Red Bluff sues T.C. canal fish project

The Red Bluff City Council on Thursday announced plans to launch a federal lawsuit challenging a fish passage project that would effectively replace the Red Bluff Diversion Dam.

Red Bluff officials say the real environmental impacts the project would have on the city’s recreation industry are not adequately address in reports prepared by both the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority and the state Bureau of Reclamation, according to City Manager Martin Nichols.

“Essentially, our goal is to get a judge to get them to re-do (both impact environmental documents) and get it right this time,” Nichols explained.

Red Bluff officials say closing the dam could cost the city about $4 million a year in tourism and recreation.

Canal Authority officials issued a statement Friday blasting the city’s decision to sue calling it reckless and irresponsible and calling their environmental review claims absurd.

“The Canal Authority negotiated in good faith with the city for months about mitigation for Lake Red Bluff, resulting in a formal agreement for the Council’s consideration, which was discarded in favor of legal action,” Ken LaGrande, the Canal Authority’s board chairman said in the prepared statement.

Neither side would comment on the details of the rejected proposal.

Nichols admitted the suit complicates the lives of area farmers, but said the blame rests with the Canal Authority and the Bureau of Reclamation. “We feel this represents a failure on their part to get (the impact reports) right six years ago,” Nichols said.

However, Nichols also acknowledged the fact that city officials have never publicly requested any specific mitigation. “Several things have been discussed, but nothing has been decided,” he said.

Nichols said the city council discussed the suit’s potential negative impact on Mid-Valley agriculture. “But, it’s not fair to say the council’s decision has jeopardized agriculture,” he said.

Dan Irving, Red Bluff’s Mayor-Pro Tem declined to comment on Friday’s pending suit.

In July Irving said officials were floating several ideas, including the possible construction of “some kind of a water park” that would replace the lake.

Irving has said the city does not pay for any of the costs associated with the dam operations and never has. Area farmers bare the $300,000 operational costs, including the formation of the city’s lake, but the National Marine Fisheries Service controls gate operations, according to the Canal Authority.

Jeff Sutton, the Canal Authority’s general manager, said the suit seriously jeopardizes the region’s economic viability by placing at-risk 17 water districts in four counties.

“We’ve had numerous meetings and public comment opportunities for more than 10 years,” Sutton said. “More than $1 million was spent analyzing every aspect of the project including the recreation impact for Red Bluff.”

The $160 million Fish Passage Improvement Project was proposed by the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority nearly a decade ago to address ongoing concerns about declining fish populations and the need for reliable irrigation supplies for west-side farmers.

The Canal Authority manages irrigation of 150,000 acres of land with a direct annual economic benefit of $250 million and an overall regional economic benefit of $1 billion, Sutton said.

“However, while this development is very disappointing and surprising, “ Sutton said. “We will continue with our project plans to protect the farmers in our service area.”

The project received final construction approvals from the Bureau of Reclamation in July and could be online for the 2012 irrigation season.

“Ultimately, this suit could cost us time we don’t have and if it delays the project in any way, it serves only to further jeopardize our economy and their tourist industry,” Sutton said.

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com