Main Intake Canal Siphons Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025010509
Lead Agency
Tulare Irrigation District
Document Title
Main Intake Canal Siphons Project
Document Type
MND - Mitigated Negative Declaration
Received
Present Land Use
Zoning - AE-20
General Plan Land Use - Valley Agricultural
Document Description
The District is pursuing the construction of the two reinforced concrete pipe or box siphons, each connecting to the MIC. The Project proposes to install two new reinforced concrete pipe or box siphons adjacent and upstream of the existing siphons at each site. The new siphons will address the structural concerns of the existing siphons and will also enhance the maximum capacity to approximately 1,100 CFS. The Project will be completed in multiple construction phases. The initial phase will involve clearing and grubbing outside of the St. Johns and Kaweah River channels at the individual siphon sites, which could include minor vegetation removal. Upon completion of the first phase, the second phase of Project construction will be the excavation of the sending and receiving pits, one pit on either side of the Rivers at each siphon site. These pits are utilized for the jack and bore drilling installation method. In the sending pit, a boring machine and auger will drill into the earth beneath each river, installing pipe casing along the way to the receiving pit. It is anticipated the sending and receiving pits will be gravel or rock lined to stabilize the operation of the pipelines. This phase will also see the installation of head walls and wing walls on upstream and downstream sides as well as trash racks on the upstream side of the siphon intakes. The third phase of the Project will consist of reconditioning the water flow into the new siphons and into the MIC. The existing box culvert siphons will remain in place once construction of the new siphons is complete. A new bulkhead and control gate(s) will be installed to direct flow to the new siphons, unless high flows require the use of the existing siphon. Keeping the existing siphons in place in the riverbeds will provide added erosion protection for the new siphons in the Rivers by stabilizing the river bottom sediment in place.
Benefits associated with the Project include:
• Enhanced facility and system reliability
• Increased facility capacity
• Protection of functionality of the St. Johns River and Kaweah River
• Surface water reliability for irrigation and groundwater service
Contact Information
Name
Aaron Fukuda
Agency Name
Tulare Irrigation District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Name
Briza Sholars
Agency Name
Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group
Job Title
Principal Planner
Contact Types
Consulting Firm
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Ivanhoe
Counties
Tulare
Regions
Southern California
Total Acres
6.3
Parcel #
158-040-019 and 158-040-004
Waterways
St. John's River, Kaweah River, Main Intake Canal
Township
18S
Range
26E
Section
17&20
Base
MDMB
Other Location Info
The Project is located on two sites in the eastern portion of Tulare County, along the St. Johns River and the Kaweah River approximately 53-miles southeast of Fresno and 56 miles northwest of Bakersfield within Tulare Irrigation District (District). The Project sites are located on Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 158-040-019 and 158-040-004. The area of potential effect (APE) for the St. Johns River siphon site is approximately 2.9 acres in size and the Kaweah River siphon site is approximately 3.4 acres in size, which equals a total Project size of approximately 6.3 acres. This includes all construction staging and access areas needed for construction equipment.
Other Information
The approximate centroid of the Project site along the St. Johns River is 36° 21’ 33.31” North, 119°10'26.22" West, while the approximate centroid of the site along the Kaweah river is 36°21'10.03" North, 119°10'47.28" West.
Notice of Completion
State Review Period Start
State Review Period End
State Reviewing Agencies
California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 6 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights
Development Types
Other (Siphons)
Local Actions
Siphons
Project Issues
Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Tribal Cultural Resources
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Completion [NOC] Transmittal form
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