March 7: Van Norden Dam Project DEIR Adequacy Meeting

A hearing before the Nevada County Planning Commission has been scheduled on March 7, to discuss the adequacy of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Van Norden Dam Spillway Modification Project. The public and stakeholders are encouraged to attend.

WHAT:    Van Norden Dam Project DEIR Adequacy Meeting
WHEN:   Thursday, March 7, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
WHERE:  950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City, CA

* If inclement weather impacts the ability to hold the Planning Commission meeting in Truckee on March 7, as a backup, Nevada County will hold the Planning Commission meeting in the Board of Supervisor’s Chambers, 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City and provide the public in the Truckee Area with the ability to remotely provide their comments on the record at the Nevada County Government Center (Joseph Center), 10075 Levon Avenue, Truckee, CA.

The Van Norden Dam sits at the headwaters of the South Yuba River just downstream from Van Norden Meadow. The spillway modification project will allow for partial dam removal, restoring the natural flow of the South Yuba River as it leaves Van Norden Meadow. SYRCL is in support of this project as it will remove a dam that restricts the flow of the South Yuba River and inundates a portion of one of the largest meadows on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada’s. The area directly adjacent to the dam and the meadow has been highly modified through the construction of Hwy 40, Soda Springs, Soda Springs Rd, ski resorts, the railroad, and I-80. The project will remove one of those impacts, converting a shallow reservoir back into meadow habitat that has been under water since the late 1800’s.

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT EIR: Copies of the Draft EIR are available for review at the following locations:

Nevada County Planning Department, 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City, CA
Nevada County Truckee Library, 10031 Levon Avenue, Truckee CA

The Van Norden Dam Spillway Modification Project DEIR may also be reviewed on the County’s website https://www.mynevadacounty.com/512/Planning-Department under the current planning projects link or here https://www.mynevadacounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/25868/Van-Norden-Draft-EIR?bidId=.

Public Comments on the DEIR adequacy are due March 11.