Shasta County Public Works Routine Maintenance Agreement (Notification of Lake or Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS-SHA-47093-R1)

2025100202

California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northern and Eureka Region 1 (CDFW)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

10/6/2025

10/6/2025

Kate Blanchard

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Senior Environmental Scientist, Specialist

Lead/Public Agency

601 Locust Street
Redding, CA 96001

(530) 225-2367

katherine.blanchard@wildlife.ca.gov

John Heath

Shasta County Department of Public Works

Assistant Public Works Director

Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project

1855 Placer Street
Redding, CA 96001

(530) 245-6596

jheath@shastacounty.gov

The project is located in the Sacramento River watershed and its tributary watersheds including Pit River, McCloud River, Cottonwood Creek, Clear Creek, Stillwater Creek, Churn Creek, Cow Creek, Bear Creek, and Battle Creek within the County of Shasta, State of California. Due to the presence of California Endangered Species Act, California Fully Protected, and Federal Endangered Species Act listed species, this Agreement excludes activities below the ordinary high-water mark (OHWM) of the mainstem Sacramento River below Keswick Dam, the Pit River and its tributaries, the mainstem Battle Creek, the North Fork and Middle Forks of Cottonwood Creek, Beegum Creek, and Clear Creek without explicit written authorization from CDFW and any necessary take authorization issued pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) under Fish and Game Code section 2080 et seq.

Categorical Exemption

Class 1, Section 15301

CDFW finds the Project to be exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301, the exemption for “Existing Facilities”. Class 1, as relevant here, consists of operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The Project falls within the class because it involves maintenance of existing public works facilities. In brief summary, these activities include: • Maintenance of existing ford crossings and seasonal roads. • Clearing sediment and debris from around existing culverts, bridges, and other structures. • Minor vegetation removal that maintains trees and bushes as viable. • Vegetation pruning or removal to provide clear line of sight at intersections and at airports. • Removal of hazardous man-made structures (car bodies, shopping carts, tires, trash, etc.) from water bodies for public safety and habitat improvement. • Minor bank stabilization at existing facilities. • Removal of sediment at Balls Ferry public boat ramp to maintain safe boat access. • Maintaining channel access roads and paths • Maintaining drop-inlet culverts that direct flow into stream channels. • Removing, covering, and repairing vandalism on County facilities. • Removing and abating trash dumping at County properties. • Temporary water diversion related to covered County project activities. Removal of sediment at Balls Ferry public boat ramp will require coordination with CDFW and a designated fisheries biologist to avoid impacts to or potential take of California Endangered Species Act-listed fish.

Categorical Exemption

Class 2; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15302

CDFW finds the Project to be exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15302, the exemption for “Replacement or Reconstruction of Existing Structures and Faculties”. Class 2, as relevant here, consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. The Project falls within the class because it may include replacing damaged or undersized culverted stream crossings on non-finfish bearing streams. For each proposed culvert replacement project as described, the Permittee shall submit a “sub-notification form”, which would include supporting documents for the culvert replacement including hydrology studies, site assessment and biological surveys (if required), maps, and design plans. CDFW shall have thirty (30) business days to provide concurrence or non-concurrence that the work can be permitted under this Agreement. Fees submitted for projects identified by a sub-notification for culvert replacement are subject to Standard Agreement fees, as opposed to a per-project fee for an Agreement for Routine Maintenance associated with other routine maintenance activities covered by the Agreement.