City of La Quinta General Plan

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DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SCH # 2010111094)

FOR THE

CITY OF LA QUINTA GENERAL PLAN

Prepared For

City of La Quinta 78-495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, CA 92253

Prepared By

Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc.® 42635 Melanie Place, Suite 101 Palm Desert, CA 92211

July 2012

Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report Table of Contents

Table of Contents

List of Exhibits iv List of Tables v List of Appendices vii Environmental Summary Matrix M-1

I. INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION I-1

A. Lead Agency I-1 B. Introduction I-1 C. Document Organization I-2 D. CEQA And Other Requirements I-2 E. Project Location And Description I-4 F. Statistical Summary: General Plan Land Use I-15

II. REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING II-1

A. Aesthetics II-1 B. Agriculture Resources II-2 C. Air Quality And Greenhouse Gasses II-3 D. Climate II-4 E. Biological Resources II-5 F. Cultural Resources II-6 G. Geology And Soils II-7 H. Topography II-8 I. Hazards And Hazardous Materials II-11 J. Hydrology And Water Quality II-11 K. Existing Land Use II-14 L. Surrounding Land Use II-16 M. Mineral Resources II-17 N. Noise II-17 O. Population And Housing II-18 P. Public Services And Utilities II-19 Q. Recreation II-23 R. Transportation/Traffic II-24

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III. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES III-1

A. Aesthetics III-1 1. Existing Conditions III-2 2. Project Impacts III-4 3. Mitigation Measures III-6 B. Agricultural Resources III-7 1. Existing Conditions III-7 2. Project Impacts III-10 3. Mitigation Measures III-12 C. Air Quality And Greenhouse Gases III-13 1. Existing Conditions III-15 2. Project Impacts III-25 3. Mitigation Measures III-33 D. Biological Resources III-36 1. Existing Conditions III-37 2. Project Impacts III-51 3. Mitigation III-53 E. Cultural Resources III-55 1. Existing Conditions III-57 2. Project Impacts III-66 3. Mitigation Measures III-66 F. Geology And Soils III-67 1. Existing Conditions III-68 2. Project Impacts III-88 3. Mitigation Measures III-90 G. Hazards And Hazardous Materials III-91 1. Existing Conditions III-92 2. Project Impacts III-97 3. Mitigation Measures III-100 H. Hydrology III-101 1. Existing Conditions III-102 2. Project Impacts III-112 3. Mitigation Measures III-113 I Land Use And Planning III-114 1. Existing Conditions III-115 2. Project Impacts III-120 3. Mitigation Measures III-130 J. Mineral Resources III-130 1. Existing Conditions III-130 2. Project Impacts III-133 3. Mitigation Measures III-133

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K. Noise III-134 1. Existing Conditions III-134 2. Project Impacts III-151 3. Mitigation Measures III-162 L. Population And Housing III-164 1. Existing Conditions III-164 2. Project Impacts III-166 3. Mitigation Measures III-168 M. Public Services & Utilities III-169 N. Recreational Resources III-193 1. Existing Conditions III-193 2. Project Impacts III-196 3. Mitigation Measures III-197 O. Transportation/Traffic III-197 1. Existing Conditions III-204 2. Project Impacts III-220 3. Mitigation Measures III-228 P. Water Resources & Quality III-237 1. Existing Conditions III-238 2. Project Impacts III-249 3. Mitigation III-255

IV. UNAVOIDABLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IV-1

V. PROJECT ALTERNATIVES V-1

A. Introduction V-1 B. Statement Of Project Objectives V-3 C. Alternative Projects Selected For Detailed Analysis V-5 1. No Project Alternative V-5 2. Alternative 1 V-10 3. Alternative 2 V-14 D. Alternative Projects Analysis V-18 E. Environmentally Superior Alternative V-64

VI. SHORT-TERM USE VERSUS LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY VI-1

VII. IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES VII-1

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VIII- GROWTH INDUCEMENT AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS VIII-1

IX- ORGANIZATIONS, PERSONS AND DOCUMENTS CONSULTED IX-1

List of Exhibits

Exhibit I-1 Regional Map I-6 Exhibit I-2 Vicinity Map I-7 Exhibit I-3 General Plan Planning Area Boundaries I-8 Exhibit I-4 2002 General Plan Land Use Map I-14 Exhibit I-5 Preferred Alternative Land Use Map I-24

Exhibit II-1 Topography Map II-10

Exhibit III-1 Vegetation Communities III-40 Exhibit III-2 CNDDB, Critical Habitat & Modeled Habitat III-47 Exhibit III-3 Land Ownership And Conservation Areas III-49 Exhibit III-4 Paleontological Sensitivity Map III-60 Exhibit III-5 Cultural Resources Survey Map III-64 Exhibit III-6 Geologic Map Of The Planning Area III-72 Exhibit III-7 Wind Erosion Susceptibility Map III-78 Exhibit III-8 Faults And Historical Seismicity Map III-83 Exhibit III-9 Seismic Hazards III-87 Exhibit III-10 FEMA Flood Hazard Zones And Flood Control Facilities III-107 Exhibit III-11 Mineral Resource Zone Map III-132 Exhibit III-12 Land Use And Noise Compatibility III-137 Exhibit III-13 Noise Monitoring Locations In The Study Area III-142 Exhibit III-14 Existing Truck And Bus Routes III-145 Exhibit III-15 Existing Airport Noise Contours III-149 Exhibit III-16 Future Airport Noise Contours (Jacqueline Cochran Airport) III-160 Exhibit III-17 Existing (2010) Average Daily Traffic Volumes III-211 Exhibit III-18 General Plan Roadway Classifications III-213 Exhibit III-19 General Plan Street Cross Sections III-214 Exhibit III-20 General Plan Build Out (2035) Average Daily Volumes III-225 Exhibit III-21 Prescribed Intersection Improvement III-232

Exhibit V-1 No Project Alternative Land Use Map V-6 Exhibit V-2 Alternative 1 Land Use Map V-13 Exhibit V-3 Alternative 2 Land Use Map V-17

iv Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report Table of Contents

List of Tables

Table I-1 Preferred Alternative General Plan Update Land Use Acreage Summary I-16 Table I-2 General Plan Update Build Out Summary: City Limits I-17 Table I-3 General Plan Update Build Out Summary: Sphere of Influence I-17 Table I-4 General Plan Update Build Out Summary: Entire Planning Area I-18 Table I-5 City of La Quinta General Plan Proposed Land Use Designations I-19

Table III-1 Emissions Thresholds For SCAQMD III-14 Table III-2 State And Federal Ambient Air Quality Standards III-19 Table III-3 Pm10 Monitoring Data For The Coachella Valley III-20 Table III-4 Pm2.5 Monitoring Data For The Coachella Valley III-21 Table III-5 Ozone Monitoring Data III-22 Table III-6 Construction Emissions For The Planning Area III-27 Table III-7 Projected Daily Emissions At General Plan Build Out III-29 Table III-8 GHG Emissions From Construction Of The General Plan III-31 Table III-9 GHG Emissions From Operation At General Plan Build Out III-31 Table III-10 Air Quality Control Methods III-34 Table III-11 Special Status Plants In The La Quinta General Plan Area And Vicinity III-43 Table III-12 Special Status Reptiles In The La Quinta General Plan Area And Vicinity III-43 Table III-13 Special Status Bird Species In The La Quinta General Plan Area And Vicinity III-43 Table III-14 Special Status Mammal In The La Quinta General Plan Area And Vicinity III-44 Table III-15 Horizontal Peak Ground Accelerations And Seismic Intensities III-80 Table III-16 Existing Land Use Designations Within City Limits III-117 Table III-17 2002 Land Use Designations Within Sphere Of Influence III-118 Table III-18 2002 Land Use Designations Within Planning Areas III-119 Table III-19 Existing Land Use Summary III-120 Table III-20 Proposed Land Use For City Limits III-122 Table III-21 Riverside County Vista Santa Rosa Land Use III-123 Table III-22 Riverside County Land Use North Sphere III-124 Table III-23 Riverside County Land Use Sphere Summary III-124 Table III-24 General Plan Update East Sphere Land Use III-125 Table III-25 General Plan Update Land Use North Sphere III-125 Table III-26 General Plan Update Land Use Sphere Summary III-126 Table III-27 Proposed Land Use Summary III-128 Table III-28 Exterior Noise Limits III-138 Table III-29 Existing (Ambient) Short-Term Noise Level Measurements III-139 Table III-30 Existing (Ambient24-Hour Noise Level Measurements III-141 Table III-31 City Of La Quinta Hourly Traffic Flow Distribution III-143 Table III-32 Existing Noise Exposure Adjacent To General Plan Update Study Area Roadways III-146 Table III-33 Year 2035 Build Out Conditions Noise Contours III-152 Table III-34 Year 2035 Preferred Alternative Noise Contour Comparison III-156 Table III-35 Desert Sands Unified School District Enrollment And Capacity III-171

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Table III-36 Coachella Valley Unified School District Enrollment And Capacity III-172 Table III-37 Potential Student Generation La Quinta City Limits III-173 Table III-38 Potential Student Generation Sphere Of Influence III-174 Table III-39 Potential Student Generation Planning Area Summary III-174 Table III-40 Estimated Electricity Usage Rates III-182 Table III-41 Natural Gas Consumption Factors III-184 Table III-42 Solid Waste Generation At General Plan Build Out III-191 Table III-43 Level Of Service Description III-200 Table III-44 Intersection Level Of Service Descriptions III-201 Table III-45 City Roadway Classifications Level of Service Volumes/Capacity Values (Average Daily Trips – ADT) III-202 Table III-46 Existing Daily Volumes And Capacity Summary III-215 Table III-47 Existing Peak Hour Intersection LOS III-218 Table III-48 General Plan Build Out (2035) Roadway Segment Analysis III-221 Table III-49 General Plan Build Out (2035) Intersection Analysis III-226 Table III-50 Coachella Valley Water District Annual Water Production III-241 Table III-51 Estimate Of Existing Water Service Demands III-250 Table III-52 Estimate Of Water Service Demands At Build Out III-251 Table III-53 Estimate Of Water Service Demands From New Development III-252

