Notice of Intent to Adopt the Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for 2023 Storm Damage Levee Rehabilitation Repair Site 23-081 Project The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has completed preparation of an Initial Study/proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the 2023 Storm Damage Levee Rehabilitation Repair Site 23-081 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 January 30, 2026 to March 2, 2026. 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 at: https://water.ca.gov/News/Public-Notices/2026/Jan-26/Comment-Period-for-Merced-County-Levee- Repair-Project The proposed project consists of repair and rehabilitation to maintain the east (waterside) levee of the Eastside Bypass in Merced County, near the community of El Nido. The project consists of repair and rehabilitation to approximately 2.4 miles of eroded levee between Levee Mile 17.1 (upstream) and Levee Mile 15.1 (downstream). The project consists of the repair site, limits of work, a landside staging and laydown area, and use of existing roads as haul routes. The repair consists of installing temporary fencing, clearing and grubbing existing vegetation at the repair site, excavating eroded soil, filling the excavated area with clean earthfill, placing geotextile fabric on top of the earthfill, and placing launch rock on top of the geotextile fabric. In-water construction would not occur. Following the levee repair, all equipment and materials would be removed from the repair site. The proposed project would use aggregate base to restore the unpaved levee crown road that is degraded or affected by construction-related activities to pre-construction conditions. Once the repair is completed, all areas would be cleared and left in a safe condition. Please send written comments on the IS/MND to: Ms. Kristin Ford California Department of Water Resources Division of Flood Management 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 March 2, 2026. IPL0310099 Feb 2 2026