Tom Paine Slough Geotechnical Investigations (Notification of Lake or Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS-SJN-62279-R3)
Summary
SCH Number
2026100578
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3
(CDFW)
Document Title
Tom Paine Slough Geotechnical Investigations (Notification of Lake or Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS-SJN-62279-R3)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/16/2026
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has executed Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement EPIMS Notification No. EPIMS-SJN-62279-R3, pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code to William McLaughlin/Department of Water Resources.
The project is limited to geotechnical investigations in a portion of Tom Paine Slough to obtain subsurface information in the vicinity of a siphon facility that conveys water from the tidal portion to the non-tidal portion of Tom Paine Slough and is operated by the Pescadero Reclamation District 2058. These geotechnical investigations include soil borings and potentially cone penetration tests (CPTs) to inform the development, design, and engineering of a future project that will replace the existing gravity-fed siphon structures with an equivalent structure. The project’s soil borings include up to nine over-water borings and up to seven on-land borings. All borings will have a maximum diameter of eight inches and a maximum depth of 150 feet below ground/channel bottom. Up to four of the on-land borings may be replaced with CPTs, which will advance to a maximum depth of approximately 100 feet. The final location of each boring or CPT may be shifted from the original location but will generally be within 100 feet. Staging for each boring or CPT will be confined to a barge or vessel, or to an existing graded or maintained surface up to 5,000 square feet (100 feet by 50 feet) within the investigation area.
Contact Information
Name
William McLaughlin
Agency Name
Department of Water Resources
Job Title
Project Manager and Supervising Engineer
Contact Types
Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Name
Jennifer Hoey
Agency Name
CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Stockton
Counties
San Joaquin
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Parcel #
213-030-150-000
Other Location Info
The project is located at Tom Paine Slough, in the County of San Joaquin, State of California; Latitude 37.79031, Longitude -121.41859; Assessor’s Parcel Number 213-030-150-000. All project activities will occur within a 1.15-acre investigation area that spans the tidal and non-tidal portions of Tom Paine Slough and the adjacent levee.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15306
Reasons for Exemption
On October 6, 2025, the Department of Water Resources, the Lead Agency, determined that the project is categorically exempt pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 15306. 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.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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