County of Merced Streams Group Flood Control Channel Maintenance Program

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

County of Merced Streams Group Flood Control Channel Maintenance Program COUNTY OF MERCED STREAMS GROUP FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Prepared for: Merced County Department of Public Works 715 Martin Luther King Jr. Way Merced, CA 95341 Prepared by: GPA Consulting 2600 Capitol Ave. Sacramento, CA 95816 Draft: May 2019 Final: July 2019 This page intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 1. Legal Authority and Findings ........................................................................................... 1 2. Document Purpose ......................................................................................................... 1 3. Document Organization .................................................................................................. 2 4. Terminology .................................................................................................................... 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST .................................................................................................3 1. Project Title ..................................................................................................................... 3 2. Lead Agency Name and Address ..................................................................................... 3 3. Contact Person and Phone Number ............................................................................... 3 4. Project Location .............................................................................................................. 3 5. Project Proponent’s Name and Address ......................................................................... 3 6. General Plan Designation ................................................................................................ 3 7. Zoning .............................................................................................................................. 3 8. Project Description .......................................................................................................... 3 9. Surrounding Land Uses and Setting .............................................................................. 10 10. Other Public Agencies whose Approval is Required ..................................................... 10 11. Public Resources Code section 21080.3.1 ..................................................................... 10 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED ............................................................ 21 DETERMINATION ................................................................................................................. 22 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ........................................................................ 23 1. Aesthetics ...................................................................................................................... 24 2. Agriculture and Forestry Resources .............................................................................. 27 3. Air Quality ..................................................................................................................... 30 4. Biological Resources ...................................................................................................... 35 5. Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................ 60 6. Energy............................................................................................................................ 76 County of Merced Streams Group Flood Control Channel Maintenance Program Merced County Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration July 2019 Page i 7. Geology and Soils .......................................................................................................... 77 8. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ........................................................................................... 83 9. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ................................................................................ 85 10. Hydrology and Water Quality ....................................................................................... 89 11. Land Use and Planning .................................................................................................. 95 12. Mineral Resources ......................................................................................................... 97 13. Noise ............................................................................................................................. 98 14. Population and Housing .............................................................................................. 101 15. Public Services ............................................................................................................. 102 16. Recreation ................................................................................................................... 104 17. Transportation ............................................................................................................ 105 18. Tribal Cultural Resources ............................................................................................ 107 19. Utilities and Service Systems....................................................................................... 111 20. Wildfire ........................................................................................................................ 113 21. Mandatory Findings of Significance ............................................................................ 115 RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON DRAFT IS/MND ................................................................... 117 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 124 Appendix A: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and California Natural Diversity Database Lists .......................................................................... 129 Appendix B: Special-Status Communities and Species with Potential to be in Project Activity Areas ................................................................................................................................. 131 Appendix C: AB 52 Documentation ..................................................................................... 