Table V-1 Preferred Alternative Build Out Summary: City Limits V-2 Table V-2 Preferred Alternative Build Out Summary: Sphere of Influence V-2 Table V-3 Preferred Alternative Build Out Summary: Entire Planning Area V-3 Table V-4 No Project Alternative Build Out Summary: City Limits Only V-7 Table V-5 No Project Alternative Build Out Summary: Sphere-of-Influence V-8 Table V-6 No Project Alternative Build Out Summary: Planning Area Total V-9 Table V-7 Alternative 1 Build Out Summary: City Limits Only V-10 Table V-8 Alternative 1 Build Out Summary: Sphere-of-Influence V-11 Table V-9 Alternative 1 Build Out Summary: Planning Area Total V-12 Table V-10 Alternative 2 Build Out Summary: City Limits Only V-14 Table V-11 Alternative 2 Build Out Summary: Sphere-of-Influence V-15 Table V-12 Alternative 2 Build Out Summary: Planning Area Total V-16 Table V-13 Cumulative Daily Emissions No Project Alternative (Lbs./day) V-24 Table V-14 GHG Emissions for the No Project Alternative V-25 Table V-15 Cumulative Daily Emissions Alternative 1 (Lbs./day) V-26 Table V-16 GHG Emissions for Alternative 1 V-27 Table V-17 Cumulative Daily Emissions Alternative 2 (Lbs./day) V-28 Table V-18 GHG Emissions for Alternative 2 V-29 Table V-19 Year 2035 Preferred Alternative Noise Contour Comparison V-39 Table V-20 Potential School Enrollment at General Plan Build Out, No Project Alternative V-44 Table V-21 School Enrollment at General Plan Build Out, Alternative 1 V-44 Table V-22 School Enrollment at General Plan Build Out Alternative 2 V-45 Table V-23 Estimated Solid Waste Generation for La Quinta Planning Area No Project V-52

vi Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report Table of Contents

Table V-24 Solid Waste Generation for Planning Area Alternative 1 V-52 Table V-25 Solid Waste Generation for Planning Area Alternative 2 V-53 Table V-26 Comparison of Land Use Alternatives V-55 Table V-27 No Project Alternative Forecast Year 2035 Peak Season V-57 Table V-28 Alternative 1 Forecast Year 2035 Peak Season V-58 Table V-29 Alternative 2 Forecast Year 2035 Peak Season V-59 Table V-30 No Project Alternative Water Demand V-61 Table V-31 Alternative 1 Water Demand V-62 Table V-32 Alternative 2 Water Demand V-64

List of Appendices

A. Draft Environmental Impact Report, Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Responses to NOP. Prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc., November 22, 2010.

B. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Impact Analysis for the La Quinta General Plan Update 2010. Prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc., May 2012.

C. City of La Quinta General Plan Update: Biological Resources. Prepared by AMEC Earth & Environmental Inc., June 2010.

D. Cultural Resources Technical Report City of La Quinta General Plan 2010 Update. Prepared by CRM TECH, July 8, 2010.

E. Technical Background Report to the Safety Element of the La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update, Seismic Hazards, Geologic Hazards, Flooding Hazards. Prepared by Earth Consultants International, Inc., June 2010 Revised September 7, 2010.

F. City of La Quinta General Plan Update Noise Element Technical Report. Prepared by Urban Crossroads, June 3, 2011.

G. Paleontologic Resources Technical Report City of La Quinta General Plan 2010 Update. Prepared by CRM TECH, August 12, 2010.

H. City of La Quinta General Plan Circulation Element Update Traffic Impact Analysis. Prepared by ITERIS, May 14, 2012.

I. Water Supply Study for the proposed La Quinta General Plan update 2010. Prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. June 21, 2011.

vii Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMARY MATRIX

This Environmental Impact Report has been prepared to analyze the potential impacts associated with the implementation of the City of La Quinta General Plan. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), General Plans and their amendments are considered “projects” which require thorough analysis in the form of an EIR. Therefore, this EIR is an integral part of the General Plan development process.

The area addressed in this Environmental Impact Report includes the City’s current corporate boundary and Sphere of Influence, referred to in this document as the City of La Quinta General Plan Update Planning Area.

City Limits The incorporated limits of the City of La Quinta encompass 35.7± square miles, which are developed for a range of residential, resort and resort residential, commercial and open space uses. Lands within the City limits may also be described as follows:

Portions of Section 25 and all of Section 36, Township 5 South, Range 6 East; Sections 1,12,13,24, and 25, Township 6 South, Range 6 East; portions of Section 17 18, 19, 20,28,29, and 30, and all of Sections 31 and 32, Township 5 South, Range 7 East; portions of Section 26, 35 and all of Sections 4, 5, 6,7,8,9,10,15,16,17,18, 19, 29, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33 and 34, Township 6 South, Range 7 East; Sections 4 and 5, Township 7 South, Range 7 East of the San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian.

Sphere of Influence The Sphere areas in the Planning Area, total 12.6± square miles. One of these occurs to the north of the City’s corporate limits, and the other to the east of the City’s corporate limits. Lands included in the City’s Sphere are those identified by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) as being a logical extension of the City in the long term. Only if these lands are annexed will the City have jurisdiction over their development. All lands in the Sphere currently fall under the jurisdiction of the County of Riverside.

Portions of Section 18, Township 5 South, Range 7 East; and portions of Section 12, 13, 26 and 35 and all of 11, 14, 23, 24, 25, and 36, of Township 6 South, Range 7 East; all of Section 19, 30, 31 of Township 6 South, Range 8 East of the San Bernardino Baseline Meridian.

This EIR assesses the environmental impacts that may result as a consequence of approval and implementation of the proposed land use scenario and the Plan’s goals, policies and programs, as well as buildout of the entire area. The following discussion briefly summarizes each category of analysis, including existing conditions, project impacts and applicable mitigation measures recommended to reduce impacts to acceptable or insignificant levels. Levels of impact include the following:

Significant Impacts: Those impacts that constitute a potentially significant adverse change in the environment. Insignificant Impacts: Those impacts that, by virtue of the environmental conditions, predisposing existing development, or the implementation of mitigation measures, are reduced to acceptable or “insignificant” levels. Unavoidable Impacts: Those impacts that occur as a result of project development whose adverse effects cannot be entirely eliminated or reduced to a level of insignificance.

M-1 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures AESTHETICS The La Quinta General Plan Update Planning Area The General Plan Update does not propose changes None required. is comprised of many land uses, including in land use intensities or densities, insofar as no residential, commercial, resort facilities, office new land use designations are being considered. Alternatives: Alternative 1 would result in less parks, agricultural facilities, golf courses, open Policies and programs in the General Plan Update development within the planning area, and spaces, and vacant land. These land uses are built are consistent with the existing character of therefore would reduce potential aesthetic impacts primarily on the Valley floor and within the Cove. development in the City, and do not propose to some degree. All alternatives, however, result in Development within the City Limits is generally intensification or densification of the City or development of currently vacant lands, and will built at lower densities, and buildings throughout Sphere. Visual character impacts within the City, therefore have similar levels of impact on aesthetic the Planning Area tend to be low-rise structures. therefore, are expected to be less than significant. resources. Views of local mountains and scenic vistas throughout the incorporated portions of the City are Scenic Resources includes trees, rock outcroppings, generally good, however suburban development, and historic buildings that are visible from a state including buildings, walls, and mature landscaping scenic highway. Currently, there are no state scenic can limit views in certain places. highways that run through La Quinta or the Sphere of Influence. Therefore, impacts to scenic resources The eastern Sphere of Influence is rural and along a state scenic highway will be less than sparsely developed. Land uses in the Sphere significant. include single family residential, agricultural production and equestrian uses. There is also a Light and glare impacts are associated with considerable amount of fallow vacant land once increased urbanization. Within the City limits, the used for agriculture. Views of local mountains and majority of lands are developed, and daytime and scenic vistas throughout this portion of the Sphere nighttime skies are already affected to a limited are preserved and unobstructed due to sparse extent by light and glare. The adoption of the development. As a result of this rural character, the General Plan Update will facilitate similar aesthetic quality is more open and views of development patterns in the City to those that exist surrounding mountains are less restricted when today. Further, the General Plan Update maintains compared to the more developed portions of the policies and programs currently in effect that limit region. lighting, and the City’s Municipal Code prohibits light spillage onto neighboring properties. Therefore, implementation of the General Plan Update will have a less than significant impact on light and glare impacts.

M-2 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES Agricultural uses in the General Plan Update Implementation of the General Plan Update does Mitigation measures include the master planning of Planning Area are located primarily within the not require landowners to immediately convert the eastern Sphere to reflect the agricultural Sphere of Influence, however a few small citrus farmland to new land uses. However, new character, the provision of buffers between new groves are located within City limits. development proposed will be required to develop development and agricultural uses, and the according to new land use designations. As a result, incorporation of traditional agricultural plantings in Undeveloped portions of incorporated La Quinta agricultural lands will be affected by new growth public spaces. These mitigation measures will and the Sphere are located in areas designated as and development. There are currently over 545,000 assure that impacts associated with agricultural Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide acres of important farmland in Riverside County1. resources are reduced to less than significant levels. Importance, Unique Farmland or Lands of The 7,391 acres of land designated as important Statewide Importance. In 2008, there were farmland represents 1.3% of the total important Alternatives: Build out of each of the alternatives approximately 1,700 acres of important agricultural farmland in the County. The eventual loss of these would result in similar impacts on agricultural land located in the City, and 7,391 acres in the lands will not significantly impact agriculture in the resources. The No Project Alternative, which Sphere of Influence, for a total of 9,091 acres. region. would maintain the County designations on the Sphere area, could be the least impacting on 582 acres of land with Williamson Act contracts The implementation of the General Plan Update agricultural resources. are located within the Sphere of Influence. Based will facilitate development on lands currently used on 2008 Riverside County data, approximately for agriculture in the Sphere of Influence. The 218.9 acres were in renewal, and 363 acres were in General Plan Update does not mandate that non-renewal. landowners terminate agricultural production, but provides regulations when development does occur on these lands. The General Plan Update includes the master planning of the Sphere, where agricultural activities occur. The master plan is required to consider and include community character, and may include agriculture as an allowed land use. Finally, none of the policies, programs or land use designations of the General Plan Update will apply to any of these lands if they are not annexed to the City.

