Paso Area Technical Support Services Well Installation Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024050387
Public Agency
California Department of Water Resources
(DWR)
Document Title
Paso Area Technical Support Services Well Installation Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/9/2024
Document Description
In 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was signed into law requiring local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to manage groundwater in their service area that necessitates the development of an adequate network of appropriately spaced groundwater monitoring wells. With secured funding, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has established the Technical Support Services (TSS) program to help GSAs meet their SGMA requirements by providing services to install groundwater monitoring wells, conduct downhole video logging, and training on methods to accurately monitor groundwater levels.
The Paso Robles Area Subbasin Well Installation project consists of installing three nested groundwater monitoring wells. These sites will be marked by Underground Service Alert, then hand tools will be used to excavate a minimum depth of 5 feet. A driller will use a truck-mounted drill rig to drill a pilot hole while using a mud cleaner to filter out solids and return drilling mud to the drill bit. The pilot hole desired depth below ground surface is 500 feet. Based on logging results, the driller will expand the borehole to the selected depth to a diameter large enough to accommodate nested well casings (approximately 14 inches). Within the borehole PVC casings, sand, and a bentonite seal will be constructed. For a final sanitary seal, neat cement will be pumped from the support truck to fill the annular space between the casings and the borehole wall to a depth required by the local well permitting process. A raised steel well protective cover and concrete pad, approximately four feet by four feet in area and four inches tall with four approximately 3-foot high metal crash posts, will be installed at ground level to protect the well from potential damage.
Well development will occur a minimum of 72 hours after completion of the sanitary seal. Well development is done to remove any fine-grained materials from the well. After completion of each monitoring well, battery powered pressure transducers and data loggers will be installed to measure continuous groundwater levels.
DWR anticipates each well installation to take approximately 3 weeks to complete. Construction equipment would include pickup trucks, forklift, drill rig, mud cleaner, and a generator.
DWR or GSA staff may visit the well on a quarterly schedule to collect data. Operation and maintenance will be minimal and may consist of periodic servicing of equipment and replacing batteries as needed. Access to the well location will be by existing paved and dirt roads.
Once installed, this facility will become part of the GSA's monitoring program.
Contact Information
Name
Jason Preece
Agency Name
Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Senior Engineering Geologist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Creston, Paso Robles
Counties
San Luis Obispo
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
The Project will occur in San Luis Obispo County, with three monitoring
wells: SLOGSA-01 is approximately 150 feet southwest of Creston Road, approximately 500 feet south of Geneseo Road intersection. (35.5700599, -120.5448484); CPGSA-01 is adjacent south of Beacon Road approximately 1,800 feet west of Aerotech Center Way. (35.6740180, -120.6208739); SSJGSA-01 is
approximately 100 feet northeast of Estrella Road, and 1 mile north of Hwy 46. (35.6695846, -120.5233247).
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15306. Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
Work activities will consist of the installation of a groundwater monitoring well. Project activities are covered under Categorical Exemption Class 6 Section 15306 (Data Collection) of the California Environmental Quality Act. No sensitive biological or cultural resources have been identified in the area.
County Clerk
San Luis Obispo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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