Marsh Creek State Park General Plan and Program Environmental Impact
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MARSH CREEK STATE PARK General Plan and Program Environmental Impact Report This document represents the final General Plan and Program Environmental Impact Report approved by the State Park and Recreation Commission on January 27, 2012. The Marsh Creek State Park general plan companion document titled “Final EIR Response to Comments,” published separately, includes copies of public comment letters, Department responses, and related documents for compliance with CEQA. © 2012 California State Parks This document is also available as an electronic file at: www.parks.ca.gov State of California - Natural Resources Agency Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Ruth Coleman, Director Resolution 1-2012 Adopted by the CALIFORNIA STATE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION at its regular meeting in Brentwood, California January 27, 2012 General Plan and Environmental Impact Report for the unnamed state historic park known as Cowell Ranch/John Marsh WHEREAS, the Director of California State Parks has presented to this Commission for approval the proposed General Plan and Environmental Impact Report (Plan) for the state historic park property known as Cowell Ranch/John Marsh (Park); and WHEREAS, the property was previously classified in May 2007 as a state historic park to recognize the significant native pre-historic and historic cultural resources contained in the unit, and to provide for the protection, interpretation, and education of the Park’s cultural resources, as well as allow for these resources to be made available to the pub- lic consistent with their preservation for present and future generations; and WHEREAS, the Park contains substantial open space consisting of rolling hills and val- leys, grasslands, vernal pools, riparian habitat, the historic John Marsh house and its historic ranching landscape, and extensive and significant pre-historic archaeological sites; and WHEREAS, the Park’s purpose is to celebrate a rich pre-historic and historic presence and contribute to the existing regional open space network of eastern Contra Costa County; and WHEREAS, the Plan provides conceptual parameters and guidelines for the long-term management, development, operations, and future public use and enjoyment of the unit; and WHEREAS, the Plan includes the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) as a part of the General Plan, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 5002.2 and the California Code of Regulations Section 15166 (CEQA Guidelines), providing discussion of the probable impacts of future development, establishing goals, policies and objectives, and addressing all the requirements of an EIR; and WHEREAS, the Plan is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and functions as a “tiered EIR” pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21093, covering general goals and objectives of the Plan, and that the appropriate level of CEQA review will be conducted for each project relying on the Plan; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: This Commission has reviewed and consid- ered the information and analysis in the Plan prior to approving the Plan, and this Commission finds and certifies that the Plan reflects the independent judgment and analysis of this Commission and has been completed in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act; and be it CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 RESOLVED: In connection with its review of the Plan prior to approving the General Plan, this Commission independently finds that the environmental conclusions con- tained in the Environmental Analysis Section of the Plan are supported by facts therein and that each fact in support of the findings is true and is based on substantial evidence in the record and that mitigation measures or other changes or alterations have been incorporated into the Plan which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential impacts identified in the Plan; and be it RESOLVED: The California State Park and Recreation Commission hereby approves the Department of Parks and Recreation’s General Plan and Environmental Impact Re- port prepared for the property known as Cowell Ranch/John Marsh dated October 2010; and be it RESOLVED: The location and custodian of the Plan and other materials which consti- tute the record of proceeding on which the Commission’s decision is based is: State Park and Recreation Commission, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, California 94296- 0001, Phone 916/653-0524, Facsimile 916/653-4458; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED: That a Notice of Determination will be filed with the Office of Planning and Research within five days of this approval. Attest: This Resolution was duly adopted by the California State Park and Recreation Commis- sion on January 27, 2012 at the Commission’s duly-noticed public meeting at Brent- wood, California. By: ___________________________________O R I G I N A L S I G N E D B Y Date: _______________1-27-12 Louis Nastro Assistant to the Commission For Ruth Coleman, Director California State Parks Secretary to the Commission State of California - Natural Resources Agency Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Ruth Coleman, Director Resolution 2-2012 Adopted by the CALIFORNIA STATE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION at its regular meeting in Brentwood, California January 27, 2012 Naming the state historic park property known as Cowell Ranch/John Marsh as Marsh Creek State Park WHEREAS, the property was previously classified in May 2007 as a state historic park to recognize the significant native prehistoric and historic cultural resources contained in the unit, and to provide for the protection, interpretation, and education of the Park’s cul- tural resources, as well as allow for these resources to be made available to the public consistent with their preservation for present and future generations; and WHEREAS, Public Resources Code Section 5019.59, describing the intent of historic units, specifies that historical units shall be named to perpetuate the primary historical theme of the individual units; and WHEREAS, the Park’s unifying theme states that “as the last vestige of the Rancho Los Meganos, [the Park] holds the key to unlocking stories about the people attracted to this land over thousands of years and their interactions with the land, people, plants and an- imals;” and WHEREAS, the Commission Statements of Policy, Policy II.2, Classification and Nam- ing Units, Features, Groves, and Trails of the State Park System outlines guidance used to identify, classify, and name units of the State Park System; and WHEREAS, the Department requested and received public input for naming sugges- tions and justification throughout the planning process; and WHEREAS, the Department and this Commission considered several alternative names that recognize the Park’s most significant prehistoric and historic cultural resources, natural resources, and the geographic setting, which included Los Meganos State Park, Rancho Los Meganos State Park, John Marsh State Park, Marsh Creek State Park, Pi- oneer State Park, and Cowell Ranch State Park; and WHEREAS, the name Marsh Creek State Park is consistent with historic references to this property while it also acknowledges that this is the site of thousands of years of na- tive occupation, it is the location of the historic John Marsh homestead, and suggests the natural resource values and wildlife habitats that continue to be important elements of this state historic park; CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The California State Park and Recreation Commission hereby approves the proposal for the Cowell Ranch/John Marsh property to be named Marsh Creek State Park; and be it RESOLVED: The location and custodian of materials which constitute the record of pro- ceeding on which the Commission’s decision is based is: State Park and Recreation Commission, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, California 94296-0001, Phone 916/653- 0524, Facsimile 916/653-4458. Attest: This Resolution was duly adopted by the California State Park and Recreation Commis- sion on January 27, 2012 at the Commission’s duly-noticed public meeting at Brent- wood, California. By: ___________________________________O R I G I N A L S I G N E D B Y Date: _______________1-27-12 Louis Nastro Assistant to the Commission For Ruth Coleman, Director California State Parks Secretary to the Commission MARSH CREEK STATE PARK General Plan and Program Environmental Impact Report State Clearinghouse #2010102035 Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor Lester A. Snow Secretary for Natural Resources Ruth Coleman Director of California Department of Parks and Recreation California Department of Parks and Recreation P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 City of Brentwood January 2012 Executive Summary Executive Summary APPROACH TO THE GENERAL PLAN An analysis of existing conditions was undertaken as a part of the general planning process, utilizing the collective knowledge of the Department of Parks and Recreation (California State Parks) and City of Brentwood staff, focused research of the physical and operational conditions, and research of relevant California State Parks, City and County planning documents. California State Parks and other interested agencies, along with landowners, recreational users, and other individuals provided information about the history and conditions at Marsh Creek State Park (Park), formerly Cowell Ranch / John Marsh State Historic Park, which was summarized in a written and graphic report. A geographic information system (GIS) was set up