Sierra Creek Park Initial Study
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North Highlands Recreation and Park District Mitigated Negative Declaration Pursuant to Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, Article 6, Sections 15070 and 15071 of the California Code of Regulations, the North Highlands Recreation and Park District, does prepare, make, declare, publish, and cause to be filed with the County Clerk of Sacramento County, State of California, this Mitigated Negative Declaration re: The project described as follows: 1. Control Number: PLER2019-00138 2. Title and Short Description of Project: Sierra Creek Park The project would include improvements to allow the functional use of, and access to Sierra Creek Park. Proposed project features would include a pedestrian pathway system, a children’s play area, a picnic area, a community garden, a dedicated parking area providing approximately 20-25 parking spaces, new signage, lighting, and fencing. The remaining undeveloped areas would include either turf or non-irrigated hydroseed. 3. Assessor’s Parcel Number: 203-0310-045 4. Location of Project: The project site is on an approximately 7.19-acre parcel located south of Watt Avenue and west of Scotland Drive in unincorporated Sacramento County 5. Project Applicant: North Highlands Recreation and Park District 6. Said project will not have a significant effect on the environment for the following reasons: a. It will not have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory. b. It will not have the potential to achieve short-term, to the disadvantage of long-term, environmental goals. c. It will not have impacts, which are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable. d. It will not have environmental effects, which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly. 7. As a result thereof, the preparation of an environmental impact report pursuant to the Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 of the Public Resources Code of the State of California) is not required. 8. The attached Initial Study has been prepared by AECOM for the North Highlands Recreation and Park District in support of this Mitigated Negative Declaration. Further information may be obtained by contacting the North Highlands Recreation and Park District at 6040 Watt Avenue, North Highlands, CA 95660 or by phone at (916) 332-7440. [Original Signature on File] Larry Mazzuca District Administrator North Highlands Recreation and Park District Initial Study IS-1 PLER2019-00138 Sierra Creek Park Table of Contents INITIAL STUDY................................................................................................................... 1 PROJECT INFORMATION ............................................................................................. 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 1 Project Location and Setting ................................................................................... 1 Park Facilities .......................................................................................................... 1 Construction ............................................................................................................ 2 Utilities .................................................................................................................. 4 Operations and Maintenance .................................................................................. 4 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ........................................................................................ 5 Aesthetics ............................................................................................................... 5 Air Quality ................................................................................................................ 9 Noise ................................................................................................................ 15 Hydrology and Water Quality ................................................................................ 22 Biological Resources ............................................................................................. 25 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................. 51 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................ 52 Tribal Cultural Resources ...................................................................................... 54 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................................................. 55 ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................................ 61 Mitigation Measure A: SMAQMD Basic Construction Emission Control Practices .................................................................................................. 61 Mitigation Measure B: Implement Measures to Reduce Short-Term, Construction-Related Noise ..................................................................... 61 Mitigation Measure C: Conduct botanical surveys for Sanford’s arrowhead; avoid placing pedestrian bridges over Sanford’s arrowhead populations ............................................................................ 62 Mitigation Measure D: Avoid impacts on western pond turtle during construction ............................................................................................. 63 Mitigation Measure E: Conduct a preconstruction survey for nesting birds and raptors, and implement avoidance measures, as needed ....................... 63 Mitigation Measure F: Comply with the Section 1600 Streambed Alteration Agreement ............................................................................................... 64 Mitigation Measure G: Submit a Tree Permit Application with the County of Sacramento Department of Public Works ................................................ 64 Initial Study IS-i PLER2019-00138 Sierra Creek Park Mitigation Measure H: Paleontological Resources Unanticipated Discovery ........ 64 Mitigation Measure I: Cultural Resources Unanticipated Discovery ...................... 65 Mitigation Measure J: Implement the SMAQMD GHG Tier 1 BMPs ...................... 66 Mitigation Measure Compliance ............................................................................ 66 INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST ....................................................................................... 67 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ....................................................................... 86 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 87 Aesthetics ............................................................................................................. 87 Agricultural Resources .......................................................................................... 87 Air Quality ............................................................................................................. 87 Airports ................................................................................................................ 88 Biological Resources ............................................................................................. 88 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................ 91 Energy ................................................................................................................ 91 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................. 91 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................................................. 92 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ........................................................................ 92 Hydrology and Water Quality ................................................................................ 93 Land Use and Planning ......................................................................................... 94 Noise ................................................................................................................ 94 Population and Housing ........................................................................................ 95 Public Services ...................................................................................................... 95 Transportation ....................................................................................................... 96 Tribal Cultural Resources ...................................................................................... 96 Wildfire ................................................................................................................ 96 INITIAL STUDY PREPARERS ...................................................................................... 97 Sacramento County .............................................................................................. 97 North Highlands Recreation and Park District ....................................................... 97 AECOM ...............................................................................................................