California Aqueduct Reach 6 Vegetation Management
Summary
SCH Number
2024110978
Public Agency
California Department of Water Resources
(DWR)
Document Title
California Aqueduct Reach 6 Vegetation Management
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/26/2024
Document Description
The Department of Water Resources' (DWR) San Luis Field Division (SLFD) will use an excavator equipped with a standard digging bucket and a hydraulic thumb attachment to mechanically remove vegetation within the work sites that is shorter than 8 feet tall; the vegetation is predominantly honey mesquite (Neltuma odorata). Vegetation taller than 8 feet will be left in place, but any limbs up to 8 feet off the ground will be removed. The removed material will be piled on site; the piles will be burned when there is an authorized burn day under SLFD’s burn permit. The sites will be accessed using the existing Aqueduct asphalt and toe roads. All work will occur outside the nesting season.
Overgrown vegetation prevents SLFD from being able to visually inspect the Aqueduct embankments; work is necessary for SLFD to inspect and maintain the Aqueduct and DWR right of way. The State Water Project will benefit from this work.
Contact Information
Name
Cody Nelson
Agency Name
California Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Planner Scheduler/UC Supervisor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Northernmost work site is about 0.31 miles NE of the intersection of the Aqueduct and SR 145.
State Highways
SR 145, SR 269, SR 198
Airports
Agro-West, Harris River Ranch
Waterways
California Aqueduct
Other Location Info
Work will occur in Reach 6 of the California Aqueduct (Aqueduct) in the Department of Water Resources (DWR) right of way on both the right (R) and left (L) sides of the Aqueduct. Work will occur in approximately 55 feet-wide areas along the Aqueduct toe roads in the following areas: Aqueduct milepost (MP) 143.45L to MP 144.23L, MP 144.78L to MP 145.37L, MP 147.75L to MP 148.14L, MP 149.05R to MP 149.25R, and MP 149.90R to MP 150.90R. The northernmost work site, MP 143.45L, is about 0.31 miles northeast of the intersection of the Aqueduct and State Route (SR) 145. The southernmost work site, MP 150.90R, is about 0.83 miles northwest of the intersection of the Aqueduct and SR 269.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301(h) (Existing Facilities)
Reasons for Exemption
Work involves maintenance of existing native vegetation in the DWR right of way to improve visual inspection of the Aqueduct embankments. There will be no expansion of existing or former use of the Aqueduct or toe roads. Categorical Exemption 15301(h) (Existing Facilities – maintenance of existing native growth) applies.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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