Need some clarification?

The Bureau of Reclamation is interested in helping clarify your understanding of the proposed action. The XM draft EIS can help answer most questions, or you can look at the Frequently Asked Questions on this page. If you still require other minor clarification, you may reach us by email or phone via the contact information at the bottom of the page.

1. Has the Canal breached before and is it safe to operate?

The Canal has breached in the past with the most recent breach occurring January 5, 2008. The Canal’s north embankment, approximately 12 miles downstream of the Derby Diversion Dam, breached after a storm. This resulted in an uncontrolled water release that caused flooding and damage to 590 properties in the city of Fernley, Nevada. The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (TCID), which operates and maintains the Canal, repaired the breach in February 2008, and the Canal reopened in March 2008. Following the January 2008 Canal breach, Reclamation completed several studies that identified areas requiring repair and maintenance to address safety concerns. Until long-term repairs are made, the Canal is operated at a stage (height of water) that complies with short-term risk reduction measures.

2. What does the EIS do?

The XM draft EIS analyzes the potential environmental effects of the preferred alternative and additional alternatives.

3. What are you studying in the EIS and why are you doing it?

The purpose of the XM draft EIS is to enable the TCID to complete necessary repairs to restore safe, long-term operation of the Canal, so Newlands Project water rights can be served and risk to those living along the Canal is reduced. The NEPA process provides the opportunity for public input.

4. What is the proposed federal action?

The proposed federal action is to determine necessary repairs for safe operation of the Canal. This includes providing engineering designs, plans and specifications, and construction oversight.

5. How are you incorporating public comments?

Reclamation has made a strong effort throughout the NEPA process to collect comments from the public and interested parties. The team is reviewing every comment received during the 45-day comment period that ended on April 20, 2020 and addressing them as appropriate.

6. How has Reclamation engaged the public?

Reclamation held public meetings during the scoping phase of the project. We reached out to stakeholders and Cooperating Agencies to ensure we are capturing comments. We held eight meetings with the Cooperating Agencies and met one-on-one at least twice with each Cooperating Agency. We solicited feedback from the public through the 45-day XM draft EIS review process. We cancelled public meetings that were scheduled during the public review due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to ensure the public has an opportunity to review the public meeting materials and get questions answered, we worked with our contractor to develop a virtual public meeting tool. Reclamation is also available to answer questions; please refer to the contact information at the bottom of the page.

7. Who are the cooperating agencies?

Reclamation is the lead federal agency under NEPA for the preparation of the EIS. Reclamation requested federal, state, and local agencies; Native American tribes; and the TCID to participate as cooperating agencies in the environmental analysis and preparation of the XM draft EIS. A cooperating agency is any federal, state, or local government agency or Native American tribe that enters into a formal agreement—a memorandum of understanding (MOU)—with the lead federal agency to help in the environmental analysis. Cooperating agencies for the project are the TCID, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Churchill County, the City of Fallon, the City of Fernley, the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
For more information on the XM draft EIS, please contact Laurie Nicholas (775-884-8360, lnicholas@usbr.gov).

To be added or removed from the mailing list, please contact Sean Cottle (775-323-1433, sean.cottle@empsi.com).