Stonebriar Drive Pond Leveler Installation Project

The Stonebriar Drive Pond Leveler Installation Project involves the deployment of two pond leveler flow devices in existing beaver ponds and dams along an unnamed tributary to Carson Creek in El Dorado Hills, California, ZIP Code 95762. These devices are designed to maintain stable pond elevations by channeling water from upstream intake cages through 12-inch diameter pipes to the crest of the dam downstream, thereby preventing infrastructure flooding while allowing beavers to continue their natural dam-building behaviors. Installation is conducted using only hand tools and foot traffic, with all components—including intake cages, t-post “H” supports, and concrete ballast—camouflaged to blend seamlessly into the natural environment. The project is exempt from federal and state permitting requirements under CEQA Class 4 and Ministerial Exemption 21080(b)(1), with no Clean Water Act Section 401 certification or waste discharge permit needed, as confirmed by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Best management practices for erosion and sediment control must be followed, and no vegetation damage or sediment runoff is permitted during installation. The lead agency is the El Dorado County Resource Conservation District, based in Placerville, California, with Mark Egbert designated as the District Manager and primary point of contact. Connected Ecology serves as the project notifer and probable contractor, though no formal contract number, solicitation number, or financial value has been disclosed. The project is classified as a forecast with no established period of performance, delivery schedule, FOB terms, or invoicing method specified. No formal contract clauses, evaluation factors, inspection criteria, or acceptance procedures are documented, and there is no designated contracting officer’s representative, technical representative, or procurement contracting officer. The absence of any clause identifiers, attachment lists, packaging specifications, or socioeconomic representations suggests a streamlined, non-traditional procurement approach rooted in environmental stewardship rather than competitive bidding. All work must comply with minimal-impact standards, ensuring aquatic habitat preservation and avoiding the need for beaver removal under depredation permits.