MID officials criticize environmental proposals for dam relicensing

Merced Irrigation District officials are hoping for a good public turnout Thursday at the opening meeting over the relicensing of New Exchequer Dam, saying the final decisions will affect MID’s water supplies for “the next 50 years.”

After years of studies and reviews, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has released the draft environmental document related to the relicensing of the dam and its hydroelectric operations.

A public meeting with regulators will be held Thursday evening at the Merced County fairground.

The 674-page draft Environmental Impact Statement summarizes environmental effects and the expected offset measures that would be part of MID’s application for a new license, district spokesman Mike Jensen said in a news release.

MID General Manager John Sweigard said the proposed environmental mitigations would harm agriculture in Merced County by affecting water storage, groundwater recharging and, ultimately, the local economy.

He said the negative impacts stem from proposals to increase the flow of water down the Merced River and away from Lake McClure and eastern Merced County.

“Worse, there is no substantial benefit to the environment to offset the enormous cost that the measures will have on our community,” Sweigard said. “The dire conditions we are experiencing in this fourth year of natural drought will become conditions faced every few years as a regulatory drought.”

During the meeting, MID growers and others in the community will have the opportunity to address FERC regulators, providing oral and written comments.

After Thursday’s meeting, the public will have until May 29 to provide the commission with written comments on the draft EIS. A final EIS is expected from FERC before the end of the year.

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 7:36 PM with the headline "MID officials criticize environmental proposals for dam relicensing."