Kern Water Bank Authority Conservation and Storage Project Environmental Impact Report
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Kern Water Bank Authority Conservation and Storage Project Environmental Impact Report Prepared for: Kern Water Bank Authority Prepared by: SCH #2012021041 January 2018 KERN WATER BANK AUTHORITY CONSERVATION AND STORAGE PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT SCH # 2012021041 P REPARED FOR: Kern Water Bank Authority 1620 Mill Rock Way, Suite 500 Bakersfield, CA 93311 Contact: Jon Parker 661.398.4900 P REPARED BY: ICF 630 K Street, Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 95814 Contact: Brad Norton 916.736.3000 January 2018 ICF. 2018. Kern Water Bank Authority Conservation and Storage Project Environmental Impact Report. January. (ICF 00145.12.) Sacramento, CA. Prepared for Kern Water Bank Authority, Bakersfield, CA. Contents List of Appendices ................................................................................................................................ vii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................ viii List of Figures .......................................................................................................................................... x List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... xii Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... ES‐1 ES.1 Project Background ........................................................................................................ ES‐1 ES.1.1 Purpose and Scope of the EIR ................................................................................. ES‐2 ES.1.2 EIR Process .............................................................................................................. ES‐2 ES.2 Description of the Project .............................................................................................. ES‐3 ES.2.1 Alternatives ............................................................................................................. ES‐4 Alternative 1—No Project Alternative ........................................................................... ES‐4 Alternative 2—Diversion of up to 375,000 Acre‐Feet (75% of Request) of Flood Flows a Year ......................................................................................................... ES‐4 ES.2.2 Environmentally Superior Alternative ..................................................................... ES‐5 ES.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................................. ES‐5 ES.3.1 Impacts Found to be Less than Significant in the Initial Study and Dismissed from Further Consideration ................................................................... ES‐5 ES.3.2 Impacts Analyzed in the Environmental Impact Report .......................................... ES‐6 No Impact ....................................................................................................................... ES‐6 Less than Significant ....................................................................................................... ES‐7 Significant (Less than Significant with Mitigation) ......................................................... ES‐8 Significant and Unavoidable .......................................................................................... ES‐8 ES.3.3 Areas of Known Controversy and Issues to be Resolved ........................................ ES‐8 Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1‐1 1.1 Purpose of this Environmental Impact Report ................................................................ 1‐1 1.2 Intended Uses of This EIR ................................................................................................ 1‐1 1.3 Public Review and the CEQA Process .............................................................................. 1‐2 1.4 Organization of This EIR ................................................................................................... 1‐3 Chapter 2 Project Description ................................................................................................... 2‐1 2.1 Project Overview .............................................................................................................. 2‐1 2.1.1 Project Background ................................................................................................... 2‐1 2.1.1.1 Project Development ................................................................................... 2‐1 2.1.1.2 Habitat Conservation ................................................................................... 2‐3 2.1.1.3 Water Sources .............................................................................................. 2‐3 Kern Water Bank Authority Conservation and Storage Project January 2018 i Environmental Impact Report ICF 00415.12 2.1.1.4 Kern River Water Right Status ...................................................................... 2‐4 2.1.2 Project Location ......................................................................................................... 2‐5 2.1.2.1 Regional Setting ............................................................................................ 2‐5 2.1.2.2 Project Area .................................................................................................. 2‐6 2.1.2.3 Study Area .................................................................................................... 2‐6 2.1.3 Proposed Project ....................................................................................................... 2‐6 2.1.3.1 California Water Rights and Water Right Process ........................................ 2‐7 2.1.3.2 Water Right Application 31676 .................................................................... 2‐7 2.1.4 Project Need and Objectives ................................................................................... 2‐10 2.1.4.1 Project Need ............................................................................................... 2‐10 2.1.4.2 Project Objectives ...................................................................................... 2‐11 2.2 Existing KWB Conditions ................................................................................................ 2‐11 2.2.1 Facilities ................................................................................................................... 2‐11 2.2.2 Water Operations .................................................................................................... 2‐12 2.2.2.1 Recharge ..................................................................................................... 2‐12 2.2.2.2 Recovery ..................................................................................................... 2‐13 2.2.2.3 Flood Control .............................................................................................. 2‐14 2.2.3 Monitoring ............................................................................................................... 2‐14 2.2.3.1 Kern Water Bank MOU ............................................................................... 2‐14 2.2.3.2 Groundwater Monitoring ........................................................................... 2‐15 2.2.4 Environmental Management .................................................................................. 2‐15 2.2.4.1 Habitat Conservation and Restoration ....................................................... 2‐15 2.2.4.2 Land Management ..................................................................................... 2‐16 2.3 Agency Use of this EIR .................................................................................................... 2‐16 2.3.1 Consideration of Project Approval .......................................................................... 2‐16 2.3.2 Existing Permits and Agreements ............................................................................ 2‐16 2.3.3 Anticipated Permits, Approvals, and Regulatory or Consultation Requirements .......................................................................................................... 2‐17 2.4 Cumulative Scenario ...................................................................................................... 2‐17 2.5 References ..................................................................................................................... 2‐18 Chapter 3 Environmental Setting and Impact Analysis ........................................................... 3.1‐1 3.1 Approach to Analysis .................................................................................................... 3.1‐1 3.1.1 Resources Dismissed from Further Analysis .......................................................... 3.1‐1 3.1.1.1 Aesthetics .................................................................................................. 3.1‐1 3.1.1.2 Agricultural and Forestry Resources ......................................................... 3.1‐1 3.1.1.3 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................... 3.1‐2 3.1.1.4 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................................................. 3.1‐2 Kern Water Bank Authority Conservation and Storage Project