97-8312. Josephine County Water Management Improvement, Fish Passage Improvements, Savage Rapids Dam, Oregon

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 15727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8312]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation


Josephine County Water Management Improvement, Fish Passage 
Improvements, Savage Rapids Dam, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of record of decision.

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SUMMARY: This notice is issued under authority of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. In 1988 Reclamation initiated the 
Josephine County Water Management Improvement Study in response to 
requests by Josephine County and the Grants Pass Irrigation District 
(GPID). A record of decision (ROD), in which Reclamation concluded its 
study of alternatives to improve salmon and steelhead passage, was 
signed on March 14, 1997. The ROD identified the Preferred Alternative, 
described in the planning report/final environmental statement (PR/
FES), as the most efficient and environmentally sound alternative for 
providing safe salmon and steelhead passage at Savage Rapids Dam. 
Reclamation recommended the Preferred Alternative of the GPID, but it 
appears that they now wish to pursue a different course of action. In 
view of this, Reclamation will not pursue congressional action to 
authorize or fund implementation of the Preferred Alternative 
identified in the PR/FES.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD may be requested from the following 
locations:

Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, 1150 North Curtis 
Road, Boise, ID 83706-1234
Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Columbia Area Office, 825 NE Multnomah, 
Suite 1110, Portland, OR 97232

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
J. Eric Glover [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary objectives of the Josephine 
County Water Management Improvement Study were to (1) identify a 
permanent solution to salmon and steelhead passage problems at Savage 
Rapids Dam and (2) help resolve conflicts over water uses in Josephine 
County. A PR/FES focusing only on salmon and steelhead passage concerns 
at the dam and the associated diversion facilities was filed on August 
30, 1995. In addition to the no action alternative, two action 
alternatives were evaluated in the PR/FES. The Pumping Alternative was 
identified as the Preferred Alternative and consists of three parts: 
(1) Replacement of GPID pumping and diversion facilities at the dam 
with two new pumping plants, one each on the north and south sides of 
the river; (2) removal of the dam and appurtenant structures and 
restoration of the sites; and (3) forgiveness of remaining debt to the 
Federal Government owed by GPID.

    Dated: March 20, 1997.
John W. Keys, III,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 97-8312 Filed 4-1-97; 8:45 am]
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