Meridian Farms Water Company Fish Screen Project – Phase 2 (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081(b)-2022-069-02 (ITP))

Meridian Farms Water Company Fish Screen Project – Phase 2 (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081(b)-2022-069-02 (ITP))

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued an amended ITP (No. 2081(b)-2022-069-02), pursuant to Section 2081(b) of the Fish and Game Code to Meridian Farms Water Company. The Project is amended to include the construction of crane operation benches on the existing levee for access and operation for the construction of a new Meridian Diversion/Pumping Station and retractable drum fish screens and a new re-lift pumping station to deliver flows to the Drexler service area. The Project is the second phase of the Meridian Farms Fish Screen Project to improve three unscreened diversion facilities by consolidating the Meridian and Drexler diversions into a new diversion equipped with fish screens in order to prevent entrainment of anadromous fish. The Project will result in impacts to 6.4 acre of giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) habitat including temporary impacts to 6.4 acres; the Project will permanently remove 0.05 acre of giant garter snake habitat. The Project will also result in temporary impacts to 0.17 acre of suitable salmonid habitat of spring-run Chinook salmon of the Sacramento River drainage (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and winter-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The project is expected to result in incidental take of giant garter snake and spring-run Chinook salmon of the Sacramento River drainage, which are designated as threatened species and winter-run Chinook salmon, which is designated as an endangered species, under the California Endangered Species Act. The ITP referenced above as issued by CDFW authorizes incidental take of species listed under CESA that may occur as a result of Project implementation.

Meridian

Sutter

Northern California

Sutter