2026-2027 Short-term Water Transfer btwn Valley Water and Westlands Water District/Westside Mutual Water Company
Summary
SCH Number
2026050427
Public Agency
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Document Title
2026-2027 Short-term Water Transfer btwn Valley Water and Westlands Water District/Westside Mutual Water Company
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/12/2026
Document Description
Westlands Water District (WWD) and Valley Water are both Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors and are identified as eligible participants in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Categorical Exclusion Checklist for the South of Delta Accelerated Water Transfer Program Contract Years 2025-2030, which evaluated an accelerated process for annual water transfers and/or exchanges between South of Delta CVP contractors that occur between March 1, 2025 and February 28, 2030. Valley Water has determined that up to 2,000 acre-feet of Valley Water’s 2025-2026 agricultural CVP supplies in San Luis Reservoir is surplus to the existing needs of Valley Water’s customers. Westside Mutual Water Company has land holdings in WWD.
Under the Project, during the 2026-2027 federal water year, Valley Water would request that the USBR transfer to WWD up to 2,000 acre-feet of Valley Water’s surplus agricultural supplies. Westside Mutual Water Company would receive the water from WWD in their account, and use the water for agricultural purposes.T he water would be transferred via existing diversion, conveyance, and storage facilities, and would not require any expansion of existing or former use.
Contact Information
Name
Kelly White
Agency Name
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water)
Job Title
Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
unincorporated areas
Counties
Fresno, Kings, Santa Clara
Regions
Unincorporated
Waterways
San Luis Canal
Other Location Info
Water would be delivered to WWD via WWD’s existing turnouts in Reaches 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the San Luis Canal:
Reach 4: milepost 103, west of the town of Cantua Creek, to milepost 122.07 in Fresno County.
Reach 5: mileposts 122.07 to 155.5 in Fresno County.
Reach 6: milepost 155.5 in Fresno County to 1.25 miles northwest of Kettleman City in Kings County.
Reach 7: from 1.25 miles northwest of Kettleman City to where the San Luis Canal
becomes the California Aqueduct in Kings County.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines §15301: Class 1, Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
The water transfer would be conducted via existing water diversion, conveyance, and storage facilities. The Project does not involve new construction, alteration of existing facilities, or expansion of use. None of the exceptions in CEQA Guidelines §15300.2 that would disqualify the Project from being categorically exempt exist.
County Clerks
Fresno, Kings, Santa Clara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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