Notice of Availability for the 2023 Storm Damage Department of Water Resources' Levee Rehabilitation Repair Site 23-081 Project

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released a Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for a 30-day review for the Storm Damage Department of Water Resources Levee Rehabilitation Repair Site 23-081 Project. 

The project is located along the waterside (east levee) of the Eastside Bypass in Merced County between Levee Mile 17.1 (upstream) and Levee Mile 15.1 (downstream).The community of El Nido is located to the east of the project site, the Eastside Bypass channel is located immediately west of the project site, and the San Joaquin River is located to the west and the south of the project site. The project site is located partially within the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. 

DWR proposes maintenance repairs consisting of excavation of eroded soil, replacement of clean earth fill and placement of launch rock for slop stability. Geotextile fabric would be used to separate the earth fill and launch rock. In-water construction would not occur. Aggregate base resurfacing would restore the non-paved levee’s crown road to preconstruction conditions. The repairs would be approximately 2.4 miles in length. 

The Draft IS/MND concludes that the project could have significant effect on the environment, but with mitigation incorporated, all impacts would be less than significant.

The documents are also available for in-person review at:

Department of Water Resources
Division of Flood Operations
Flood Maintenance and Operations Branch (FMO)
Environmental Support Section
3310 El Camino Avenue, Room 140
Sacramento, CA 95821

Written comments on the environmental document should be received by the close of business on March 2, 2026, and sent to Kristin Ford via email to Kristin.ford@water.ca.gov.