2025 Short-term Water Transfer between Valley Water and Westlands Water District/Blue Sky Farms
Summary
SCH Number
2025101560
Public Agency
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Document Title
2025 Short-term Water Transfer between Valley Water and Westlands Water District/Blue Sky Farms
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/31/2025
Document Description
WWD and Valley Water are South of Delta Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors and are eligible participants in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) South of Delta Accelerated Water Transfer Program for Contract Years 2021-2025, which provides an accelerated process for annual water transfers and/or exchanges between South of Delta CVP contractors that occur between March 1, 2021 and February 28, 2026. Valley Water has determined that up to 4,000 acre-feet of Valley Water’s 2025-2026 agricultural CVP supplies in San Luis Reservoir is surplus to the existing needs of Valley Water’s customers.
Under the Project, prior to December 31, 2025, Valley Water would request that the USBR transfer up to 4,000 acre-feet of Valley Water’s surplus agricultural supplies to WWD’s existing turnouts in Fresno and Kings Counties. Blue Sky Farms, which has land holdings in WWD, would receive the water from WWD in their account, and use the water for agricultural purposes.
Contact Information
Name
Kelly White
Agency Name
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
Job Title
Associate Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
unincorporated areas
Counties
Fresno, Kings, Santa Clara
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California
Other Location Info
The temporary water transfer would be delivered to WWD via WWD’s
existing turnouts in Reaches 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the San Luis Canal.
Reach 4: milepost 103, west of the town of Cantua Creek, to milepost 122.07 in Fresno County
Reach 5: mileposts 122.07 to 155.5 in Fresno County
Reach 6: milepost 155.5 in Fresno County to 1.25 miles northwest of Kettleman City in Kings County
Reach 7: from 1.25 miles northwest of Kettleman City to where the San Luis Canal
becomes the California Aqueduct in Kings County
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, Existing Facilities, CEQA Guidelines Section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
The transfer would be conducted via existing water diversion, conveyance, and storage facilities. The Project does not involve new construction, alteration of existing facilities, or expansion of use. None of the exceptions in CEQA Guidelines §15300.2 that would disqualify the Project from being categorically exempt exist.
County Clerks
Fresno, Kings, Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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