Stonebriar Drive Pond Leveler Installation Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025080153
Public Agency
El Dorado County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Stonebriar Drive Pond Leveler Installation Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/5/2025
Document Description
The Stonebriar Drive Pond Leveler Installation project will install two pond leveler flow devices in existing beaver ponds and dams on a small drainage. Pond leveler devices facilitate human/beaver coexistence by maintaining a pond height required by humans to protect nearby infrastructure while not interrupting the instinctual damming behavior of resident beavers. Pond leveler devices consist of an intake cage and connected pipe running from the intake cage which is settled into the pond, to the crest of the beaver dam downstream. Installation is accomplished using hand tools and foot traffic. This work stabilizes the elevation of the pond upstream of the beaver dam and sustains the aquatic habitat that would otherwise be lost if the humans concerned about the flooding of nearby infrastructure were to obtain a depredation permit and remove the offending beavers.
Contact Information
Name
Mark Egbert
Agency Name
El Dorado Resource Conservation District
Job Title
District Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated area of El Dorado Hills
Counties
El Dorado
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Stonebriar Drive
Zip
95762
Total Acres
3
Jobs
1
State Highways
US Hwy 50
Waterways
Carson Creek
Township
9N
Range
8E
Section
15
Base
MDM
Other Location Info
The Stonebriar Drive neighborhood is located in El Dorado Hills and is part of the Rolling Hills Community Services District. The location of the upstream dam is (38.638755, -121.078359). The location of the downstream dam is (38.637223, -121.077643). Please see Exhibit A for a map of the project site. Please see Exhibit B for photos of the existing beaver dams. The pond leveler devices will be assembled in a nearby public park and/or in an upland area adjacent to the drainage.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class4; Sec15304 Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
Minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. Impacts from installation will be minimal, and the Project will not result in a loss of waters of the state. On the contrary, implementation of the Project will ensure that aquatic habitat that has established because of the beaver dams will remain. The United States Army Corps of Engineers determined the Project activities, as described in the submitted documents, will not result in the discharge of dredged or fill material within waters of the United States and that a Department of the Army Permit is not required; therefore, a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification is not required. The Central Valley Water Board has determined that the Project, as described in the submitted documents, will not affect the quality of waters of the state as defined; therefore, waste discharge requirements are not required.
County Clerk
El Dorado
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
State Comment Letters [Comments from State Reviewing Agency(ies)]
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