City of Portola Water Distribution System and Wastewater Collection System Improvements Projects
Summary
SCH Number
2025091039
Public Agency
City of Portola
Document Title
City of Portola Water Distribution System and Wastewater Collection System Improvements Projects
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/23/2025
Document Description
The proposed project addresses improvements to the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure. Due to the age and condition of the City’s wastewater collection system, the City is experiencing excessive amounts of inflow and infiltration (I&I) entering the wastewater system during wet-weather periods. The I&I is causing manholes to surcharge, wastewater spills, and the need for emergency pumping. In turn, the City has received multiple discharge violations from the State Water Resources Control Board. The City’s water distribution system is also old and undersized, causing the City to incur losses due to leaks and frequent breakages. The small size of existing waterlines limits maximum fire flows within parts of the City. In addition, the waterlines are located in close proximity to existing wastewater collection pipelines, potentially creating serious health risks to residents due to potential contamination. Any construction and/or rehabilitation to the City’s sewer infrastructure would most likely damage existing water distribution pipelines. The proposed project would replace aging infrastructure, reduce leaks, and provide improved fire flows for the water system, and replace aging sewer infrastructure to reduce I&I for the wastewater system.
Proposed water system improvements include installing ~4,780 linear feet of new 8-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) water mains, ~5,050 linear feet of new 6-inch PVC piping, ~12 new fire hydrants, ~107 mainline gate valves, and reconnecting 160 water service connections to the new water mains. The existing pipes would be abandoned in place. Proposed wastewater system improvements include replacing ~1,930 feet of 15-inch piping, ~480 feet of 12-inch piping, ~150 feet of 10-inch piping, ~21,370 feet of 8-inch piping, ~22,950 feet of 4-inch laterals, including two-way cleanouts at property lines, and ~36 manholes and rehabilitate ~110 manholes. Nearly all improvements would occur in existing public road ROWs and public utility easements. Sewer and water laterals would generally be extended to private property lines.
Improvements would occur in existing public road ROWs and public utility easements. Sewer and water laterals would generally be extended to private property lines. Minimal vegetation and tree removal may be required to accommodate some of the improvements.
Contact Information
Name
Ryan Bonk
Agency Name
City of Portola
Job Title
City Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Portola
Counties
Plumas
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Various
Zip
96122
State Highways
Highway 70
Railways
Union Pacific Railroad
Schools
Portola Jr./Sr. School, C. Roy Carmichael Elementary School
Waterways
Middle Fork of the Feather River
Township
22/23N
Range
13E
Base
MDM
Other Location Info
Sections 1, 2, 35, & 36. Improvements would be primarily within public road rights-of-way (ROWs) of several streets throughout the City.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, §15301 (Existing Facilities);Class 2, §15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction);Class 3, §15303 (New Construction
Reasons for Exemption
Class 1 covers the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing publicly owned utilities used to provide public utility services involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Class 2 covers the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. Class 3 covers the installation of new piping and the installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures.
The project is consistent with the exemptions noted above because work would consist of replacement of existing water and sewer lines; installation of new water and sewer lines; installation of fire hydrants, water meters, meter boxes and gate valves; installation of new manholes and rehabilitation of existing manholes; and installation of clean-outs. No expansion of capacity would occur. The majority of the pipelines would be placed in previously disturbed areas within the public road ROWs and in public utility easements; and the ground surface would be restored following construction.
As documented in the NOE, the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances; would not result in damage to scenic resources within a Scenic Highway; is not located on a hazardous waste site pursuant to §65962.5 of the Government Code; would not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource; and would not result in cumulative impacts.
County Clerk
Plumas
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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