2025 CVP Water Transfer Agreement between Santa Clara Valley Water District and San Benito County Water District
Summary
SCH Number
2025120196
Public Agency
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Document Title
2025 CVP Water Transfer Agreement between Santa Clara Valley Water District and San Benito County Water District
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/5/2025
Document Description
San Benito County Water District (San Benito) and Valley Water are both Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) South of Delta Accelerated Water Transfer Program (AWTP). The AWTP operates under a five-year term and is meant to facilitate efficient water management between CVP contractors through annual transfers or exchanges while reducing costs and redundant environmental reviews associated with these transactions.
Valley Water proposes to request that Reclamation transfer 3,000 acre-feet (AF) of Valley Water’s CVP supplies to San Benito in 2025 prior to the termination of the current five-year agreement on February 28, 2026. Once the Agreement is signed, Valley Water will apply for approval of this water transfer from Reclamation.
Contact Information
Name
Lisa Holm
Agency Name
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Job Title
Associate Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Various
Counties
San Benito, Santa Clara
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
The Project is located within the boundaries of Santa Clara Valley Water District in Santa Clara County and San Benito County Water District in San Benito County.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301, Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This transfer consists of the contractual right to convey water involving the continued operation of existing water supply diversion, storage, and conveyance facilities. No new facilities are necessary, and Valley Water’s annual water supply use would not change. The action would involve negligible or no expansion of existing or former uses and facilities. These activities meet the parameters of utilization of existing facilities described in CEQA Guidelines §15301.
The activities called out in the Agreement all meet the requirements of CEQA Guidelines §15301 and are eligible for the Exemption. The Agreement does not include or allow any factors that would preempt the Project’s eligibility per CEQA Guidelines §15300.2.
County Clerk
Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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