JNA Consulting is supporting Placer County Water Agency in preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for its American River Water Rights Extension Project. The purpose of Project is to obtain State Water Board approval of (1) additional time to put existing water entitlements to full beneficial use, and (2) changes to existing permit conditions to support Placer County Water Agency’s commitments under the Water Forum Agreement, which include releasing additional water in drier years from its Middle Fork Project reservoirs to preserve the fish, wildlife, recreation, and aesthetic values of the Lower American River.
JNA Consulting is leading the overall California Environmental Quality Act process, including development and compilation of the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Report and associated noticing, and supporting outreach to agencies and environmental groups. The environmental evaluation includes a comprehensive analysis of resource areas potentially affected by implementation of the Proposed Project, including both local and regional effects. Evaluation of potential operational effects will include modeling related to hydrology, Delta water quality, water temperature, biology, water supply, and other resources. In addition, JNA Consulting will prepare a petition for change to the State Water Board that includes adding a place of use, point of rediversion, and purpose of use associated with delivery of Water Forum environmental releases. The Environmental Impact Report will include analysis of these changes.