West Point Drought Water Supply

The West Point Drought Water Supply project, managed by the Calaveras County Water District under solicitation SCH No. 2025080901, involves modifications to an existing 35-foot high, 500-foot-long dam and reservoir in Calaveras County, California. The primary objective is to enhance the West Point potable water system by increasing reservoir storage capacity from 50 acre-feet to approximately 150 acre-feet. This will be achieved by raising the dam embankment from elevation 2,991 to 3,003 using materials excavated from the reservoir basin, establishing a new high-water level at elevation 2,999. Technical specifications include upstream and downstream slopes of 3 horizontal to 1 vertical and the replacement of the existing concrete spillway with a reinforced concrete open channel spillway measuring 3 feet deep by 10 feet wide. The project is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), with a Mitigated Negative Declaration adopted to address potential environmental impacts. Regulatory coordination involves multiple agencies, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding fish barriers in Bear Creek, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board for water quality and permitting, and Caltrans for potential encroachment permits within their right of way. Additional oversight is provided by the State Water Resources Control Board's Division of Financial Assistance to ensure compliance with drinking water financing requirements. Comprehensive environmental assessments have been completed, covering air quality, biological resources, wetlands, cultural resources, and noise.