Little Butano Creek Flow Enhancement Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024090217
Public Agency
San Mateo County Resource Conservation District
(SMCRCD)
Document Title
Little Butano Creek Flow Enhancement Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/9/2024
Document Description
The San Mateo Resources Conservation District (RCD), in partnership with California State Parks (State Parks) is proposing to drill 1-2 exploratory wells and install up to 2 new permanent domestic wells at Butano State Park (Park). The RCD has funding for this project through the Wildlife Conservation Board Proposition 1 grant.
The purpose of the well is to offset existing surface-water withdrawals from the State Park diversion on Little Butano Creek by adding an additional water source (groundwater) to allow for increased water security, especially in years of drought. Additionally, this would augment instream flow conditions for coho salmon and steelhead.
Contact Information
Name
Jarrad Fisher
Agency Name
San Mateo County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Director of Water Resource Programs
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated area
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Parcel #
APN: 089-090-030
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 3, 4, and 6
Reasons for Exemption
Class 3 (CEQA State Guidelines, Section 15303)
Class 3 consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. The numbers of structures described in this section are the maximum allowable on any legal parcel.
Examples of this exemption that this project is most related to include, but not limited to:
(d) Water main, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility extensions, including street improvements, of reasonable length to serve such construction.
The project will construct a new small facility in the form of up to two (2) domestic drinking water wells. The permanent area of impact for the well installation(s) will be a 25 x 50-foot pad encompassing the well bore location. One drilling location may include an access road that is approximately 50 ft. long x 10 ft. wide. An access road is not expected to be needed, but, if necessary, the road will consist of minor vegetation clearing for access.
Class 4 (CEQA State Guidelines, Section 15304)
Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes.
Examples of this exemption that this project is most related to include, but not limited to:
(a) Grading on land with a slope of less than 10 percent, except that grading shall not be exempt in a waterway, in any wetland, in an officially designated (by federal, state, or local government action) scenic area, or in officially mapped areas of severe geologic hazard such as an Alquist- Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone or within an official Seismic Hazard Zone, as delineated by the State Geologist
(d) Minor alterations in land, water, and vegetation on existing officially designated wildlife management areas or fish production facilities which result in improvement of habitat for fish and wildlife resources or greater fish production
This project is consistent with example (a) and (d) of Class 4. Grading for the project will take place on land with a slope of less than 10 percent, and will not take place in a waterway, wetland, officially designated scenic area, or in an officially mapped area of severe geologic hazard. The project consists of the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures and minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water and/or vegetation which does not include the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees.
Class 6 (CEQA State Guidelines, Section 15306)
Class 6 consists of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. These may be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded.
This project includes one to two exploratory wells which are being drilled for basic data collection, research, experimental management and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. The results from the exploratory well will determine the most suitable place(s) for a permanent well(s) at Butano State Park.
County Clerk
San Mateo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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