Upper Newport Back Bay Drive Maintenance Project (Notification of Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS -ORA-64918-R5)
Summary
SCH Number
2026080545
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5
(CDFW)
Document Title
Upper Newport Back Bay Drive Maintenance Project (Notification of Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS -ORA-64918-R5)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/18/2026
Document Description
CDFW has executed Streambed Alteration Agreement EPIMS Notification No. EPIMS-ORA-64918-R5, pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code to the City of Newport Beach as represented by Casey Parks.
The Project is limited to routine maintenance activities that consist of removing native, nonnative, and invasive vegetation. Vegetation includes but is not limited to willows, cattails, and pepper trees. It also includes removal of sediment in stormwater and flood control facilities for the purpose of flood control along Back Bay Drive, from Shellmaker Road to Eastbluff Drive. All the work is in the narrow stream channel between the road and the slope, except for the maintenance of 38 storm drain culvert structures which are located on the bay side of Back Bay Drive. Routine maintenance activities will also take place at two additional locations; one at Bayview Way at Bayview Place, and the other at Bayview Way at Jamboree Road. Along Back Bay Drive. Project activities include clearing culverts and associated inlet and outlet structures, vegetation clearing and trimming. At maintenance sites with natural, earthen bottom channels and native vegetation, vegetation management shall be limited to trimming understory vegetation to maintain the minimum area needed to preserve low-flow function.
Contact Information
Name
Paola Perez
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Casey Parks
Agency Name
City of Newport Beach
Job Title
Superintendent
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Cities
Newport Beach
Counties
Orange
Regions
Southern California
Parcel #
440-142-14
Township
6S
Range
10W
Other Location Info
The Project is located within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW’s) Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, in the County of Orange, State of California; maintenance facilities along Back Bay Drive (Assessor’s Parcel Number 440-142-14) and Bayview Way at Bayview Place and Bayview Way at Jamboree, in the City of Newport Beach California; U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maps Newport Beach and Tustin, Township 6S, Range 10W, San Bernardino meridian.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Type – Class 1; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
CDFW finds the Project to be exempt pursuant to the Class 1 Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, “Existing Facilities.” Class 1 applies to the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private facilities, where activities result in negligible or no expansion of use. This Project qualifies under Class 1 because all work consists of routine maintenance within an already-established and previously-disturbed facility footprint, including trash removal and minor vegetation trimming. The activities do not expand the existing use, remove mature or scenic vegetation, or create any potential for significant environmental impacts.
County Clerk
Orange
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.