Draft Ceqa Initial Study Grassland Bypass Project
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LTSWMP Initial Study August 2019 DRAFT CEQA INITIAL STUDY GRASSLAND BYPASS PROJECT - LONG- TERM STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE GRASSLAND DRAINAGE AREA Prepared for GRASSLAND AREA FARMERS SAN LUIS & DELTA-MENDOTA WATER AUTHORITY LOS BANOS, CALIFORNIA by Summers Engineering, Inc. Hanford, California August 2019 LTSWMP Initial Study August 2019 1 Environmental Checklist Form ...................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Description of Project ....................................................................................................... 1 - 3 1.1.1 Limitations of the Grassland Bypass Channel and Sand Luis Drain for Managing Storm Flows and Proposed Project Measures ................................ 1-4 1.1.2 Storm Event Frequency and Magnitude ........................................................... 1-5 1.1.3 Available Storm Water Management Tools/Other Project Features ................. 1-6 1.1.4 Continued Implementation and Refinement of Existing Mitigation Measures 1-14 1.2 Surrounding Land Uses and Setting .............................................................................. 1-19 1.3 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ................................................................... 1-21 1.4 Determination: ................................................................................................................ 1-21 2 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts ........................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Aesthetics ......................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Agricultural and Forest Resources .................................................................................... 2-3 2.3 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.4 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................ 2-9 2.5 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 2-17 2.6 Energy ............................................................................................................................ 2-22 2.7 Geology and Soils .......................................................................................................... 2-23 2.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ........................................................................................... 2-27 2.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ................................................................................. 2-30 2.10 Hydrology and Water Quality ......................................................................................... 2-33 2.11 Land Use and Planning .................................................................................................. 2-39 2.12 Mineral Resources.......................................................................................................... 2-40 2.13 Noise .............................................................................................................................. 2-42 2.14 Population and Housing ................................................................................................. 2-45 2.15 Public Services ............................................................................................................... 2-46 2.16 Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 2-47 2.17 Transportation/Traffic ..................................................................................................... 2-48 2.18 Tribal Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 2-50 2.19 Utilities and Service Systems ......................................................................................... 2-53 2.20 Wildfire ............................................................................................................................ 2-55 2.21 Mandatory Findings of Significance ............................................................................... 2-57 3 References ....................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Report ............................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Personal Communication ................................................................................................. 3-2 Appendices Appendix A Plan Formulation Report Appendix B Biological Resources Appendix C October 23, 2015 San Luis Drain Sediment Removal Memo Appendix D Surface Water Resources Technical Report i LTSWMP Initial Study August 2019 1 Environmental Checklist Form Grassland Bypass Project - Long-Term 1. Project title: Storm Water Management Plan for the Grassland Drainage Area San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority 2. Lead agency name and address: P.O. Box 2157 Los Banos, CA 93635 (209) 832-6200 Joseph C. McGahan Drainage Coordinator Summers Engineering, Inc. 3. Contact person and phone number: P.O. Box 1122 Hanford, CA 93232-1122 (559) 582-9237 Grasslands watershed in Fresno and 4. Project location: Merced Counties Grassland Basin Drainers San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water 5. Project sponsor’s name and address: Authority P.O. Box 2157 Los Banos, CA 93635 Agricultural (Merced and Fresno 6. General plan designation: Counties); Exclusive Agriculture (Merced and Fresno 7. Zoning: Counties) 8. Other public agencies whose approval is required a. Reclamation for use of San (e.g., permits, financing approval, or participation Luis Drain agreement). b. Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board for Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) c. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service informal/formal consultations d. California Department of Fish & Wildlife consultations for North Grasslands Wildlife Area 1-1 LTSWMP Initial Study August 2019 1 Environmental Checklist Form ...................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Description of Project ....................................................................................................... 1 - 3 1.1.1 Limitations of the Grassland Bypass Channel and Sand Luis Drain for Managing Storm Flows and Proposed Project Measures ................................ 1-4 1.1.2 Storm Event Frequency and Magnitude ........................................................... 1-5 1.1.3 Available Storm Water Management Tools/Other Project Features ................. 1-6 1.1.4 Continued Implementation and Refinement of Existing Mitigation Measures 1-14 1.2 Surrounding Land Uses and Setting .............................................................................. 1-19 1.3 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ................................................................... 1-21 1.4 Determination: ................................................................................................................ 1-21 2 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts ........................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Aesthetics ......................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Agricultural and Forest Resources .................................................................................... 2-3 2.3 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.4 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................ 2-9 2.5 Cultural Resources ......................................................................................................... 2-17 2.6 Energy ............................................................................................................................ 2-22 2.7 Geology and Soils .......................................................................................................... 2-23 2.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ........................................................................................... 2-27 2.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ................................................................................. 2-30 2.10 Hydrology and Water Quality ......................................................................................... 2-33 2.11 Land Use and Planning .................................................................................................. 2-39 2.12 Mineral Resources.......................................................................................................... 2-40 2.13 Noise .............................................................................................................................. 2-42 2.14 Population and Housing ................................................................................................. 2-45 2.15 Public Services ............................................................................................................... 2-46 2.16 Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 2-47 2.17 Transportation/Traffic ....................................................................................................