The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a California statute passed in 1970, shortly after the United States federal government passed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), to institute a statewide policy of environmental protection. CEQA does not directly regulate land uses, but instead requires state and local agencies within California to follow a protocol of analysis and public disclosure of environmental impacts of proposed projects and adopt all feasible measures to mitigate those impacts. CEQA makes environmental protection a mandatory part of every California state and local agency’s decision making process. It has also become the basis for numerous lawsuits concerning public and private projects.
Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Los Padres Dam Outlet Modifications Project
- Added on June 6, 2023
- Last updated on August 25, 2023
California American Water is proposing to modify the existing low-level regulating outlet at the Los Padres Dam and Reservoir in Monterey County, California. The proposed project is intended to accomplish the following three primary goals: 1) meet the California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams mandated requirement to drain the reservoir in case of emergency; 2) supply water to the Carmel River during low-flow summer months to meet instream flow requirements and sustain aquatic organisms, including South Central California Coast Steelhead; and 3) restore water supply to the existing fish trap and ladder necessary to provide upstream fish passage to adult steelhead. Construction of the proposed project elements would require a mix of specialized marine-based and conventional terrestrial-based construction means and methods. The proposed project includes the following components:
1. Site preparation and access improvements
2. Relocation of the upstream entrance
3. Replacement of emergency outlet valves
4. Installation and connection of new pipeline to existing pipeline
5. Site restoration and demobilization
Project construction is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2023, with completion in late 2024. Currently, construction is anticipated to take place periodically over the course of two seasons. Construction of the proposed project elements would require a mix of specialized marine-based and conventional terrestrial-based construction means and methods. Potential construction and their associated impact mitigation strategies are described in full in the CEQA Initial Study.
The Project Site is located wholly in the County of Monterey, California, at the Los Padres Dam site owned by California-American Water Company. Work may be conducted on the following Parcels: Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 418-191-035-000 and 418-191-005-000.
The Review Period is June 8, 2023, through July 9, 2023. Comments may be submitted by email to mhamilton@mpwmd.net or may be mailed to the District office: MPWMD, PO Box 85, Monterey, CA 93942-0085. Comments must be received before 5:00 p.m. on July 9, 2023. The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on the proposed project at 6:00 p.m. on August 21, 2023 at 5 Harris Court, Building G, Monterey, CA, 93940. For information on how to join the Zoom meeting see the meeting agenda at https://www.mpwmd.net/who-we-are/board-of-directors/bod-meeting-agendas-calendar/.
Comment Letters, one of one.
Responses to Comments, one of one.
Final IS/MND with Resolution, including Findings, adopted by the Board of Directors on August 21, 2023.
Notice of Determination filed at Monterey County August 25, 2023