Newtown Canal Partial Encasement Project

The proposed project is located approximately 3 ½ miles west of Nevada City beginning immediately west of the intersection of Newtown Road and Justine Lane and proceeding west-southwest along Newtown Road for approximately 1,900 feet. The present canal segment ranges from three to seven feet in width. The proposed project would widen the majority of the existing Newtown Canal segment and create a nine foot wide access berm for maintenance along the widened canal locations. Due to physical constraints (residential structures and roadway) that prohibit canal widening and maintenance, two canal sections on each end and one in the middle of the segment will be placed within pipes. The east end pipe would be 36” diameter pipe for approximately 280 feet. At the west end it would be a 24” pipe. In the middle segment it would be 20 feet of pipe (36-inch diameter) in order to protect existing undermining of tree roots. In another location, a culvert (approximately 12 feet in length) will be added to replace a current wooden bridge that spans the canal. The project purpose is to solve the existing problems related to low freeboard, erosion, integrity of the conveyance structure, lack of access for maintenance, and capacity along the most critical portions of the canal.

The Nevada Irrigation District has determined that the above project will have no significant effect on the environment and is therefore exempt from the requirement of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

The project design is near complete and the District is currently reviewing easement needs.  Easement review with the property owners will begin in April 2013. The estimated start time for this project is late 2014.