Final Environmental Assessment: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 New Wells Project. Region 1. San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced Counties

摘要

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has developed the Drought Relief Program to participate in efforts to aid farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. As has been widely reported, severe reduction in water deliveries over the last three years has caused a drop in agricultural production on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, with secondary social and economic consequences in many San Joaquin Valley communities (including minority and low-income communities). Development of additional groundwater pumping capacity in the west side of the San Joaquin Valley is expected to alleviate these current and likely future drought impacts by providing supplemental water supplies to area farmers when Reclamation is not able to satisfy critical water needs. Reclamation has worked closely with local water districts to identify potential drought relief projects, as identified in the following categories: (1) installation of temporary pipelines and pumps; (2) enhancement of existing wells; and (3) installation of new wells. The Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, as amended (Drought Act), Section 101(a)authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to undertake construction, management, and conservation activities that will minimize, or can be expected to have an effect on minimizing, losses and damages resulting from drought conditions. Construction activities are limited to temporary facilities, except that wells may be permanent facilities. Consistent with this authority, Reclamation is planning to use $40 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to fund emergency drought relief projects that can quickly and effectively mitigate the consequences of the current and future drought in the San Joaquin Valley. ARRA funds are intended to assist west side farmers by supplementing water supplies to preserve permanent crops, minimize economic loss for the surrounding community, and preserve employment. The overall program assists Reclamation in its management of the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the drought relief program. The primary benefit is to offset the effects of the drought on farmers that would otherwise receive surface water from Reclamation through the CVP. Further, the purposes of the Drought Relief Act could not be accomplished without the use of private wells.