Wallace Lake Estate Tank Replacement

2026060303

Calaveras County Water District (CCWD)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

6/8/2026

6/8/2026

Kevin Williams

Calaveras County Water District

District Engineer

Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project

120 Toma Ct
San Andreas, CA 95249

(209) 754-3184

kevinw@ccwd.org

Wallace Lake Drive, south of Camanche Parkway

1.12

048-061-023

Highway 12

Categorical Exemption

Categorical Exemption. State type and section number: 15302(c) (14 Cal. Code of Regs §15302)

This project is categorically exempt from CEQA review under Class 2, which consists of reconstruction or replacement of utility systems and facilities with no change, or with a negligible amount of change, in capacity. The replacement or reconstruction must have the same purpose as the original structure. The project proposes a replacement water tank of the same or similar capacity to be used for the identical purpose as the current water tank. The project therefore complies with the Class 2 categorical exemption from CEQA. The project proponent has considered the potential for environmental impacts associated with the project and finds, on the basis of analysis in a BaseCamp Environmental Categorical Exemption Report memo dated October 14, 2025, that the project would not result in any significant environmental effects in the issue areas covered in the current version of the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G Environmental Checklist. The proposed project was reviewed with respect to potential statutory exemptions described in CEQA Guidelines Sections 15260 to 15285 of the CEQA Guidelines. No statutory exemptions would apply to the project. The proposed project was reviewed with respect to potential exemption classes described in Sections 15300 to 15333 of the CEQA Guidelines. This project is considered categorically exempt from CEQA review under Class 2. Class 2 consists of reconstruction or replacement of utility systems and facilities with no change, or with a negligible amount of change, in capacity. The replacement or reconstruction must have the same purpose as the original structure. The project proposes a replacement water tank of the same or similar capacity to be used for the identical purpose of the current water storage tank and therefore complies with the requirements for a Class 2 categorical exemption from CEQA. A Notice of Exemption may be filed with the Calaveras County Clerk and the State Clearinghouse. The project does not appear to involve any potential for significant environmental effects, including significant effects due to unusual circumstances, that might prohibit use of a categorical exemption. The Lead Agency’s review of potential environmental effects is documented in Attachment A to this report. The potential applicability of a CEQA exemption to a project may be limited by the project’s potential to result in significant environmental effects due to unusual circumstances. The following sections review the potential for the project to result in significant environmental effects in the various issue areas listed in the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G Environmental Checklist. If any exceptions described in the checklist apply, they are noted. If there are any “unusual circumstances’’ associated with any of the issues, they are also noted. Aesthetics The project site is already developed with a 230,000-gallon steel water storage tank and a private dirt road serving the site, which is located just east of Wallace Lake Drive. There are no notable public scenic resources on the site or in the vicinity, however, the project is located on a small hilltop with a scenic view to the south of Wallace Lake; views to and from the site will not change substantially with the replacement of the water tank. The project would install a replacement potable water tank very similar in design to the existing tank and would therefore not result in any significant long-term adverse aesthetic changes. Agriculture and Forestry Resources The project site is not located on or adjacent to farmland or farming-related industry. The project would have no impact on agricultural land. Air Quality The project will result in brief air pollutant emissions from construction equipment but no new long-term air pollutant emissions. The project would not have a significant effect on air quality. Biological Resources The project site consists of two potable water storage tanks and related facilities on a disturbed and regularly maintained site. The site is accessed by an existing unpaved road. There are a few trees on the project site, but they are not included in the water tank replacement project and will remain during and after construction. The project site does not contain any suitable habitat for wildlife, as the site is developed, is nearly 100% denuded of native vegetation, and contains water storage tanks and utility structures currently operated by CCWD. The project site would have no substantial effect on biological resources. Cultural Resources No cultural resources were identified in a California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) search for the project site. The proposed tank demolition and reconstruction are on previously disturbed land; construction is not anticipated to encounter any undiscovered archaeological resources. There are no historical buildings on or near the project site and any construction and ground disturbance will remain within the project site. The project will therefore have no substantial effect on any historical values that may be associated with the area. Energy Neither construction nor operation of the project would consume or generate any substantial amounts of energy. Potable water would be lifted to the replacement tank by existing pumps and distributed by gravity to the existing CCWD potable water system. The project would involve no wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy. Geology and Soils The project would involve no new exposure to