DRAFT MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION WESTLANDS WATER DISTRICT GROUNDWATER PUMPING AND CONVEYANCE PROJECT Submitted to: Westlands Water District 3130 North Fresno Street Fresno, California 93703-6056 Submitted by: Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. 104 West Anapamu Street, Suite 204A Santa Barbara, California 93101 February 2016 Amec Foster Wheeler Project No. 1555100030 ©2016 Amec Foster Wheeler. All Rights Reserved. Westlands Water District Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration Westlands Water District Groundwater Pumping and Conveyance Project Amec Foster Wheeler Project No. 1555100030 February 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................v 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 PROJECT TITLE ................................................................................................................ 1 3.0 LEAD AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS ........................................................................... 1 4.0 CONTACT PERSON AND PHONE NUMBER................................................................... 2 5.0 APPLICANT ........................................................................................................................ 2 6.0 PROJECT OVERVIEW....................................................................................................... 2 7.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................. 5 7.1 Project Background..................................................................................................5 7.2 Project Vicinity and Location....................................................................................6 7.3 Project Setting ..........................................................................................................6 7.4 Existing WWD Water Conservation Program..........................................................7 7.5 Project Objectives ....................................................................................................9 8.0 PROJECT DETAILS ......................................................................................................... 13 8.1 Project Groundwater Pumping Program ...............................................................13 8.2 Conveyance Mechanisms......................................................................................13 8.3 Conversion of Temporary Water Integration Locations to Permanent Water Integration Locations ...................................................................................19 8.4 Water Quality Monitoring and Protection...............................................................25 8.5 Water Banking........................................................................................................25 8.6 Water Allocation and Credit System......................................................................26 8.7 Place of Use of Project Water................................................................................26 8.8 Required Permits and Approvals ...........................................................................26 9.0 APPROVAL REQUIRED BY OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES ............................................ 26 10.0 SITE INFOR MAT ION ........................................................................................................ 27 11.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING .......................................................................................... 27 12.0 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ........................................................... 27 13.0 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED .......................................... 29 14.0 DETERMINATION ............................................................................................................ 30 14.1 Aesthetics...............................................................................................................31 14.1.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................31 14.1.2 Discussion..................................................................................................31 14.2 Agricultural and Forestry Resources .....................................................................32 14.2.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................33 14.2.2 Discussion..................................................................................................33 14.3 Air Quality...............................................................................................................34 14.3.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................34 14.3.2 Discussion..................................................................................................37 14.4 Biological Resources .............................................................................................38 14.4.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................39 14.4.2 Discussion..................................................................................................49 Page i Westlands Water District Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration Westlands Water District Groundwater Pumping and Conveyance Project Amec Foster Wheeler Project No. 1555100030 February 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.) Page 14.5 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................50 14.5.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................50 14.5.2 Discussion..................................................................................................51 14.6 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................................52 14.6.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................53 14.6.2 Discussion..................................................................................................53 14.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ..................................................................................54 14.7.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................54 14.7.2 Discussion..................................................................................................56 14.8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ........................................................................56 14.8.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................58 14.8.2 Discussion..................................................................................................58 14.9 Hydrology and Water Quality.................................................................................60 14.9.1 Existing Setting ..........................................................................................61 14.9.2 Discussion..................................................................................................70 14.10 Land Use and Planning .........................................................................................72 14.10.1 Existing Setting ......................................................................................73 14.10.2 Discussion ..............................................................................................74 14.11 Mineral Resources .................................................................................................75 14.11.1 Existing Setting ......................................................................................75 14.11.2 Discussion ..............................................................................................75 14.12 Noise ......................................................................................................................76 14.12.1 Existing Setting ......................................................................................77 14.12.2 Discussion ..............................................................................................77 14.13 Population and Housing.........................................................................................78 14.13.1 Existing Setting ......................................................................................78 14.13.2 Discussion ..............................................................................................78 14.14 Public Services.......................................................................................................79 14.14.1 Existing Setting ......................................................................................79 14.14.2 Discussion ..............................................................................................79 14.15 Recreation ..............................................................................................................80 14.15.1 Existing Setting ......................................................................................80 14.15.2 Discussion ..............................................................................................80 14.16 Transportation/Traffic