Water Transfer between Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) and Contra Costa Water District (CCWD)

Summary

SCH Number
2021080469
Public Agency
Contra Costa Water District
Document Title
Water Transfer between Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) and Contra Costa Water District (CCWD)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/25/2021
Document Description
CCWD and Valley Water are entering into an agreement for CCWD to transfer up to 5,000 acre-feet of its CVP allocation to Valley Water in 2021, and then for Valley Water to transfer the same amount of its CVP water to CCWD by 2023. With ongoing dry hydrologic conditions, low CVP allocations, and Valley Water’s loss of storage in Anderson Reservoir due to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order, the transfer will provide supplemental water supply to Valley Water this year. Water transferred to Valley Water will be made available by CCWD using water previously stored in Los Vaqueros Reservoir in lieu of Contra Costa’s CVP allocation, allowing that water to be pumped at the CVP Jones Pumping Plant and conveyed to Valley Water’s service area through existing CVP and Valley Water facilities. Water transferred to CCWD will be conveyed using CCWD’s existing facilities to its service area. Operations to enable the water transfers will require approval by the Bureau of Reclamation.

Contact Information

Name
Lucinda Shih
Agency Name
Contra Costa Water District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

Location

Cities
Various
Counties
Contra Costa, Santa Clara
Other Information
Valley Water and CCWD service areas would receive transfer water originating from the Central Valley Project (CVP) and conveyed through CVP, Valley Water, and CCWD existing facilities.

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines section 15269(c) because it involves specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate a drought emergency. As a separate and independent basis for determining the project to be exempt, the project is eligible for a Class 1 categorial exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 for Use of Existing Facilities. Conveyance of the water transferred would occur through existing facilities and would not exceed their normal capacity. Accordingly, no construction of new or expansion of existing water conveyance facilities are required to facilitate the proposed transfers of water. The Reclamation approvals of the water transfers would be administrative in nature and provide the necessary regulatory approvals to allow for the water transfers to proceed using existing facilities.

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 15301
Reasons for Exemption
The project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines section 15269(c) because it involves specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate a drought emergency. As a separate and independent basis for determining the project to be exempt, the project is eligible for a Class 1 categorial exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 for Use of Existing Facilities. Conveyance of the water transferred would occur through existing facilities and would not exceed their normal capacity. Accordingly, no construction of new or expansion of existing water conveyance facilities are required to facilitate the proposed transfers of water. The Reclamation approvals of the water transfers would be administrative in nature and provide the necessary regulatory approvals to allow for the water transfers to proceed using existing facilities.
County Clerks
Contra Costa, Santa Clara

Attachments

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