Upper Mill Creek Dam Temporary Fish Ladder Extension Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026060828
Public Agency
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Redding Region 5
(RWQCB)
Document Title
Upper Mill Creek Dam Temporary Fish Ladder Extension Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/18/2026
Document Description
The Project will construct a temporary extension of an existing fish ladder that is currently undermined and unable to pass critical runs of special status salmonids. Three more fish ladder cells will be created using a temporary structure that will be installed by hand. The extension will consist of a steel tubing frame with chain-link fencing attached between the frame members, custom fabricated to fit the streambed and designed to be held in place using native rock as ballast. Once it’s full of rock, a steel plate will be placed over the top of the frame to create a single solid object that can handle flood flow events. Wooden fish ladder panels will be placed on top of the steel plate to complete the work. The wooden fish ladder cells will be designed to break away from the steel plate during flooding events and replaced when flows reduce. The rock ballast used for this project will be taken from onsite stockpiles that were removed from the canal following the high flow events of 2024/2025.
Contact Information
Name
Lynn Coster
Agency Name
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Adam McKannay
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Los Molinos
Counties
Tehama
Regions
Northern California
Parcel #
078-140-005-000
Township
25 N
Range
2 W
Section
1
Base
MDB&M
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Title 14, Article 19, Section 15333, Class 33, Small Habitat Restoration Projects
Reasons for Exemption
This project is categorically exempt under CEQA section 15333 because the project is less than five acres in size and will provide a temporary extension of an existing fish ladder to maintain passage of critical runs of special status salmonids upstream of the Upper Mill Creek Dam.
County Clerk
Tehama
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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