133 Appendix D: CEQAnet Database Query ............................................................................... 135 Appendix E: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program ................................................ 137 County of Merced Streams Group Flood Control Channel Maintenance Program Merced County Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration July 2019 Page ii TABLE OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: REGIONAL LOCATION MAP ................................................................................... 11 FIGURE 2. STREAMS LOCATION MAP .................................................................................... 13 FIGURE 3. STREAMS CROSS-SECTIONS .................................................................................. 15 FIGURE 4. CULTURAL SENSITIVITY MAP................................................................................. 65 TABLE OF TABLES TABLE 1. STREAMS GROUP VARIOUS STREAM SECTIONS .........................................................7 TABLE 2. SPECIAL-STATUS PLANTS WITH POTENTIAL TO BE IN THE STUDY AREA .................... 42 TABLE 3. SPECIAL-STATUS WILDLIFE WITH POTENTIAL TO BE IN THE STUDY AREA .................. 44 TABLE 4. CULTURAL RESOURCE SENSITIVITY CATEGORIES ..................................................... 63 TABLE 5. EQUIPMENT NOISE................................................................................................. 99 County of Merced Streams Group Flood Control Channel Maintenance Program Merced County Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration July 2019 Page iii ACCRONYMS AND ABBREVIATOINS AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials AB Assembly Bill ACM Asbestos Containing Materials APE area of potential effect ASTM American Society for Testing Materials BIOS Biogeographic Information and Observation System BMP's Best Management Practices CA-99 California State Route 99 CAAQS California Ambient Air Quality Standards Caltrans California Department of Transportation CARB California Air Resource Control Board CBC California Building Standards Code CCR California Code of Regulations CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CESA California Endangered Species Act CFR Code of Federal Regulations cfs cubic feet per second CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database CO Carbon monoxide CPUC California Public Utilities Commission CVFPB Central Valley Flood Protection Board CWA Clean Water Act CWHR California Wildlife Habitat Relationships dBA A-weighted decibels dbh diameter at breast height DTSC Department of Toxic Substance Control EIR Environmental Impact Report EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESA Environmentally Sensitive Area FCAA Federal Clean Air Act FESA Federal Endangered Species Act FFRMS Federal Flood Risk Management Standard FHWA Federal Highway Administration FMMP Farmland Mapping and monitoring Program GHG Greenhouse Gases H2S Hydrogen Sulfide HWCL Hazardous Waste Control Law I-5 Interstate 5 County of Merced Streams Group Flood Control Channel
Recommended publications
  • Grants of Land in California Made by Spanish Or Mexican Authorities
    -::, » . .• f Grants of Land in California Made by Spanish or Mexican Authorities Prepared by the Staff of the State Lands Commission ----- -- -·- PREFACE This report was prepared by Cris Perez under direction of Lou Shafer. There were three main reasons for its preparation. First, it provides a convenient reference to patent data used by staff Boundary Officers and others who may find the information helpful. Secondly, this report provides a background for newer members who may be unfamiliar with Spanish and Mexican land grants and the general circumstances surrounding the transfer of land from Mexican to American dominion. Lastly, it provides sources for additional reading for those who may wish to study further. The report has not been reviewed by the Executive Staff of the Commission and has not been approved by the State Lands Commission. If there are any questions regarding this report, direct them to Cris Perez or myself at the Office of the State Lands Commission, 1807 - 13th Street, Sacramento, California 95814. ROY MINNICK, Supervisor Boundary Investigation Unit 0401L VI TABLE OF CONTENlS Preface UI List of Maps x Introduction 1 Private Land Claims in California 2 Missions, Presidios, and Pueblos 7 Explanation of Terms Used in This Report 14 GRANTS OF LAND BY COUNTY AlamE:1da County 15 Amador County 19 Butte County 21 Calaveras County 23 Colusa County 25 Contra Costa County 27 Fresno County 31 Glenn County 33 Kern County 35 Kings County 39 Lake County 41 Los Angeles County 43 Marin County 53 Mariposa County 57 Mendocino County
    [Show full text]
  • Pathways: a Story of Trails and Men (1968), by John W
    Pathways: A Story of Trails and Men (1968), by John W. Bingaman • Title Page • Acknowledgements • Foreword • Preface • Contents • 1. Pioneer Trails of the West • 2. Traders, Trail Breakers, Mountain Men, & Pathmarkers of the West • 3. First Explorer of Yosemite Valley, James D. Savage • 4. First Tourist Party in Yosemite • 5. Yosemite Trails • 6. Excerpts from Reports of Army Officers & Acting Superintendents • 7. Harry Coupland Benson • 8. Gabriel Sovulewski, Dean of Trail Builders, and Frank B. Ewing • 9. Crises in Trail Maintenance • 10. My Last Patrol • Bibliography • Maps About the Author John Bingaman at Merced Grove Ranger Station, 1921 (From Sargent’s Protecting Paradise). John W. Bingaman was born June 18, 1896 in Ohio. He worked for the railroad in New York and California, then made tanks and combines during World War I. He first worked in Yosemite starting in 1918 as a packer and guide. John was appointed park ranger in 1921 and worked in several parts of Yosemite National Park. His wife Martha assisted her husband during the busy summer season. John retired in 1956. After retiring he lived in the desert in Southern California and spent summers touring various mountain areas and National Parks with their trailer. In retirement he wrote this book, Pathways, Guardians of the Yosemite: A Story of the First Rangers (1961), and The Ahwahneechees: A Story of the Yosemite Indians (1966). His autobiography is on pages 98-99 of Guardians of the Yosemite. John’s second wife was Irene. John Bingaman died April 5, 1987 in Stockton, California. Bibliographical Information John W. Bingaman (1896-1987), Pathways: A Story of Trails and Men (Lodi, California: End-kian Publishing Col, 1968), Copyright 1968 by John W.
