Notice of Intent to Adopt the Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Sutter Bypass East Levee Project The California Department of Wate Resources (DWR) has completed preparation of an Initial Study/proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Sutter Bypass East Levee Project (project) and intends to adopt the MND as part of project review. The IS/MND is now available for a 30-day public review and comment period. The comment period is from July 10, 2025 to August 9, 2025. The IS/MND may be reviewed during walk-in business hours at: California Department of Water Resources Flood Maintenance and Operations Branch (FMO) 3310 El Camino Avenue Sacramento, CA 95821 Additionally, the IS/MND may also be reviewed online at: https://water.ca.gov/News/Public-Notices/2025/Jul-25/IS-MND-Sutter-Bypass-East-Levee The proposed project consists of improvements to approximately 5.2-miles of the Sutter Bypass East Levee (SBEL) between approximately Gilsizer Slough and Hughes Road (Levee Miles 7.40 to 12.57), as well as adjacent construction staging areas. Improvements include construction of a cutoff wall extending approximately 45- to 88-feet below the working platform to address underseepage from water in the Sutter Bypass. The levee would be degraded approximately one-third of its height to accommodate the required platform width for construction of the cutoff wall. Construction of the cutoff wall would use both soil-bentonite (SB) in an open-trench, and Deep-Mix-Method (DMM) using a soil-cement-bentonite (SCB) mixture. The settlement and curing period for the cutoff wall would be approximately 21-days, after which, reconstruction of the levee would occur. Additionally, the project includes reconstruction of both landside and waterside ramps to match pre-project lines and grading where the levee would be rebuilt after cutoff wall installation. Reconstructed ramps would be in the same general vicinity as the existing ramps and would tie to existing access roads. Aggregate surfacing would be placed on levee access ramps. In addition, penetrations and encroachments identified within the levee prism, within 20 feet of the landside toe, or within 15-feet of the waterside toe would be removed during cutoff wall construction and replaced with new penetrations that meet current levee safety standards to prevent through-seepage. Penetrations have been designed to accommodate a possible future project that would raise the levee. Penetration and encroachment abandonment, removal, or relocation would be in accordance with applicable DWR, California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 23, Division 1 "Central Valley Flood Protection Board", and USACE requirements. Encroachments such as security gates and access ramps located within the limits of work and impacted by construction would be removed and replaced. Encroachments, such as power poles, located within the limits of work and impacted by construction would be relocated by the utility owner to a minimum of 20-feet away from the levee toe. Please send written comments on the IS/MND to: Ms. Kristin Ford California Department of Water Resources Flood Maintenance and Operations Branch (FMO) 3310 El Camino Avenue Sacramento, CA 95821 Phone (916) 914-0220 Email: kristin.ford@water.ca.gov If comments are provided via e-mail, please include the project title in the subject line and include the commenter's U.S. Postal Service mailing address in the e-mail. For comments by agencies and organizations, please include the name of a contact person for the agency or organization. All comments received, including names and addresses of commenters, will become part of the official administrative record and may be available to the public. All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on August 9, 2025. IPL0253249 Jul 10 2025