Draft EIR/EIS – November 2007 IV-73 Assumptions and Methods for Assessing Impacts Section 4.4.1 Environmental Consequences 4.4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
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Section 4.3 Environmental Setting 4.3 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Situated within the westernmost extent of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, the park’s landscape consists of two reservoirs—Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma—surrounded by rolling oak- studded foothills, upland plateaus and deep river canyons carved by the North and South forks of the American River system. The waters of Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma comprise approximately 70 percent of the total park area. Generally, the reservoirs are surrounded by a relatively narrow, and frequently steep, band of upland area. The Unit represents a significant resource within the region. As a visual and scenic resource, the Unit’s many miles of shoreline coupled with hilly topography create a wealth of viewing conditions and opportunities, including panoramic views and distinctive landscape and built features. The Unit supports nine major vegetation communities typical of the lower foothills of California’s Central Valley that provide habitat for a diverse mix of terrestrial and aquatic fauna, including several special status species. The Unit is rich in history spanning more than 4000 years and includes at least 229 archaeological sites. Refer to Chapter 2.0, Existing Conditions, of this Plan for a description of the existing project area environment, significant resource values, and the local and regional vicinity. A description of the Affected Environment is provided in the discussion of each environmental topic area. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area & Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park IV. Environmental Analysis General Plan/Resource Management Plan Vol. 2, Draft EIR/EIS – November 2007 IV-73 Assumptions and Methods for Assessing Impacts Section 4.4.1 Environmental Consequences 4.4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 4.4.1 Assumptions and Methods for Assessing Impacts The purpose of the EIS/EIR is to identify impacts of the Plan that have the potential for significance and will require more detailed analysis when specific management plans and area development plans are prepared. Impact analyses and conclusions are based on interdisciplinary team knowledge of resources of the project area, reviews of existing literature, and information provided by experts in Reclamation, State Parks and other agencies. Any impacts described in this section are based on the conceptual plan of the project alternatives under consideration and the date and information used for projecting impacts per the existing conditions described in Chapter 2. Under NEPA, the significance of an impact is determined considering the context in which the impact would occur and the intensity of the action. Significance, therefore, will vary depending upon the setting of the proposed action (40 CFR 1508.27[a]). According to the CEQA Guidelines Section 15382, a significant impact on the environment refers to a “substantial, or potentially substantial adverse change in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the project, including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historical or aesthetic significance.” Significant environmental impacts may be associated with visitor use, facility construction, or rehabilitation, or development projects, and adverse impacts can range from negative visual impacts to degradation of water quality to the disturbance or loss of cultural and natural resources. Under CEQA, an EIR is required to determine whether impacts of each alternative are significant, and if so, whether identified mitigation measures would reduce those impacts to “less than significant” levels. Therefore, “thresholds” or criteria have been developed to describe levels of impact. Thresholds are standards used to determine if an activity or project will cause or potentially cause, a substantial adverse physical change (significant impact). If the project or activity could exceed a threshold, the impact is considered to be potentially significant. In order to streamline the environmental analysis and in light of the programmatic and general nature of the General Plan/Resource Management Plan, the environmental consequences associated with implementing the project alternatives (Preferred Alternative, Alternative 3, and Alternative 4) and the No Project Alternative are summarized for each topic area using an impact matrix. The impact matrix identifies the potential effects (high, moderate, low, no impact) by alternative relative to the Parkwide Goals and Guidelines (by IV. Environmental Analysis Folsom Lake State Recreation Area & Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park Vol. 2, Draft EIR/EIS – November 2007 General Plan/Resource Management Plan IV-74 Assumptions and Methods for Assessing Impacts Section 4.4.1 Environmental Consequences resource) and Specific Area Goals and Concepts (by management zone). These tables are intended to qualitatively describe the potential effects as a stand-alone evaluation. Additional narrative is provided only for impacts that were identified as “high” or “moderate.” Impacts that are considered “high” or “moderate” are evaluated using the CEQA Significance Criteria. The high, moderate, low, and no impact designations are further defined as follows: x High – Implementation of the project alternative is expected to result in significant, adverse impacts that could or could not be mitigated. Impacts from new or expanded facilities in previously undisturbed areas and/or sensitive areas would generally be considered high. A significant increase in development in those areas that have been previously disturbed would also be considered a high impact. x Moderate – Implementation of the project alternative could result in potential significant, adverse impacts. But these impacts can be mitigated to a level below significance. Impacts from new or expanded facilities in areas that have been previously disturbed will generally be considered moderate. x Low – Impacts from implementation of the project alternative are expected to be negligible. x No Impact – No impacts are expected as a result of project implementation. Where potentially significant impacts are noted, the EIS/EIR identifies “mitigation measures.” If appropriate mitigation can reduce the impact to below the threshold, the impact is then considered less than significant. “Mitigation” is defined as an action or actions that will: x Avoid a given impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action; x Minimize a given impact by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation; x Rectify a given impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the impacted environment; x Reduce or eliminate a given impact over time through preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action; or x Compensate for a given impact by replacing or enhancing substitute resources or environments (CEQA Guidelines Section 15370). Folsom Lake State Recreation Area & Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park IV. Environmental Analysis General Plan/Resource Management Plan Vol. 2, Draft EIR/EIS – November 2007 IV-75 Assumptions and Methods for Assessing Impacts Section 4.4.1 Environmental Consequences As discussed above, this Plan is a first tier EIS/EIR and, as such, the description of proposed development, program impacts, and associated mitigation are general in nature. As additional management plans, area development plans, or specific projects are proposed or developed, they will be subject to further environmental review; project-specific mitigation measures will be developed and implemented at that time. IV. Environmental Analysis Folsom Lake State Recreation Area & Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park Vol. 2, Draft EIR/EIS – November 2007 General Plan/Resource Management Plan IV-76 Environmental Effects Found Not To Be Significant Section 4.4.2 Environmental Consequences 4.4.2 Environmental Effects Found Not to be Significant As required by NEPA/CEQA, this section presents discussions related to environmental effects found not to be significant, as identified in the Initial Study prepared for the project. As these issues were found not to be significant, they are not further evaluated in this EIS/EIR but are identified and briefly discussed in this section. If the Plan is amended in the future or conditions change, these effects will have to be re-evaluated to ensure that they are still deemed not to be significant. 4.4.2.1 Agricultural Resources Implementation of the Plan would not convert farmland to nonagricultural use. The project area is not designated as Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency. Thus, the proposed Plan would not have a substantial adverse effect on agricultural resources. 4.4.2.2 Environmental Justice The objectives of Executive Order (EO) 12898, Environmental Justice include identification of disproportionately high and adverse health and environmental effects on minority populations and low-income populations that could be caused by a proposed federal action. Accompanying EO 12898 was a Presidential Transmittal Memorandum that referenced existing federal statutes and regulations, including NEPA to be used in conjunction with the EO. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued Guidance Under NEPA in December 1997 (CEQ 1997). Minority populations include all persons identified by the U.S. Census of Population and Housing to be of Hispanic origin, regardless of race, and all persons not of Hispanic origin other than White. Income