Council reaffirms recycled‑water IS/MND addendum after required state comment period

The Riverbank City Council voted 5‑0 to reaffirm its earlier adoption of an addendum to the initial study/mitigated negative declaration (IS/MND) for the Riverbank Regional Recycled Water Project and to sign the required notices and pay filing fees.

City staff said the addendum reflects two changes to the previously adopted IS/MND: a borrow‑pit area in Pond P‑9 to supply fill material for the treatment plant expansion (avoiding imported fill) and a revised alignment for a recycled‑water pipeline segment (Pipeline B) that moves a portion of the line into the Jacob Meyers Park area rather than Henry Road. Staff explained that these adjustments do not change the environmental conclusions of the IS/MND because mitigation measures previously adopted reduce potentially significant impacts to less‑than‑significant levels.

The IS/MND addendum had been posted for a state Water Resources Control Board comment period from April 22 through May 6; staff received a single comment letter from the San Joaquin Council of Governments. Staff prepared responses to the comment letter and reported that no changes to the addendum were required. The staff recommendation, adopted by council, included rescinding the prior resolution adopting the earlier addendum, adopting the revised addendum, signing and filing a Notice of Determination with San Joaquin County, paying filing fees to the county and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and filing the notice with the State Clearinghouse.

The motion to reaffirm the addendum passed 5‑0; council took no further policy actions at the meeting. The staff presentation reiterated the project’s goals: increase treatment capacity, integrate nitrogen removal, reduce reliance on percolation disposal, and enable future beneficial reuse for agricultural irrigation and other uses.