California Aqueduct Reach 4 Verizon Fiber Optic Line Repair
Summary
SCH Number
2025120375
Public Agency
California Department of Water Resources
(DWR)
Document Title
California Aqueduct Reach 4 Verizon Fiber Optic Line Repair
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/10/2025
Document Description
Verizon requests encroachment permission to repair its existing fiber optic service line located in the Department of Water Resources right of way. The repair requires installation of a new handhole at MP 104.42R. Verizon’s contractor will excavate an approximately 15-feet wide by 15-feet long by 3-feet deep area. A prefabricated 2-foot wide by 3-foot long by 3-foot-high concrete handhole will be placed into the excavation and the area around it will be backfilled and compacted; the concrete cover will remain exposed as an access point for installing and splicing new fiber optic cable.
Once the handhole is installed, an approximately 1,478-foot long by 6-inch wide, 3-feet-deep trench will be excavated between the new handhole and an existing handhole at MP 104.70R. The trench will expose damaged trace wire, duct, and fiber optic cable. The duct and trace wire between MP 104.42R and MP 104.70R will be removed as well as the fiber optic cable between MP 104.42R and MP 105.85R. The removed materials will be disposed of at an appropriate offsite location. A new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) duct and trace wire will be placed in the trench and connected to the handhole and remaining duct. The trench will then be backfilled and compacted. New fiber optic cable will be installed by removing handhole covers, placing new cable through the handhole into the duct at MP 104.42R and pulling it through to the southernmost handhole at MP 105.85R. When the new cable is in place, the concrete covers will be placed over the handholes, and the area over the MP 104.70R handhole will be backfilled, compacted. Verizon will connect the new fiber optic cable by removing the handhole covers at MP 104.42R and MP 105.85R splicing the ends of the new fiber optic cable into the undamaged portions of the existing cable. When splicing is complete, the concrete covers will be placed over the handholes and the area over the covers will be backfilled, compacted, and recontoured to match the original topography.
Contact Information
Name
Cody Nelson
Agency Name
California Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Planner Scheduler/UC Supervisor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Approximately 1.65 miles SE of intersection of Russell Ave and Aqueduct.
State Highways
Interstate 5
Waterways
California Aqueduct
Other Location Info
The project is on the right side (R) of Reach 4 of the California Aqueduct (Aqueduct) in the Department of Water Resources right of way from Aqueduct milepost (MP) 104.42R to MP 105.85R. The northernmost area is about 1.65 miles southeast of the intersection of Russell Avenue and the Aqueduct; the southernmost area is about 0.65 miles northwest of the intersection of Brannon Avenue and the Aqueduct.
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
Verizon requests encroachment permission to repair its existing fiber optic cable service line located in the Department of Water Resources right of way. The work will take place in areas with an average slope of less than 20 percent and will not result in any changes in land use or density. Department of Water Resources will issue an encroachment permit for this work. Categorical Exemption 15305 (b) (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations - Issuance of minor encroachment permits) applies.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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