Alturas Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project

The City of Alturas is undertaking infrastructure improvements to enhance its wastewater management system by installing a new pipeline that will transport raw wastewater to offsite treatment ponds and land application areas. To minimize environmental disruption, the project employs horizontal directional drilling beneath three water bodies—the North Fork Pit River, South Fork Pit River, and an unnamed ephemeral tributary—each requiring a bore approximately 3,000 feet in length at depths between 60 and 80 feet. This approach avoids direct excavation within streambeds and reduces impacts on aquatic habitats. The project has been authorized under a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, in compliance with Fish and Game Code section 1602, ensuring regulatory oversight and environmental safeguards are met during construction. The initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize Alturas’s wastewater infrastructure, promoting public health and environmental stewardship by diverting untreated effluent from local waterways. The City of Alturas serves as the project applicant and primary point of contact, with Warren Farnam listed as the primary planner and Dyana Judnick of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife serving as the environmental scientist overseeing regulatory compliance. The project was forecasted for future consideration on June 10, 2026, and all activities are confined to the city’s jurisdiction in Modoc County, California, with no federal funding or set-aside provisions identified. The alignment and drilling methodology reflect a commitment to minimizing surface disturbance while achieving functional wastewater conveyance goals.