PRESS RELEASE: Notice of Availability Of Friant-Kern Canal Pump-Back Project Draft Environmental Impact Report

Press release from the Friant Water Authority

The Friant Water Authority (FWA) has released a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for a 45-day public review. The Draft EIR evaluates the Friant-Kern Canal Pump-Back Project, which proposes to facilitate the recirculation of recaptured Restoration Flows released from Millerton Lake for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program and other waters obtained by Friant Division Contractors (Friant Contractors) to increase operational flexibility and long-term reliability of the water supplies conveyed through Friant-Kern Canal (FKC). FWA proposes to increase operational flexibility and long-term reliability of water supplies conveyed through the FKC by constructing three new permanent pump-back facilities along the FKC with a 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) facility at the Shafter-Wasco check structure, a 250 cfs facility at the Lake Woollomes check structure, and a 250 cfs facility at the Deer Creek check structure (proposed project).

In addition to the proposed project and the required no project alternative, the Draft EIR also evaluates a 1) Low Flow Alternative, which consists of constructing three new permanent pump-back facilities along the FKC with a 200 cfs facility at the Shafter-Wasco check structure, a 75 cfs facility at the Lake Woollomes check structure, and a 75 cfs facility at the Deer Creek check structure and a 2) Seasonal Alternative, which would install and operate seasonal pump-back facilities at Shafter-Wasco check structure (up to 200 cfs) and Lake Woollomes check structure (up to 75 cfs), replacing the existing temporary pump-back facilities present at these two sites.

The proposed project and alternatives considered in the Draft EIR propose construction and operation of pump-back facilities along the Friant-Kern Canal located in Kern and Tulare counties. Operation of the proposed project or alternatives could affect water system operations in Fresno, Merced, and Madera counties. The Draft EIR concluded that the proposed project and the Low Flow Alternative could result in significant and unavoidable impacts to ambient noise levels during project construction. Additionally, operation of the proposed project, the Low Flow Alternative, and the Seasonal Alternative could result in significant and unavoidable groundwater quality impacts.

To solicit comments on the Draft EIR, FWA will conduct a virtual public meeting utilizing Microsoft Teams. This online format will allow presentation of the project and public participation through the online chat function. If special assistance is required to participate in the virtual public meeting, please contact Katie Duncan (contact information is provided below) as far in advance as possible, and no less than five days in advance, to enable FWA to secure the needed services. If a request cannot be honored, the requestor will be notified. The virtual public meeting to solicit comments on topics addressed in the Draft EIR has been scheduled for:

  • October 22, 2024, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams, accessible at the following link: https://bit.ly/4gHzwPk

The Draft EIR may be viewed online at https://friantwater.org/fkc-pumpback. A copy of the Draft EIR is also available for viewing at Friant Water Authority’s main office (854 N Harvard Avenue, Lindsay, CA 93247), and at Sacramento’s Central Library (828 I St, Sacramento, CA 95814) and the Visalia Branch Library (200 W Oak Ave, Visalia, CA 93291). If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please email fkcpumpback@friantwater.org. Written comments on the environmental document should be submitted so FWA receives them by 5 p.m. on November 25, 2024, and should be sent to Katie Duncan, Friant Water Authority, 854 N Harvard Avenue, Lindsay, CA 93247 or via e-mail to fkcpumpback@friantwater.org. For additional information, please contact Katie Duncan at (559) 562-6305.