Draft Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration Big River Watershed Restoration Proposition 40 − River Parkways Grant Proje
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DRAFT INITIAL STUDY MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION BIG RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION PROPOSITION 40 − RIVER PARKWAYS GRANT PROJECT June 2006 State of California DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION PROJECT: BIG RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION, PROPOSITION 40 RIVER PARKWAYS GRANT PROJECT LEAD AGENCY: California Department of Parks and Recreation AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS: The Initial Study for this Mitigated Negative Declaration is available for review at: • Mendocino District Headquarters California Department of Parks & Recreation State Hwy. 1, Russian Gulch State Park Mendocino, CA 95460 • Mendocino County Library, Fort Bragg Branch 499 Laurel Street Fort Bragg, California 95437 • Northern Service Center California Department of Parks and Recreation One Capitol Mall, Suite 410 Sacramento, CA 95814 • California Department of Parks and Recreation website www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=981 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) proposes to correct erosion and sedimentation problems, improve stream crossings along roads, remove logging roads that contribute sediment to Big River and tributaries, convert roads to trails, restore pre- disturbance hydrologic processes, delineate parking areas, construct a restroom building, and improve public information within the Big River unit of Mendocino Headlands State Park. Goals of this project include road de-commissioning and conversion into recreational trails, stabilizing or removing skidtrails and landings to restore riverine functions, improving fish passage and opening up new habitat for spawning and rearing, resurfacing and delineating parking locations, and constructing public toilets. Work related to these efforts will include: • Excavation and removal of road fill from stream channels to re-establish historical width, depth, alignment, and gradient; • Removal of sidecast fill material along roadsides; • Decompaction of road surfaces to facilitate revegetation by native plants; • Retrieval and removal of debris (culverts, cable, concrete foundations, etc.) that negatively affect hydrologic processes and natural habitats; • Restoration of the natural topography and hydrology of the land (ridges, stream valleys and swales) along roadway corridors; Big River Watershed Restoration -- Proposition 40 − River Parkways Grant Project IS/MND Mendocino Headlands State Park, Big River Unit California Department of Parks & Recreation 2 • Removal of non-native invasive plant species; • Mulching and implementation of other stabilization techniques in disturbed sites using woody debris recovered from excavations; • Monitoring and maintenance of disturbed areas to improve conditions for either human- assisted or natural revegetation with native species; • Delineation of beach parking areas with boulders, logs, or other natural material; • Resurfacing of the beach parking areas and primary road with compacted road base; • Installation of a vault restroom facility outside the 100-year floodplain; • Installing regulatory, informational, and interpretive signs pertaining to restoration efforts. Specific watershed restoration activities will focus on eleven sites scattered throughout the Big River unit, with the parking area and restroom work comprising a twelfth site. A copy of the Initial Study is attached. Questions or comments regarding this Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration may be addressed to: California Department of Parks & Recreation Pursuant to Section 21082.1 of the California Environmental Quality Act, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has independently reviewed and analyzed the Initial Study and Negative Declaration for the proposed project and finds that these documents reflect the independent judgment of DPR. DPR, as lead agency, also confirms that the project mitigation measures detailed in these documents are feasible and will be implemented as stated in the Negative Declaration. _______ ORIGINAL SIGNATURE ON FILE ______ __________________ Kirk Marshal Date Acting District Superintendent _______ORIGINAL SIGNATURE ON FILE_______ __________________ Renée Pasquinelli Date Environmental Coordinator 3 Big River Watershed Restoration -- Proposition 40 − River Parkways Grant Project IS/MND Mendocino Headlands State Park, Big River Unit California Department of Parks & Recreation TABLE of CONTENTS Chapter/Section Page 1 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………….. 5 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION………………………………………………………. 8 3 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIS…………………………………………………. 35 I. Aesthetics............................................................................. 39 II. Agricultural Resources………………………………………… 41 III. Air Quality………………………………………………………. 42 IV. Biological Resources…………………………………………… 46 V. Cultural Resources…………………………………………….. 70 VI. Geology and Soils………………………………………………. 72 VII. Hazards and Hazardous Materials……………………………. 79 VIII. Hydrology and Water Quality………………………………….. 83 IX. Land Use and Planning………………………………………… 88 X. Mineral Resources……………………………………………… 90 XI. Noise……………………………………………………………… 91 XII. Population and Housing……………………………………….. 93 XIII. Public Services..................................................................... 94 XIV. Recreation………………………………………………………. 95 XV. Transportation/Traffic………………………………………….. 97 XVI. Utilities and Service Systems…………………………………. 99 4 MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE.................................................. 101 5 SUMMARY OF MITIGATION MEASURES……………………………………… 103 6 REFERENCES………………………………………………………………… 113 7 REPORT PREPARATION............................................................................ 117 Appendices A MAPS, TABLES, AND CHARTS B PROJECT PLAN SHEETS C STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS D CNDDB RECORD SEARCH E ACRONYMS F MITIGATION PLAN FOR TRANSPLANTATION OF MITELLA CAULESCENS G PROJECT DESIGN GRAPHICS Big River Watershed Restoration -- Proposition 40 − River Parkways Grant Project IS/MND Mendocino Headlands State Park, Big River Unit California Department of Parks & Recreation 4 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION AND REGULATORY GUIDANCE The Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed Big River Watershed Restoration, Proposition 40 – River Parkways Grant Project at the Big River unit of Mendocino Headlands State Park, Mendocino County, California. This document has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resources Code §21000 et seq., and the State CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations (CCR) §15000 et seq. An Initial Study is conducted by a lead agency to determine if a project may have a significant effect on the environment [CEQA Guidelines §15063(a)]. If there is substantial evidence that a project may have a significant effect on the environment, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be prepared, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15064(a). However, if the lead agency determines that revisions in the project plans or proposals made by or agreed to by the applicant mitigate the potentially significant effects to a less-than-significant level, a Mitigated Negative Declaration may be prepared instead of an EIR [CEQA Guidelines §15070(b)]. The lead agency prepares a written statement describing the reasons a proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment and, therefore, why an EIR need not be prepared. This IS/MND conforms to the content requirements under CEQA Guidelines §15071. 1.2 LEAD AGENCY The lead agency is the public agency with primary approval authority over the proposed project. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15051(b)(1), "the lead agency will normally be an agency with general governmental powers, such as a city or county, rather than an agency with a single or limited purpose." The lead agency for the proposed project is DPR. The contact person for the lead agency is: Renée Pasquinelli, Senior Environmental Scientist Email: [email protected] All inquiries regarding environmental compliance for this project, including comments on this environmental document should be addressed to: Renée Pasquinelli, Senior Environmental Scientist California Department of Parks & Recreation Mendocino District P. O. Box 440 Mendocino, CA 95460-0440 Fax: (707) 937-2953 Email: [email protected] Big River Watershed Restoration -- Proposition 40 − River Parkways Grant Project IS/MND Mendocino Headlands State Park, Big River unit 5 California Department of Parks & Recreation 1.3 PURPOSE AND DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION The purpose of this document is to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed Big River Watershed Restoration, Proposition 40 – River Parkways Grant Project at Mendocino Headlands State Park. Mitigation measures have also been incorporated into the project to eliminate any potentially significant impacts or reduce them to a less-than-significant level. This document is organized as follows: • Chapter 1 - Introduction. This chapter provides an introduction to the project and describes the purpose and organization of this document. • Chapter 2 - Project Description. This chapter describes the reasons for the project, scope of the project, and project objectives. • Chapter 3 - Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures. This chapter identifies the significance of potential environmental impacts, explains the environmental setting for each environmental issue,