Snow Water Equivalence Station

The Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District is planning to install a Snow Water Equivalence (SWE) monitoring station in the southern portion of the upper Butte Valley Watershed in California, specifically within the Haight Mountains east of Tennent, covering sections 19, 30, and 8 in T43N R01W and T42N R01W. The station will be constructed in full alignment with the California Department of Water Resources’ Hydrologic Data Acquisition System (HyDAS) standards, featuring a 30-foot self-supporting open lattice tower anchored to a 5x5x5-foot concrete foundation and a 6x8-foot graded gravel pad designed for proper drainage to support a snow pillow or load scale sensor. The primary purpose is to collect high-quality, continuous snow water equivalence data to enhance the accuracy of hydrologic modeling, climatological monitoring, and water resource management within the Butte Valley Groundwater Basin. The project has been determined eligible for a categorical exemption under CEQA Section 15304 due to its minimal environmental impact and adherence to standard, low-disturbance installation practices. No formal contracting structure, federal acquisition regulations, or competitive procurement elements are present in the documentation; the notice is classified as a forecast with no solicitation number, contract value, or defined period of performance. The project does not include structured evaluation factors, clause requirements, or formal payment and invoicing mechanisms as would be typical in federal contracts. Administrative responsibilities are managed internally by the Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District, with project coordination led by Renee Main and oversight from District Manager Rod Dowse. Environmental fees were paid through the Siskiyou County Clerk’s Office, and all installation components will comply with DWR HyDAS specifications for sensor suite, tower design, and foundation integrity. The station is intended to operate autonomously for long-term data collection without provisions for contractor delivery schedules, shipping terms, or federal compliance reporting requirements.