Water Right Permit Application A031174B01 and the Five Year Minor Deviation to the Prado Dam Water Control Plan Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025041210
Public Agency
Orange County Water District
Document Title
Water Right Permit Application A031174B01 and the Five Year Minor Deviation to the Prado Dam Water Control Plan Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/24/2025
Document Description
The Project consists of a request by the Orange County Water District (OCWD) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to implement a Minor Deviation from the Interim Water Control Plan that would allow for the expansion of the existing buffer pool in Prado Basin from water surface elevation 505 ft. to 508 ft. for up to 5 years through the 2029/2030 flood season. Storm water captured at Prado Dam temporarily impounded within the expanded buffer pool would then be released by the USACE at a rate that can be diverted and beneficially used by OCWD into existing groundwater recharge facilities. The temporary impoundment of water behind Prado Dam up to a surface elevation of 508 ft. would result in an incremental Increase of 5,930 acre-feet of water that would be stored in Prado Basin for recharge within OCWD facilities. In parallel, OCWD and the USACE will be working on expanding the buffer pool to a higher elevation (510 ft or 512 ft) and incorporating these changes into the Water Control Plan. Prado Dam is owned and operated by the USACE for flood control and water conservation uses. The operation of Prado Dam is wholly within the authority of the USACE and the request to temporarily expand the buffer pool in Prado Basin by OCWD would not result in any new physical disturbances. Conservation measures would be implemented during the five-year period of the Minor Deviation that may include some native vegetation plantings, as needed. Additionally, the Project would include some experimental native vegetation plantings (or efforts to accommodate natural recruitment) within two areas that would be at or near the 508 ft. water surface
elevation.
Contact Information
Name
Matthew McCarthy
Agency Name
State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Phone
Name
Adam Hutchinson
Agency Name
Orange County Water District
Job Title
Recharge Planning Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Orange, Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Waterways
Santa Ana River
Township
3S, 4S
Range
7W, 9W
Base
SBBM
Other Location Info
The project is located within: (1) Prado Basin, a mostly undeveloped flood
control basin located behind Prado Dam on the Santa Ana River near the
cities of Yorba Linda, Norco, and Corona; (2) along the Santa Ana River;
and (3) within the service area of the Orange County Water District in
Orange and Riverside counties. Specifically, the Project would be located
at coordinates 33 degrees 53 minutes 25.2 seconds North and 117
degrees 38 minutes 15.4 seconds West, within Section 20, Township 3
South, Range 4 West, San Bernardino Base and Meridian.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 1531
Reasons for Exemption
The project will expand the amount of water stored in Prado Basin with negligible expansion of the existing use of the basin.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
The project will expand the amount of water stored in Prado Basin resulting in a minor alteration in the condition of water in the basin.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15061
Reasons for Exemption
It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project will have
a significant effect on the environment. The expansion of the amount of water
stored in Prado Basin is negligible.
County Clerks
Orange, Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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