California Aqueduct Reaches 5, 6, and 7 Westlands Water District Utility Pole Replacements
Summary
SCH Number
2025100531
Public Agency
California Department of Water Resources
(DWR)
Document Title
California Aqueduct Reaches 5, 6, and 7 Westlands Water District Utility Pole Replacements
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/13/2025
Document Description
Westlands Water District (WWD) has requested permission to remove and replace utility power poles that no longer meet safety standards; the poles are in the Department of Water Resources right of way. At each site, WWD contractors will perform the work by first de-energizing the overhead electrical conductors (OVC) and detaching the OVC from the existing pole. Then, the electrical conduit that protects the primary cables, and spans the length of each pole, will be detached from the pole and will be placed on the side of the work area. A crane will then remove the pole from its hole, and the pole will be loaded onto a trailer and disposed of offsite. Once the pole is removed, the contractors will use an auger to expand the existing hole to an approximately 2 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep area. A pole of similar size and made of similar material will be installed into the hole. The area around the new pole will be backfilled, the electrical conduit and cables will be reattached, and the area around the new poles will be compacted to match the original grade. Finally, the OVC will be reconnected to the new pole and will be re-energized.
Contact Information
Name
Mark McDaniel
Agency Name
California Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Planner Scheduler/UC Supervisor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Alejandro Garcia
Agency Name
Westlands Water District
Job Title
Maintenance Scheduler
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Fresno, Kings
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
0.02 miles south of Aqueduct and Manning Ave; 0.36 miles south of Aqueduct and Avenal Cutoff Rd.
State Highways
SR 269
Waterways
California Aqueduct
Other Location Info
Work will occur at utility poles located at Westlands Water District (WWD) turnouts in Reaches 5, 6, and 7 of the California Aqueduct (Aqueduct). The turnouts are on the right (R) and left sides (L) of the Aqueduct in the Department of Water Resources (DWR) right of way. The work sites are at Aqueduct mileposts (MP): MP 117.51L, MP 120.77L, MP 126.65L, MP 130. 85L, MP 132.81L, MP 138.29L, MP 162.63L, MP 163.69R, and MP 164.79R. The northernmost site, MP 117.51L, is approximately 0.02 miles south of the intersection of the Aqueduct and Manning Avenue. MP 167.84R, the southernmost site, is approximately 0.36 miles south of the intersection of the Aqueduct and Avenal Cutoff Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15305(b) Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations – Issuance of Minor Encroachment Permits
Reasons for Exemption
Westlands Water District requests encroachment permission to remove and existing utility power poles located in the DWR right of way. As the Responsible Agency, DWR will issue an encroachment permit for this work. Work will occur in areas with an average slope of less than 20 percent and will not result in any changes in land use or density; Categorical Exemption 15305 (b) (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations - Issuance of minor encroachment permits) applies.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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