McKenzie Meadows Restoration Project Phase

The McKenzie Meadows Restoration Project Phase 1 is a forecasted environmental initiative located in Lassen County, California, near Westwood. Managed by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 5 in Redding, the project aims to restore meadow floodplain function and elevate the water table across a 212-acre area. Key restoration activities include the removal of old railroad grades and berms that obstruct water flow, as well as the implementation of partial channel fills and the installation of rock and sod riffles to improve hydrologic connectivity and enhance habitat for native fish and wildlife. The project is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act review under Public Resources Code section 21080.56 due to its focus on habitat restoration. Regulatory compliance is supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through Nationwide Permit 27 under Clean Water Act Section 404 and a Section 401 Water Quality Certification with WDID No. 5A18CR00035. While the project is currently listed as a forecast with no specified contract value or fixed performance schedule, it involves coordination between the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with primary points of contact including Lynn Coster and Steve DeBonis.