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

The California Department of Water Resources has issued a Notice of Exemption for the California Aqueduct Reaches 5, 6, and 7 Westlands Water District Utility Pole Replacements project. This project involves the removal and replacement of nine utility power poles that no longer meet safety standards. The work will be performed by Westlands Water District contractors within the Department of Water Resources right of way across Fresno and Kings Counties. The project has been granted a Categorical Exemption for Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations, as it involves minor encroachment permits without changes to land use or density. The technical scope of work requires contractors to follow a specific sequence at nine designated sites located at various mileposts along the California Aqueduct. The process includes de-energizing overhead electrical conductors, detaching electrical conduits, and using a crane to remove and dispose of old poles offsite. Contractors will then use an auger to expand the existing holes to approximately two feet in diameter and six feet deep to install new poles of similar size and material. Following installation, the area must be backfilled, the conduit and cables reattached, and the ground compacted to match the original grade before the electrical conductors are re-energized. The Department of Water Resources serves as the responsible agency, with Mark McDaniel acting as the primary contact for planning and scheduling.