Merced River Agricultural Diversion and Fish Habitat Enhancement Project
9 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022010622
Lead Agency
Merced Irrigation District
Document Title
Merced River Agricultural Diversion and Fish Habitat Enhancement Project
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
6/24/2024
Document Description
The Project aims to enhance up to three Cowell Agreement surface water diversions on the Lower Merced River to address long-standing issues, including improperly functioning fish screens, poor diversion siting, and diversion configurations not engineered or designed to meet fish and diverter needs. The completed Project will improve water delivery efficiency and reduce the negative effects of the diversions on salmonid populations. The modified facilities will prevent fish entrainment and improve the diverter’s control of the amount of water delivered. Channel alterations associated with the facilities will improve fish passage and enhance salmonid spawning, incubation, and rearing habitats. Design and construction will occur in two phases, targeting the Cowell 2 diversion sites in the first year and the Cowell 1 and Cuneo diversion in the second.
The Project will improve water delivery efficiency and reduce the negative effects of the diversions on salmonid populations by improving the screening of diversions, reconfiguring the channel and diversion to reduce or eliminate the entrainment of juvenile salmonids, improving efficiency of the diversion to allow better control of flow and reduce water loss, and enhancing habitat function by increasing salmonid habitat and reducing predator habitat.
Contact Information
Name
Jim Long
Agency Name
California Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Supervisor
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Merced
Counties
Merced
Regions
Statewide
Cross Streets
off J17, off HWY 59
Zip
95369
Total Acres
128
State Highways
59
Airports
Bonanza Hills Airport
Schools
Snelling Elementary School
Waterways
Merced River
Other Location Info
3 diversion locations between Merced River miles 43 and 52.
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
California Department of Water Resources
Approving Agency Role
Responsible Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Merced
Final Environmental Document Available at
rsp@water.ca.gov
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
No
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
No
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
No
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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