Petitions Requesting Approval of Temporary Urgency Changes in Water Right Permits 12947A, 12949, 12950, and 16596 in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2023040625
Public Agency
Sonoma County Water Agency
Document Title
Petitions Requesting Approval of Temporary Urgency Changes in Water Right Permits 12947A, 12949, 12950, and 16596 in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/25/2023
Document Description
Sonoma Water controls and coordinates water supply releases from the Coyote Valley Dam and Warm Springs Dam projects in accordance with the minimum instream flow requirements that Decision 1610, adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in 1986, added to Sonoma Water’s water right permits. NMFS’ Russian River Biological Opinion requires changes to the Decision 1610 minimum instream flow requirements to enable alternative flow management scenarios that will increase available rearing habitat in Dry Creek and the upper Russian River, and provide a lower, closer-to-natural inflow to the estuary between late spring and early fall, thereby enhancing the potential for maintaining a seasonal freshwater lagoon that will likely support increased production of juvenile steelhead and salmon.
To meet the terms and conditions of the Russian River Biological Opinion and to avoid excessively high flows that could result in violations to the Biological Opinion’s Incidental Take Statement, Sonoma Water is filing temporary urgency change petitions with the SWRCB. During the period that the proposed temporary flow changes are in effect, Sonoma Water will also monitor water quality and fish, and collect and report information and data related to monitoring activities, as required by NMFS’ Russian River Biological Opinion.
Contact Information
Name
Connie Barton
Agency Name
Sonoma County Water Agency
Job Title
Senior Environmental Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Ukiah
Counties
Mendocino, Sonoma
Regions
Countywide, Northern California, Unincorporated
Other Location Info
The proposed action would occur in Mendocino and Sonoma counties at Lake Mendocino, in the Upper Russian River from Coyote Valley Dam/Lake Mendocino to the confluence with Dry Creek, and in the Lower Russian River from its confluence with Dry Creek to the Pacific Ocean. Figure 1 shows the minimum instream streamflow requirements for the Russian River system. Communities and cities along the Russian River include Ukiah, Hopland, Cloverdale, Geyserville, Healdsburg, Forestville, Mirabel Park, Rio Nido, Guerneville, Monte Rio, Duncans Mills, and Jenner.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 21080(b)(4), State CEQA Guidelines 15269(c), 15301(i), 15307, 15308. Government Code section 8571
Reasons for Exemption
A. Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources and the Environment
CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 and 15308 provide that actions taken by regulatory agencies to assure the maintenance, restoration or enhancement of a natural resource and the environment are categorically exempt from CEQA. If approved, the proposed changes in Russian River minimum instream flow requirements will increase available rearing habitat in the Upper Russian River and provide a lower, closer to natural inflow to the estuary between late spring and early fall, thereby enhancing the potential for maintaining a seasonal freshwater lagoon that could support increased production of juvenile steelhead. NMFS’ Russian River Biological Opinion states that these changes are necessary to avoid jeopardizing the continued existence of the listed species.
B. Existing Facilities
Guidelines Section 15301(i) provides, generally, that the operation of existing facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination is categorically exempt from CEQA. Subdivision (i) of Section 15301 specifically includes maintenance of streamflows to protect fish and wildlife resources. Sonoma Water’s petition to the SWRCB to change to the minimum instream flow requirements specified in the Russian River Biological Opinion does not request and will not expand Sonoma Water’s use or increase the water supply available to Sonoma Water for consumptive purposes. The proposed change in Russian River minimum instream flow requirements still will be within the existing operational parameters established by Decision 1610.
County Clerks
Mendocino, Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.