PUBLIC Notice: Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the California Department of Water Resources' Petition to the State Water Resources Control Board for Extension of Time to modify the timeframe of Conditional Water Rights Under the State Water Project Permits 16478, 16479, 16481, and 16482 for water supply and Permits 16477 and 16480 for hydropower operations The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is requesting a time extension to continue the development of its existing water rights permits without altering the existing permitted quantities or rates, purpose of use, season of use, points of diversion, or places of use. The water rights permits that are the subject of this Notice of Preparation are permit numbers 16478,16479, 16481, 16482, 16477 and 16480 (Water Rights). As the petitioner and project applicant, DWR will prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the petition it filed with the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) for a water right extension of time (Extension of Time) to modify the Water Right development time frames but otherwise remain consistent with the existing conditions of the permits. The EIR willbe prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). California Public Resources Code sections 21000, et seq., and the CEQA Guidelines, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations sections 15000, et seq. DWR will be the lead agency for this EIR. Purpose of the Notice of Preparation: The purpose of a Notice of Preparation (NOP) is to formally notify responsible and trustee agencies involved in the approval or funding of a project, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, and other interested parties that an EIR will be prepared. The NOP provides information about the proposed project and its potential environmental impacts to allow recipients the opportunity to provide a meaningful response related to the scope and content of the EIR. Responsible and trustee agencies should respond to the NOP with the following information: "[the significant environmental issues and reasonable alternatives and mitigation measures that the responsible or trustee agency, or the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation will need to have explored in the draft EIR"; and "[whether the agency will be a responsible agency or trusteeagency for the project." (CEQA Guidelines, § 15082, subd. (b)(1).) Project Description: DWR has submitted the petition to extend the time for Terms 6 and 7 in its Water Rights permits to allow for the potential, under possible future conditions, to put the water under its Water Rights to further beneficial use. Importantly, in this petition, DWR is requesting an extension to a date no later than December 31, 2085 without altering the existing permitted quantities or rates, purpose of use, season of use, points of diversion, or places of use. The requested extension would provide additional time to meet changing water supply demands while ensuring environmental protections. Potential Environmental Effects: The EIR will contain a discussion of the following resource categories. Biological Resources; aquatic biological resources Surface Water Hydrology Surface Water Quality Tribal Cultural Resources Other CEQA Discussions, which may include discussion of cumulative impacts, growth inducement, climate change and resiliency, and environmental justice. Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting will be held to inform interested parties about the proposed project and to solicit input on the scope and content of the EIR. The virtual meeting will be held via Zoom on October 17, 2025, 12:00 p.m. Please use the link below to register in advance of the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Attendees can register and join the meeting at any time. https://us02web.zoom.us/ webinar/register/WN_wZb_pdf9RZ2NI2zG3Z4knw Comment Submission: Comments will be accepted for a 30-day public comment period, beginning on September 30, 2025, and ending on October 30, 2025. Written or oral comments may be submitted at the public scoping meeting, or written comments may be sent to Analisa Martinez, Environmental Program Manager II, Division of Integrated Science and Engineering, Department of Water Resources, P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, CA 94236-0001. Written comments may be emailed to SWPWRTE@water.ca.gov. Written comments should include your name/organization, address, and contact information, and the name of a contact person in your organization if applicable. Please note that your comment in its entirety could be made publicly available at any time.