Entering into Memorandum of Understanding related to Acquisition of Yolo County Property

2026040956

Reclamation District 108 (RD108)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

4/21/2026

4/21/2026

Jordon Navarrot

Reclamation District 108

Deputy Manager

Lead/Public Agency

PO Box 50
Grimes, CA 95950

(530) 437-2221

jnavarrot@rd108.org

Yolo County Assessor's Parcel Nos: 056-030-001-000, 056-090-008- 000, 056-030-002-000, 056-100-001-000, 056-040-001-000, 056-100-002-000, 056- 040-002-000, 056-100-003-000, 056-040-003-000, 056-100-004-000, 056-050-002-000, 056-100-005-000, 056-050-003-000, 056-110-001-000, 056-050-004-000, 056-110- 003-000, 056-050-005-000, 056-110-004-000, 056-060-002-000, 056-140-001-000, 056-060-003-000, 056-150-001-000, 056-060-004-000, 056-150-002-000, 056-070-005- 000, 056-150-021-000, 056-080-003-000, 056-150-022-000,056-080-006-000, 056-150- 005-000, 056-090-001-000, 056-150-006-000, 056-090-003-000, 056-150-007-000, and 056-090-004-000

Statutory Exemption

Acquisition of Interest in Land By a Public Agency-Public Resources Code section 21080.28(a)

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) proposed to enter into various agreements with the current Owner of the Property to acquire the use of certain water rights associated with the Property for instream uses, and on February 10, 2026, filed a Notice of Exemption related to those agreements. The County and YSGA filed litigation challenging the sufficiency of said Notice of Exemption, among other things. Subsequently it was proposed that RD 108 acquire the Property from the current Owner after DWR enters into those agreements. Under a purchase agreement and related closing documents, the subject of a separate Notice of Exemption filed by RD 108, RD 108 will acquire title to the Property, including its associated water rights, subject to then existing encumbrances and easements. The property is presently utilized primarily for agricultural purposes. To assist with resolution of the litigation brought by the County and YSGA, the parties would enter into the MOU to provide additional assurances to the County and YSGA that RD 108 will operate the Property in such a way to avoid impacts to local water supplies, groundwater resources, habitat and the economy. RD 108's acquisition of the Property, facilitated by entering into the MOU, will allow the Property to continue agricultural uses, prevent encroachment of development into floodplains and preserve open space, and additionally may allow for restoration of some of the lands to natural conditions. Public agency transactions and funding for these purposes are statutorily exempt from CEQA. Any future change in use of the Property and its associated water rights is contingent and uncertain as to type, location, timing, scale, and operational characteristics, and subject to subsequent planning and policy decisions by separate decisionmakers. Because these fundamental project elements are unknown or subject to future determination, any environmental analysis at this time would be unduly speculative. CEQA compliance is required prior to any changes in land uses or approval of water transfers. Entering into the MOU and RD 108's acquisition of the Property involves no expansion of existing use and will not have any significant impacts on the environment. The Project does not contribute to cumulative environmental impacts because it maintains existing conditions and does not increase the intensity of use; there are no unusual circumstances associated with the Project or its location that will result in a significant impact; the Project will not result in damage to scenic resources within a state scenic highway as none are located in the Property and the Project maintains existing conditions; the Project is not located on a hazardous waste site; and the Project will not have a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource or otherwise impact biological, cultural or other sensitive resources.

Categorical Exemption

Class 25: Transfers of Ownership in Land to Preserve Existing Natural Conditions-Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15325(c)

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) proposed to enter into various agreements with the current Owner of the Property to acquire the use of certain water rights associated with the Property for instream uses, and on February 10, 2026, filed a Notice of Exemption related to those agreements. The County and YSGA filed litigation challenging the sufficiency of said Notice of Exemption, among other things. Subsequently it was proposed that RD 108 acquire the Property from the current Owner after DWR enters into those agreements. Under a purchase agreement and related closing documents, the subject of a separate Notice of Exemption filed by RD 108, RD 108 will acquire title to the Property, including its associated water rights, subject to then existing encumbrances and easements. The property is presently utilized primarily for agricultural purposes. To assist with resolution of the litigation brought by the County and YSGA, the parties would enter into the MOU to provide additional assurances to the County and YSGA that RD 108 will operate the Property in such a way to avoid impacts to local water supplies, groundwater resources, habitat and the economy. RD 108's acquisition of the Property, facilitated by entering into the MOU, will allow the Property to continue agricultural uses, prevent encroachment of development into floodplains and preserve open space, and additionally may allow for restoration of some of the lands to natural conditions. Public agency transactions and funding for these purposes are statutorily exempt from CEQA. Any future change in use of the Property and its associated water rights is contingent and uncertain as to type, location, timing, scale, and operational characteristics, and subject to subsequent planning and policy decisions by separate decisionmakers. Because these fundamental project elements are unknown or subject to future determination, any environmental analysis at this time would be unduly speculative. CEQA compliance is required prior to any changes in land uses or approval of water transfers. Entering into the MOU and RD 108's acquisition of the Property involves no expansion of existing use and will not have any significant impacts on the environment. The Project does not contribute to cumulative environmental impacts because it maintains existing conditions and does not increase the intensity of use; there are no unusual circumstances associated with the Project or its location that will result in a significant impact; the Project will not result in damage to scenic resources within a state scenic highway as none are located in the Property and the Project maintains existing conditions; the Project is not located on a hazardous waste site; and the Project will not have a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource or otherwise impact biological, cultural or other sensitive resources.

