Mission Springs Water District Street Improvements for the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility Project

The Mission Springs Water District is undertaking the construction of 1.08 miles of paved roadway along the boundaries of the Nancy Wright Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility in Desert Hot Springs, California, replacing existing compacted dirt roads with asphalt pavement on 19th Avenue, Little Morongo Road, and 20th Avenue. This project, driven by conditions set by the City of Desert Hot Springs, aims to enhance access to the facility, reduce fugitive dust from vehicle traffic, and support future development in the area. The District serves as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lead agency, requiring comprehensive environmental review and compliance with CEQA guidelines, including the preparation of a Mitigated Negative Declaration due to potential impacts on cultural resources and air quality. Construction is scheduled over a four-month period from June to October 2025, broken into distinct phases for road clearing, subgrade construction, curb and gutter installation, and final paving. All work must adhere to strict environmental and safety protocols, including compliance with SCAQMD air quality thresholds for NOx, PM10, and PM2.5 emissions, adherence to noise restrictions that prohibit construction between 5:00 PM and 7:00 AM on weekdays and entirely on Sundays and holidays, and implementation of a detailed traffic control plan to minimize disruptions to sensitive nearby facilities. Special contract requirements emphasize rigorous cultural resource protection, mandating the presence of a Tribal Monitor from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians during all ground-disturbing activities, with authority to halt work immediately upon discovery of culturally significant materials. A qualified archaeologist must also be onsite if cultural resources are encountered, and all work must follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for historic preservation. Hazardous materials incidents must be reported to the Certified Unified Program Agency and remediated under state and local regulations, with post-remediation testing required. Environmental protections include the use of native plant species in landscaping, prohibition of invasive species, and barriers to limit unauthorized access to conservation zones. All proposals must include fifteen hardcopy sets and corresponding electronic files of environmental documentation, such as engineering plans, air quality assessments, biological and cultural resource studies, and soils maps, submitted by October 14, 2025, to the District’s Engineering Manager. While contract value and pricing details are not disclosed, and no federal contracting mechanisms like FAR clauses, TACs, or COTR designation are specified, oversight rests with the District’s Engineering Manager, who is also the