Minor Alteration No. WA2024103 – Riverside Park Amenities Flood Damage Repairs Project

The Minor Alteration No. WA2024103 Riverside Park Amenities Flood Damage Repairs Project, overseen by the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and Kern County, involves repairing and replacing various amenities at Riverside Community Park in Kernville, California. Located within the Board Designated Floodway of the Kern River, the scope of work includes replacing picnic tables, benches, a BBQ, play sand, safety surfaces, signposts, concrete walkways and slabs, a swing set, exercise equipment, electrical outlets, and the turf and irrigation system. Specific technical requirements include installing a stand-alone pump with a smaller cross-section at a higher elevation to replace a damaged wooden shed, cleaning out the existing four-inch sewer, and inspecting and re-certifying the backflow preventer. Project execution involves the removal and disposal of visible irrigation components by county representatives, while underground pipes and irrigation components will be abandoned in place. Existing play sand will be repurposed for turf preparation, and existing exercise equipment will be refurbished through disassembly, washing, coating, and lubrication where possible. The project is designated as exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under categorical exemptions for replacement or reconstruction, existing facilities, and minor alterations to land, as the work maintains the same purpose and capacity without significant environmental impact. Administrative oversight is managed by Project Manager Art Chianello of Kern County and Senior Environmental Scientist Jennifer Calles of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board.