Public Comment: Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Division of Multibenefit Initiatives has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR), which is available for public review and comment. The Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project removes the Sunset Weir to restore natural, volitional passage conditions for protected migratory fish species; replaces and upgrades the Sunset Pumps Station and facilities to operate at the lower water surface elevation, installs new fish screens on the pumps, and restores an eroded river bank section downstream of the weir with bioengineered bank stabilization techniques and native plants. This project is located approximately 2 miles southeast of Live Oak, CA on the Feather River.

The public comment period began on January 8, 2026, and it will close at 5:00 PM on February 23, 2026. A public meeting is scheduled for the project during the comment period; please see the Notice of Availability for meeting details.

The Notice of Availability, Draft SEIR, and appendices are available to download:

• Notice of Availability (PDF 106 KB)
• Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project (PDF 76 MB)

The Draft SEIR and all appendices are also available for review at the following locations during normal business hours:

• California Department of Water Resources
  Division of Multibenefit Initiatives
  715 P Street, 6^th Floor
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  Phone: (916) 882-2676

• Sutter Extension Water District

  4525 Franklin Road

  Yuba City, CA 95993

  Phone: (530) 673-7138

This Draft EIR is being distributed for a 45-day public review period that will end on Monday, February 23, 2026. Written comments must be received by the close of business (5 p.m.) on February 23, 2026. Written comments may be mailed or e-mailed to:

California Department of Water Resources

Attn: Kevin Marr, Environmental Scientist

P.O. Box 942836

Sacramento, CA 94236-0001

Email: [email protected]

Subject line: Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Draft SEIR Comments

If comments are provided via email, please include the project title in the subject line, and include the commenter's name and U.S. Postal Service mailing address.

All written comments received on the adequacy of this Draft SEIR during the public review period will be addressed in a "response-to-comments" chapter in the Final SEIR, which, together with the Draft SEIR, will constitute the entirety of the Final SEIR. The Final SEIR will also present any changes to the Draft SEIR resulting from public and agency comments, and DWR staff-initiated changes.

If you have any questions during the public comment period, contact us at: [email protected]