M-3 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures AIR QUALITY With implementation of mitigation measures, air In the Coachella Valley air quality has exceeded quality emissions from construction activities A number of mitigation measures are offered to state and federal standards for ozone and particulate within City limits are projected to exceed help to reduce emissions of all criteria pollutants. matter. SCAQMD studies indicate that most ozone thresholds for NOx and ROG. Even with These include both broad based, community-wide is transported to the Salton Sea Air Basin from the implementation of mitigation measures, air quality mitigation, and project-specific measures. upwind South Coast Air Basin, which contains emissions of NOx and ROG have the potential to Mitigation measures are also included to reduce large metropolitan areas including Los Angeles. It result in significant and unavoidable impacts from GHG emissions in the City and Sphere. However, is difficult to quantify the amount of ozone construction activities occurring within City limits. even with the implementation of these mitigation contributed from other air basins; however, Construction related air quality emissions from the measures, air quality impacts associated with all improved air quality in the Coachella Valley development of lands within the Sphere of criteria pollutants will remain significant and depends upon reduced ozone emissions in the Influence are projected to exceed established daily unavoidable. South Coast Air Basin. thresholds for NOx and ROG, even with implementation of mitigation measures. Alternatives: All project alternatives result in Industrialization, urban lifestyle, agricultural significant impacts associated with air quality. The practices, production and manufacturing and other For build out of the General Plan Update, air In all cases, impacts remain significant and human activities result in the emission of quality emissions have the potential to result in a unavoidable as they relate to air quality. greenhouse gas that are contributing to global cumulatively considerable net increase of CO, warming and climate change, and include carbon NOx, SOx, PM10, PM2.5, and ROG. Projections of dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide these pollutants exceed established daily thresholds (N2O), tetrafluoromethane, hexafluoroethane, and have the potential to result in significant and sulfur hexafluoride, HFC-23 (fluoroform), HFC- unavoidable impacts. 134a (s, s, s, 2 –tetrafluoroethane), and HFC-152a (difluoroethane). GHG emissions from construction will end once construction activities are complete. Therefore, the The City of La Quinta has completed a Greenhouse generation and emission of GHG’s from Gas Inventory and has prepared a Greenhouse Gas construction are not expected to have a long term or Reduction Plan as part of this General Plan Update. lasting impact and impacts to air quality from The intent of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan is construction will be less than significant. to set goals, policies, and programs that will result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to Implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction targets identified in the Plan that meet the State’s Plan is intended to reduce impacts associated with mandates. the emission of greenhouse gases within City limits to levels that are less than significant. Were the Sphere of Influence to be annexed into La Quinta City jurisdiction, then lands would be subject to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and compliance would assure that impacts to air quality from the emission of greenhouse gases would be reduced to levels below significance.

M-4 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES The ultimate build out of the General Plan Planning There are primarily two categories of habitat Area has the potential to significantly impact The EIR includes requirements for site specific and associated with wildlife common to the planning biological resources by reducing native habitat species specific studies in areas of habitat for area. The most prevalent consists of the very areas and directly affecting fauna. However, the species of concern; the implementation of the disturbed and fragmented patchwork of remnant majority of lands on which development will occur MSHCP; the adherence to state and federal sand field, saltbush scrub, weedy (ruderal), are on the Valley floor, in areas already impacted regulations; and the preservation of open space agricultural, and residential/recreational by urban development or agricultural activities. areas. With implementation of these mitigation development. Common species in this environment These areas are part of the MSHCP, and new measures, impacts associated with biological are those that are capable of surviving in ruderal development projects will be required to pay resources will be reduced to less than significant plant communities or near residential, commercial, mitigation fees associated with the MSHCP to levels. agricultural, and golf course developments. allow for the preservation of habitat and species in Another habitat category is comprised of native, designated conservation areas. Alternatives: All alternatives propose new less altered habitats where the Santa Rosas and development, each of which would be subject to the associated alluvial fans and canyons overlap in the Areas where non-covered sensitive species occur same standards imposed under the Preferred western and southern portions of the Planning area. are identified in the General Plan, and the Plan Alternative. Therefore, no alternative is considered These remaining areas of native habitat sustain both requires the preparation of special studies for superior in regard to impacts associated with common as well as some sensitive desert wildlife projects proposed in those areas. Those studies will biological resources, although the No Project species and plant communities. provide an assessment of the potential impacts, and Alternative and Alternative 1 could result in recommend mitigation measures if necessary. slightly more preservation of habitat. The General Plan Area is within the planning area for the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat The General Plan also designates Natural Open Conservation Plan (MSHCP). On lands not Space for hillside areas on the west and southwest designated for conservation, future development portions of the City, which are areas of potential will be required to pay a mitigation fee to ensure habitat for the endangered Peninsular Bighorn the future availability of funds to purchase Sheep. The Natural Open Space designation will conservation lands. These fees are intended to not result in development in these areas, and will offset the potential impacts of that development on protect these lands for the long term. the natural environment. Seven sensitive species are not covered by the provisions of the MSHCP. Existing regulations, including the provisions of the MSHCP, the requirements enforced by the California Department of Fish and Game, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Army Corps of Engineers will continue to be enforced by the City. The General Plan acknowledges these requirements, and includes policies to maintain their implementation for future projects as they are proposed.

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Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures CULTURAL RESOURCES Cultural Resources are important for understanding Implementation of the General Plan Update will This EIR includes mitigation measures requiring the history and heritage of the community, and for facilitate new development throughout the Planning site specific surveys for development projects. preserving important archaeological and Area. Future development projects, including These mitigation measures will reduce potential paleontological resources. The City of La Quinta modifications to existing buildings, demolition, impacts to cultural resources to less than significant and the Coachella Valley region have a rich grading activities, site excavation, and construction levels. cultural past, as discovered through recent could potentially result in direct or indirect paleontological and archaeological surveys. disturbance or destruction of historic resources. The Alternatives: All the alternatives represent General Plan requires that site specific studies be development scenarios that would impact cultural The archaeological resources found within the conducted when development is proposed. resources in a manner similar to the Preferred General Plan Update Planning Area are remnants Alternative. Alternative 1, because of its reduced from prehistoric peoples who took advantages of Previous cultural surveys have identified intensities, could have slightly lower impacts. The the resources in ancient Lake Cahuilla. Cultural archaeological sites throughout the General Plan mitigation measures provided in this document will surveys have identified approximately 500 Planning Area. Vacant lands that have not been reduce impacts of all alternatives to less than archaeological sites, both historic and prehistoric, surveyed may contain buried archaeological significant levels. in the Planning Area. In addition to these sites, resources. Future construction activity on these approximately 170 isolates, or localities with fewer lands, including grading activity, site excavation, than three artifacts, have also been discovered. The and general construction could potentially result in majority of these archaeological finds are from direct or indirect disturbance or destruction of Native American tribes and include pottery, burned archaeological resources. Site surveys are required animal bone, grinding stones, chipped stone, by the City as part of the entitlement process, to cremation and other remains. Past surveys have assess potential harm to these resources. highlighted approximately 280 buildings and other built features in the General Plan Update Planning New development activity, including construction, Area as having the potential to be historically grading, and other site disturbances in moderate significant. and high sensitivity areas has the potential to impact paleontological resources. Areas that are determined to be of “high” paleontological sensitivity include areas made up of Pleistocene sediments, and sediments from ancient Lake Cahuilla beds. Pleistocene sediments are located in the southwestern portion of the Planning Area. Areas determined as being of “low” paleontological sensitivity are areas made up of Granitic Rock. These areas are located in the southwestern, southern and northwestern portion of the Planning Area.

M-6 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures GEOLOGY AND SOILS Although no active or potential active faults occur The General Plan Planning Area is located at the in the Planning Area, geological analyses The General Plan includes a number of policies and boundary of the Colorado Desert Province and the conducted for the General Plan indicates that the programs to minimize potential impacts to soils and Peninsular Ranges Province. Elevations within the Planning Area could experience moderate to very geology. This EIR also includes mitigation Planning Area generally range from approximately high ground shaking from earthquakes along the measures, ranging from grading specifications to 190 feet below sea level at the southeastern corner San Andreas Fault. These levels of ground shaking the requirements for project-specific geotechnical of the Planning Area, to 1,700 feet above sea level have potential to cause moderate to heavy damage, studies and the proper construction of trenches and in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains. especially to older and poorly constructed foundations. These mitigation measures will reduce buildings. Strong ground shaking can also result in the impacts associated with geology and soils to There are seven soil units that have been mapped in indirect hazards, including slope instability, less than significant levels. the Planning Area. liquefaction, settlement, landslides, and flood inundation. Alternatives: All alternatives represent the The Whitewater River traverses the northern part of construction of new development that would be the City. It is the primary drainage in the Coachella The soil types found in the City and Sphere exhibit subject to the same standards imposed under the Valley, and intermittently drains the surrounding a variety of characteristics, some of which may Preferred Alternative. No alternative is considered mountains as well as the northern portion of the influence geological hazards, including slope preferable as regards impacts associated with Valley. instability, collapsible, compressible, and expansive geology and soils. soils, corrosivity, ground subsidence, and erosion. The San Andreas Fault trends generally northwest Soil structure also affects drainage, infiltration, and to southeast, approximately 4 miles north of the other hydrological processes. planning area. As a result, the Planning Area is located in a physical and geographic area that is Development at the base of foothills and slopes of susceptible to strong seismic activity. Earthquakes the Santa Rosa Mountains may be subject to slope can result in impacts ranging from significant instability such as rockfall, and to a more limited property damage to the loss of public services and extent landslides, debris flow and rockslide. facilities and the loss of life. The most severe impacts in the La Quinta area would be expected to result from strong ground shaking associated with earthquakes.

M-7 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS The General Plan Update Planning Area is near Hazardous materials are highly regulated by Mitigation measures include in this EIR require four major transportation routes commonly used for various government agencies, such as Caltrans, the analysis of suspected and known hazardous transporting hazardous waste. Hazardous waste California Highway Patrol, and the US Department materials releases; requiring the proper reporting, cleanup on transportation routes is the of Transportation, and cleanup and containment of storing, transport and disposal of hazardous responsibility of various state and federal agencies. these accidents is monitored by these same materials for all existing and proposed agencies. Emergency evacuation and response development; compliance with airport planning There are no hazardous waste sites in La Quinta or plans are already developed in La Quinta to provide documents; and continued coordination of all Sphere of Influence that are listed pursuant to automated notification to residents during an responsible agencies for both everyday Section 65962.5(a). The closest listed site is the emergency, including hazardous waste spills. occurrences, and emergency situations. These Foster-Gardner facility in Coachella, located south mitigation measures will reduce impacts associated of Avenue 50 between Highway 86 and Highway The General Plan Update provides commercial and with hazardous materials to less than significant 111. light industrial land use designations, particularly levels. the Sphere,that will potentially increase the amount The General Plan Update Planning Area is located of hazardous materials transported throughout the Alternatives: All alternatives propose new near two airports, including the Bermuda Dunes area. development, which would be subject to the same Airport and the Jacqueline Cochran Regional mitigation measures as the proposed General Plan. Airport. Eastern portions of the La Quinta Planning Area The Alternative 1, which proposes development at are located within the Jacqueline Cochran Airport lower intensities, would have a somewhat lower La Quinta is situated at the base of the Santa Rosa Influence Area Zone D and E of the Compatibility risk associated with the materials, due to the Mountains, however, these areas are considered Plan. New development within the eastern reductions in building intensities. low wildfire zones. The open space and wilderness boundary of the Sphere of Influence will need to areas on the western portion of the City are made abide by Compatibility Plan polices and land use up primarily of Granitic rock and sparse desert regulations. vegetation. Therefore, there is limited vegetation to burn that could cause a major wildfire. The flat urbanized areas of La Quinta are considered very low wildfire areas.

