Courtright Intake/Discharge Gate, Cylinder and Piping Improvements
Summary
SCH Number
2026030738
Public Agency
State Water Resources Control Board
Document Title
Courtright Intake/Discharge Gate, Cylinder and Piping Improvements
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/17/2026
Document Description
PG&E owns and operates the Haas-Kings River Project and the Helms Pumped Storage Project. PG&E seeks to implement the Courtright Intake/Discharge Gate, Cylinder and Piping Improvements Project (Courtright Project), which will replace hydraulic lines, cylinders, intake/discharge bulkhead gates, and bypass gates at Courtright Reservoir. PG&E also seeks to replace the existing oil spill containment domes at the Courtright Project site, which are ineffective at capturing hydraulic oil leaks, with a new system that seals to the top of the existing concrete structure and adds indication to the intake/discharge gates for monitoring their positions while the gates are in operation. The replacement of intake/discharge-related infrastructure will not increase the generation capacity of the Haas-Kings River Project or the Helms Pumped Storage Project. On July 7, 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) issued a water quality certification (certification) for the work. On September 30, 2024, the State Water Board approved an amendment to the certification to allow crane maintenance and refueling within the ordinary high-water mark of Courtright Reservoir. On February 26, 2025, PG&E requested to amend the certification to update Courtright Project description to allow for 200 cubic yards of engineered fill material to remain on the access ramp after the end of the Courtright Project. This Notice of Exemption is for the State Water Board’s approval, as lead agency, of the amendment to the certification for the Courtright Project.
Contact Information
Name
Parker Thaler
Agency Name
State Water Resources Control Board
Job Title
Environmental Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Shaver Lake
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Countywide, Northern California
Waterways
North Fork Kings River, Courtright Reservoir
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Existing Facilities, § 15301; Replacement or Reconstruction, § 15302
Reasons for Exemption
The Project construction is categorically exempt from the requirements to prepare environmental documents under California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and section 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction). Construction will only consist of replacing existing infrastructure that is beyond its serviceable lifetime or insufficient in preventing hydraulic oil discharges. Work within the Courtright Reservoir footprint will be limited to temporary improvement of existing roads inside the reservoir via grading, potential placement of cleaned crushed base rock, placement of engineered fill on the access ramp into the reservoir, and maintenance and refueling of the crane. None of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions apply.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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