Webb Tract Rice Conversion Project Lease Agreement
Summary
SCH Number
2026040767
Public Agency
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Document Title
Webb Tract Rice Conversion Project Lease Agreement
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/16/2026
Document Description
The project consists of a new agricultural lease agreement with Martini Companies, LLC for rice farming and related uses on a portion of Metropolitan’s fee owned Webb Tract property (approximately 2,159 gross acres). The lease agreement is for six years with one optional three-year extension for a maximum term of nine years. In addition to rice farming activities, the lease agreement will include land maintenance and vegetation management within the leased parcels, and shall have rights to engage in recreational hunting within the unfarmed, leased land. The Rice Conversion Project is supported by a grant awarded to Metropolitan by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy in June 2023.
Contact Information
Name
Brenda Marines
Agency Name
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Job Title
Environmental Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Contra Costa
Regions
Northern California
Total Acres
Approx. 2,159
Parcel #
026-070-001-8, 026-080-006-5, 026-080-009-9, 026-080-007-3, 026-080-008-1, 026-080-004-0, 026-00
Waterways
San Joaquin River to the north, Fisherman’s Cut to the west, Old River to the southeast
Other Location Info
Approximately at 38.079478°, -121.609376°
Other Information
Webb Tract is an island, and is only accessible by ferry.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1, State CEQA Guidelines §15301
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed action is exempt from CEQA because the action consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographic features involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use and no possibility of significantly impacting the physical environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 4, State CEQA Guidelines §15304
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed action consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation, which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for agricultural purposes.
County Clerk
Contra Costa
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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