Categorical Exemption

Class 1: Existing Facilities -Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) proposed to enter into various agreements with the current Owner of the Property to acquire the use of certain water rights associated with the Property for instream uses, and on February 10, 2026, filed a Notice of Exemption related to those agreements. The County and YSGA filed litigation challenging the sufficiency of said Notice of Exemption, among other things. Subsequently it was proposed that RD 108 acquire the Property from the current Owner after DWR enters into those agreements. Under a purchase agreement and related closing documents, the subject of a separate Notice of Exemption filed by RD 108, RD 108 will acquire title to the Property, including its associated water rights, subject to then existing encumbrances and easements. The property is presently utilized primarily for agricultural purposes. To assist with resolution of the litigation brought by the County and YSGA, the parties would enter into the MOU to provide additional assurances to the County and YSGA that RD 108 will operate the Property in such a way to avoid impacts to local water supplies, groundwater resources, habitat and the economy. RD 108's acquisition of the Property, facilitated by entering into the MOU, will allow the Property to continue agricultural uses, prevent encroachment of development into floodplains and preserve open space, and additionally may allow for restoration of some of the lands to natural conditions. Public agency transactions and funding for these purposes are statutorily exempt from CEQA. Any future change in use of the Property and its associated water rights is contingent and uncertain as to type, location, timing, scale, and operational characteristics, and subject to subsequent planning and policy decisions by separate decisionmakers. Because these fundamental project elements are unknown or subject to future determination, any environmental analysis at this time would be unduly speculative. CEQA compliance is required prior to any changes in land uses or approval of water transfers. Entering into the MOU and RD 108's acquisition of the Property involves no expansion of existing use and will not have any significant impacts on the environment. The Project does not contribute to cumulative environmental impacts because it maintains existing conditions and does not increase the intensity of use; there are no unusual circumstances associated with the Project or its location that will result in a significant impact; the Project will not result in damage to scenic resources within a state scenic highway as none are located in the Property and the Project maintains existing conditions; the Project is not located on a hazardous waste site; and the Project will not have a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource or otherwise impact biological, cultural or other sensitive resources.

Other

Common Sense Exemption-including Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15061(b)(3)

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) proposed to enter into various agreements with the current Owner of the Property to acquire the use of certain water rights associated with the Property for instream uses, and on February 10, 2026, filed a Notice of Exemption related to those agreements. The County and YSGA filed litigation challenging the sufficiency of said Notice of Exemption, among other things. Subsequently it was proposed that RD 108 acquire the Property from the current Owner after DWR enters into those agreements. Under a purchase agreement and related closing documents, the subject of a separate Notice of Exemption filed by RD 108, RD 108 will acquire title to the Property, including its associated water rights, subject to then existing encumbrances and easements. The property is presently utilized primarily for agricultural purposes. To assist with resolution of the litigation brought by the County and YSGA, the parties would enter into the MOU to provide additional assurances to the County and YSGA that RD 108 will operate the Property in such a way to avoid impacts to local water supplies, groundwater resources, habitat and the economy. RD 108's acquisition of the Property, facilitated by entering into the MOU, will allow the Property to continue agricultural uses, prevent encroachment of development into floodplains and preserve open space, and additionally may allow for restoration of some of the lands to natural conditions. Public agency transactions and funding for these purposes are statutorily exempt from CEQA. Any future change in use of the Property and its associated water rights is contingent and uncertain as to type, location, timing, scale, and operational characteristics, and subject to subsequent planning and policy decisions by separate decisionmakers. Because these fundamental project elements are unknown or subject to future determination, any environmental analysis at this time would be unduly speculative. CEQA compliance is required prior to any changes in land uses or approval of water transfers. Entering into the MOU and RD 108's acquisition of the Property involves no expansion of existing use and will not have any significant impacts on the environment. The Project does not contribute to cumulative environmental impacts because it maintains existing conditions and does not increase the intensity of use; there are no unusual circumstances associated with the Project or its location that will result in a significant impact; the Project will not result in damage to scenic resources within a state scenic highway as none are located in the Property and the Project maintains existing conditions; the Project is not located on a hazardous waste site; and the Project will not have a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource or otherwise impact biological, cultural or other sensitive resources.