M-8 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures HYDRLOGY Analysis and design of flood control structures in Implementation of the proposed General Plan will This EIR imposes mitigation measures associated the region is the responsibility of the Riverside facilitate urban development that will result in an with hydrology which would focus on the County Flood Control and Water Conservation increase in impervious surfaces, such as roadways, implementation of the Master Plans of Drainage, District (RCFC). In the Planning Area, the sidewalks, and parking lots. Water that would have and the control and management of runoff created Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) manages been re-absorbed into the ground will runoff to by new development. These mitigation measures regional facilities, which collect runoff from areas downstream areas. The City and CVWD have will assure that impacts associated with hydrology outside the City, including surrounding mountains. worked pro-actively to protect developed areas in are reduced to less than significant levels. Planning, maintenance and construction of the City from flood hazards. Currently, with the improvements for regional facilities fall within the exception of some golf courses that serve dual Alternatives: Alternative 1 would result in broad management responsibilities with which purpose as stormwater retention areas, no marginally lower impacts, due to a reduction in CVWD is charged. Regional facilities in the developed areas in the City are within a FEMA development densities. All alternatives would Planning Area include the Coachella Valley Special Flood Hazard Zone. implement Master Plan and site-specific mitigation Stormwater Channel (Whitewater River), the La measures, and would therefore result in less than Quinta Evacuation Channel, the Bear Creek Given that the region is seismically active, the significant impacts. System, the East La Quinta Channel and Lake Planning Area may be susceptible to flooding if Cahuilla. water reservoirs or water retention structures or facilities should fail. The City and Sphere are Zones A or AO in the Planning Area (areas within traversed by the Coachella Valley Stormwater the 100-year flood plain) occur within the Channel, which is protected in many areas by a Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel, the La system of sand levees. These have potential for Quinta Evacuation Channel, Bear Creek Channel, seismic settlement or liquefaction, especially in the and detention basins. event of strong ground shaking or long periods of rain. Earthquakes can also create seiche conditions within open waterbodies, such as Lake Cahuilla, canals, reservoirs and catch basins. The sloshing movement of water within containment structures can damage them, and water may overtop, potentially inundating areas down slope.

M-9 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures WATER RESOURCES/QUALITY The Coachella Valley and the Planning Area are The build out water demands for the La Quinta Mitigation measures included in this document are within the Colorado River Watershed, which drains Planning Area are estimated to be 54,467 acre-feet designed to reduce the demand for water, and lower into the Salton Trough. per year, consisting of 37,783 acre-feet within City the amount of water removed from the aquifer. limits and 16,684 acre-feet within the Sphere of These mitigation measures include conservation, The Whitewater River Subbasin (also known as the Influence. Build out water demands in the Planning use of efficient appliances and landscaping “Indio Subbasin”) encompasses approximately 400 Area are comprised of 30.6% within the Sphere and techniques, and the careful review of site specific square miles and underlies most of the Coachella 69.3% within City Limits. proposals to assure compliance with local and Valley. regional regulations. With implementation of these CVWD’s 2010 UWMP accounts for new growth mitigation measures, the impacts of build out of the Domestic and irrigation water is provided in the and development that is expected to occur within General Plan on water quality and water resources City and most of the Sphere by CVWD. the region including the Planning Area. Section 3.3 will be reduced to less than significant levels. Groundwater is the primary source for these water of the WSS describes the water demand projections supplies, which CVWD extracts from the for the La Quinta General Plan Update relative to Alternatives: Alternative 1 would result in Whitewater River Subbasin by means of a system the water demand projections set forth in the marginally lower impacts, due to a reduction in of deep wells within the region. CVWD data shows CVWD UWMP. The average per capita water development densities. All alternatives would that significant increases in total water demand in demand for the CVWD Service Area is implement mitigation measures, and would the Coachella Water Valley occurred during over approximately 482 gallons per capita per day therefore result in less than significant impacts. the decades from 1936 (92,400 acre feet/year (gpcd) for 2010 and is projected to be 423 gpcd for (AFY) to 376,000 AFY in 1999. CVWD estimates 2035. The 2010 per capita water demand for the La the annual overdraft balance to be -7,457 acre feet. Quinta Planning Area is approximately 473 gallons per day and is projected to be 361 gpcd in 2035. Currently CVWD has 21 active wells in the The water demand estimates for the La Quinta General Plan Area. In addition, there are 6 booster Planning Area for 2010 and 2035 are 2% and 15% stations and 10 planned or existing reservoirs in the more efficient compared to the CVWD estimates. Planning Area. Each reservoir has between 250,000 As such, water demands generated by the La and 12 million gallons of capacity, with a total Quinta Planning Area are fully captured and storage capacity of all reservoirs of 44.6 million accounted for within the CVWD UWMP gallons. projections. Therefore, water demand projections proposed by the La Quinta General Plan Update are The existing water demands for the La Quinta consistent with the water demand estimates utilized Planning Area are estimated to be 32,496 acre-feet by CVWD. per year, consisting of 31,227 acre-feet within City limits and 1,268 acre-feet within the Sphere of CVWD expects to have sufficient water supplies to Influence. serve development in the Planning Area through 2035 and beyond by utilizing a combination of water supply sources and treating surface water supplies.

M-10 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures LAND USE, POPULATION & HOUSING Land use designation as set forth under the General The 2002 General Plan contains a total of 34,112 Plan Update are consistent with the existing None required. acres within City limits, the Sphere of Influence development pattern and land uses within the City. and Planning Areas 1 and 2. Land use designations Land use designation and development as proposed Alternatives: The No Project alternative would include a variety of residential, commercial, open are not expected to divide residents, businesses, or have the least impacts on land use, population and space, and public facility development. existing communities. Rather, the General Plan housing. Update assures continuity between existing Although several land use changes are proposed development and planned future development by under the General Plan Update, the Preferred refining land use designations and assigning land Alternative does not significantly change the uses to vacant lands within City limits. overall development pattern for the La Quinta Planning Area. Planning Areas outside of City The Sphere of Influence represents the greatest limits have been reduced to the Sphere of Influence potential for land use conversion, since only 11.5% and no longer call out separate Planning Areas 1 of the area is currently developed. Under the and 2, which were part of the 2002 General Plan. General Plan Update, the Sphere of Influence is Under the proposed General Plan Update similar primarily designated for low-density residential land use designations have been consolidated to development, consisting of 7,378 acres out of the simplify land use descriptions. total 8,101.4-acre area. The remaining land use designations include 24.6 acres of medium/high The La Quinta General Plan Update proposes density residential, 285.1 acres of general different land use intensities compared to those set commercial, 63.8 acres of industrial/light forth under the Riverside County Land Use Plan. manufacturing, 29.8 acres of major community As proposed, the La Quinta General Plan Update facilities, and 319.9 acres for street rights-of-way. would result in the development of up to 21,270 Although the proposed land use development residential units, 2.7 million square feet of pattern is consistent with the 2002 General Plan, commercial, and 611,408 square feet of industrial implementation would result in a substantial land uses within the Sphere of Influence east of change to the existing character within the Sphere City limits. of Influence.

M-11 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures MINERAL RESOURCES The majority of incorporated regions of La Quinta The majority of lands within the City are None required. and the Sphere of Influence are located in MRZ-1, developed. Remaining vacant lands include infill or areas where adequate information indicates that lots, and scattered parcels located primarily within Alternatives: All alternatives represent similar no significant mineral deposits are present, or are the Cove area and southwestern portion of the City levels of development, in areas not considered to likely to occur. Most areas within MRZ-1, Limits, which may develop according to land use have significant mineral deposits. No impacts will particularly within incorporated La Quinta, are designations proposed by the General Plan Update. occur under any alternative. urbanized and developed. Land designated MRZ-1 in the Sphere of Influence is mostly agricultural The General Plan Update will also facilitate new land with small residential subdivisions and large development within the Sphere of Influence. The lot residential. majority of these lands are located within the MRZ- 1 designation, or an area determined as having no Lands that fall under the MRZ-3 designation make significant mineral resource deposits. Currently, up a small portion of La Quinta. These areas are this area is used for agricultural purposes, and there known to contain mineral deposits, however there are no known mineral leases, claims, or prospects have been no evaluations on the significance of located in the Sphere of Influence or vicinity. these resources. The MRZ-3 designation is found only in the southwestern portion of the City, Implementation of the General Plan Update, will including along the Coral Reef Mountains and have no impact on mineral resources within the within the Cove area. Aside from the development City or Sphere of Influence. that already exists within the Cove, the majority of land in the MRZ-3 zone is designated as open space. The Open Space designation does not permit mining activities, and requires the land to be preserved in its natural state. A small portion of MRZ-3, located just north of Avenue 60 and west of Madison, is undeveloped vacant land designated for low density residential development.

