2018 Water Transfer from Orange Cove Irrigation District, Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District, Tulate Irrigation District, Exeter Irrigation District and Iva
Summary
SCH Number
2018108584
Public Agency
Wheeler Ridge -Maricopa Water Storage District
Document Title
2018 Water Transfer from Orange Cove Irrigation District, Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District, Tulate Irrigation District, Exeter Irrigation District and Iva
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/22/2018
Document Description
Wheeler Ridge is proposing to transfer up to 6,000 AF of 2018 Friant Class 1 Recirc water from The Friant Division Districts. The Friant Division Districts have a contract for an agricultural water supply with the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation ("Reclamation") for water to be provided from the Friant Division of the Central Valley Project ("CVP"). During the course of the 2018-2019 CVP contract year, March 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019 ("WY") San Joaquin River water has been, and is anticipated to be, released by Reclamation from Friant Dam and Millerton Lake, facilities of the Friant Division of the CVP, into the San Joaquin River for purposes of meeting flow requirements of the San Joaquin River Settlement Act.
Flows have been recaptured for the benefit of The Friant Division Districts and additional flows are anticipated to be recaptured and exchanged by Reclamation at Mendota Pool and / or at other points along the lower San Joaquin River downstream of the Merced River confluence resulting in "Recaptured Water" being made available to The Friant Division Districts in O'Neill Forebay directly or after storage in the federal portion of San Luis Reservoir.
The Friant Division Districts forecast that it will have up to 6,000 AF of such 2018 Friant Class 1 Recirculation water supply captured in O'Neill Forebay or San Luis Reservoir by February 28, 2019, that it is willing transfer to Wheeler Ridge from O'Neill Forebay during the WY.
Contact Information
Name
Sheridan Nicholas
Agency Name
Wheeler Ridge -Maricopa Water Storage District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Fresno, Kern, Tulare
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
S: 15301; 15061(b)3
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)3 provides that a Lead Agency may determine an activity to be exempt from CEQA based upon the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have a potential for causing significant environmental impacts. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. OCID finds that approval of the proposed water transfer has no possibility for significant effect on the environment for the following reasons:
1. The proposed action consists of a one-time water transfer that will use existing facilitates and would not require any construction or grading.
2. The project does not constitute a new permanent source of water supply and will not result in any growth inducing or cumulative environmental impacts.
3. There will be no land use changes or additional agricultural acreage being cultivated as a result of the proposed project.
Additionally, since the project will rely on the operation of existing facilities, there will be no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the Lead Agency's determination and will not have a significant effect on the physical environment; the project also qualifies for a categorical exemption from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301. None of the exceptions listed in Section 15300.2 pf the CEQA Guidelines would apply to the proposed action.
Note that per FONSI signed February 26, 2018 entitled Short-Term Recirculation of Recaptured San Joaquin River Restoration Program Restoration Flows, Reclamation proposes to continue to implement the execution of direct delivery, transfer and exchange agreements to recirculate up to 260,000 acre-feet of recaptured Restoration Flow water per year from SLR to Friant Division long-term contractors, as analyzed in the Environmental Assessment (EA) dated April 1, 2013 entitled Recirculation of Recaptured Water Year 2013-2017 San Joaquin River Restoration Program Flows until completion of the long-term plan, EIS/Rand Record of Decision, anticipated in the next few years.
Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above.