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5.15 Water Resources <br /> This section provides a discussion of the existing water resources near the Lodi Energy <br /> Center (LEC) project site and assesses the potential effects of project construction and <br /> operations on water resources. Specifically,this chapter discusses the LEC and its potential <br /> effects in the following areas: <br /> • Water supply and quality <br /> • Disposal of waste water <br /> • Compliance with state water policies <br /> • Stormwater discharge <br /> • Flooding <br /> Section 5.15.1 discusses the existing hydrologic environment. Potential environmental <br /> effects of the LEC construction and operation on water resources are assessed in <br /> Section 5.15.2. A discussion of cumulative project impacts is presented in Section 5.15.3. <br /> Section 5.15.4 discusses proposed mitigation measures that will prevent significant impacts. <br /> Section 5.15.5 presents applicable laws, ordinances,regulations and standards (LORS) <br /> related to water resources.Section 5.15.6 lists contacts with relevant regulatory agencies, <br /> permits that relate to water resources,and a schedule for obtaining permits. References cited <br /> are listed in Section 5.15.7. <br /> 5.15.1 Affected Environment <br /> 5.15.1.1 Water Features, Rainfall, and Drainage <br /> The LEC project site is a 4.4-acre parcel off of North Thornton Road. The site is in rural San <br /> Joaquin County southwest of the intersection of Highway 12 and Interstate 5,at the end of <br /> North Cord Road, southwest of Lodi. The LEC project site is located on land owned and <br /> incorporated by the City of Lodi. This City-owned land also encompasses the adjacent <br /> White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) and NCPA Combustion Turbine <br /> Project#2 (STIG plant). <br /> The LEC project site is on the eastern edge of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta <br /> (Delta) (Figure 5.15-1). In the Delta,the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers combine with <br /> tidal action to produce a biologically-rich estuarine environment. However,the Delta has <br /> been highly modified by channelization and water diversions for municipal, industrial, and <br /> agricultural uses. As a result,the Delta is a patchwork of numerous islands and tracts <br /> surrounded by natural and man-made channels and sloughs. Because the majority of Delta <br /> islands are below sea level,they are protected by an extensive levee system. The San Joaquin <br /> County General Plan designates the west-central portion of the county containing the Delta <br /> as the Delta Planning Area (San Joaquin County, 1992). The LEC project site is in the <br /> boundaries of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). RWQCB <br /> boundaries are based on watersheds;however, due to its complexity and size,the Delta falls <br /> under the jurisdiction of both the Central Valley RWQCB and the San Francisco Bay <br /> RWQCB. The area under the San Francisco Bay RWQCB's jurisdiction comprises all of the <br /> San Francisco Bay segments extending to the mouth of the Delta (Winter Island near <br /> Pittsburg). Each RWQCB makes critical water quality decisions for its region,including <br /> setting standards,issuing waste discharge requirements, determining compliance with <br /> SAC1371322/082340005(LEC_5.15_WATER_RESOURCES.DOC) 5.15-1 <br />