    [Show full text]
  • 8.3 Hydrology and Water Quality
    County of Mariposa General Plan – Volume III Technical Background Report 8.3 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY This section describes the natural and physical water environments that occur within Mariposa County, including lands managed by the United States Department of the Interior (USDI) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State of California. It addresses potential specific and cumulative impacts to hydrology and water quality of these lands that affect private property in the county, and its villages and towns. 8.3.01 HYDROLOGY The western portion of the County is relatively flat, with gently rolling hills that gradually increase toward the east. Moving eastward, the hills become more pronounced and the elevation quickly rises and falls through mountains and valleys. The elevation begins around 300 feet in the west and rises to nearly 11,000 feet in the east. Most inhabited regions are below 5,000 feet. Precipitation varies between the lower elevations in the western and southern portions of the County and the higher elevations in the eastern and northern portions of the County. Average precipitation ranges from about 15 inches annually in the lower elevations to about 50 inches at the higher elevations. Most of the annual precipitation falls between November and late April. Precipitation at the lower elevations occurs mainly in the form of rainfall with snowfall becoming the dominant form at the higher elevations. Melting of the winter snowpack at the higher elevations becomes the major source of runoff to the Merced River during the spring and summer months. SURFACE WATER HYDROLOGY Mariposa County contains three major drainage basins: the Merced River, Chowchilla/Fresno River, and a localized cluster of streams of the east valley known as the Lower Mariposa group of streams.
    [Show full text]
  • Gazetteer of Surface Waters of California
    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTI8 SMITH, DIEECTOE WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 296 GAZETTEER OF SURFACE WATERS OF CALIFORNIA PART II. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OP JOHN C. HOYT BY B. D. WOOD In cooperation with the State Water Commission and the Conservation Commission of the State of California WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1912 NOTE. A complete list of the gaging stations maintained in the San Joaquin River basin from 1888 to July 1, 1912, is presented on pages 100-102. 2 GAZETTEER OF SURFACE WATERS IN SAN JOAQUIN RIYER BASIN, CALIFORNIA. By B. D. WOOD. INTRODUCTION. This gazetteer is the second of a series of reports on the* surf ace waters of California prepared by the United States Geological Survey under cooperative agreement with the State of California as repre­ sented by the State Conservation Commission, George C. Pardee, chairman; Francis Cuttle; and J. P. Baumgartner, and by the State Water Commission, Hiram W. Johnson, governor; Charles D. Marx, chairman; S. C. Graham; Harold T. Powers; and W. F. McClure. Louis R. Glavis is secretary of both commissions. The reports are to be published as Water-Supply Papers 295 to 300 and will bear the fol­ lowing titles: 295. Gazetteer of surface waters of California, Part I, Sacramento River basin. 296. Gazetteer of surface waters of California, Part II, San Joaquin River basin. 297. Gazetteer of surface waters of California, Part III, Great Basin and Pacific coast streams. 298. Water resources of California, Part I, Stream measurements in the Sacramento River basin.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix D Species Accounts Appendix D Species Accounts
    Appendix D Species Accounts Appendix D Species Accounts Table of Contents San Joaquin Spearscale (Atriplex joaquiniana) ...................................................... 1 Recurved Larkspur (Delphinium recurvatum) ........................................................ 4 Big Tarplant (Blepharizonia plumosa) .................................................................... 6 Congdon’s Tarplant (Centromadia parryi ssp. congdonii) ..................................... 8 Palmate-bracted bird’s-beak (Cordylanthus palmatus) ....................................... 10 Livermore tarplant (Deinandra bacigalupii) ........................................................ 11 Longhorn Fairy Shrimp ......................................................................................... 12 Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp ..................................................................................... 15 Callippe Silverspot Butterfly ................................................................................ 18 California Tiger Salamander ................................................................................. 21 California Red-Legged Frog .................................................................................. 25 Foothill yellow-legged frog .................................................................................. 28 Alameda Whipsnake ............................................................................................ 31 Central California Coast Steelhead .....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Monterey Bay Chapter Archive of Field Trips 2016
