Bucks Summit 1 - CRNS Soil Monitoring Station Install
Summary
SCH Number
2026090524
Public Agency
California Department of Water Resources
(DWR)
Document Title
Bucks Summit 1 - CRNS Soil Monitoring Station Install
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/14/2026
Document Description
The California Department of Water Resources is working in collaboration with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) staff to install a Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS) monitoring station to monitor soil moisture and water content near Bucks Summit within the Feather River watershed. Equipment would be installed by USGS where an antenna, tipping bucket rain gage, air temperature probe, solar panel, data logger enclosure, and two CRNS would be attached to a triangular frame placed on the ground surface and attached to anchors driven 1.5' into the ground. The triangular frame would be approximately 5.5' wide by 8' tall constructed from steel vertical posts and aluminum trusses. An additional CRNS would be installed below ground requiring a trench approximately 7" deep, 7" wide, and 3.5' long to measure snow water content. A temporary soil pit (5' x 5' x 4'd) would be excavated for the installation of soil probes to collect soil moisture data. The soil probes and underground CRNS would be connected to the data logger enclosure with buried cables in conduit. The soil pit and associated trenching would be excavated and backfilled with the use of hand tools.
Contact Information
Name
Brian Humphrey
Agency Name
California Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Meadow Valley
Counties
Plumas
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Bucks Lake Road, OHV Road 7
State Highways
n/a
Railways
n/a
Airports
n/a
Schools
n/a
Waterways
Bucks Creek, Big Creek
Township
24N
Range
08E
Section
32
Other Location Info
Located near Bucks Summit in Plumas National Forest
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15304. Minor Alterations to Land; Section 15306. Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed installation of monitoring equipment would contribute to an integrated monitoring and modeling framework in the Feather River watershed to improve forecasting capabilities and risk planning. The proposed installation would result in temporary minor ground disturbance. Proposed activities qualify for categorical exemptions 15304. Minor Alterations to Land and 15306. Information Collection. Proposed activities will not result in a significant impact to the environment and none of the exceptions described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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