M-12 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures NOISE The General Plan Update Planning Area enjoys a Noise standards in La Quinta allow sensitive land The General Plan includes policies and programs to moderately quiet noise environment, especially uses to experience a maximum noise level of 65 assure that all future development meets the City’s within residential areas. Primary sources of noise dbA CNEL in outdoor living areas (patios, noise standards. The mitigation measures in this throughout the City are caused primarily by motor balconies and rear yards). Many of the roadway EIR include on and off site measures, and the vehicle traffic on City streets, particularly major segments exhibit future noise levels greater than 65 analysis of development proposals to assure roadways. This includes general operation of cars, dBA CNEL beyond the established right-of-way. compliance with acceptable noise levels. The trucks, and bus lines. Other noise generators in the Sensitive land uses, including residential uses, back implementation of these measures will assure that City include those associated with commercial uses up to many of these roads, and may potentially impacts associated with noise at build out will be and construction noise. These noises include experience noise levels beyond noise standards. less than significant. loading dock operations, trucks entering and The noise contours are based upon soft site leaving commercial centers, and mechanical conditions, and do not account for noise barriers, Alternatives: Alternative 1 would both result in equipment, such as fans, motors, and compressors. topography, or final roadway grades that may affect lower noise levels as a result of reduced building ambient noise levels. intensities and traffic volumes. Mitigation measures The Sphere of Influence consists primarily of would be applied to these alternatives as well, and agricultural and vacant lands, and vehicular traffic In addition to new residential development, would result in less than significant impacts. is much less than that found throughout the City. implementation of the General Plan Update will As such, the Sphere of Influence enjoys a quiet facilitate construction of new commercial and noise environment. Within the eastern Sphere, industrial land uses throughout the Planning Area. noise is generated from periodic flights and general With increased commercial and industrial aviation operations at the Jacqueline Cochran development, land use compatibility issues may arise Regional Airport. The airport is located adjacent to when sensitive land uses are located adjacent to the eastern boundary of the eastern Sphere, east of commercial/industrial areas. All land uses are Harrison Street. Within the northern Sphere of required to comply with exterior noise levels set forth Influence, noise is also generated from occasional in the City’s Noise Ordinance and General Plan, overhead flights associated with the Bermuda however additional mitigation measures to reduce Dunes Airport, which is located two miles impacts on sensitive uses. As a result, noise levels in northeast. excess of established noise standards generated from industrial and commercial uses are expected to be Hourly noise levels currently range between 57.7 less than significant with proper mitigation. dBA Leq to 72.9 dBA Leq.

M-13 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures POPULATION AND HOUSING Within the La Quinta City limits, build out of the Currently, there are approximately 23,489 dwelling proposed General Plan Update has the potential to The General Plan includes policies and programs to units within the City, 14,820 of which are occupied. result in the development of an additional 8,114 assure that all future development is consistent with Assuming an average household population size of dwelling units, which could support an additional development patterns in the City currently. This 2.53 and full occupancy of all existing dwelling 20,528 people, assuming an average household EIR requires the master planning of the Sphere to units, the existing population in La Quinta’s City occupancy of 2.53. At General Plan build out, the address land use intensities and densities consistent limits is estimated to be 59,427. population size within city limits is projected to be with the character of the area. With this mitigation, 79,956, based on full occupancy of the 31,603 impacts to population and housing will be less than In the Sphere of Influence, under Riverside dwelling units that are proposed under the General significant. County’s land use designations, there are Plan Update. This represents a 34% increase over approximately 7,173 acres of residentially the existing number of dwelling units and the Alternatives: The No Project Alternative and designated lands, of which 538 acres are currently associated population size. Alternative 1 would result in lower building developed. According to Riverside County, the intensities, and therefore lower growth, and would developed acreage contains an estimated 801 According to the Southern California Association therefore be less impacting than the Preferred existing low density residential dwelling units. of Government’s (SCAG) May 2011 growth Alternative. Based on the persons per household figure of 2.53, forecasts, it is projected that by 2035 La Quinta’s the existing population within the Sphere of permanent population will be 46,297 people, and Influence is estimated to be 2,027. there will be 17,948 occupied dwelling units within the City of La Quinta. SCAG projections assume an In total, the General Plan Update Planning Area is annual growth rate of approximately 0.85%. estimated to contain an existing population of 61,454. In the Sphere of Influence, under the County’s land use designation, there are approximately 7,175 acres of residentially designated lands. If the Sphere were to build out under the current County land use designations, a total of 11,946 residential units would be developed. The General Plan Update requires the completion of a master plan for the eastern Sphere, which could significantly change the number of units that are developed in this area. The General Plan Update allows for the development of up to 21,500 residential dwelling units, which would result in a built out population size of 54,396 within the Sphere of Influence. As proposed, implementation of the General Plan Update would increase the population within the Sphere of Influence by 24,174 people or 80% over the current County land use designations.

M-14 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES The General Plan area is located within the service Build out of the General Plan has the potential to The build out of the General Plan has the potential boundaries of a wide range of public services and generate 23,293 students. to significantly impact schools, police and fire facilities providers, which are listed below. services, wastewater treatment and solid waste General Plan build out will require approximately facilities without mitigation. The mitigation Public Schools: Desert Sands Unified School the library to have 268,704 volumes to serve the measures in this EIR, however, require the District, Coachella Valley Unified School build out population. coordination of new development proposals with District affected agencies, the payment of required fees Library Services: Riverside County Library Maintenance of the target ratio of 1 police officer designed to offset impacts, and the continued System per 1,000 residents at General Plan build out will conservation and reduction of the use of resources. Law Enforcement: La Quinta Police require a total of 134 sworn officers at build out. Department/Riverside County Sheriff’s The annexation of lands in the eastern Sphere Department The County Fire Department cites thresholds would have a negative fiscal impact on the City. Fire Protection: La Quinta Fire Department established in its 1986 Master Plan, which call for The General Plan includes policies that require both Electricity: Imperial Irrigation District one new fire station per every 2,000 dwelling units the preparation of fiscal impact analyses for Natural Gas: The Gas Company or 3.5 million square feet of commercial annexation proposals, and a Development development. Agreement in association with annexation. Domestic Water: Coachella Valley Water

District Development facilitated by build out of the General These mitigation measures will reduce impacts to Wastewater Collection/Treatment: Coachella Plan will result in wastewater generation in the public facilities and services to less than significant Valley Water District General Plan and annexation areas of levels. Solid Waste Management: Burrtec Waste and approximately 7.4 million gallons per day. Recycling Services, LLC Alternatives: Alternative 1 would result in lower Development facilitated by build out of the General intensities of development, and would therefore Plan and annexation areas will result in domestic reduce impacts associated with public facilities and water demand of approximately 54,467 acre feet. services. The same mitigation measures would be imposed on these alternatives, and impacts would Build out of the General Plan will result in the be less than significant. generation of 139,181 tons per year of solid waste.

M-15 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures RECREATIONAL RESOURCES The City owns, operates and maintains numerous The General Plan requires the provision of 5 acres None required. park facilities throughout incorporated areas of the of parkland for each 1,000 population. Based on General Plan Update Planning Area. Within the this standard, a population of 79,956 within the Alternatives: All alternatives would result in City Limits are five mini parks, including City at build out would require a total of 395 acres demands for recreational resources, although lower Eisenhower Park, Seasons Park, Saguaro Park, of parkland. Implementation of the General Plan intensity alternatives would reduce impacts Desert Pride and Velasco Park. Neighborhood Update has the potential to result in the associated with recreational facilities. parks include Fritz Burns Park, Adams Park, development of approximately 20,699 new Monticello Park, and Pioneer Park. There are three residential units within the Sphere at build out. community parks in La Quinta including the 16.75- Total population within the Sphere is expected to acre La Quinta Sports Complex, the 18-acre La reach 54,396 residents. At build out the Sphere Quinta Park, and the 17.5-acre Civic Center would require a total of 272 acres of parkland, if Campus. the Sphere were annexed to the City.

The Desert Recreation District provides park With implementation of required fees for new facilities and recreation programs throughout the development projects, implementation of the Coachella Valley. The District owns and operates General Plan Update will have less than significant the La Quinta Community Center, and is proposing impacts to existing parks within the City. a Discovery Center near Lake Cahuilla.

The La Quinta Community Center and Park is located off Avenida Montezuma, and includes a 6.5-acre park and 5,000 foot community center. The 6.5-acre park includes ballfields, basketball courts, playground, picnic tables, barbecues, restrooms, an outdoor amphitheater, outdoor exercise facilities, and drinking fountains. The Community Center includes the La Quinta Fitness Center, kitchen, and concessions.

Riverside County operates Lake Cahuilla Regional Park located in southwestern portion of La Quinta.

The Sphere of Influence has no public parks or other recreational facilities.

M-16 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Environmental Summary Matrix

Existing Conditions Project Impacts Mitigation Measures TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC The roadway segments analyzed are currently The majority of the roadway segments are forecast The mitigation measures included in this EIR focus operating at LOS A, with the exception of three to operate at acceptable levels of service (V/C on the maintenance of acceptable levels of service segments of Washington Street and one segment of ratios less than or equal to 0.90 or LOS D or better) through the adequate ultimate development of the Highway 111 that are operating at LOS B. The roadway segments identified below are City’s roadways, and the increase of alternative forecast to operate at an unacceptable LOS (V/C transport. Even with mitigation, however, traffic During the peak season, all but four of the 37 study greater than 0.90) based on assigned roadway impacts will remain significant and unavoidable. intersections operate at LOS C or better. The classifications. Three segments are projected to intersection of Washington Street/Highway 111 operate at LOS E and three at LOS F at 2035 build Alternatives: The No Project alternative will operates at LOS D, very near LOS C, during the out. represent the greatest reduction in trips, but all a.m. peak hour. During the p.m. peak hour, this alternatives would have significant and unavoidable intersection operates at a slightly worse delay Washington Street segments between Avenue traffic impacts. during peak season conditions, but remains at LOS 42 and Miles Avenue and between Highway D. The intersection of Avenida Bermudas/Avenue 111 and Eisenhower Drive 52 operates at LOS D and very near LOS C, during Madison Street between Avenue 54 and the a.m. peak hour. The intersection of Madison Airport Boulevard Street/Avenue 50 operates at LOS D during only Harrison Street between Airport Boulevard and the p.m. peak hour. Avenue 58

Of the 37 intersections analyzed, the following four are not expected to be able to accommodate all the required build out improvements and therefore have the potential to be operating at unacceptable levels of service by 2035 General Plan build out:

Washington Street @ Fred Waring Drive; Adams Street @ Miles Avenue; Jefferson Street @ Highway 111; Madison Street @ Avenue 50.

M-17 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

LA QUINTA GENERAL PLAN

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

I. INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A. Lead Agency

The City of La Quinta is the lead agency responsible for the preparation of this Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The contact person for the General Plan Update project is Mr. Andrew J. Mogensen, AICP, Planner. The City’s mailing address is 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA 92253, (760) 777-7125.

B. Introduction

This document has been developed utilizing a broad range of data sources, including City, County, regional and state information sources. In addition, a number of specialized analyses were conducted specifically for the General Plan Update. These analyses are cited throughout this document, and provided in their entirety in the Appendices.

I-1 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

C. Document Organization

The range of environmental issues associated with implementation of the General Plan, and evaluated in this EIR include land use compatibility, traffic and circulation, flooding and drainage, geotechnical and seismic safety, air quality, and biological and archaeological resources. Noise impacts, visual resources, the availability of public services and facilities and socio-economic impacts are also assessed.

Section II of this document describes the City and regional environmental setting and establishes the context in which the General Plan Update is analyzed. It discusses environmental resources and constraints, existing regional infrastructure, and identifies existing land use patterns and natural resources.

