Restoration Program

Program Administration

Master (Programmatic) EIR for Trinity River Restoration Program Channel Rehabilitation and Sediment Management and Site Specific EA/EIR for Remaining Phase 1 activities

(Formerly named Remaining 8 Sites)

The Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region (Regional Water Board) is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the preparation of this Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR – programmatic coverage) for Trinity River Restoration Program channel rehabilitation and sediment management activities identified in the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Program. The Draft MEIR is titled: Trinity River Restoration Program Channel Rehabilitation and Sediment Management for Remaining Phase 1 and Phase 2 sites. A second part of the document is a site-specific Environmental Assessment (EA/EIR) for completion of Phase 1 Channel Rehabilitation Activities (the Remaining Phase 1 Sites). This Master EIR with the site specific EA/EIR is a joint document intended to meet the requirements of both the CEQA and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Draft Master EIR and Site Specific EA/EIR public comment period extends from June 5 through July 28, 2009 (see Cover Letter from Lead Agencies). The purpose of this 45-day comment period is to provide involved agencies and the public with an opportunity to review project plans, to learn more about the project, and to provide comments that will assist the Lead Agencies in identifying any potential impacts which have not been adequately addressed in the environmental impact analyses. The Regional Water Board is the state lead under CEQA and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is the project proponent and federal lead agency under NEPA. Both the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service are acting as cooperating agencies under NEPA. In addition to satisfying the public disclosure requirements, the lead, responsible and trustee agencies will use this joint document when considering proposed actions, permits, and/or other approvals as appropriate.

Public Scoping Meeting: A public workshop will be held in July in Weaverville, California, if public comments suggest the need. Announcement of the meeting will be made in Weaverville’s local newspaper, the Trinity Journal, and on this website should the need occur.

For further information, contact Brandt Gutermuth at (530) 623-1806. Comments can be emailed to Brandt at bgutermuth@usbr.gov.

Please see the cover letter from the lead agencies, the Draft Master EIR, and the site specific EA/EIR (in the top blue box of this page) for full information.

Project vicinity - Click for high resolution PDF [500kb]

Project sites overview - Click for high resolution PDF [2.8 mb]