650977v2 Rev. 10.24
CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. WC00022-GNL
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES
APPLICANT: Charles Masters
Engineer II
City of Fresno Capital Projects Department
747 R Street, 2nd Floor
Fresno, CA 93721
PROJECT LOCATION: Leaky Acres Recharge Facility; North and South of Ashlan, between N Winery and CA Hwy 168
City of Fresno Council District 4
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City of Fresno, Department of Public Utilities, (City) is proposing improvements at the existing Leaky Acres
Groundwater Recharge Facility which consists of man -made recharge basins dating back to the early 1970s. The purpose of this improvement Project is to optimize operations and increase groundwater recharge efficiency. The existing basins are currently filled sequentially by gravity overflow. The
improvements will allow basins to be filled independently by pipeline and allow more accurate tracking of water delivery to each basin as well as improve operation and maintenance opportunities for City staff. The proposed Project components include approximately 5,170 linear feet of gravity flow pipeline installation and construction/replacement of approxi mately 30 (10x10x10) small diversion structures. The new pipeline will run within the previously constructed embankments that separate the basins, north to south with an estimated maximum depth of 12’.
This project is exempt under sections 15301 and 15302 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, which covers Class 1 and Class 2 projects . None of the applicable exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
EXPLANATION:
Class 1 projects are those that consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible o r no expansion of existing or former
650977v2 Rev. 10.24
use. Examples include existing facilities of publicly owned utilities used to provide public utility services.
Class 2 projects consist of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced, including but not limited to replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.
The proposed project involves the installation of a gravity flow pipeline system and small turnout structures to facilitate the functionality of the new pipelines. The size of the existing basins will not be increased; therefore, the project will not expand the capacity of the facility.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. The proposed project will not have a significant effect on the environment through cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place. There are no unusual circumstances that would create a significant effect on the environment from this project. The project site is not located in or near a state scenic highway, nor is it included in any list of hazardous waste sites compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code. There are no historical resources located on or adjacent to the project site.
Date: March 24, 2026
Prepared By: Charles Masters
Engineer II
Submitted by:
Charles Masters
Engineer II
City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
(559) 621-8880