Section III provides a comprehensive analysis of existing conditions in the Planning Area, potential impacts to the physical environment that may occur as a result of the adoption of the proposed General Plan, and mitigation measures, where necessary, that will reduce the impacts to the greatest extent possible. Where impacts cannot be reduced to less than significant levels, the impacts remaining following mitigation are identified and quantified. Section III considers population, development patterns, modifications to the natural and man-made environment, and the availability of public services and facilities. A mitigation monitoring and reporting program is also included in this Section.

The EIR also identifies all CEQA-mandated topics to facilitate long-range planning. These include short-term use and long-term productivity of the affected environment, and the irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources, such as water resources, air quality and biological resources. It also considers growth inducing and cumulative impacts associated with adoption of General Plan land uses, and identifies and analyzes possible and appropriate alternative projects. A list of persons, organizations and documents consulted or referenced in the EIR are provided in Section IX.

D. CEQA and Other Requirements

This Environmental Impact Report has been prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statutes (Public Resources Code Section 21000-21177) and CEQA Guidelines of 2010 (California Code of Regulations Section 15000 et. seq.) as amended. As stated in CEQA, the adoption of a general plan, or element or amendment thereof, requires that findings be made regarding the identified significant environmental effects (Title 14, California Code of Regulations Section 15088). Substantial evidence must be provided to support the EIR, including an explanation of how impacts have been or will be mitigated.

This EIR is intended for use by decision makers, the general public and other responsible or interested agencies. It has been developed to serve as an informational and analytical document to provide an objective evaluation of environmental impacts associated with the proposed General Plan. This EIR includes mitigation measures that are provided to remove or reduce to acceptable levels the environmental impacts associated with the build out of the General Plan.

I-2 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

The mitigation measures and the final EIR shall become part of the project approval, and therefore an essential part of the General Plan.

A variety of City departments are responsible for review of the General Plan. In addition, a number of local, state, federal and regional agencies may review and comment on this draft EIR, including, but not limited to the California Office of Planning and Research, California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Coachella Valley Association of Governments, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), County of Riverside, adjoining cities and utility providers serving the Planning Area.

This EIR is intended to serve at a Program level. Therefore, additional environmental documentation, such as negative declarations, mitigated negative declarations and environmental impact reports may be required for development applications that the City may process in future.

An Initial Study was prepared for this project, as part of the Notice of Preparation (NOP). The NOP identified a number of issues as having potential to result in significant environmental impacts. Any issue area identified as having the potential to impact the environment is addressed in this document.

The Initial Study identified the following environmental issues where no impact is expected. Therefore, no further discussion of these specific issues is included in this EIR.

Biological Resources: would the project:

e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance?

Hazards and Hazardous Materials: would the project:

f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area?

Noise: would this project:

f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels?

Population and Housing: would the project:

b) Displace substantial numbers of existing housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere?

c) Displace substantial numbers of people, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere?

I-3 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

E. Project Location and Description

1. Project Location

The City of La Quinta General Plan Update Planning Area encompasses approximately 48.3 square miles situated in the south central portion of the Coachella Valley, in central Riverside County, California (please see Exhibit I-1, Regional Location Map). The Planning Area is generally bounded on the north by lands south of Hidden River Road, on the south by Avenue 64, on the west and southwest by the Santa Rosa Mountains, and on the east by Harrison Street (please see Exhibit I-2, Vicinity Map). The General Plan Update Planning Area is comprised of lands within the City’s corporate limits, as well as the City’s Sphere of Influence.

City Limits The Planning Area is located within the following US Geological Survey (USGS) Quadrangles: La Quinta, Indio, Palm Desert, and Valerie, California.

The incorporated limits of the City of La Quinta encompass 35.7± square miles, which are developed for a range of residential, resort and resort residential, commercial and open space uses.

Lands within the City limits may also be described as follows:

The northern Sphere area is located generally north of Fred Waring Drive and east of Washington Street, extending to Adams Street. This area is partially developed, and consists of scattered residential development and commercial nurseries. The eastern Sphere is generally located east of Monroe Street to Harrison Street, between Avenue 52 and Avenue 62. These lands are primarily comprised of agriculture, lower density residential uses, and limited commercial development.

I-4 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

The Sphere of Influence of the City of La Quinta may also be described as follows:

I-5 City of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General City of Quinta La La Quinta, California Quinta, La Regional Location Regional I-1

0 6 . 1 9 . 1 2 Ci t y of La Qui nt a Ge ne r al Pl an EI R La Qui nt a, Cal i f or ni a Vi c i ni t y Ma p I-2

09.08.11 Legend

Current City Limit Fred Waring Ave Waring Fred Sphere of Influence

Washington St Washington CITY OF LA QUINTA

Source: City of La Quinta General Plan Boundary, February 25, 2010 Jefferson St Jefferson

A venue 50Avenue Madison St Madison A venue 52Avenue

Monroe St Monroe Blvd Airport Harrison St Harrison

A venue 62Avenue

A venue 64Avenue

Source: USGS 7.5 Minute Topographic Maps: La Quinta, CA 1959, Photorevised 1980 Martinez Mtn., CA 1981, Photorevised 1988 Indio, CA 1956, Photorevised 1972

Valerie, CA 1956, Photorevised 1972 09.08.2011 Exhibit City of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General Quinta La of City G eneral Plan Planning Area BoundariesArea Planning Plan General I-3 L a Quinta, California Quinta, La Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

2. Project Description

The purpose of this EIR is to assess the environmental constraints and opportunities associated with the adoption and implementation of the proposed La Quinta General Plan Update, and evaluate the impacts of build out of the General Plan Land Use Map (please see Exhibit I-5). The EIR summarizes the land use designations and the major goals and policies established in the General Plan. It utilizes a range of technical data, which has served as the basis for evaluating a variety of environmental issues relevant to the City and its Sphere.

Environmental issues considered in this EIR include but are not limited to the following: land use compatibility, traffic and circulation, flooding and hydrology, geotechnical and seismic safety, biological and archaeological resources, and noise impacts. In addition, the EIR considers the availability of public services and facilities, as well as socio-economic impacts associated with General Plan implementation.

These issues are addressed on approximately 30,957 acres (48.3± square miles) encompassed within the proposed General Plan Update Planning Area boundaries. Of these, 22,855.5± acres (35.7± square miles) are within the City limits, and 8,101.4± acres (12.6± square miles) acres are within the two Sphere areas. Hereinafter, the area addressed under the proposed project is also referred to as the “General Plan area” or the “Planning Area”.

The General Plan update process has been ongoing over the past 24 months, during which time the City has solicited the feedback of community members to consider the community’s overall and specific goals. The City has held a series of public workshops, City Council meetings, and Planning Commission meetings to consider significant community issues.

The City has conducted a detailed assessment of existing land use designations, and has modified land use designations for application to lands in the Planning Area. The proposed General Plan land use designations consolidate previously used designations to implement the proposed General Plan Update within the City and its Sphere. Proposed Land Use Designations are shown in Table I-3.

The proposed Planning Area represents an overall reduction in acreage from the 2002 General Plan, as a result of substantial modifications in the Planning Area boundaries. The 2002 General Plan encompasses 53,498 acres in its Planning Area, whose boundaries include the City corporate limits, lands in the City’s Sphere. Approximately 31,360 acres contiguous with the City’s Sphere were included in the 2002 General Plan planning area, but are not included in the proposed General Plan Update. The proposed General Plan Planning Area represents a decrease of 22,541 acres, or 42.9 percent from the 2002 General Plan.

As previously noted, the Sphere of Influence areas have been determined by LAFCO to be a logical extension of the City’s boundaries over the long term. General Plan land use designations that have been assigned to lands in the Sphere areas are consistent with those in the 2002 General Plan, and will remain in effect upon adoption of the General Plan Update. These lands are analyzed in this EIR.

I-9 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

Existing Land Use Currently, the City is governed by the City of La Quinta General Plan adopted on March 20, 2002 (“2002 General Plan”). As previously noted, lands within the 2002 General Plan planning area include those within the City of La Quinta corporate limits as well as two Sphere of Influence areas and two additional planning areas outside the Sphere (Planning Area 1 and Planning Area 2). The 2002 General Plan Land Use Map (please see Exhibit I-3), shows the Planning Area boundaries and land use designations.

The proposed General Plan Planning Area retains the same general boundaries of the incorporated limits, although some changes have occurred due to annexations subsequent to the adoption of the 2002 General Plan. The proposed Planning Area includes two Sphere areas, further discussed below. The following describes existing uses within the City limits and the two proposed Sphere areas, as well as the 2002 General Plan land use allocation.

City of La Quinta Corporate Limits The current city limits are generally bounded on the west by Washington Street and the Santa Rosa Mountains, on the north by lands south of Hovley Lane East, on the east by Jefferson Street and Monroe Street, and on the south by Avenue 62 and Avenue 64. Topographically, the City is situated on a flat valley floor surrounded by low mountains, foothills and alluvial fans characteristic of the desert environment. The valley floor is the site of most of the City’s developed areas, while surrounding mountains and foothills have been designated and are retained as open space. The City has historically contained large areas of agriculture on the valley floor, but this has changed in recent years with increased urbanization. Development within the City limits is now primarily residential, commercial and resort oriented.

Current Land Use Designations in the City As is typical of other low density residential and resort developments in the Coachella Valley, the 2002 General Plan applies residential land use designations in the City ranging from Very Low Density to High Density. Low Density residential is the predominant residential designation, comprising 76% of all residential lands in the City. These include the numerous golf course communities for which La Quinta is well known. Approximately 17% of residential lands in the City are currently designated Medium Density Residential, which is primarily found in the Cove community as well as near Highway 111 in the northern incorporated area. Lands designated for High Density Residential comprise only 1% of residential lands. These are generally found north of Avenue 48, between Adams Street and Dune Palms Road, and in the far northwest corner of the City along Washington Street.

The 2002 General Plan designates approximately 6% of lands in the City for commercial uses, including Mixed/Regional Commercial, Community Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Commercial Park, Office, Tourist Commercial, and Village Commercial. Of these, the most prevalent are Mixed/Regional Commercial, which accounts for 33% of commercial lands, and Tourist Commercial at 29%. Lands designated for commercial and office uses are principally within the Village area, and along Washington Street, Highway 111, Jefferson Street, and Monroe Street. Under the 2002 General Plan, there are no lands designated for Industrial uses within the City limits.

