NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given that the Mojave Water Agency, as lead agency, has prepared an Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) of environmental effects and intends to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring & Reporting Plan (MMRP) for the East Ames-Reche Recharge Facility Project. The following documents analyze the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Project Title:
East Ames-Reche Recharge Facility Project
Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
Lead Agency:
Mojave Water Agency
13846 Conference Center Drive
Apple Valley, CA 92307
Contact Person:
Melody Bailey
Water Resources Manager
Mojave Water Agency
13846 Conference Center Drive
Apple Valley, CA 92307
Ph: 760-946-7030
Email: mbailey@mojavewater.org
County Clerk:
This Notice of Intent is posted at the San Bernardino County Clerk's Office (shown below)
San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
222 West Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Ph: 909-387-8306
Project Location:
Unincorporated San Bernardino County, CA, approximately 12 miles north of the Town of Yucca Valley.North side of Winters Road, approximately 2,500 feet west of Warren Vista Avenue.See IS/MND Figures 1 and 2.
Project Description:
The Project consists of the development of two (2) new recharge basins (north and south) on 10 acres surrounded by 12-ft tall berms. Improvements include: an access road surrounding the perimeter of each basin; 6-foot perimeter fencing with barbed wire; a new tee connection within the Winters Road right-of-way; approximately 500 linear feet of 12-inch non-potable water pipeline from Winters Road to the eastern perimeter of each basin; two (2) headwalls located along the eastern perimeter of each basin connecting to the new non-potable water pipeline; outlet with energy dissipator; and a nested or multi-completion monitoring well located within the proposed site to monitor infiltration rates, groundwater levels, and water quality. The proposed improvements will allow MWA to increase its groundwater recharge capacity of annual State Water Project Table A allocations.
Conclusion:
The IS/MND analyzes the potential environmental effects of the Project in the environmental issue areas specified in the State CEQA Guidelines. Based on this analysis, the Public Review Draft IS/MND finds that the Project will not result in any significant unmitigable environmental effects, provided that the mitigation measures described in the IS/MND are implemented. The Project proponent has agreed to the mitigation measures, and these measures are included in a MMRP to be adopted by the Mojave Water Agency in conjunction with the certification of the IS/MND and approval of plans and specifications for the Project. There are no sites identified under Section 65962.5 of the Government Code located on or near the Project site.
Copies of the IS/MND are available for public review at the Mojave Water Agency at the address shown above.
Review Period:
The Agency will accept public and agency comments on the IS/MND during a 30-day review period that will begin on September 14, 2025 and end on October 16, 2025. Comments may be submitted to Mojave Water Agency by mail or email (mbailey@mojavewater.org).
Public Meeting:
At the conclusion of the 30-day public review period, the document will be submitted to the Mojave Water Agency for review and adoption. The Mojave Water Agency will hold a public hearing at 13846 Conference Center Drive, Apple Valley, CA 92307 on November 13, 2025, to consider adoption of the IS/MND and MMRP, and approval of the Project.
September 14 2025
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