seismic or geologic hazards such as ground shaking, liguefaction, or unstable soils. There are no active or potentially active faults in the project vicinity. Project construction would not involve disturbance of previously-undisturbed soils. The project would involve the demolition and replacement of the existing approximately 230,000-gallon potable water storage tank and its associated concrete pad. Three 8,000-gallon tanks would be constructed on the site and potable water supply would be temporarily diverted to these tanks for operational storage. The demolished tank will be replaced with a new concrete foundation and a new approximately 230,000-gallon glass-lined, bolted steel tank. Construction will be subject to existing construction and erosion control requirements and would have no substantial impact related to soil erosion. The project would not be expected to unearth any previously undiscovered paleontological resources. The project would have no significant impact on geology and soils issues. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Project construction would generate a limited amount of greenhouse gas emissions during construction, which would be less than significant and would cease once project work is completed. The project would involve no long-term increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Hazards and Hazardous Materials The State Envirostor and Geotracker web sites indicate there are no documented hazardous material and contamination sites in the project vicinity. The project site does not contain any known clean-up sites or any hazardous waste records. The project would have no known impact on hazards and hazardous materials. Hydrology and Water Quality The project will not involve any groundwater withdrawal or contact with groundwater beneath the site. The project would have no substantial effect on surface or groundwater quality. The project would have no known effect on hydrology and water quality. Land Use and Planning he project site and vicinity are within the land use and planning jurisdiction of Calaveras County. The project would involve replacement of existing potable water service storage tank to existing rural residences along the project alignment. The project would not result in any change in existing land uses or potential conflicts with the Calaveras County General Plan. Mineral Resources There are no known mineral resources associated with the project site, nor are there any mining or mineral resource extraction activities in the immediate vicinity. The project would have no impact on mineral resources. Noise The existing noise environment on and near the project site is very quiet; the principal sources of noise are existing residential activities and very low volumes of traffic on local roads in the area. Existing pumping equipment does not involve any significant noise outside the project site. The proposed project is not sensitive to noise exposure and would not generate any substantial long-term noise during operation. Intermittent construction noise would add temporarily to the noise environment in the immediate vicinity of the project. However, there are no noise-sensitive land uses in the immediate vicinity; therefore, noise from construction activities is not expected to have any significant impact. Population and Housing The project would continue potable public water service to existing residences in the Wallace Lake community but would not construct housing, demolish housing, or otherwise affect the housing stock in the project area. The proposed project would have no impact on population or housing. Public Services The project would involve no substantial demands for police, fire, schools or recreation services. There are no existing public service facilities in the vicinity that could conceivably be impacted by the project. Transportation project construction may involve small increases in local traffic on the roads serving the project vicinity. Construction may involve intermittent interruption of road access, which would be managed by the contractor and CCWD. The project would not generate any new operational traffic and would have no significant transportation effect. Tribal Cultural Resources As the project does is categorically exempt from CEQA, no AB 52 consultation is required. Utilities and Service Systems The project involves replacement of a potable water storage tank. The new storage tank will be in service before the existing tank is demolished. The project would have no significant utility impact. Wildlife The project site is located in a rural area on a small oak/grassland ridgetop, this area, according to the California State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map is subject to High wildfire exposure. The project site is however, regularly maintained and, aside from a few widely-spaced trees, is free of flammable brush. Conclusion As discussed in the above analysis, the project would not result in a significant effect on the environment and would not require any mitigation measures. As to the specific exceptions to applicability of a categorical exemption, the above analysis indicates that the project: Would not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies(CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(a)) Does not involve potential for significant cumulative impacts in conjunction with successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time (CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(b)). Would not result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway (CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(d)). Does not involve any potential for significant effects under "unusual circumstances” as described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(c)). Has no potential to cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource (CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(f)). Is not located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code (CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2(e))