California Aqueduct Reach 4 Verizon Fiber Optic Line Repair
Summary
SCH Number
2025090407
Public Agency
California Department of Water Resources
(DWR)
Document Title
California Aqueduct Reach 4 Verizon Fiber Optic Line Repair
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/10/2025
Document Description
Verizon requests encroachment permission to repair its existing fiber optic service line located in the California Department of Water Resources right of way. To repair the line, in the Aqueduct milepost (MP) 100.20 right side (R) to MP 100.90R area, a Verizon contractor will first excavate an approximately 3,749-foot long by 4-foot wide by 4-foot deep trench; in the MP 102.40R to MP 103.30R area, they will first excavate an approximately 4,800-foot long by 4-foot wide by 4-foot deep trench. The trenches will expose the existing handholes, trace wire, duct, and fiber optic cable. Once the trenches are dug, the handholes will be removed and replaced with new ones. The existing duct, trace wire, and damaged cable will either be removed and disposed of or left in place. A new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) duct and a trace wire will be placed in the trenches, and concrete covers will be placed over the handholes. The trenches will then be backfilled and compacted, but the areas over the concrete covers will remain exposed as access points for the installation and splicing of new fiber optic cable. After the trenches are backfilled, new fiber optic cable will be installed by removing the cover over the handholes, placing new cable into the duct and pushing it through to the other end. When the new cable is in place, the concrete cover will be placed over the handholes and the handholes at the northern end and southern end of the work areas will remain exposed until Verizon personnel can do the splicing. Verizon will remove the covers, and the ends of the new fiber optic cable will be spliced in each handhole, joining them to the existing, undamaged portions of fiber optic cable. When the splicing is complete, the concrete covers will be placed over the handholes and the area over the covers will be backfilled, compacted, and recontoured to match the original topography.
Contact Information
Name
Mark McDaniel
Agency Name
California Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Planner Scheduler/UC Supervisor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
California Aqueduct at Shields Avenue and at Russell Avenue.
State Highways
Interstate 5
Waterways
California Aqueduct, Delta-Mendota Canal
Other Location Info
The project is on the right side (R) of California Aqueduct (Aqueduct) Reach 4 in the Department of Water Resources right of way. Work is in the following areas: Aqueduct milepost (MP) 100.20R to MP 100.90R and MP 102.40R to MP 103.30R. The northernmost work area, MP 100.20R to MP 100.90R, is at the intersection of Shields Avenue and the Aqueduct. The southernmost work area, MP 102.40R to MP 103.30R, is at the intersection of Russell Avenue and the Aqueduct.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301 (Existing Facilities); 15305(b) Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations – Issuance of Minor Encroachment Permits
Reasons for Exemption
Verizon requests encroachment permission to repair its existing fiber optic cable in the Department of Water Resources right of way. The work will occur in an area with an average slope of less than 20 percent, no expansion of existing use will occur, and there will be no changes to land use or density. Department of Water Resources will issue an Encroachment Permit for this work. Categorical Exemptions 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15305(b) (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations – Issuance of Minor Encroachment Permits) apply.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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