounts 

are constrained not to exceed the beneficial use or the existing contract amount, 

whichever is less. 

Second, the shortage provision of the water service contract protects Reclamation’s 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 9

Contracting Officer from liability from the shortages in water allocations that exist 

due to drought, other physical constraints, and actions taken to meet legal or 

regulatory requirements. Such legal or regulatory actions include, for example, 

actions to implement the CVPIA, which has dedicated significant amounts of CVP 

water to environmental uses and which provides funding from the CVP contractors 

to improve habitat and to acquire water for environmental purposes. The CVPIA 

required the CVP to institute environmental management as part of the CVP 

operations, such as allocation of 800,000 acre-feet for fish and wildlife purposes, 

refuge water supply, and acquisition of water from willing sellers. These legal 

requirements, in addition to existing Federal and State requirements of CVP 

operations provide regulatory/environmental use of CVP water and constrain the 

actual water delivery amounts. 

Third, retaining the full historic water quantities under contract provides the 

contractors with assurance the water will be made available in wetter years and 

helps to support investments for local storage, water conservation improvements 

and capital repairs. 

2.2.3 Other Alternatives 

Other alternatives, including tiered pricing, are being developed through the 

negotiations process for long-term contracts. Appropriate alternative will be evaluated 

as part of the environmental compliance process for long-term contract renewals. 

Reclamation is aggressively pursuing completion of long-term contract renewal. 

Reclamation anticipates completing the environmental compliance and the execution of 

long-term water service contracts within this interim period (2004 to 2006). 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 

10

CHAPTER 3 

AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL 

CONSEQUENCES

The Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences in this 2004 Supplemental 

EA presents only those sections that have updated information, additional discussions, 

or table changes from the 2002, 2001 and 2000 Final Supplemental EAs. The Proposed 

Action alternative is comparable to Alternative 1, continuation of existing interim 

contracts, analyzed in the 2000 Supplemental EA. 

As described in Chapters 1 and 2, this 2004 Supplemental EA includes 17 interim 

renewal contracts that were not included in the previous IRC environmental 

assessments. The contract water amount for each of these 17 interim renewal 

contractors is shown on Table 1. These 17 contractors are located inside the same 

geographical area analyzed in the original IRC Environmental Assessment 

(Reclamation 1994) and in the subsequent Supplemental IRC Environmental 

Assessments (Reclamation 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002). Location maps for the 17 water 

service contractors are presented in Appendix D. 

The existing affected environment conditions are essentially the same as those 

described in the initial 1994 EA and subsequent Supplemental EAs. Consistent with 

existing CVP and CVPIA biological opinions, Reclamation implemented a Central 

Valley Habitat Monitoring Program (CVHMP) in 1999 to map and monitor habitat 

inside CVP water service areas. The CVHMP uses satellite imagery and aerial 

photography to identify natural habitats and monitor habitat changes that may be 

occurring inside CVP water service areas. The CVHMP database benchmark year is 

1993, and that 1993 data reflects land-use and habitat conditions described in the 

affected environment sections of the 1994 EA (Reclamation 1994). Comparisons of the 

1993 benchmark-year to the most recent available satellite imagery (2000) show that 

habitat conditions inside the IRC water service areas have changed very little since the 

first IRC environmental analysis in 1994, which further supports conclusions presented 

in the 2002, 2001, and 2000 Supplemental IRC Environmental Assessments. 

Summaries of land-use and habitat changes inside each IRC service area since 1993 are 

presented in Appendix E. 

3.3 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 

3.3.1 [Proposed Action] Alternative

The fifth paragraph from the 2001 Supplemental IRC Environmental Assessment is 

revised as follows: 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004 Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 

11

CVP-wide impacts to biological resources have been evaluated in the PEIS, and a FWS 

Biological Opinion to address potential CVP-wide impacts was completed on 

November 21, 2000. Cross Valley Canal (CVC) Unit Contractors’ potential impacts to 

biological resources have been evaluated in the CVC Unit Contractors Long-Term 

Contract Renewal Environmental Assessment (January 2001), the CVC Unit 

Contractors Long-Term Contract Renewal Regional Biological Assessment (January 

17, 2001), the Biological Opinion on U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Long Term Contract 

Renewal of Friant Division and CVC Unit Contracts (FWS-January 19, 2001), and the 

Biological Opinion for the Long-Term Renewal of CVP Water Service Contracts for the 

Friant Division and CVC Unit Contractors (NOAA Fisheries -January 20, 2001). The 

programmatic biological opinion and Essential Fish Habitat Conservation 

Recommendations prepared by NOAA Fisheries for the CVPIA was completed on 

November 14, 2000. 

