Corps of Engineers to prepare draft Environmental Impact Report for Isabella Dam Safety Assurance

Geri Adams
Special to the Sun

The Sacramento District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, 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.

 The NOI will be published in the Federal Register and may be accessed online at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.  

“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,” Deputy District Ranger, Brenda Ehmann, said.

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.