2020-2021 Water Transfer and Exchange between Pixley Irrigation District within the Central Valley Project and Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District
Summary
SCH Number
2020070359
Public Agency
Wheeler Ridge -Maricopa Water Storage District
Document Title
2020-2021 Water Transfer and Exchange between Pixley Irrigation District within the Central Valley Project and Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/17/2020
Document Description
Title Cont: within the Central Valley Project and Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District within the State Water Project.
Pixley ID is proposing to transfer up to 1,695 AF of its 2020-2021 Central Valley Project ("CVP") Cross Valley Canal water from Pixley ID to Wheeler Ridge. Pixley ID has 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 Central Valley Project ("CVP"). In exchange for nonproject water previously delivered to PID from the Kaweah, Tule and/or Kings River under the terms of a 2017 Agreement between Pixley ID and a common landowner to the Districts, Pixley ID forecasts that it will have up to 1,695 AF of such 2020-2021 CVP water supply captured at O'Neill Forebay in San Luis Reservoir that it is willing to transfer to Wheeler Ridge from O'Neill Forebay during the noted Water Years.
Contact Information
Name
Wendy A. Jones
Agency Name
Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa WSD
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Kern, Tulare
Other Location Info
Pixley Irrigation District (''Pixley ID") is located in Tulare County and Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District ("Wheeler Ridge") is located in Kern County. Wheeler Ridge has lands in the Delta Export Service Area of the Central Valley Project.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
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 of the CEQA Guidelines would apply to the proposed action.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 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. Wheeler Ridge 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 facilities 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.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.