Permit No. 20007- James Bypass Basins Storage and Recharge Project
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022100611
Public Agency
Central Valley Flood Protection Board
Document Title
Permit No. 20007- James Bypass Basins Storage and Recharge Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/17/2025
Document Description
The project proposes to construct a check dam structure with concrete cutoff walls along the existing James Bypass Auxiliary (right bank) Channel with erosion control riprap on the downstream end.
Contact Information
Name
Jordan Robbins
Agency Name
Central Valley Flood Protection Board
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Manny Amorelli
Agency Name
James Irrigation District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Southern California
Waterways
James Bypass
Other Location Info
The proposed project is located along the James Bypass, approximately 3.5 miles north of the community of Helm in Fresno County (36.583712°, -120.105872°).
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4)
Reasons for Exemption
A state of emergency was proclaimed on March 28, 2022 by Governor Newsom to address the severe drought condition in California by suspending CEQA for the purposes of carrying out Executive Order N-7-22. The project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15269(b)(c), because the project involves the construction of a check dam structure along the existing James Bypass auxiliary (easterly) channel and actions necessary to prevent or mitigate the drought emergency as described in Paragraph 13 of Executive Order N-7-22. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) issued a concurrence letter for the project on April 18, 2023, available on DWR’s website: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Water-Basics/Drought/Files/Approved-Suspension-Requests/James-Irrigation-District-Concurrence-Letter.pdf.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
A state of emergency was proclaimed on March 28, 2022 by Governor Newsom to address the severe drought condition in California by suspending CEQA for the purposes of carrying out Executive Order N-7-22. The project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15269(b)(c), because the project involves the construction of a check dam structure along the existing James Bypass auxiliary (easterly) channel and actions necessary to prevent or mitigate the drought emergency as described in Paragraph 13 of Executive Order N-7-22. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) issued a concurrence letter for the project on April 18, 2023, available on DWR’s website: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Water-Basics/Drought/Files/Approved-Suspension-Requests/James-Irrigation-District-Concurrence-Letter.pdf.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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