Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Wellness Center Project (Notification of Lake or Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS-RIV-66605-R6)

Summary

SCH Number
2026070044
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Deserts Region 6 (CDFW)
Document Title
Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Wellness Center Project (Notification of Lake or Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS-RIV-66605-R6)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/2/2026
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has executed Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement EPIMS Notification No. EPIMS-RIV-66605-R6 pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code to the Riverside University Health System (Permittee) or as represented by Angela Simpkins. The Project is limited to the construction of an extension to the existing Riverside University Health System medical center. The Project consists of grading, backfilling, construction of a Wellness Center building, therapeutic wellness park, surface parking areas, a construction staging area, an off-site roadway, and storm drain infrastructure improvements. As part of Project development, parking will be constructed to the north and south of the Wellness Center building, with the existing parking lot to the east of the building to be reconfigured. Vehicular access to the Wellness Center will be accommodated via driveways connecting with existing Cactus Avenue and Nason Street through the RUHS Medical Center site and new driveways connecting with Brodiaea Avenue to the north, which will require an extension of the roadway from the east near Nason Street. The Project will also consist of building a parking area and construction staging area to the west of the Wellness Center building, and a therapeutic Wellness Park to the south. Storm drain improvements (referred to as Line J) are proposed to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the Wellness Center and to accommodate future buildout of the RUHS Medical Facility. Drainage 1, located in the western portion of the site, would be replaced with an 84-inch storm drain (Line J) designed to intercept runoff from areas north of the Project site and convey flows southward through the site. The proposed storm drain would connect downstream to the existing 108-inch Line J storm drain at Cactus Avenue. To facilitate this connection, an 84-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RCP) storm drain culvert with wingwalls, and 24-inch lateral would be constructed immediately north of Brodiaea Avenue. The culvert outlet would include installation of ¼ ton, un-grouted, 24-inch-thick riprap for energy dissipation and erosion control. This improvement would allow offsite Drainage 1 flows to be safely conveyed beneath Brodiaea Avenue and routed south through the Project site. Following installation of the storm drain facilities, the area would be backfilled and graded to accommodate parking facilities serving the Wellness Center and other RUHS Medical Center uses, as well as temporary construction staging areas during site development. Drainage 2, located in the northern portion of the site, would be removed as a result of a new Brodiaea Avenue extension west of Nason Street and construction of the associated storm drain facilities. Brodiaea Avenue is currently an unimproved dirt road and would be upgraded to a two way roadway. The proposed street extension would be constructed as a three-quarter width roadway and would provide drainage to curb opening catch basins along the south side of the street and an asphalt curb with a drainage swale along the north side. Inlet devices along the length of the roadway adjacent to the northern properties would be constructed, directing runoff into the proposed Line J storm drain system. Drainage 2 would be piped using a proposed 30-to-42-inch Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RCP) and would connect to the proposed 84-inch RCP serving Drainage 1 south of Brodiaea Avenue. Following construction, the storm drain facilities would be given over to Riverside County Flood Control (RCFC) for protection and maintenance in perpetuity. A proposed 38-foot easement would be provided within the limits of a 40-foot drive aisle west of the Wellness Center building. Construction staging will occur in the uplands on existing RUHS medical campus property. Once storm drain improvements have been constructed and Drainage 1 has been fully impacted, that area will be utilized as a temporary construction staging area for construction of the Wellness Center Building. Following construction, that area will be used to accommodate parking facilities serving the Wellness Center and other future RUHS Medical Center uses. Construction would involve the use of standard earth-moving equipment, including but not limited to excavators, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, compactors, and other support vehicles typical of commercial developments and storm drain construction.

Contact Information

Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project

Name
Michael Tovar
Agency Name
Fish and Wildlife, Region 6
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Moreno Valley
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Parcel #
486-280-057
Waterways
San Jacinto River
Other Location Info
The Project is located north of Cactus Ave., south of Alessandro Rd., and west of the existing RUHS Medical Facility at Brodiaea Ave. in the City of Moreno Valley.

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
W&I Code 5960.31; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section (15268)
Reasons for Exemption
On September 22, 2025, the County of Riverside, the Lead Agency, determined that the Project is categorically exempt pursuant to Ministerial Projects under W&I Code 5960.31; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section (15268). The Lead Agency determined that the Project meets certain qualifying criteria for the exemption. Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.1(a), the Lead Agency is responsible for determining whether the Project is exempt from CEQA and that determination shall be final and conclusive on all persons, including Responsible Agencies. As a result, CDFW, acting as a Responsible Agency, is bound by the Lead Agency’s determination that the Project is exempt from CEQA.
County Clerk
Riverside

Attachments

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