Mariposa and Bear Creek Recharge Project (Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-MER- 45818-R4)
Summary
SCH Number
2024051102
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
Mariposa and Bear Creek Recharge Project (Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-MER- 45818-R4)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/23/2024
Document Description
Pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-MER-45818-R4 (Agreement) to Merced Irrigation District. The Project includes activities related to temporary water diversion of high flows from Bear Creek and Mariposa Creek and re-diversion from Deadman Creek, Dutchman Creek, Little Deadman Creek, and North Slough for the purpose of temporary underground storage. All PODs will use temporary pumps. Activities in compliance with the Agreement will be undertaken by Merced Irrigation District (Permittee) and other diverters represented by La Paloma Mutual Water Company, Sandy Mush Mutual Water Company, Plainsburg Irrigation District, LeGrandeAthlone Water District, Lone Tree Mutual Water Company, Merced Irrigation District, Merced Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, and Merced Irrigation-Urban Groundwater Sustainability Agency. These additional diverters have agreed to comply with the Agreement when conducting the Project activities.
Contact Information
Name
Michael Byrd
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 4
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Merced
Counties
Merced
Regions
Countywide
Waterways
Bear Creek, Mariposa Creek, Deadman Creek, Dutchman Creek, Little Deadman Creek, North Slough
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA is suspended (see below)
Reasons for Exemption
CDFW’s issuance of an Agreement is generally subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; Pub. Res. Code, § 21000 et seq.) and its implementing regulations; however, the Agreement is currently suspended from CEQA per Executive Order N-7-22 (EO). 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 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, CEQA and its implementing regulations do not require environmental review for the Project at this point in time. Consequently, CDFW has not reviewed a certified environmental impact report or adopted mitigated negative declaration evaluating the Project, nor has CDFW adopted related findings pursuant to CEQA.
County Clerk
Merced
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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