3rd Lift Canal Lining & Modernization Project: Fairfax to Brannon
Summary
SCH Number
2025070804
Lead Agency
Firebaugh Canal Water District
(FCWD)
Document Title
3rd Lift Canal Lining & Modernization Project: Fairfax to Brannon
Document Type
NEG - Negative Declaration
Received
Present Land Use
Agriculture
Document Description
The Proposed 3rd Lift Canal Lining and Modernization Project (Proposed Project) will include two improvement components:
• Replaced the unlined ditch with a concrete lined canal (approximately 2 miles).
• Construct a 13-acre Mid-stream storage reservoir connected to the 3rd Lift and 2nd Lift Canals.
The new lined canal would be 6 feet deep with a 6 foot bottom width, reducing the existing canal cross section to an estimated width of 20.4 feet, freeing up approximately 13 feet of right of way width for other uses and conserve water through seepage reduction. Based on a 2006 seepage study of the 3rd Lift Canal, this project will recover approximately 430 acre-feet per year of seepage losses.
The Mid-stream Storage Reservoir would be constructed adjacent to the 3rd Lift approximately ¾ of a mile west of Fairfax Avenue. The reservoir would be construed with 6-foot-tall levees around a 13-acre field with an estimated storage capacity of approximately 50-60 acre-feet. The reservoir floor would be soil-conditioned to prevent seepage. An inlet/outlet facility would allow excess water from the 3rd Lift to spill into the reservoir and pump out of the reservoir to meet local demands. Additionally, this reach of the 3rd Lift is connected to the 2nd Lift Canal through an existing pipeline along Fairfax Avenue, which will allow the 2nd Lift access to this additional water supply flexibility from the reservoir. The Proposed Project will benefit approximately 2380 acres within the 3rd Lift Canal service area and approximately 1040 acres within the 2nd Lift Canal Service Area.
Contact Information
Name
Jeff Bryant
Agency Name
Firebaugh Canal Water District
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Firebaugh
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Citywide, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
North of Nees Ave between Fairfax & Brannon Ave
Total Acres
25
Parcel #
006-160-021S, 006-160-022
State Highways
None
Railways
None
Airports
None
Schools
None
Waterways
3rd Lift Canal
Notice of Completion
Development Types
Other (Improvement Project: irrigation water conveyance.)
Local Actions
Construction - improvement project
Project Issues
Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Noise
Public Review Period Start
Public Review Period End
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Completion [NOC] Transmittal form
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