Draft SEIS Key Points
As discussed in Station 5, Scope of the Draft SEIS, the Draft SEIS is narrow in focus and evaluates the same alternatives that were evaluated in the FEIS. Readers are encouraged to focus their review and comments on Chapters 2-5 of the Draft SEIS. The following provides a summary of the key points found in Chapters 2-5:
Chapter 2: Supplemental Information on Impacts to Wetlands and other Waters of the U.S.
- To qualify under the 404(r) analysis requirements, Reclamation provided the following in the Draft SEIS:
- To accurately categorize wetlands and other Waters of the U.S. in the Project Area, Reclamation submitted a Preliminary Jurisdictional Decision to the USACE December 2019 and received a Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination April 2020.
- 51 acres of jurisdictional wetlands and 103 acres of other jurisdictional waters reside in the Project area.
- Created an avoidance and minimization procedure to follow when selecting each recreation and infrastructure relocation to eliminate or decrease adverse impacts to wetlands or other waters.
- Reclamation committed to developing a Wetland Mitigation Plan detailing the mitigation measures taken when adverse impacts to wetlands and other waters cannot be avoided.
Chapter 3: Supplemental Information on Stormwater and Other Point-Source Discharges
- Reclamation concluded that projects with the potential to discharge into Waters of the U.S. must obtain a CWA 402 Permit.
- Under 404(r), if information on anticipated discharges are included in an EIS, the Project does not need to apply for separate CWA 402 permits for the Project and subprojects.
- Reclamation will develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, in accordance with the General Permit requirements, for the Project and subprojects.
Chapter 4: Supplemental Information on Shasta Dam Operations and Modeling
- The Draft SEIS incorporates operational changes for Shasta Dam as a result of the 2019 Biological Opinions issued by US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries.
- When modeled the new operational changes resulted in a slight increase in reservoir storage. This increase results in a larger cold-water pool which allows Reclamation to extend the temperature management season with greater flexibility for cold water releases.
- These benefits are extremely favorable to several species including Winter-run Chinook Salmon, Central Valley steelhead, and Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Chapter 5: Wild and Scenic River Considerations for McCloud River
- The information in Chapter 5 updates information provided in Chapter 25 in the 2015 SLWRI FEIS pertaining only to the McCloud River impacts.
- The McCloud River does not currently hold a designation as a Wild and Scenic River by either the Federal or State of California governments.
- California did take legislative measures to protect the River's wild trout fishery below McCloud Dam from the construction of new dams. The enlargement of Shasta Dam was exempt.
- An 18.5-foot raise of Shasta Dam would impact 3,550 feet of the lower McCloud River. This equates to less than 3% of the entire river. The impacts would be recognized in the transition reach between the reservoir and the river.
- Reclamation has committed to the development and implementation of a program to identify and mitigate to the extent possible the adverse effects of the additional impacted area on the overall watershed, the wild trout fisheries, and the cultural resources along the river.