Sawmill Tank Replacement
Summary
SCH Number
2026061034
Public Agency
Calaveras County Water District
(CCWD)
Document Title
Sawmill Tank Replacement
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/24/2026
Document Description
Calaveras County Water District (CCWD) proposes the replacement of the existing approximately 3.0
million-gallon potable water storage tank currently serving the Dorrington and Big Trees rural residential
communities. The existing water tank was built in 1977 with improvements in 2012 and 2018. The current
tank exceeds the size needed for normal water demands of the nearby communities. The excessive size
and age-related deterioration of the tank has caused water quality issues from chlorinated organics.
CCWD proposes to construct two 0.5-million-gallon tanks on new concrete foundations on land adjacent to
the existing tank site; land for the replacement tanks will be obtained via an easement or lot line
adjustment. Upon completion of the new water storage tanks, the CCWD will demolish the deteriorating
tank and remove the existing concrete foundation.
The two proposed replacement tanks would be located adjacent to the existing tank. Tank constructio_n
and piping installation will require approximately 20,000 square feet of disturbance in this relatively level
and recently-logged area, Access to replacement tank site will be accessible from the existing tank site
for operation and maintenance. The replacement tank site is part of a larger timber management parcel
owned by Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI); CCWD will obtain rights to construct the replacement tanks on
the adjacent site from SPI.
Existing tree cover on the replacement tank site has been removed by the owner in accordance with an
approved Timber Harvest Plan No. 4-24-00165-CAL known as the Crockett THP. As required by the
California Forest Practice Act, SPI performed required technical studies of the larger THP parcel including
the proposed replacement tank site. Technical studies included botanical, wildlife and cultural resources
database searches and surveys during preparation of the THP application.
Contact Information
Name
Kevin Williams
Agency Name
Calaveras County Water District
Job Title
District Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
White Pines Lake, CA
Counties
Calaveras
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Specific: Approx. 0.23 miles north of Highway 4, 0.75 miles east of White Pines Lake, CA.
Other Location Info
City: East of White Pines Lake, CA
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15302(c) (14 Cal. Code of Regs §15302)
Reasons for Exemption
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 2 replacement water tanks with less capacity than the existing tank. The purpose of the
new water tanks will be the identical to the current storage tank and therefor complies with the criteria for a
Class 2 categorical exemption as set forth in the CEQA Guidelines.
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 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.
County Clerk
Calaveras
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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