Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Unit 2/3 Reroute Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024040617
Public Agency
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region 1
(RWQCB)
Document Title
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge Unit 2/3 Reroute Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/12/2024
Document Description
The Project is designed to benefit wetland habitat for migratory bird species and involves enhancing the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge’s (LKNWR) existing water conveyance system to allow for more efficient and reliable delivery of water from the Ady Canal to the Central Canal. Currently, water delivered to the LKNWR from the Ady Canal must completely fill Unit 2 and Unit 3 before it is available to be delivered to approximately 13,000 acres of emergent wetlands located in the southern portion of the LKNWR. Since Unit 2 and Unit 3 are collectively 7,000 acres, during years with limited water supply such as drought, there is not enough water to fill both units and deliver water to the emergent wetlands. To address these issues and provide a more efficient and reliable water source in the LKNWR for native fish and wildlife, the Project will include water conveyance measures to enhance approximately 20,200 acres of wetlands located within the LKNWR. This will require replacing the existing water conveyance systems in the Project area with a new 32,000-foot bypass canal and associated berms designed to convey flows up to 200 cubic feet per second to assist in providing habitat.
Contact Information
Name
Jacob Shannon
Agency Name
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Job Title
Restoration Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Tulelake
Counties
Siskiyou
Regions
Countywide
Zip
96023
Other Location Info
Project located within Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 23. Section 21080.56 Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the qualifying criteria set forth in Public Resources Code section 21080.56, subdivisions (a) to (d), which includes: (1) the Project is exclusively to conserve, restore, protect, or enhance, and assist in the recovery of California native fish and wildlife, and the habitat upon which they depend; or is exclusively to restore or provide habitat for California native fish and wildlife; (2) the Project may have public benefits incidental to the Project’s fundamental purpose; (3) the Project will result in long-term net benefits to climate resiliency, biodiversity, and sensitive species recovery; and includes procedures and ongoing management for the protection of the environment; and (4) Project construction activities are solely related to habitat restoration.
County Clerk
Siskiyou
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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