Amendment to 2013 Water Exchange Agreement
Summary
SCH Number
2023110667
Public Agency
Crestline Lake Arrowhead Water Agency
(CLAWA)
Document Title
Amendment to 2013 Water Exchange Agreement
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/28/2023
Document Description
On July 11, 2013, the Board of Directors of Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency (“CLAWA”) approved the execution of the Water Exchange Agreement (“Agreement”) with San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (“SGPWA”). The Agreement allows for the exchange of 2,000 acre-feet ("AF") of State Water Project ("SWP") water from CLAWA to SGPWA in Calendar Year 2013, and with SGPWA returning 1,300 acre-feet of water to CLAWA no later than the end of Calendar Year 2023. This same Agreement was approved by SGPWA on June 17, 2013.
On November 28, 2023, the Board of Directors of CLAWA approved an amendment to the Agreement (“Amendment”) with SGPWA. The Amendment extends the delivery of the “Exchange Water,” as defined in the Agreement. The delivery deadline for the Exchange Water is extended from December 2023 to the end of December 2026.
Contact Information
Name
Jennifer A. Spindler
Agency Name
Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Riverside, San Bernardino
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
Within the service areas of Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency (San Bernardino County) and San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (Riverside County). The water transfers will be confined to the existing infrastructure of the California Aqueduct
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
State CEQA Guidelines § 15301, §15304, 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is also exempt under State CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the Project may have a significant impact on the environment. The Project is merely an exchange of water. No physical facilities will be constructed to produce or transport water because all such required facilities already exist. In addition, no new water production or transportation capacity is created by the Project.
The water exchange approved by CLAWA will entail no change in type of use or expansion of use, but consist merely of the continued operation of existing facilities and the use of those facilities to temporarily transport water to a different location. State CEQA Guidelines section 15301 provides that environmental review is not required for “the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination.” In addition, the exchange of water is a minor, temporary alteration to the condition of water that does not require the removal of any trees and thus is also exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15304 as “minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees.”
Moreover, the water transfer does not involve cumulative impacts, potentially significant impacts, unusually sensitive environments, or any other unique or unusual environmental impacts that might merit environmental review. These conclusions are supported by substantial evidence because the water transfer will use existing facilities and thus does not involve any ground disturbance that might impact sensitive environments. Accordingly, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2 are applicable.
County Clerks
Riverside, San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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