Agreement for a Water Exchange between Semitropic Water Storage District and Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency
Summary
SCH Number
2024110199
Public Agency
Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency
Document Title
Agreement for a Water Exchange between Semitropic Water Storage District and Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/7/2024
Document Description
In 2024, SCVWA desires to avoid possible loss of said water including possible spill of carryover water from San Luis Reservoir. Semitropic anticipates having sufficient capacity available in its existing water banking and management programs to utilize SCVWA's State Water Project (SWP) supplies. Semitropic and SCVWA desire to enter into a 2: 1 exchange program, being processed as two separate transfers, whereby for every 2 acre-feet of SWP Article 56 Carryover Water transferred to Semitropic by SCVWA (transfer in San Luis Reservoir and water will be delivered in California Aqueduct to Reach 9-13A), Semitropic shall return 1 acre-foot of SWP water to SCVWA (point of delivery Reach 30). The term of the agreement shall be from November 1, 2024, through December 31, 2034. A maximum of up to 7,500 acre-feet of SCVWA SWP Article 56 Carryover Water shall be transferred by December 31, 2024. Semitropic shall return its agreed upon portion of water no later than December 31, 2034.
Contact Information
Name
Rick Vasilopulos
Agency Name
Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency
Job Title
Water Resources Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Santa Clarita, Wasco
Counties
Kern, Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Zip
91350
Other Location Info
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCVWA) is located in Santa
Clarita, California and Semitropic Water Storage District (Semitropic) and Kern County Water Agency (KCWA) are located in Kern County, California
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
The project, aka the whole of the action, qualifies for an exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 Existing Facilities as SCVWA finds that approval of the proposed water exchange has no possibility for significant effect on the environment for the following reasons: Agreement for Water Exchange between Semitropic Water Storage District and Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency.
1. The proposed action consists of a two-part water transfer that will use existing facilities and would not require any construction or grading
2. The proposed action does not constitute a new permanent source of water supply and will not result in any growth inducing or cumulative environmental impacts.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The water exchange agreement is also exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), the "common sense exemption," which provides that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Here, SCVWA finds the water exchange agreement is exempt from CEQA as "it will involve no change in the type of use or expansion of use of either Semitropic or SCV Water's existing infrastructure facilities. Rather, the water exchange will involve the exercise of Semitropic and SCV Water's existing right to SWP water, and the transfer of said water between Semitropic and SCV Water will consist merely of the continued operation of Semitropic and SCV Water's existing facilities, and so "will have no significant effect on the environment."
County Clerks
Kern, Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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