IID Adopts Environmental Findings for Willow Bend Project in El Centro
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-Editorial
The board of the Imperial Irrigation District approved a resolution adopting findings under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for its role as a responsible agency in the Willow Bend subdivision project, including infrastructure improvements tied to the Date Drain 3D Crossing at Countryside Drive.
The action follows an addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared by the City of El Centro, which serves as the lead agency for the project. The original Final EIR was certified in 2007 and evaluated the environmental impacts associated with the development of the Willow Bend subdivision. The city approved an addendum to that document in February 2025, with the updated analysis completed in December 2024 under State Clearinghouse No. 2005101128.
The project site is located in the southern portion of El Centro, north of McCabe Road, east of South Clark Road, and west of California State Route 86. The area is currently in agricultural production and is bordered by residential development to the north and east, with additional agricultural land to the west and south. Access to the development would be provided from State Route 86 via two planned roadways, Willow Bend Drive and Countryside Drive.
Under the revised proposal, the project would allow for the construction of 120 single-family homes on approximately 38 acres, along with a 1.67-acre neighborhood park and a 1.452-acre on-site retention basin. The updated plan represents a reduction of 11 residential units, or about 8%, from the 131 homes evaluated in the original EIR. The size of the retention basin has also been reduced from 3.02 acres to 1.452 acres under the revised design.
According to staff, the addendum compares the environmental impacts of the modified project with those identified in the 2007 Final EIR and concludes that the changes do not result in new or more significant environmental effects. The original environmental review determined that all potentially significant impacts could be mitigated to less-than-significant levels. The mitigation monitoring and reporting program adopted by the City of El Centro remains in effect, and no mitigation measures identified in the Final EIR fall under the responsibility of IID.
As a responsible agency under CEQA, IID is required to review the environmental documentation prepared by the lead agency and make its own findings regarding project components within its jurisdiction. In this case, that includes the design, approval, and implementation of the Date Drain 3D pipeline crossing associated with Countryside Drive. State law requires responsible agencies to comply with CEQA Guidelines, including Section 15096 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, and to base their decisions on the environmental analysis prepared by the lead agency.
The board’s approval formally adopts CEQA findings specific to IID’s role in the project and confirms that the district has considered the environmental documentation and determined it is adequate for its decision-making purposes.
As part of the action, the board authorized staff to file a Notice of Determination with the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder, as required under CEQA. The filing fee for the notice is $62.
The approval allows IID to proceed with actions necessary to support the project’s infrastructure components while remaining in compliance with state environmental regulations.
