Contra Costa Water District will pay the District fair market value of $10,300 for the easement as well as a County administrative cost of $20,000 to cover staff’s labor charges. This payment will be deposited into 7520-6B8397. (100% Flood Control Zone 3B Funds)
On December 29, 2022, the CCWD made an offer to purchase property rights from the District consisting of a Temporary Construction Easement and a Grant of Easement for CCWD’s Short Cut Pipeline Project No. 119064 – Walnut Creek Crossing Project (“Project”), located in an unincorporated area of Martinez at APN: 159-260-XXX, and in between APNs 159-250-019 and 159-260-010. The Shortcut Pipeline (SCPL) is being refurbished in phases and SCPL Phase 2 repairs were completed in 2018. Following Phase 2 repairs, an inspection of the existing pipeline revealed it had settled significantly below the Walnut Creek channel in a similar location to where the pipeline failed during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This portion of the pipeline is also directly above the Concord fault line. CCWD’s modified Phase 3 repairs address this section of pipeline beneath the Walnut Creek channel where the differential settlement of the pipeline has been observed. The differential settling is placing strain along the pipeline that, if not corrected, could potentially cause a failure to the main conveyance of water to the City of Martinez and the PBF Refinery (formally the Shell Refinery).
To complete the Project, CCWD requires a permanent pipeline easement measuring approximately 2.21 acres. The purpose of the permanent pipeline easement is for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of two approximately 2,000-foot, 36-inch diameter water pipelines and related appurtenances.
As the lead agency for the Project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), CCWD completed CEQA environmental review for the Project and adopted a mitigated negative declaration, dated September 22, 2021 (“MND”), and subsequently approved a supplement to the mitigated negative declaration, dated March 11, 2022 (“Supplement”). The MND and the Supplement are available on the State Clearinghouse website: https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/2011092059/3.
The District is a CEQA responsible agency for purposes of this Project because it is exercising its discretion to convey easements required for the Project. Based on staff’s review of the MND and Supplement, the MND and Supplement are adequate and there are no changes in the project or circumstances, or any new significant information, that would require any further subsequent or supplemental environmental review. There also are no environmental impacts connected with the conveyance of the easements that are within the District’s authority to address. Therefore, staff recommends approving the conveyance of the easements and filing a CEQA notice of determination in accordance with CEQA Guidelines sections 15075 and 15096(i).
The District will not be able to convey property rights to CCWD for the construction and maintenance of its pipeline.