The following information was provided by the Sequoia National Forest Service
Date: February 5, 2010 Contact: Nancy Sandburg
For Immediate Release Phone: (760)-379-5646 ext.586


United States Army Corp of Engineers to publish a Notice of Intent to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Lake Isabella Dam Safety Assurance Program


Kernville, CA – The Sacramento District of the United States Army Corp of Engineers (Corps), with their cooperating agency, the Sequoia National Forest, will soon publish a Notice of Intent (NOI) for the preparation of a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The draft EIS will assess a federal action to remediate seismic, seepage, and hydrologic dam safety concerns at the Isabella Lake main and auxiliary dams. Isabella Lake is located on the Kern River approximately 45 miles northeast of Bakersfield, Kern County, Calif.

The proposed action is being conducted through the Corps’ Dam Safety Assurance Program (DSAP) for the evaluation of existing dams. The NOI will be published in the Federal Register and may be accessed online at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/. Deputy District Ranger, Brenda Ehmann, said “to accommodate the public, NOI copies will be available to the public at the Kern River Ranger District Offices located at 4875 Ponderosa Drive in Lake Isabella, and at 105 Whitney Road in Kernville”.

Public scoping meetings identifying the alternatives will be held in late April in the community of Lake Isabella and in Bakersfield. The meetings provide an opportunity to involve concerned individuals, and local, state and federal agencies.

Details of the public scoping meeting places, dates, and times will be advertised. The Corps intends to issue a draft EIS in early 2011. Opportunities will be provided to submit comments, which will be addressed in the final EIS scheduled for late in 2011.

Current and archival information regarding the Isabella Lake DSAP project can be obtained from the following Website, http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/projects/civil/Lake_Isabella_Dam/Index.html or by contacting Mr. Mitch Stewart of the Planning Division at (916) 557-6734.

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