Comments are needed on new San Joaquin River Dam proposals.
The Bureau of Reclamation is conducting preliminary environmental impact studies on a wide range of possible new storage reservoirs on the San Joaquin River and on several offsite locations. For the full feasability study and latest updates see: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/sccao/storage/index.html
The largest option on the San Joaquin river is being promoted by irrigation interests and by congressmen Devin Nunes and George Radanovich. This proposal is for an 840′ high dam at Temperance Flat on Millerton Reservoir that could create a 20 mile long reservoir, with storage of 2.75 million acre feet.
Such a reservoir will flood both Patterson Bend and Horseshoe Bend whitewater sections as well as the short but annually runnable Squaw Leap and Millerton lake runs. For more information about these sections see:
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/287/ Horseshoe Bend
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/288/ Patterson Bend
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/4197/ Squaw Leap
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/4196/ Millerton run
American Whitewater and the San Joaquin Paddlers recently negotiated the relicensing of the power project on Horseshoe Bend. Regular whitewater recreational releases are now part of the license for this reach, but would be negated by several of the proposed dam projects.
There will be many other adverse affects. The BLM San Joaquin River Gorge Recreation Area will be buried. This area is very popular for mt.bike riding, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. It is one of the few publicly accessible foothill areas that are close to Fresno.
A long, unique “granite solution” cave and four large powerhouses could also be buried by several of the proposed projects.
In most years 100% of San Joaquin water is completely used up, leaving long stretches of the river through the San Joaquin Valley absolutely dry. The proposed reservoirs could only be filled during large flood years and the captured water would be metered out over subsequent years. Though the largest reservoir might hold 2.75 million acre/ft, it would only provide 200,000 acre feet of annual water under the best conditions. Who would get the water and who would pay for it are complete unknowns.
Though many rational minds consider these proposals to be economically unfeasible, public input is still needed from people who care about this river, or else a project may prove politically feasible. If you wish to visit this river in the future, write a letter now.
Write about yourself, how you would like to visit the San Joaquin River and what activities you would like to do there. State how a new reservoir could adversely impact you and your friends. Written comments should be sent to:
Mr. Jason Phillips
Bureau of reclamation, Division of Planning
2800 Cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
or faxed to: (916) 978-5094
by April 16, 2004
Submitted by Paul Martzen, Fresno, CA