ER 8598 - ARPA Elkhorn Groundwater Recharge Facility
Summary
SCH Number
2024080171
Public Agency
Fresno County
Document Title
ER 8598 - ARPA Elkhorn Groundwater Recharge Facility
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/6/2024
Document Description
The proposed Project consists of the construction of an approximately 57-acre recharge facility in Fresno County on a site owned by the County of Fresno. Dirt excavated from the area will be stockpiled on-site. Water will be delivered to the recharge area through a new on-site conveyance channel that will be served by a new turnout from the Liberty Canal. The site historically was farmed as part of the former Elkhorn Juvenile Detention Facility. The land has been open for several years but has been regularly disked and maintained. The source of the water will be excess water on the Kings River, helping to relieve flooding conditions in the Kings River area and downstream in above average water years. Fresno County is a member of the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NFKGSA) along with 14 other public or private entities. Fresno County represents a white area or other non-represented land within the GSA, which is in a high priority, critically over drafted subbasin with multiple Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). The Project will help mitigate groundwater overdraft conditions impacted by drought and help the GSA achieve groundwater sustainability.
Contact Information
Name
Christian Montoya
Agency Name
County of Fresno
Job Title
Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Name
David Randall
Agency Name
County of Fresno
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Caruthers
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Parcel #
042-043-51
Other Location Info
The project site is located on the northeast corner of E. Elkhorn Ave. and CA Highway 41, located 3.75-miles southeast from the Unincorporated Community of Caruthers (042-043-51 ST)(500 E. Elkhorn Ave.) (Sup. Dist. 4).
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Executive Order N-7-22, Action 13
Reasons for Exemption
Based upon the unpredictable and severe circumstances created by the state's increasingly hotter and drier climate, Governor Newsom enacted Executive Order N-7-22 (EO 13) to suspend the California Environmental Quality Act for groundwater recharge projects that capture available water for the purposes of recharging groundwater basins through the application on open and working lands to help mitigate drought impacts on groundwater conditions. This will not result in serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. This project was Specifically confirmed by the State Department of Water Resources as consistent with the Executive Order N-7-22.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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