Westside Water Districts 2026 Water Transfer
Summary
SCH Number
2026090134
Public Agency
Zone 7 Water Agency
Document Title
Westside Water Districts 2026 Water Transfer
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/2/2026
Document Description
Zone 7 Water Agency and Dudley Ridge Water District, Berrenda Mesa Water District, Belridge Water Storage District, Lost Hills Water District, and Wheeler Ridge – Maricopa Water Storage District (all five agencies collectively called the Westside Water Districts herein) propose a water transfer of up to 8,000 Acre-feet of Zone 7’s State Water Project 2026 Table A water supplies. All six entities are either State Water Project contractors or member agencies of a State Water Project contractor (Kern County Water Agency). The water will be delivered to the Westside Districts via existing facilities such as the California Aqueduct and the Point of Transfer will be Banks Pumping Plant. To deliver the water, a water transfer agreement will be executed among all six agencies and a State Water Project Agreement will be executed between the California Department of Water Resources, Dudley Ridge Water District, Zone 7 Water Agency, and Kern County Water Agency.
Contact Information
Name
Elke Rank
Agency Name
Zone 7 Water Agency
Job Title
Sr Water Resources Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Jamie Marquez
Agency Name
Dudley Ridge Water District
Job Title
Water Resource Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Jamie Marquez
Agency Name
Berrenda Mesa Water District
Job Title
Water Resource Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Email
Name
Jamie Marquez
Agency Name
Belridge Water Storage District
Job Title
Water Resource Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Jamie Marquez
Agency Name
Lost Hills Water District
Job Title
Water Resource Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Eric McDaris
Agency Name
Wheeler Ridge – Maricopa Water Storage District
Job Title
Water Resource Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Lauren Bauer
Agency Name
Kern County Water Agency
Job Title
Water Resource Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Name
Patrick Luzuriaga
Agency Name
Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Section Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Avenal, Bakersfield, Dublin, Fremont, Livermore, Maricopa, Newark, Pleasanton, unincorporated Buttonwillow, Union City
Counties
Alameda, Kern, Kings
Regions
Countywide, Southern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
State Water Project facilities; California Aqueduct
Zip
multiple
Total Acres
n/a
Parcel #
multiple
State Highways
84
Railways
Union Pacific
Airports
Livermore
Schools
multiple
Waterways
State Water Project facilities; California Aqueduct
Township
multi
Range
multi
Section
multi
Base
multi
Other Location Info
California Department of Water Resources facilities, Dudley Ridge Water District, Zone 7 Water Agency, and four member units within the Kern County Water Agency; Berrenda Mesa Water District, Belridge Water Storage District, Lost Hills Water District, and Wheeler Ridge – Maricopa Water Storage District.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301. EXISTING FACILITIES and 15061(b)(3) COMMON SENSE RULE
Reasons for Exemption
The project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines as follows:
15301. EXISTING FACILITIES. Operation, repair, maintenance, permitting,
leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures,
facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or
no expansion of existing or former use. No new facilities are being authorized as
part of this agreement; it is anticipated to utilize existing facilities in a like manner
as they have historically been used, and environmental considerations are
expected to be similar as historical operations.
None of the conditions noted under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines 15300.2 (as revised) will occur. Furthermore, this project will not result in
potential for significant environmental impacts because:
- No new facilities are being authorized by the agreement and existing facilities will
continue to be used in a like manner.
- Any incremental water transported in State Water Project Facilities or other water
conveyance facilities via this transfer is anticipated to be di minimis compared to
the total amount of water those existing facilities convey.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3) – COMMON SENSE RULE.
Reasons for Exemption
15061(b)(3) – COMMON SENSE RULE. The activity is covered by the common
sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for
causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty
that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect
on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
None of the conditions noted under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines 15300.2 (as revised) will occur. Furthermore, this project will not result in
potential for significant environmental impacts because:
- No new facilities are being authorized by the agreement and existing facilities will
continue to be used in a like manner.
- Any incremental water transported in State Water Project Facilities or other water
conveyance facilities via this transfer is anticipated to be di minimis compared to
the total amount of water those existing facilities convey.
County Clerks
Alameda, Kern, Kings
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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