00-10975. Bay-Delta Advisory Council's Ecosystem Roundtable Meeting and Ecosystem Roundtable Amendments Subcommittee Meeting

AGENCY:

Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of meetings.

SUMMARY:

The Bay-Delta Advisory Council's (BDAC) Ecosystem Roundtable will meet on May 17, 2000 to be briefed on proposals received from the 2001 proposal solicitation package, to discuss the water acquisition program, the Restoration Reserve, and other topics. The Amendments Subcommittee will also meet on May 17, 2000 to discuss proposed contract modifications for several ongoing ecosystem restoration projects including the Fish Passage Improvement Project at Red Bluff Diversion Dam, Assessment of Ecological and Human Health Impacts of Mercury in the Bay-Delta watershed and others. These meetings are open to the public. Interested persons may make oral statements to the Ecosystem Roundtable and Amendments Subcommittee or may file written statements for consideration.

DATES:

The BDAC's Ecosystem Roundtable meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2000. The Ecosystem Roundtable Amendments Subcommittee meeting will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

The Ecosystem Roundtable and Amendments Subcommittee will meet at the Resources Building, Room 1131, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wendy Halverson Martin, CALFED Bay-Delta Program, at [phone]. If reasonable accommodation is needed due to a disability, please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Office at [phone] or TDD [phone] at least one week prior to the meeting.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta system) is a critically important part of California's natural environment and economy. In recognition of the serious problems facing the region and the complex resource management decisions that must be made, the state of California and the Federal government are working together to stabilize, protect, restore, and enhance the Bay-Delta system. The State and Federal agencies with management and regulatory responsibilities in the Bay-Delta system are working together as CALFED to provide policy direction and oversight for the process.

One area of Bay-Delta management includes the establishment of a joint State-Federal process to develop long-term solutions to problems in the Bay-Delta system related to fish and wildlife, water supply reliability, natural disasters, and water quality. The intent is to develop a comprehensive and balanced plan that addresses all of the resource problems. This effort, the CALFED Bay-Delta Program (Program), is being carried out under the policy direction of CALFED. The Program is exploring and developing a long-term solution for a cooperative planning process that will determine the most appropriate strategy and actions necessary to improve water quality, restore health to the Bay-Delta ecosystem, provide for a variety of beneficial uses, and minimize Bay-Delta system vulnerability. A group of citizen advisors representing California's agricultural, environmental, urban, business, fishing, and other interests who have a stake in finding long-term solutions for the problems affecting the Bay-Delta system has been chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The BDAC provides advice to CALFED on the program mission, problems to be addressed, and objectives for the Program. BDAC provides a forum to help ensure public participation, and will review reports and other materials prepared by CALFED staff. BDAC has established a subcommittee called the Ecosystem Roundtable to provide input on annual workplans to implement ecosystem restoration projects and programs.

Minutes of the meeting will be maintained by the Program, Suite 1155, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacamento, CA 95814, and will be available for public inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Friday within 30 days following the meeting.

Dated: April 26, 2000.

Kirk C. Rodgers,

Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.