Johnson Slough Recharge Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025041173
Lead Agency
Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District
Document Title
Johnson Slough Recharge Project
Document Type
MND - Mitigated Negative Declaration
Received
Present Land Use
Rural Valley Lands Plan — Agriculture/AE-40 (Agriculture, 40—acre minimum)
Document Description
The CPDC is proposing to develop a recharge basin on a property north of the Johnson Slough east of the Kaweah Oaks Preserve along Road 182, north of Highway 198. The Project is anticipated to include an approximately 18-acre basin that is an off-stream basin diverting from Johnson Slough. It is also anticipated there will be an ability to return water from the new basin back into Johnson Slough for
potential use downstream.
The Project would assist CPDC in expanding its groundwater recharge efforts in response to the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The Project would include a turnout structure with a capacity for approximately 20 cubic feet per second. The proposed turnout facility would allow CPDC to divert surface water from Johnson Slough into the proposed basin area to increase groundwater storage. The proposed facility would consist of cast-in-place concrete structure, control gate(s), trash rack, and related appurtenances from the north bank of the Johnson Slough to divert to the proposed basin. The turnout structure would connect to an inlet structure approximately 150 linear feet (LF) from Johnson Slough in a proposed distribution channel through reinforced concrete piping, equipped with a metered connection. The diversion structure excavation depth would be up to 15 feet below ground surface for establishing proper compaction under the structure and pipeline. Almost all this excavation material will be put back in place. The Project would also include conservation space in the way of native plant species planting. Native habitat plantings would be located along the perimeter of the proposed recharge basin and species would be chosen in accordance with the recommended species outlined in the Kaweah MLRP Vegetation Outline document found in Appendix D.
Construction would include equipment mobilization, excavation of earthwork for the recharge basin, and construction of basin perimeter berms. As standard practice, basin perimeter berms would be designed in accordance to be used as access roads for operation and maintenance (O&M) purposes. The Project site would contain temporary staging areas for construction equipment and material storage during the
construction effort. Staging would not be located along or near Johnson Slough and would be located on an elevated surface away from basin construction. Basin construction would also include performance testing and demobilization. Excavation material would be used on site for berm construction along the perimeter. Any excess material would be exported off site. New berm construction would not exceed six
feet in height, measured from the exterior toe to the top of new berm. The maximum depth of ground disturbance for the basin would be as much as nine (9) feet. The site is currently devoid of vegetation so no tree or vegetation removal is needed. Portions of the site have been recently disturbed by earthwork activities.
Through the development of this proposed recharge basin, it is anticipated to recharge approximately 450 acre-feet (AF) in years water will be available. This is derived by an estimated recharge rate of 0.5 AF per acre across approximately 18 acres of wetted area. Assuming surplus water is available for approximately 50 days equates to the approximate 450 AF recharged. 50 days is that average annual amount of surplus surface water availability on the Johnson Slough system.
Contact Information
Name
Luis Verdugo
Agency Name
Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District
Job Title
Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Jarred Olsen
Agency Name
Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group
Job Title
Senior Planner, Environmental Project Manager
Contact Types
Consulting Firm
Phone
Email
Name
James Silva
Agency Name
Consolidated People's Ditch Company
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Visalia
Counties
Tulare
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Road 182 and State Route 198
Total Acres
34.3
Parcel #
111-140-073
State Highways
198
Railways
SJRR
Waterways
Johnson Slough, Kaweah Rive
Township
18S
Range
26E
Section
28
Base
MDMB
Other Location Info
The proposed Project is located in Tulare County (County), California, approximately 193 miles southeast of Sacramento and 62 miles north of Bakersfield, and approximately 4.5 miles east of the City of Visalia.
Notice of Completion
State Review Period Start
State Review Period End
State Reviewing Agencies
California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), 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 Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), 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 Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, District 12, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, District 24, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance
Development Types
Other (Recharge Basin)
Local Actions
Recharge Basin
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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