Los Banos Creek Detention Reservoir Storage Program Project
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024010511
Lead Agency
San Luis Water District
Document Title
Los Banos Creek Detention Reservoir Storage Program Project
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
3/28/2024
Document Description
The Project proposes to operate the Los Banos Creek Detention Dam (LBCDD) in the spring to route natural Los Banos Creek (LBC) flows to riparian lands downstream of the facility, making space available for storage. The Project includes installation, maintenance, and operation of new facilities that would convey non-LBC water for storage in the Los Banos Creek Detention Reservoir (Reservoir). To convey the Project Participants’ water to the Reservoir, a pipeline would be constructed from an existing San Luis Water District (SLWD) pump station lateral to the Reservoir. In addition to the proposed pipeline, the Project would include the following:
• Enlarge existing Turnout 9-1 pipeline connection,
• A filter (fish screen) with backwash system at SLWD Lateral 9 Turnout 9-1
connection point into an existing stock water pond,
• A pipeline and appurtenances varying in size from 30-inch to 48-inch in diameter,
• Water control valve(s) at engineered location(s),
• Below-ground crossings of three existing 20-foot-wide roads with 3 feet of cover,
• A water flow energy dissipation flare at the Reservoir discharge location, and
• Removable weights placed at various locations on the ground along the pipe to keep
it from rolling (if pipe is placed above ground).
• Construction of a box culvert,
• Construction of a boat ramp extension.
The Project would also alter existing Reservoir operations to allow for Project Participant water supply storage and beneficial release; routing natural LBC flows to riparian lands for irrigation and refuge use downstream of the facility making space available for storage in the spring, pumping Project Participant water supplies into the LBCDR available storage (Project); and releasing Project Participant water supplies
into the LBC for re-diversion and beneficial uses by Project Participants.
Contact Information
Name
Lon Martin
Agency Name
San Luis Water District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Los Banos
Counties
Merced
Regions
Northern California
Other Information
The Los Banos Creek Detention Dam (LBCDD or Dam) and Reservoir are federally-owned and State-operated facilities that were constructed jointly by Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) as part of the San Luis Unit of the CVP to provide flood control protection to the San Luis Canal/California Aqueduct. Because of its proximity, the LBCDR also provides flood protection to the City of Los Banos. The California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) operates the public recreational facilities at LBCDR. The Dam and Reservoir are located approximately six miles southwest of the City of Los Banos. The Dam became operational in 1962 and the Reservoir has a maximum storage of 34,562 acre-feet (AF). The LBCDR is currently operated near or below the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) winter period conservation pool of 20,562 AF of storage, though summer operations allow storage of 34,562 AF as authorized by the USACE guidance manual. Maintaining LBCDR storage at 20,562 AF throughout the summer and fall promotes significant evaporation of natural inflow, which otherwise would be available for downstream groundwater replenishment and riparian use. Prior to construction of the Dam, the aquifers along the LBC received significantly more recharge from LBC flows. Appendix A shows the location of LBCDR in relation to Los Banos and the San Luis Canal. Additionally, Appendix A shows the storage curve of the Project. Currently, the Dam is strictly operated as a flood control facility during the late fall and winter months. A group of local agencies (Project Participants) propose to operate the LBCDD in the spring to route natural LBC flows to riparian lands downstream of the facility, making space available for storage. (See Appendix A) The Project Participants would then make water available for delivery into the LBCDR by using conserved water, groundwater, recovered tailwater, or water stored in the Meyers Water Bank in lieu of surface water from San Luis Reservoir (pursuant to existing Water Transfer Programs, see Appendix B, Document B-2, Document B-5 and Document B-6, which provide details regarding the Project Participant water supplies). This water would be conveyed into the available storage space in the spring and early summer. Operations would be within USACE operating rules for the facilities at the Reservoir. Stored water would be returned to the Project Participants through LBCDD in the summer or fall to meet irrigation or habitat water demands. The Project Participants consist of the SLWD, Grassland Water District (GWD), and the member agencies of the SJRECWA, which consist of Central California Irrigation District (CCID), San Luis Canal Company, Firebaugh Canal Water District, and the Columbia Canal Company.
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
San Luis Water District
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Merced
Final Environmental Document Available at
San Luis Water District - Office, located at 1015 6th Street, Los Banos, CA 93635
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
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(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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