[env-trinity] Hocker Flat Rehabilitation Site FONSI-EA/Final EIR

[Brandt Gutermuth]

Dear All-

Let's celebrate completion of another step towards implementation of
ROD required Trinity River Channel Rehabilitation projects.  The Final
Hocker Flat Rehabilitation Site: Trinity River Mile 78-79.1 EA/Final EIR
and its associated Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program are now
available at:
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=275.  

Construction should start next spring/summer.   

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  

Brandt

PS - If this is your 2nd Holiday email announcement of this, be happy. 
The list server likes embedded text rather than large Adobe attachments
(with scanned signatures).  My first list serve submittal was rejected
(but maybe only temporarily)!
___________________________________
Brandt Gutermuth, Environmental Specialist
Trinity River Restoration Program
PO Box 1300 (mailing) 
1313 Main Street (physical address)
Weaverville, CA  96093
(530) 623-1806 voice; (530) 623-5944 fax
Bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov
___________________________________
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


COVER LETTER FROM THE EA/FEIR



November 10, 2004
			
Dear Readers,

Working together under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration
Program (TRRP), the federal lead agency, Bureau of Reclamation, and
state lead agency, California Department of Water Resources (DWR), have
prepared this Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Environmental
Assessment/Final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Hocker
Flat Rehabilitation Site: Trinity River Mile 78 to 79.1 (FONSI-EA/Final
EIR).  The purpose of the proposed Hocker Flat Rehabilitation Project is
to promote the alluvial processes necessary for the restoration and
maintenance of salmonid habitat in the Trinity River.  This project is
identified in the Interior Secretary's December 19, 2000 Record of
Decision (ROD) as a necessary step towards restoration of the Trinity
River's anadromous fishery.  

The Hocker Flat project area is located on the Trinity River
immediately downstream of Junction City.  At this site, the lead
agencies propose to conduct rehabilitation activities that consist of
vegetation removal, riparian berm removal, floodplain construction,
material transportation, material stockpile and disposal, revegetation,
and monitoring.  These activities are expected to rescale the river
channel and floodplain, within the riverine rehabilitation areas, and to
result in development of more complex river and floodplain habitats over
time.  No activities would be conducted below the river's edge as part
of the proposed project.  Construction is planned between mid 2005 and
2006.  

The enclosed FONSI-EA/Final EIR includes the EA/Draft EIR (incorporated
by reference), a list of persons and agencies commenting on the EA/Draft
EIR, written comments, Lead Agency responses to comments, revised
EA/Draft EIR text, and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
(MMRP) for the proposed Project.  This document meets National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) requirements for review and disclosure of environmental impacts
associated with the project.  It will also be used to support necessary
permit applications as well as to identify and adopt appropriate
monitoring and mitigation plans. 

The associated EA/Draft EIR may be reviewed at the TRRP Office at 1313
South Main St. in Weaverville and at the DWR office located at 2440 Main
Street in Red Bluff.  Electronic copies of the EA/Draft EIR are
currently available on the Bureau of Reclamation's Mid-Pacific website
for the Northern California Area at:
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=275. 
Copies of this FONSI-EA/Final EIR will also be available on
Reclamation's websites at:
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=275 and
DWR's website at: http://www.nd.water.ca.gov/dpladb/pubs in
late-November 2004. 

If you have any questions concerning this document or the process,
please contact Brandt Gutermuth, TRRP environmental specialist, at
530-623-1806 or Aric Lester, DWR environmental scientist, at
530-529-7365. 


Sincerely, 




Dwight Russell, Chief	Douglas Schleusner
Northern District	Executive Director
Department of Water Resources	Trinity River Restoration Program
CEQA - Lead Agency	NEPA - Lead Agency