Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers February 8, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in cooperation with the Orange County Water District announces the availability of a Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (FR/EIS/EIR) for the Prado Basin Ecosystem Restoration and Water Conservation Integrated Feasibility Study for review and comment. The study area is located within and downstream of Prado Dam Reservoir and includes portions of Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange Counties, California. The study evaluates alternatives for the restoration of degraded ecosystem structure, function, and dynamic processes to a less degraded, more natural condition within Prado Dam Reservoir and the Santa Ana River downstream of the dam. The study also includes water conservation through re-operation of Prado Dam to capture, retain and release additional water volumes impounded during flood risk management operations. Details of the potential ecosystem restoration measures, water conservation plan and an array of alternatives are identified in the Draft FR/EIS/EIR. Four alternatives are evaluated in the Draft FR/EIS/EIR, including the No Federal Action/ No Project Alternative. Potential environmental impacts associated with these project alternatives are addressed in the Draft FR/EIS/EIR. A Notice of Intent for the EIS/EIR was published on November 16, 2012 (73 FR 72455).