2020 Water Banking Program Between San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and Dudley Ridge Water District.
Summary
SCH Number
2020080063
Public Agency
Dudley Ridge Water District
Document Title
2020 Water Banking Program Between San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and Dudley Ridge Water District.
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/4/2020
Document Description
SGVMWD and DRWD have maintained a Water Banking Program since 1995, which from time to time has been amended to reflect the changing needs of both districts. The most recent amendment to their program is documented in the "2020 Water Banking Agreement", which modifies and restates the 2017 Water Exchange Agreement by reducing the Table A retention by SGVMWD from 10,000 acre-feet per year ("af/y") to 5,000 af/y, increasing the maximum reclassification from 3,000 af/y to 5,000 af/y, and, increasing the term through 2085 (subject to the pending DWR extension of the VVater Supply Contracts to 2085). The 2020 Water Banking Program also provides SGVMWD a second priority for recharge and recovery of SGVMWD's water in DRWD's capacity for groundwater banking in the Kern Water Bank ("KWB"). SGVMWD would be eligible to recover 90% of the water they deliver to the KWB. The DRWD-SGVMWD 2020 Water Banking Program is consistent with the CEQA documentation adopted in 2016 for DRWD's Water Management Plan, which describes the DRWD-SGVMWD and similar exchange and banking programs as an integral part of DRWD's routine water management strategy; a Notice of Determination for the DRWD 2015 Update to the 2012 Agricultural Water Management Plan was filed in April 2016 (SCH #2016021110). As an accommodation to DWR, this Notice of Exemption is being filed by DRWD. There is no construction, land use change, or modification to existing facilities; no new lands will be brought into production as a result of the proposed water banking program.
Contact Information
Name
Dale K. Melville
Agency Name
Dudley Ridge Water District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Kings, Los Angeles
Other Location Info
Both San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District ("SGVMWD") and Dudley Ridge Water District ("DRWD") are State Water Project ("SWP") contractors. SGVMWD is located in northern Los Angeles County; DRWD is located in southern Kings County in the San Joaquin Valley. The SWP includes facilities located throughout the State of California. The California Department of Water Resources ("DWR") is headquartered in Sacramento, California.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
State type and section number: See CEQA Guideline 15301(b).
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA Guideline Section 15301 (b) provides that a lead agency may determine an activity to be exempt from CEQA in that it utilizes only existing facilities. This program involves project water within DRWD's Water Supply Contract with DWR, all deliveries occur entirely within the SWP place of use, and exclusively utilize existing facilities. This program is also consistent with DRWD's Negative Declaration (SCH #2016021110) for DRWD's 2015 Update to the 2012 Agricultural Water Management Plan that addressed long-term banking and exchange programs, including (a) deliveries in and out of the Kern Water Bank, (b) banking and exchange programs with SGVMWD, (c) transfers with other SWP contractors or their member units, and ( d) transfers with other SWP contractors or their member units with established water banking or exchange programs.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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