Water exchange between Fresno Irrigation District (FID), Delano Earlimart Irrigation District (DEID), and the Kern Westside Districts
Summary
SCH Number
2022080322
Public Agency
Wheeler Ridge -Maricopa Water Storage District
Document Title
Water exchange between Fresno Irrigation District (FID), Delano Earlimart Irrigation District (DEID), and the Kern Westside Districts
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/15/2022
Document Description
FID will deliver up to 2,800 acre-feet (AF) of high flow pre-1914 Kings River water to DEID via the Central Valley Project’s (CVP) Friant Kern Canal (FKC). DEID will deliver 2,800 AF of its previously banked CVP water to the Kern Westside Districts (Lost Hills Water District, Berrenda Mesa Water District, Belridge Water Storage District, Wheeler Ridge- Maricopa Water Storage District) via the State Water Project’s (SWP) California Aqueduct and KCWA’s Cross Valley Canal. The water will be used to meet current year water shortages within WS5 service areas. All water will be transferred via existing CVP, SWP, and local facilities.
Contact Information
Name
Eric McDaris
Agency Name
Wheeler Ridge- Maricopa Water Storage District
Job Title
Water Resources Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Fresno, Kern, Tulare
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Friant Kern Canal and California Aqueduct
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical Exemption- CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(b). Statutory Exemption- CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)3.
Reasons for Exemption
For the reasons stated below, this project is determined to be exempt per CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)3 which provides that a lead agency may determine an activity to be exempt based upon the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have a potential for significant effect on the environment. Further, this project is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines section 15301(b) (operation of existing facilities used to provide public utility services which involve a negligible or no expansion of the existing use).
1. The water exchange that is the subject of the agreement is temporary and made for the purposes of assisting the Westside Districts to provide water in this critically dry year.
2. The Westside Districts will use this water to serve its existing customers. It will not be used for new development or serve acreage that has not been historically cultivated.
3. FID does not intend to use the water to be exchanged during the time period relevant to the exchange, so no environmental impacts will occur in the FID service area.
4. The water exchanged will be delivered to existing facilities that have previously complied with CEQA.
5. The agreement provides adequate advance notice to allow FID, DEID, and the Westside Districts to manage their supplies such that the transfer will not materially adversely impact their water supplies.
6. The amount of water involved in the temporary transfer is small in proportion to the total supplies of each agency.
County Clerks
Fresno, Kern, Tulare
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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