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Lands designated for recreational and open spaces include Parks, Open Space, Golf Course Open Space and Watercourse/Flood Control. These land use designations comprise a total of 10,948 acres, or 53%, of the 2002 General Plan land use plan. These designations occur throughout the City, and correspond to existing uses of these types. The General Plan also allocates limited lands (approximately 191 acres, or less than 1%) for Major Community Facilities within the City limits.

Existing Land Uses in the City The City’s geographic and topographical setting has significantly influenced land use patterns. The City is bordered by the Santa Rosa Mountains to the west and south, and development in the City has therefore occurred along the foothills and on the valley floor to the east and north of these landforms. The City is also served by a network of regional and local roadways. The backbone system is provided by U.S. Interstate 10, Highway 111 and State Highway 86. I-10 is a generally east to west roadway that occurs north of the planning area, and provides major inter- city connection between Valley communities as well as to Los Angeles to the west and Arizona to the east. Highway 111 runs generally northwest to southeast through the northern portion of the City. It serves as an intra-regional corridor in the Coachella Valley. State Highway 86 is a northwest to southeast trending roadway that provides access to communities southeast of the City along the Salton Sea as well as to Imperial County.

As might be expected given the land use designations described above, much of the existing development in the City is comprised of single-family residences at lower densities (up to four units per acre), with typically small, single-family detached units. Master-planned subdivisions and golf course communities are characteristic of many valley cities, including La Quinta. These lower density residential developments occur throughout the City. Areas of medium to higher density residential development are generally limited to the northern portion of the Cove community, as well as in the northern portion of the City. Lands within the City designated for residential uses have for the most part built out or are currently under development.

The City contains a variety of commercial uses, many of which are clustered along Highway 111 in the northern part of the City, as well as within the Village area. Along Highway 111, commercial uses include major retail centers with a variety of anchor tenants. This area also contains “big box” retail centers, including Walmart Supercenter, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target and Kohl’s, along with small shops, coffee houses, restaurants, banks, and service stations. Within the Village, there are a variety of small boutique-type shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes. Smaller, neighborhood scale commercial development which includes retail and office/professional uses, are located adjacent to existing neighborhoods throughout the City.

The City is located in a region renowned for resorts, and itself contains several hotel and resort properties. Among the most notable of is the La Quinta Resort, located on Eisenhower Road, north of the Cove community. Dating from the 1920’s, the resort, which includes historic structures and grounds, offers amenities including a variety of accommodations as well as recreational amenities such as tennis, swimming and is affiliated with five golf courses, including three PGA West courses.

I-11 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

There are a wide variety of recreational and open space uses, including City and County parks, located throughout the City. In addition to the golf courses described above, the City is home to numerous other public and private courses. The City is bordered to the west and south by foothills and mountain slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains, which encompass large areas of open space within and adjacent to the City.

City of La Quinta Sphere of Influence As has been described above, the proposed General Plan includes two Sphere areas: the northern Sphere and the eastern Sphere. The northern Sphere is generally bounded on the north by lands south of Darby Lane, on the west by Washington Street, on the south by lands north of Fred Waring Drive, and on the east by Adams Street. The eastern Sphere is generally bounded on the north by Avenue 52 and Airport Boulevard, on the west by Van Buren Street and Harrison Street, on the south by Avenue 62, and on the east by Monroe Street.

Current Land Use Designations in the Sphere of Influence The land use designation within the northern Sphere is Low Density Residential. Within the eastern Sphere, Low Density Residential is the predominant designation, occupying roughly 90% of these lands. Other designations apply to lands on the perimeter of this Sphere, with limited areas of Medium High Density Residential and Neighborhood Commercial along Monroe Street, a small parcel of General Commercial along Van Buren Street, an approximately 2 mile north-to- south strip of General Commercial designation along Harrison Street, and limited Industrial lands near the intersection of Airport Boulevard and Harrison Street.

Current Land Uses in the Sphere of Influence The northern Sphere contains a mix of single-family residential development and some remaining commercial nurseries. The eastern Sphere is comprised of agricultural lands, single- family residential development, as well as large lot residential areas, small nurseries and vacant lands.

Surrounding Land Uses The City of La Quinta is surrounded by the cities of Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio, Coachella, and the County of Riverside. To the north, surrounding lands are within the jurisdictions of Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and a small portion of unincorporated Riverside County. The land uses are comparable to those in the northern portion of La Quinta, with low-density residential neighborhoods, commercial uses, and entertainment facilities. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is located immediately west of Washington Street in Indian Wells. It is a 55-acre tennis and entertainment facility with a year-round, world-class tennis club and 16,000 seat stadium.

To the northeast and east are the cities of Indio and Coachella, which are characterized primarily by commercial and residential uses. There are several large commercial centers along Highway 111 in the City of Indio. Residential developments in Indio and Coachella are generally open neighborhood developments such as those found in northern areas of La Quinta, in contrast to private gated communities more characteristic of those found in southern La Quinta.

There are two unincorporated communities east of La Quinta: Thermal and Vista Santa Rosa. The Vista Santa Rosa Community is a County-recognized community of interest, extending from

I-12 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

Avenue 50 on the north, to Monroe Street on the west, to State Route 86 (Harrison Street) on the east, and south to Avenue 66. Land uses in Vista Santa Rosa include farming, rural residential, equestrian activities and polo facilities.

Land uses in Thermal include residential and commercial development, as well as light industrial uses associated with agricultural production. The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport is immediately east of the La Quinta Sphere of Influence within the westerly portion of Thermal.

To the east and south of the La Quinta Planning Area are lands within unincorporated Riverside County as well as areas subject to Native American Tribal jurisdiction. Land uses in these areas are primarily agriculture, scattered single-family residential, and open space.

Lands to the west are primarily within the Santa Rosa Mountains that lie within the County of Riverside and are designated for open space. The Santa Rosa Mountains rise in sharp relief from the valley floor, and provide a visually dramatic and scenic backdrop against which the City and the region are set.

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City of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General Quinta La of City Exhibit Current General Plan Land Use MapLandUse Plan General Current I-4 La Quinta, California Quinta, La Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

F. Statistical Summary: General Plan Land Use

The Planning Area of the General Plan Update includes approximately 22,855 acres of lands within the City’s corporate limits, and 8,101 acres within the City’s Sphere, which are the subject of this analysis. The various land use scenarios associated with development intensities and types are shown on the General Plan land use maps presented herein.

The recommended project alternative is represented by the Preferred Alternative land use scenario, which is considered in the main body of the EIR. The Preferred Alternative land use map is shown in Section III, and the statistical summaries associated with this map are shown in Table I-1 and Table I-2, below. In Table I-3, the preferred land use designations are defined and appropriate development types shown categorically. It is important to note that because of the reduction in the Planning Area from the 2002 General Plan, the General Plan Update results in a reduction in acreage in most land use categories.

Section V of this EIR provides an analysis of three other land use alternatives. These include the No Project Alternative, which implements the 2002 General Plan; Alternative 1 and Alternative 2.

I-15 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

Table I-1 Preferred Alternative General Plan Update Land Use Acreage Summary # Acres % of City City # Acres % of Land Use Designation Limits Limits Sphere Sphere LDR Low Density Residential (0-4 du/gross acre)1,3 5,589.7 24.4% 7,378.1 91.1% M/HDR Medium-High Density Residential (0-16 du/gross acre)2,3 1,666.0 7.3% 24.6 0.3% Residential Subtotal 7,255.7 31.7% 7,402.7 91.4% GC General Commercial 569.6 2.5% 285.1 3.5% TC Tourist Commercial 345.5 1.5% 0 0.0% VC Village Commercial 90.0 0.4% 0 0.0% Commercial Subtotal4 1,005.1 4.4% 285.1 3.5% I/LM Industrial/Lgt. Mfg. 0 0.0% 63.8 0.8% Industrial/Light Manufacturing Subtotal4 0 0.0% 63.8 0.8% Major Community Facilities 446.5 2.0% 29.8 0.4% Open Space- Natural 6,933.3 30.3% 0.0 0.0% Open Space- Recreation 5,259.2 23.0% 0.0 0.0% Street Rights-of-Way 1,955.7 8.6% 319.9 3.9% Other Land Uses Subtotal 14,594.7 63.9% 349.7 4.3% TOTAL 22,855.5 100.0% 8,101.4 100.0% 1Includes single-family attached and detached housing units. 2Includes single-family attached and detached and multi-family housing units. 3 Future residential development is assumed to occur at 75% of the maximum density permitted. 4 Assumes 22% lot coverage for commercial and industrial development. Assumes 70% of TC and VC developed as commercial.

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Table I-2 General Plan Update Build Out Summary: City Limits Land Use Designation Developed Vacant Total Existing Potential Total Units Units Units Low Density Residential 4,006.0 1,583.7 5,589.7 20,834 4,752 25,586 Medium/High 1,292.4 373.6 1,666.0 2,655 3,362 6,017 Density Residential Residential Subtotal 5,298.4 1.957.3 7,255.7 23,489 8,114 31,603 Existing SF Potential SF Total SF General Commercial 385.6 184.0 569.6 3,695,282 1,763,309 5,458,591 Tourist Commercial 206.6 138.9 345.5 1,979,889 1,331,106 3,310,996 Village Commercial 77.1 12.9 90.0 738,865 123,623 862,488 Commercial Subtotal 669.3 335.8 1,005.1 6,414,036 3,218,039 9,632,074 Major Community Facilities 252.7 193.8 446.5 Open Space - Natural 2,171.6 4,761.7 6,933.3 Open Space - Recreation 4,392.2 867.0 5,259.2 Street Rights-of-Way 1,764.6 191.1 1,955.7 Grand Total 14,548.8 8,306.7 22,855.5

Table I-3 General Plan Update Build Out Summary: Sphere of Influence Land Use Designation Developed Vacant Total Existing Potential Total Units Units Units Low Density Residential 551.5 6,826.6 7,378.1 801 20,480 21,281 Medium/High 0.2 24.4 24.6 - 219 219 Density Residential Subtotal 551.7 6,851.0 7,402.7 801 20,699 21,500 Existing SF Potential SF Total SF General Commercial 28.6 256.6 285.1 273,760 2,458,797 2,732,557 Industrial/Lgt. Mfg. 0 63.8 63.8 - 611,408 611,408 Major Community Facilities 28.17 1.61 29.8 Street Rights-of-Way 319.93 0 319.9 Grand Total 928.4 7,173.0 8,101.4

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Table I-4 General Plan Update Build Out Summary: Entire Planning Area Land Use Designation Developed Vacant Total Existing Potential Total Units Units Units Low Density Residential1,3 4,557.5 8,410.3 12,967.8 21,635 25,232 46,867 Medium/High Density2,3 1,292.6 398.0 1,690.6 2,655 3,582 6,236 Residential Total 5,850.1 8,808.3 14,658.4 24,290 28,814 53,103 Existing SF Potential SF Total SF General Commercial 414.2 440.6 854.7 3,969,042 4,222,106 8,191,148 Tourist Commercial 206.6 138.9 345.5 1,979,889 1,331,106 3,310,996 Village Commercial 77.1 12.9 90.0 738,865 123,623 862,488 Total4 697.9 592.4 1,290.2 6,687,796 5,676,835 12,364,631 Industrial/Lgt. Mfg. 0.0 63.8 63.8 - 611,408 611,408 Major Community Facilities 280.9 195.4 476.3 Open Space - Natural 2,171.6 4,761.7 6,933.3 Open Space - Recreation 4,392.2 867.0 5,259.2 Street Rights-of-Way 2,084.5 191.1 2,275.6 Grand Total 15,477.2 15,479.7 30,956.9 1 Includes single-family attached and detached housing units. 2 Includes single-family attached and detached and multi-family housing units. 3 Future residential development is assumed to occur at 75% of the maximum density permitted. 4 Assumes 22% lot coverage for commercial and industrial development. Assumes 70% of TC and VC developed as commercial.

