Madera County Temporary Emergency Recharge Project (Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-MAD-28804-R4)
Summary
SCH Number
2023060627
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
Madera County Temporary Emergency Recharge Project (Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-MAD-28804-R4)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/23/2023
Document Description
Pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-MAD-28804-R4 (Agreement) to Madera County - Groundwater Sustainability Agency. The Project includes activities related to the diversion of noncontracted water from 18 points of diversion in the Chowchilla Bypass and Eastside Bypass. The water will be pumped at each point of diversion using a trailer mounted pump assembly for ease of rapid deployment. The water will be pumped out of the bypasses over up to 50 days during each diversion season of October 1 through May 31 and diverted into a temporary network of conveyance pipelines located in the uplands on the land side of the bypass banks. The conveyance pipeline network will convey diverted flows to recharge ponding areas and farm recharge ponds.
Contact Information
Name
Jim Kitch
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 4
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Chowchilla
Counties
Madera
Regions
Countywide
Waterways
San Joaquin River
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA is suspended
Reasons for Exemption
CDFW’s issuance of an Agreement is generally subject to CEQA (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) and its implementing regulations; however, CEQA is suspended per Executive Order N-7-22 (EO) for purposes of CDFW’s issuance of this Agreement. Paragraph 13 of the EO states that CEQA and its implementing regulations are suspended for the following, to the extent necessary to address the impacts of drought: (1) specified actions taken by state agencies and specified actions taken by a local agency where the Department of Water Resources concurs that local action is required; and (2) any permits necessary to carry out actions under (1). Actions under (1) are recharge projects under either Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge or the Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program occurring on open and working lands to replenish and store water in groundwater basins that will help mitigate groundwater conditions impacted by drought. Because the Project to which this Agreement applies involves diversions of flood flows for application to open and working lands to replenish and store water in groundwater basins to help mitigate groundwater conditions impacted by drought, no environmental review for this Agreement pursuant to CEQA is required at this point in time. Consequently, CDFW has not reviewed a certified environmental impact report or adopted mitigated negative declaration evaluating this project, nor has CDFW adopted related findings pursuant to CEQA. Similarly, in applying for this permit, Permittee relied on the CEQA suspension provided by Paragraph 13 of the EO.
County Clerk
Madera
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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