Tehama County 2025 Groundwater Recharge Pilot Project

The Tehama County 2025 Groundwater Recharge Pilot Project is a five-year initiative authorized to divert water from Thomas Creek and Elder Creek annually between December 1 and March 31 using temporary pumping systems to recharge groundwater in designated agricultural fields, with the long-term intent of extracting the recharged water for beneficial agricultural use. Conducted by the Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the project operates under California’s environmental regulatory framework and is exempt from standard environmental review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) due to Governor’s Executive Order N-7-22, which facilitates expedited processing for urgent water supply projects. The exemption is supported by formal documentation including a Notice of Exemption and a CDFW No Effect Determination, with compliance verified through the filing of certified documents and payment of a $50 county documentary handling fee. No federal contract clauses, pricing details, or formal acquisition mechanisms such as CLINs, contract types, or evaluation factors are applicable, as this is a state-level environmental filing and not a federal procurement. The project’s performance is limited to Tehama County, California, with no defined contract value, delivery terms, or federal invoicing systems, and all administrative oversight and approvals are handled internally by the county district, with primary contact through the district director. The absence of federal procurement structures, UEI/CAGE codes, COR/COTR appointments, or standardized contracting formats underscores its nature as a locally administered water rights and groundwater management initiative focused on environmental compliance and sustainable resource use.