Chowchilla Subbasin Groundwater Recharge Project 2 (Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-MAD-48140-R4).
Summary
SCH Number
2025080251
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4
(CDFW)
Document Title
Chowchilla Subbasin Groundwater Recharge Project 2 (Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-MAD-48140-R4).
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/7/2025
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has executed Streambed Alteration
Agreement number EPIMS-MAD-48140-R4 pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code to the applicant, Madera County.
The Project involves activities related to the construction of a water diversion facility at a point of diversion on the Eastside Bypass in support of future diversion of flood flows to groundwater recharge. The diversion facility will consist of a fish screen, a concrete control box that will capture water, and a buried reinforced concrete pipeline.
The pipeline will transport water under the levee of the Eastside Bypass into a reinforced concrete pump box that, when operational, will pump water into a 31-acre recharge basin for recharge.
Contact Information
Name
Stephanie Anagnoson
Agency Name
Madera County
Job Title
General Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Name
Jackson Powell
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 4
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Madera
Counties
Madera
Regions
Countywide
Parcel #
043-030-021
Waterways
San Juaquin River
Township
11S
Range
15E
Section
30
Base
MDBM
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA is suspended (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) CEQA is suspended per Executive Order N-7-22 (EO
Reasons for Exemption
CDFW’s issuance of an Agreement is generally subject to CEQA (Pub.
Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) and its implementing regulations; however, CEQA is suspended per Executive
Order N-7-22 (EO) for purposes of CDFW’s issuance of this Agreement. Paragraph 13 of the EO states that CEQA
and its implementing regulations are suspended for the following, to the extent necessary to address the impacts of
drought: (1) specified actions taken by state agencies and specified actions taken by a local agency where the
Department of Water Resources concurs that local action is required; and (2) any permits necessary to carry out
actions under (1). Actions under (1) are recharge projects under either Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge or the
Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program occurring on open and
working lands to replenish and store water in groundwater basins that will help mitigate groundwater conditions
impacted by drought. Because the Project to which this Agreement applies involves construction of facilities for
subsequent diversions of flood flows for application to open lands to replenish and store water in groundwater
basins to help mitigate groundwater conditions impacted by drought, no environmental review for this Agreement
pursuant to CEQA is required at this point in time. Consequently, CDFW has not reviewed a certified environmental
impact report or adopted mitigated negative declaration evaluating this project, nor has CDFW adopted related
findings pursuant to CEQA. Similarly, in applying for this permit, Permittee relied on the CEQA suspension provided
by Paragraph 13 of the EO.
County Clerk
Madera
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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