The Environmental Compliance and Evaluation Branch provides environmental compliance services to the Division of Environmental Services, other divisions within DWR and occasionally to other State and federal agencies. The Branch develops environmental documents for the department’s continued operation, maintenance, and new facilities construction in support of the State Water Project. The environmental document process can involve: application for regulatory permits, conducting surveys for animals, plants, cultural resources and hazardous materials, and preparation of compliance monitoring reports. The Department’s Wetlands Coordinator, Cultural and Historic Resources Coordinator and Site Assessment staff are all located in this branch. Environmental resource preservation is specified in Water Resource Engineering Memorandum 58a.

The Branch has four sections:

• Cultural, Recreation, and Environmental Planning

• Environmental Site Assessment

• Environmental Studies and Compliance

• Special Projects Coordination

Current project emphasis in the branch includes several lead elements for DWR in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Oroville relicensing procedure. Specifically, branch staff are involved in environmental, cultural resources, land use, and recreation resources as well as environmental documentation. Other current activities include lead responsibility for the environmental water use component of the California Water Plan Update, Bulletin 160