Temporary Warren Act Contract No. 24-WC-20-6310 between Central Coast Water Authority and United States Bureau of Reclamation

2024090605

Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

9/16/2024

9/16/2024

Ray Stokes

Central Coast Water Authority

Executive Director

Lead/Public Agency

255 Industrial Way
Buellton, CA 93427

(805) 688-2292

RAS@ccwa.com

United States Bureau of Reclamation's ("Reclamation") existing Cachuma Project facilities (i.e., Bradbury Dam and Lake Cachuma, Tecolote Tunnel, and the South Coast Conduit), the Lower Santa Ynez River below Bradbury Dam, and the service areas of Central Coast Water Authority's South Coast Participants (Carpinteria Valley Water District, the City of Santa Barbara, Goleta Water District, Montecito Water District, La Cumbre Mutual Water Company, La Cumbre Mutual Water Company, Morehart Land Co., and Raytheon Systems Co.)

Categorical Exemption

14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15301 [Class 1 exemption]; 14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15304 [Class 4 exemption]

CEQA Guidelines section 15301 (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15301 [Class 1 exemption]) sets forth an exemption from CEQA for the operation and permitting of existing facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. CEQA Guidelines section 15304 (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15304 [Class 4 exemption]) further provides an exemption for "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 and agricultural purposes." The Temporary Warren Act Contract is exempt because it will continue to allow the annual introduction, storage, and conveyance of up to 13,750 acre-feet of water acquired by or available to CCWA from or through the SWP into Cachuma Project facilities for delivery to the CCWA South Coast Participants and will therefore not expand the use of Cachu ma Project facilities beyond that now permitted by CCWA's existing Warren Act Contract. None of the exceptions to use of an exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply and the Temporary Warren Act Contract will not have a significant impact on the environment where it will continue to allow the annual introduction, storage, and conveyance of the same quantity of water available to CCWA from or through the SWP into Cachuma Project facilities as has been authorized for the last 27 years. Under the Temporary Warren Act Contract, CCWA water would continue to be introduced and conveyed through Cachuma Project facilities (i.e., Bradbury Dam outlet works, Stilling Basin, Lake Cachuma, North Intake of the Tecolote Tunnel, and the South Coast Conduit) to the CCWA Participants located along the South Coast Conduit. No modifications to existing infrastructure or construction would occur.