Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate near-term actions to maintain the elevation of water in Lake Mead above elevation 1,020 feet, and
Summary
SCH Number
2021120345
Public Agency
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Document Title
Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate near-term actions to maintain the elevation of water in Lake Mead above elevation 1,020 feet, and
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/15/2021
Document Description
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States, the State of Arizona, the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, the State of Nevada, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (known as the “500+ Plan MOU”) and agreements necessary to implement the 500+ Plan MOU to facilitate near-term actions necessary to maintain the elevation of water in Lake Mead above elevation 1,020 feet. The 500+ Plan
MOU is a commitment by water managers in Arizona, Nevada, and California to facilitate actions that could add 500,000 acre-feet (AF) of water to Lake Mead in both 2022 and 2023. The sources of water for the 500+ Plan MOU could include the creation of additional Intentionally Created Surplus and additional system conservation throughout the Colorado River Lower Basin
Contact Information
Name
Sean Carlson
Agency Name
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Job Title
Team Manager- Environmental Planning
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Los Angeles
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
700 N Alameda St
Zip
90012
State Highways
California
Township
Los An
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4); 15277; and PRC 21080(b)(14)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed actions of authorizing and entering into the MOU to (1) facilitate near-term actions necessary to maintain the elevation of water in Lake Mead above elevation 1,020 feet and (2) provide up to 20 percent of the non-federal cost share of any such future actions not to exceed $10 million per year in 2022 and 2023, and (3) delegate authority to the General Manager to enter into additional agreements as needed to implement the Memorandum of Understanding are not subject to CEQA
because they involve the creation of government funding mechanisms and other government fiscal activities that do not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment (Section 15378(b)(4) of the State CEQA Guidelines). Additionally, the potential environmental impacts associated with any federal actions necessary to implement the MOU were analyzed in the 2007 Environmental Impact Statement (2007 EIS) for continued implementation of the 2007 Interim Guidelines. The 2007 EIS is posted at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/strategies/FEIS/index.html. The proposed actions are within the scope of actions that were previously analyzed in that document and will be subject to further environmental review under the NEPA as necessary. Finally, to the extent the proposed actions involve or may affect areas outside of California, such as at Lake Mead or on the portions of the Colorado River in Nevada and Arizona, they are exempt from CEQA under a Statutory Exemption (Public
Resources Code Section 21080(b)(14) and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15277)
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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