California Aqueduct Reaches 5, 6, and 7 Westlands Water District Utility Pole Replacements

The Westlands Water District is undertaking the replacement of nine deteriorated utility power poles located within the Department of Water Resources’ right-of-way along Reaches 5, 6, and 7 of the California Aqueduct in Fresno and Kings Counties, California. The work involves de-energizing and detaching overhead electrical conductors, removing existing poles that no longer meet safety standards, excavating holes to two feet in diameter and six feet deep, installing new poles of comparable size and material, reattaching electrical conduits and cables, backfilling, compacting the surrounding soil to restore original grade, and ultimately re-energizing the system. The project is administratively managed under a categorical exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (15305(b)), which applies to minor alterations to existing facilities without changing land use, density, or slope. The scope is limited to on-site activities at nine specific mileposts along the aqueduct, with no new infrastructure beyond the pole replacements and associated reconnection work. There is no formal solicitation number, contracted value, or detailed payment or invoicing mechanism documented, and the project is identified as a forecast rather than a fully executed contract. The California Department of Water Resources serves as the responsible agency for permitting and oversight, with Mark McDaniel designated as the primary point of contact for planning and scheduling, and Alejandro Garcia from Westlands Water District serving as a maintenance coordinator. No formal contract type, evaluation factors, award methodology, or technical specifications beyond safety compliance and environmental exemption adherence are provided. There are no identified requirements for unique entity identification, socioeconomic certifications, corporate representations, or subcontracting controls. The work is not governed by federal acquisition regulation clauses as no FAR sections or contract clauses are referenced, and no packaging, marking, inspection criteria, or delivery terms beyond the performance locations are specified. The project appears to be executed under a simplified encroachment permit process, focusing on operational safety and environmental compliance rather than a formal competitive procurement structure, and all activities are confined to the existing utility corridor with no expansion of the right-of-way or alteration of land use.