Rhys Vineyards - Bypass Pipe
Summary
SCH Number
2021070144
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northern and Eureka Region 1
(CDFW)
Document Title
Rhys Vineyards - Bypass Pipe
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/8/2021
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has executed a streambed alteration agreement (Notification No. EPIMS-MEN-15069-R1) pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 1602 (SAA). The SAA authorizes Rhys Vineyards, the permittee, to install a pipe on its property to bypass ephemeral stream flow around a small reservoir and back into the stream below the reservoir.
Contact Information
Name
Angela Liebenberg
Agency Name
California Department of Fish & Wildlife
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Laytonville
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
approximately 7 miles southwest of the town of Laytonville
State Highways
101
Waterways
Ten Mile River Watershed
Township
20N
Range
15W
Section
08
Base
Diablo
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, title 14, sections 15303, 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Rhys Vineyards constructed a reservoir on an ephemeral stream on its Clarke Ranch property in Laytonville, which prevents water from continuing downstream past the pond. Under the SAA, Rhys Vineyards will install a bypass pipe to redirect flow around the pond downstream in accordance with a settlement agreement between Rhys Vineyards and the North Coast Regional Water Board (WR 2019-0053-EXEC). In approving the SAA, the Department relied on the Class 3 and 4 categorical exemptions in the CEQA Guidelines. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, §§ 15303, 15304.) The purpose of the project is to allow water to flow into the reach of the stream below the pond as it did before the pond was constructed. The stream does not support habitat for aquatic species. To install the pipe, Rhys Vineyards will excavate a trench and bury the pipe. The bypass pipe is 12 inches in diameter and 200 feet long. As a result, the size of the trench will be small and the ground disturbance will be minor with no removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. Also, the work will not have any adverse effect on endangered, rare, or threatened species or their habitat. Finally, the Department has determined that the work the SAA authorizes will not result in impacts that are significant when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects.
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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