Potential habitat restoration and water supply conveyance options included in the BDCP will be assessed as part of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the DHCCP.

A joint EIR/EIS for BDCP is currently being prepared. State and Federal lead agencies for the EIR/EIS are the California Department of Water Resources, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The EIR/EIS will:

• Fulfill the requirements of the :
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• Describe the proposed action
  • For CEQA compliance: Describe the proposed project, identify its significant environmental impacts, and develop reasonable mitigation measures and alternatives to eliminate or reduce such impacts
  • For NEPA compliance: Describe reasonable range of alternatives that would avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts.
• Analyze the environmental effects of the proposed action and the alternatives
• Support future regulatory actions or approval
• Serve as a decision document as well as a disclosure document

The Draft EIR/EIS is expected to be ready for public review and comment in 2010. View the proposed schedule, or read some frequently asked questions about the environmental review process. EIR/EIS documents and other related environmental documents (e.g. Clean Water Act 404 and 401 permits, Water Quality Certification), will be posted online as they become available.