Restoration Projects Statewide Order Draft Program Environmental Impact Report

The State Water Resources Control Board is managing a series of statewide restoration projects under a Program Environmental Impact Report to enhance aquatic and riparian habitats for anadromous salmonids and native species. A primary focus of these efforts is the Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project in Sutter County, which involves removing the existing Sunset Weir from the Feather River to restore fish migration, installing five fish screens at the Sunset Pumps intake, constructing a new wet well, replacing outdated water diversion infrastructure, and stabilizing the left bank with vegetated rock slope protection. Additionally, the project includes filling the downstream scour pool and capping it with spawning grade gravel to create suitable substrate. These initiatives are part of a broader set of restoration activities across California, including projects in Butte, Fresno, Madera, Siskyou, Shasta, Tehama, and Plumas counties. Key deliverables across these sites include the construction of fishways, floodplain excavation, and the creation of side channels and habitat units. All projects are conducted in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the Public Resources Code, with various agencies such as the Wildlife Conservation Board and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board serving as lead or responsible agencies. Performance for specific sites, such as the Arroyo Canal project, includes long-term land use leases extending through 2045.