2023 Strategic Water Resources Plan Draft Program Environmental Impact Report

The Palmdale Ditch Conversion Project involves the transformation of a 7.2-mile open channel into a buried 48-inch diameter pipeline spanning approximately 84.7 acres in California, with direct impacts to 888 western Joshua trees and additional encroachment within a 50-foot buffer zone. This project is authorized under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act (WJTCA) and the California Endangered Species Act through an Incidental Take Permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, requiring strict compliance with environmental mitigation conditions. The permit mandates a $459,336.75 payment to the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund, the installation of physical boundary markers using fencing, stakes, or flags, and the presence of fire prevention equipment on-site throughout construction. A Project Completion Report must be submitted within one month of completion, including photographic documentation, activity dates, and a detailed accounting of all affected trees. The use of rodenticides, herbicides, or insecticides is prohibited without prior written approval, and any deviation from permit conditions must be reported immediately to CDFW, followed by a written report within 24 hours. Oversight is conducted by CDFW’s South Coast Region, with the Palmdale Water District serving as the permittee responsible for implementation. The project's scope is strictly defined by regulatory compliance rather than traditional procurement, with no standard federal acquisition clauses, invoicing systems, or cost line items identified beyond the mandatory mitigation fee. Performance occurs along a corridor extending from Littlerock Reservoir to Lake Palmdale, and all deliverables are subject to verification and acceptance by CDFW based on permit conditions, not competitive evaluation or price-based award criteria.