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Contra Costa County Calls on Federal Bureau of Reclamation and State Department of Water Resources to Extend Public Comment Period for
2-Gates Project in the Delta

Impacts to Marine Patrol Access and Recreational Boating
not Adequately Addressed in Environmental Review

Contra Costa County - November 10, 2009 - Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho sought and received approval from the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors today, for an urgency item calling on the Federal Bureau of Reclamation and State Department of Water Resources (DWR) to extend by at least 30 additional days, the public's opportunity to comment on the proposed 2-Gates Demonstration Project.  

"The state and federal agencies have not adequately considered how the 2-Gates project will impact the Sheriff's Marine Patrol, East Contra Costa Fire Protection and Discovery Bay safety nor the impacts on recreational boaters," stated Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho. "I have a hard time believing that after putting more than $28 million plus additional monies from the federal government and water agencies, that this project wouldn't be a permanent barrier.  It is critical that the agencies extend the comment period by an additional 30 days and take the time to provide for adequate considerations for how it will impact the delta communities, Discovery Bay resident safety and Delta boaters who will be impacted for five years, or perhaps 50 years."

The Project proposal would install temporary operable gates in Old River which extends sheetpile from the levee to the gates. The gates would consist of  "butterfly" gates mounted on a submerged cargo barge.The gates are an attempt to prevent Delta Smelt from being sucked into the pumps.  It is also expected that the gates would make way for more water to be available to the Southern California export interests. The gates, as proposed would be open during certain tides during part of the year and not open at all during other months. When closed, gates will create a significant impediment to boating including Marine Patrol-emergency response for fire and other safety situations.  Boat ramps may be available for some small vessels during times when gates are closed.

The Project has created a great deal of controversy among the Delta boating community and others, including residents of Discovery Bay.  The Bureau of Reclamation is the lead agency, aided by DWR.  The Project would be owned by the Bureau (as part of the Central Valley Project) but managed and maintained by the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority.  

Comments are currently due on the federal FONSI (NEPA) environmental document by Nov 17, 2009 and to the Army Corps of Engineers for their Section 10 permit Nov 30, 2009.  Contra Costa County will be providing comments but are requesting a 30 day extension of the comment periods for the FONSI and Corps permit.

Supervisor Piepho has written, and is in communication with, the Office of Congressman McNerney for his help in persuading the agencies to have a more open, transparent process and for appropriate mitigation of proposed project impacts.  Contra Costa County is generally supportive of projects to help fish, however this project creates significant impacts to Delta boaters, residents and others, which must be fully considered.

This is another example of the Delta and its residents being put at the mercy of the pumps and the great thirst of Southern California and the Central Valley.

SB 7X 1 appropriates $28 million for this project through DWR and the remaining balance to fund this project would come from several sources including State and Federal monies and water agencies.