Southeast Service Area (Service Area 3) Lateral Pipeline Project

The Southeast Service Area (Service Area 3) Lateral Pipeline Project, managed by the Porterville Irrigation District, involves the installation of approximately 28,600 linear feet of underground water pipelines for agricultural delivery in Tulare County, California. The scope of work includes the installation of pipelines ranging from 8 to 42 inches in diameter, the construction of one new pump station, the upgrading of an existing pump station near the Friant-Kern Canal, and the building of a turnout structure along Poplar Ditch. Construction activities will encompass excavation, pipe installation, backfill, compaction, and surface restoration, with all infrastructure located within public rights-of-way and executed easements southwest of Porterville. The project was approved on December 18, 2025, following a Mitigated Negative Declaration which determined that no significant long-term environmental impacts would occur. Short-term construction impacts will be managed through a Monitoring and Reporting Program, which includes adherence to California Department of Fish and Wildlife 2018 Protocols for the protection of special status plants, such as Sanford's Arrowhead, and nesting birds, including the Swainson's Hawk. Key coordinating agencies include the Central Valley Regional Water Control Board and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The project is identified under solicitation number 2025110576 and is classified under NAICS code 237120.