Adopt an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Wood Duck Well and Pump Station for the Wild Wings County Service Area and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan as the appropriate level of environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, approve the Project, and direct County staff to file the Notice of Determination with the County Clerk-Recorder. (No general fund impact) (Lindbo/Villa)

Based on the environmental evaluation in the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Wood Duck Well and Pump Station Project (Project) for the Wild Wings County Service Area (CSA), with the implementation of prescribed mitigation and other measures to reduce environmental impacts, the Project was determined not to have a significant effect on the environment. Adoption of this IS/MND and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MMRP) will allow the Project to proceed to the environmental permitting process in preparation for construction.

Background
The Wild Wings CSA provides potable water to 338 residences, a recreation center, and an airport.  The Wild Wings community depends on two groundwater wells, Canvasback and Pintail.  Over the past several years, a decline in water levels has been observed attributed to localized well pumping interference with neighboring wells and prolonged drought conditions. Luhdorff and Scalmanini Consulting Engineers, Inc. (LSCE) reviewed options and determined that a new, deeper well should be constructed to enhance the reliability of the water supply and to support the water system source capacity for the Wild Wings CSA.  Current State Health Department regulations (Title 22) also require a reliable and redundant drinking water source. 

In 2021, the County received grant funding from the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) as a portion of the Small Community Drought Relief Program to complete the design and construct a new well.  After additional site review, LSCE determined that a small contiguous site located at the northwest portion (off Wood Duck Street) of the Wild Wings CSA and owned by the County would be a suitable location for the Project. The Project will consist of a new well, pump station and treatment facilities.    

Environmental Review
The County prepared an IS/MND to evaluate the expected environmental effects of the Project (Attachment A).  The IS/MND was submitted to the State Clearinghouse, and subsequently circulated for public review and comment from November 3, 2022 through December 4, 2022.  All comments received during the review period with responses and revisions to the IS/MND are included in Attachment B. Four letters were received during the public review period commenting on the Draft IS/MND. In conformance with State CEQA Guidelines, the County, or its consultants, have prepared responses on environmental issues from reviewers of the Draft IS/MND, which are included in Attachment B, and revised the IS/MND to make minor corrections and add additional information in response to the comments as provided in Attachment B. The comments received do not raise substantial environmental issues as to the adequacy of the IS/MND.

Staff has determined from the prepared IS/MND, as revised in Attachment B, that the Project would not have a significant effect on the environment for the following reasons:

The County will be responsible for implementing the conservation and mitigation measures outlined in the MMRP, which is included as Appendix D in the IS/MND (Attachment A). 

The custodian of the documents constituting the record of proceedings upon which adoption of the IS/MND and MMRP is based is the Clerk of the Board and the records are located in the Clerk's Office at 625 Court Street, Room 204, Woodland, CA 95695.

Wild Wings CSA Advisory Committee, Luhdorff and Scalmanini Consulting Engineers, Yolo County - Community Development division