REDDING, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a virtual open house website for the controversial Shasta Dam raise proposal EIS, officially known as the Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Additionally, the public comment period is extended to October 5 to allow more time for public engagement.

Reclamation has been pushing the dam raise proposal for years to deliver more Sacramento River water to the Westlands Water District and other corporate agribusiness interests in the San Joaquin Valley. The Winnemem Wintu Tribe, other California Tribes, environmental groups and fishing organizations are opposing the proposal because it would result in the destruction of imperiled salmon and steelhead populations and result in the inundation of the remaining sacred cultural sites of the Winnemem Wintu.

In an enormous conflict of interest David Bernhardt, the Secretary of Interior, is a former lobbyist for the Westlands Water District, the main proponent of the dam raise proposal.

Website visitors will be able to learn more about the project, review summaries of Draft Supplemental EIS chapters, and submit comments, the Bureau announcement claimed.

Reclamation released the Draft Supplemental EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act on August 6. The report includes updated project information relevant to Clean Water Act 404(r), revised modeling reflective of operational changes from the 2019 Biological Opinions, and updated analysis on effects to the McCloud River. The original 45-day comment period is extended by two weeks and will close on October 5.

Providing irrigation water to the Westlands Water District and other corporate agribusiness interests so they can grow almonds and other crops for export is the sole purpose of exporting more water that the north state