The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) today announced public workshops and scoping meetings for the Scott and Shasta River watersheds. The meetings are to receive suggestions on planned environmental impact reports (EIRs) for two proposed permitting programs which are part of DFG's coho salmon conservation efforts. DFG has developed the programs in consultation with the Siskiyou and Shasta Valley Resource Conservation Districts and landowners within the two watersheds.

The proposed programs are designed to streamline the process for participants to obtain incidental take permits and streambed alteration agreements for selected covered activities in the Shasta and Scott River watersheds.

DFG is preparing an EIR for each of the proposed permitting programs in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). On Oct. 19, DFG will issue the Notices of Preparation and Initial Studies for the EIRs on the permitting programs.

The times and locations for the workshops and scoping meetings are:

?Ģ Tuesday, Oct. 24 ??? Shasta River Watershed-Wide Permitting Program, Miner's Inn, 122 E. Miner Street, Yreka. The public workshop will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The scoping meeting is scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

?Ģ Wednesday, Oct. 25 ??? Scott River Watershed-Wide Permitting Program, Fort Jones Community Center, 11960 East Street, Fort Jones. The public workshop will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The scoping meeting will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Workshop topics will include an overview of the review process under CEQA and information on how the public may participate in that process. The scoping meetings will provide the public an opportunity to comment on DFG's environmental analysis of the proposed permitting programs.

In addition to the workshops and meetings, the public will have until Nov. 20 to send written comments on the scope of the environmental analysis of the proposed permitting programs to:

Bob Williams, Staff Environmental Scientist?ĮDepartment of Fish and Game?Į601 Locust Street?ĮRedding, CA 96001