The following paragraph is included at the end of this section: 

The FWS Biological Opinion for 2002 interim contracts is incorporated by reference in 

this 2004 Supplemental EA and presents the commitments that Reclamation will 

undertake during the proposed 2004 interim renewal period. 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 

12

CHAPTER 4 

CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION

Reclamation has consulted and coordinated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Fisheries, and the IRC contractors 

(Table 1) in the preparation of this draft environmental documents for this proposed 

action. The public will be invited to review and comment on this draft 2004 

Supplemental EA for a 30-day review period beginning in late December 2003. A press 

release announcing the EA/FONSI publication will be sent to all interested parties, 

announced on the Mid-Pacific Region web page. 

4.1 ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

In February 2002, Reclamation has completed section 7 consultations with NOAA 

Fisheries and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pursuant to the Endangered Species 

Act (ESA). These consultations cover the interim contract renewals (IRC) from March 

1, 2002 through February 29, 2004.

In 2000, Reclamation completed formal ESA consultation on IRCs, and the FWS issued 

a biological opinion dated February 29, 2000. On February 28, 2001, the FWS issued a 

memorandum extending the 2000 biological opinion through February of 2002. In 

February 2002, the FWS issued a biological opinion amending the February 2000 

biological opinion, which extended the 2000 biological opinion through February of 

2004. 

Reclamation consulted formally on the CVC Unit long-term water service contracts and 

received a biological opinion on January 19, 2001. For the CVC Unit Contractors in the 

interim contract period, Reclamation and the CVC Unit Contractors have committed to 

comply with the requirements of the long-term contract biological opinion. 

In 2002, Reclamation completed ESA consultation on interim contracts with NOAA 

Fisheries for a period of up to two years. NOAA Fisheries, by letter dated February 22, 

2002, concurred with Reclamation’s determination that the renewal of 2-year interim 

water service contracts will not likely adversely affect Sacramento River winter-run 

chinook salmon, Central Valley spring-run chinook salmon, Southern Oregon/Northern 

California Coast coho salmon, Central Valley steelhead, or their designated critical 

habitat. Formal consultation on the CVC Unit’s long-term water service contracts was 

completed in January 2001. Reclamation and the CVC Unit Contractors have 

committed to comply with the NOAA Fisheries long-term contract BO as part of the 

approval of these interim contracts. 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 

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Reclamation formally re-initiated ESA consultation with FWS on November 5, 2003 

and with NOAA Fisheries on November 14, 2003 regarding the proposed action. These 

ESA consultations on the proposed 2004 interim renewal contracts will be completed 

before Reclamation exercises a FONSI document on the proposed action. 
December 2003 Draft Supplemental EA for the 2004Renewal of Interim Water Service Contracts Page 

14

CHAPTER 5 

REFERENCES

Bureau Of Reclamation. 1994. Interim Renewal Contracts Final Environmental 

Assessment. Mid-Pacific Regional Office. September 1994. 

______. 1998. Finding Of No Significant Impact And Supplemental Environmental 

Assessment for the Renewal of 54 Interim Water Service Contracts through February 

29, 2000. Mid-Pacific Regional Office. February 1998. 

______. 2000. Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Renewal of 54 

Interim Water Service Contracts through February 28, 2001, Central Valley Project, 

California. Mid-Pacific Regional Office. Mid-Pacific Regional Office. February 2000. 

______. 2001. Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the 2001 Renewal of Interim 

Water Service Contracts Through February 29, 2002, Central Valley Project, MidPacific Regional Office. Mid-Pacific Regional Office. California. February 2001. 

______. 2002. Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the 2002 Renewal of Interim 

Water Service Contracts Through February 29, 2004, Central Valley Project, MidPacific Regional Office. Mid-Pacific Regional Office. California. February 2002.