    22-Oct-19 California Native Plant Society – Monterey Bay Chapter Archive of Field Trips 2016- Table of Contents 2019 ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 Sunday, December 29 ......................................................................................................................... 11 Williams Canyon Hike to Mitteldorf Preserve................................................................................. 11 Saturday, December 21....................................................................................................................... 11 Fly Agaric Mushroom Search .......................................................................................................... 11 Saturday, December 7......................................................................................................................... 11 Buzzards Roost Hike, Pfeiffer State Park ......................................................................................... 11 Saturday, November 23 ...................................................................................................................... 11 Autumn in Garzas Creek, Garland Ranch ........................................................................................ 11 Wednesday, November 13 ................................................................................................................. 11 Birds and Plants of Mudhen Lake, Fort
    [Show full text]
  • United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Number of Contributing Resources Previously Listed in the Nationa
    NFS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1OSL4-0018 (Rev. 8-86) United States Department of the Interior LJ National Park Service NATIONAL NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTER REGISTRATION FORM 1. Name of Property historic name: Mariposa Town Historic District other name/site number: N/A 2. Location street & number: Roughly Highway 140 (Charles St) to Jones Street, 4th Street through llth Street not for publication: N/A city/town: Mariposa vicinity:NA state: CA county: Mariposa code: 043 zip code: 95338 3. Classification Ownership of Property: Private & Public-Local Category of Property: District Number of Resources within Property: Contributing Noncontributing 63 38 buildings sites structures objects 63 38 Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register: 1 Name of related multiple property listing: N/A USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Mariposa Town Historic District Page 2 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this x nomination ___ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property x meets ___ does not meet the National Register Criteria. __ See continuation sheet. Signature of certifying/ fficial Date California Office of Histo: c Preservation State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property . meets ___ does not meet the National Register criteria. __ See continuation sheet, Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Merced County – Flood Infrastructure, Planning, Hazards, Deficiencies
    Merced Integrated Regional Water Management Plan FLOOD MANAGEMENT SUMMARY AUGUST 2013 PREPARED FOR: PREPARED BY: 1180 Iron Point Rd., Suite 260, Folsom, CA 95630 (916)608-2212 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 2 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................ 2 REGIONAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS .................................................................. 5 REGULATIONS................................................................................................................. 7 FEMA ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 STATE REGULATIONS ............................................................................................................................. 7 ULDC/ULOP ............................................................................................................................................. 8 LOCAL RESTRICTIONS ........................................................................................................................... 8 PREVIOUS STUDIES........................................................................................................ 9 MERCED COUNTY STREAMS GROUP .................................................................................................. 9 BLACK RASCAL CREEK FEASIBILITY
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenies and Secondary Chemistry in Arnica (Asteraceae)
    Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 392 Phylogenies and Secondary Chemistry in Arnica (Asteraceae) CATARINA EKENÄS ACTA UNIVERSITATIS UPSALIENSIS ISSN 1651-6214 UPPSALA ISBN 978-91-554-7092-0 2008 urn:nbn:se:uu:diva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ist of Papers This thesis is based on the following papers, which are referred to in the text by their Roman numerals: I Ekenäs, C., B. G. Baldwin, and K. Andreasen. 2007. A molecular phylogenetic
    [Show full text]
  • Proquest Dissertations
    The ecology of the American badger Taxidea taxus in California: assessing conservation needs on multiple scales. By JESSICA HELENE QUINN B.S. (University of California, Santa Barbara) 1998 M.S. (University of California, Davis) 2004 DISSERTATION Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Ecology in the OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES of the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS Approved: Committee in Charge 2008 i UMI Number: 3317963 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ® UMI UMI Microform 3317963 Copyright 2008 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway PO Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements iii List of Tables vii List of Figures ix Abstract 1 Introduction 3 Chapter 1: Activity-specific habitat preferences of badgers {Taxidea taxus) in coastal California 30 Chapter 2: Factors affecting the movement behavior of American badgers {Taxidea taxus) 72 Chapter 3: Investigating
    [Show full text]
  • Glenn Lukos Associates
    TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM GLENN LUKOS ASSOCIATES Regulatory Services PROJECT NUMBER: 03650025CLAY TO: Hardy Strozier, The Planning Associates FROM: Jason Fitzgibbon, Biologist DATE: May 25, 2014 SUBJECT: Update to Biological Constraints Analysis for the 1,400-Acre Alberhill Villages Specific Plan Site Located in Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California. On March 24, and May 12, 2014, updated focused plant surveys and general biological surveys were conducted at the approximately 1,420-acre Alberhill Villages Specific Plan (site), in the City of Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California. Firstly, the purpose of this update was to verify existing biological resources on-site as identified during surveys conducted by Glenn Lukos Associates (GLA) biologists in 2008. Secondly, updated focused plant surveys, general biological surveys, and habitat assessments for sensitive species were conducted to identify and address the potential for the project to impact any sensitive species that may not have been addressed in the 2008 GLA Biological Constraints report. SUMMARY In general, relatively few changes were noted at the approximately 1,420-acre site. The majority of the site is still being actively mined and as a result is primarily comprised of ruderal, non- native vegetation, or recently disturbed ground. Significant changes in vegetation/land cover types at the site included the recent removal of a large area of non-native eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) woodland along the northern margin of the site adjacent to Temescal Creek Road, the establishment of a few isolated patches of Riversidean sage scrub within the active mine footprint, and the growth of willow riparian forest along the perimeter of multiple water quality basins.
    [Show full text]
  • 9 – Recreation and Cultural Resources
    9 – Recreation and Cultural Resources 9.1 Introduction This chapter describes how the recreational, archeological, and historical resources within Merced County contribute to both the quality of life and economic well being of its residents. Current conditions regarding active and passive recreation, as well as archeological and historical resources, are addressed. This chapter is divided into the following sections: . Introduction (Section 9.1) . Recreation and Open Space (Section 9.2) . Archeological and Historical Resources (Section 9.3) . Major Findings (Section 9.4) 9.2 Recreation and Open Space Introduction Merced County contains several County, State, and Federal parks and recreation areas. Aside from parks in the county, there are many public open space areas as well. This section highlights these various parks and open space areas and identifies recreational opportunities within them. The information contained in this section was compiled from a variety of sources including the California State Department of Parks and Recreation website, and consultation with the Merced County Department of Public Works and Division of Parks and Recreation. Key Terms Open Space Land. Open space land is any parcel, area, or waterway that is essentially unimproved and devoted to an open space use. Under Section 65560 of the California State Government Code, open space land is broadly defined as land designated for the preservation of natural resources (i.e., lakeshore and watershed lands); managed production of resources (i.e., lands for agriculture, forestry, recharge of groundwater); outdoor recreation (i.e., parks, scenic highway corridors, and areas with outstanding scenic, historic and cultural values); and public health and safety (i.e., flood plains, unstable soil areas).
    [Show full text]