Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B Improvement Project

The California Department of Water Resources has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the Mendota Pool Bypass and Reach 2B Improvement Project. This initiative, part of the California Stream Gage Improvement Program, involves relocating the San Joaquin River Below Bifurcation stream gage to a new site directly across the river from its current location, specifically downstream of the Chowchilla Bifurcation Structure in Mendota, California. The project was approved and funded at 62,500 dollars on May 6, 2025, with a Notice of Determination filed on October 10, 2025, stating that the work will not have significant environmental effects. The scope of work requires the installation of a 3x3 foot concrete pad featuring a corrugated steel pipe and cover with a diameter of less than 3 feet to house equipment. Additional infrastructure includes two 4-inch diameter pipes extending 20 to 30 feet from the pad to the river, supported by up to eight metal posts driven 18 inches into the ground, and a 15-foot pole for a solar panel and satellite antenna. To minimize environmental impact, all construction must be performed using hand tools, and vegetation removal is strictly limited to grasses, nettles, and cockle burrs. Brian Humphrey, Senior Environmental Scientist, serves as the primary point of contact for the project.