I-18 Terra Nova/ La Quinta General Plan EIR Section I. Introduction and Project Description

Table I-5 City of La Quinta General Plan Proposed Land Use Designations Land Use Designation Purpose of Land Use (Density) Residential Land Uses Low Density Residential, This land use designation is appropriate for single family (LDR) residential development, whether attached or detached. The (0-4 dwelling unit per gross density of individual parcels is further refined in the Zoning acres) Ordinance. These lands are typically developed as subdivisions, country club developments, or master planned communities. On lands used for equestrian purposes, lots must be a minimum of one acre. Clustered housing projects (including condominiums), providing common area open space, appropriately scaled commercial development serving the project or amenities are also appropriate under this designation, with the approval of a Specific Plan. In the Sphere of Influence, the Low Density Residential designation is applied as a temporary designation, in anticipation of the preparation of a Master Plan for the area

Medium/High The Medium/High Density designation is designed to Density Residential, (M/HDR) accommodate a broad range of residential land uses, (0-16 dwelling units per gross including small-lot subdivisions, duplex, condominium and acres) apartment projects. The density of individual parcels is further refined in the Zoning Ordinance. Specific Plans may be appropriate for clustered development in the lower density zones, but are not required. Uses that may be appropriate with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit include mobile home parks and subdivisions and bed and breakfast facilities. Small retail stores that provide neighborhood conveniences, are less than 5,000 square feet, and on parcels of up to one acre, may be allowed with approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

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Table I-5 City of La Quinta General Plan Proposed Land Use Designations Land Use Designation Purpose of Land Use (Density) Commercial Land Uses General Commercial (GC) This land use designation applies to the majority of commercial land in the City. The full range of commercial uses can occur within this designation, ranging from supermarkets and drugstores in a neighborhood shopping center, to major national retailers in large buildings. General Commercial uses also include professional offices, service businesses, restaurants, hotels or motels, research and development and warehousing or similar low impact quasi- industrial projects. Mixed use development is also appropriate in this designation. Mixed use projects can include vertical mixed use – where retail occurs on the ground floor, with residential units above; horizontal mixed use – where retail/ office uses and higher density residential occur next to each other, and are integrated through pedestrian connections and common areas; or mixed use added to existing commercial development – where the residential project abuts or wraps around an existing commercial development.

Tourist Commercial (TC) This land use designation is specifically geared to tourism- related land uses, such as resort hotels, hotels and motels, and resort commercial development, such as conference centers, restaurants, resort-supporting retail and services (including day spas and similar personal services). Time share, fractional ownership or similar projects may also be appropriate in this designation, with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

Village Commercial (VC) The Village Commercial designation applies specifically to the traditional commercial core of the City, and allows specialty retail – such as boutiques and art galleries – as well as restaurants, professional offices and services, and hotels. Apartments, condominiums and live-work space is also appropriate in this designation. As established in Policy LU- 7.1, mixed use development is allowed in this designation. Mixed use projects can include vertical or horizontal combinations of land uses that are integrated through pedestrian connections and common areas; or can be residential units added to existing commercial development.

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Table I-5 City of La Quinta General Plan Proposed Land Use Designations Land Use Designation Purpose of Land Use (Density) Industrial Land Uses Industrial/Light This land use designation applies only to land currently Manufacturing (I/LM) located in the Sphere of Influence. Therefore, this land use designation would only become applicable if the designated lands are annexed into the City. Appropriate land uses include business parks; value-added non-polluting industrial uses operating entirely within existing buildings; airport and aircraft related businesses; warehousing and distribution; and light manufacturing. Outdoor storage as an ancillary use when a structure is the primary use on the property can be permitted entirely screened from public view. Commercial retail and office uses that support industrial projects are also appropriate. With the approval of a Conditional Use Permit, more intense industrial uses, including appliance and furniture manufacturing, metal product manufacturing and transportation equipment manufacturing may be appropriate. All projects proposed within this designation will be compatible with surrounding land uses or land use designations, and will mitigate their environmental impacts to less than significant levels.

Other Land Uses Major Community Facilities This land use designation has been assigned to existing or planned municipal, educational or public facilities, such as City and School District facilities and buildings, utility facilities and buildings, fire stations and similar uses.

Open Space-Natural (OS-N) This land use designation is applied to areas of natural open space, whether owned by private parties or public entities. With the exception of trail or trailhead development, little development is permitted in this designation. Ephemeral streams, man made flood control channels and the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel are designated Natural Open Space. Lands purchased by conservation organizations for the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan can be included in this designation.

Open Space-Recreation The Recreational Open Space designation applies to parks, (OS-R) recreation facilities (such as driving ranges, club houses and athletic facilities), public and private golf courses, and public parking lots.

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Residential Land Uses Under the Preferred Alternative, a total of 7,255.7 acres of land are allocated to residential uses in the City’s corporate limits, and 7,402.7 acres in the Sphere areas, for a total of 14,658.4 acres throughout the Planning Area. There are currently 23,489 dwelling units in the incorporated City and 801 in the Sphere. The estimate of future build out units in the Planning Area included in this document is based on an assumption that 75% of the maximum densities permitted will be developed. The 8,808 acres of vacant lands designated for residential uses under the Preferred Alternative would therefore accommodate an additional 28,813 dwelling units. Of these, 8,114 would occur in the City limits and 20,699 within the Sphere areas.

At build out, the Planning Area is expected to generate a total of approximately 53,103 dwelling units, including both existing and potential units. This compares with 78,952 units under the 2002 General Plan. The proposed General Plan therefore provides for build out of 25,849 fewer dwelling units, or a decrease of 32.7% from the 2002 General Plan. Therefore, the proposed General Plan represents a less intense development scenario than does the 2002 General Plan.

Commercial Land Uses Under the Preferred Alternative of the General Plan Update, approximately 1,290 acres are designated for commercial development, including General, Tourist and Village Commercial uses in the City and Sphere. This compares with approximately 1,997 acres for all commercial designations under the 2002 General Plan. Therefore, under the General Plan Update, the Preferred Alternative will result in a decrease of 707 acres of lands allocated for commercial development, which is 35.4% less than the 2002 General Plan.

To estimate future build out square footage of commercial units in the General Plan Update Planning area, it is assumed that commercial lands will build out with 22% lot coverage, including buildings and other ancillary structures. For Village and Tourist Commercial lands, it is assumed that 70% of development will be commercial uses.1 Based on this assumption, the 1,290 acres designated for commercial uses will result in 12,364,631 square feet of commercial space. This compares to 19,137,651 square feet under the 2002 General Plan. Therefore, The General Plan Update proposed a 35.4% decrease compared to the 2002 General Plan for commercial uses.

The General Plan proposes the largest concentrations of General Commercial lands within City Limits along Highway 111, with smaller clusters along Monroe Street and Van Buren Street, and an approximately 2-mile long strip along Harrison Street in the eastern Sphere. There are also smaller areas designated for General Commercial use scattered through the City and Sphere areas, which are expected to develop as neighborhood scale retail and office uses. Tourist Commercial lands also occur throughout the Planning Area, corresponding with existing resort areas. Lands designated Village Commercial are located in The Village area of La Quinta.

1 The proposed General Plan Update provides for mixed use residential as a component of General Commercial, Tourist Commercial and Village Commercial. The potential for residential development in these designations cannot be currently quantified, given that development standards and location will be determined in the Zoning Ordinance. Therefore, these units have not been included in build out calculations.

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Industrial/Light Manufacturing The 2002 General Plan allocates 1,947 acres to Industrial uses; it assumes a lot coverage of 34%, and provides for development of 28,835,849 square feet of industrial space. By comparison, the Preferred Alternative allocates 63.8 acres to lands designated Industrial/Light Manufacturing, which occur entirely within the eastern Sphere. The proposed General Plan assumes lot coverage for industrial uses of 22%, and provides for approximately 611,408 square feet of Industrial/Light Manufacturing uses at build out. This represents a reduction of approximately 98% from the 2002 General Plan. This reduction is primarily due to two factors. First, the reduction in lot coverage assumed for Industrial development (22% under the proposed General Plan versus 34% under the 2002 General Plan); this factor lowers the density and total square footage expected to be built out on these lands. Secondly, the planning area boundaries are substantially different under the proposed General Plan, and no longer include lands to the east in proximity to the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, where most of the industrial uses were planned under the 2002 General Plan.

Major Community Facilities The 2002 General Plan provides for approximately 299 acres for Major Community Facilities. The proposed General Plan provides for 476 acres of lands designated “Major Community Facilities”, which includes public service facilities, as described above, as well as other public and quasi-public facilities. Therefore, the proposed General Plan would provide approximately 59% more land for Major Community Facilities uses than does the 2002 General Plan. This increase is primarily due to additional lands having been designated for public purposes by the City over the past ten years.

Open Space Under the 2002 General Plan, 14,120 acres are allocated for Open Space uses, including parks, golf courses, watercourses, floodways and mountainous areas. The Preferred Alternative proposes approximately 12,193 acres, a decrease of 1,927 acres, or 13.6% less than the 2002 General Plan. This is primarily due to changes to the planning area boundaries. Open Space lands south of Avenue 64 that were included in the 2002 General Plan planning area are excluded from the Proposed General Plan Update Planning Area.

Other Land Uses

Street Rights-of-Way The proposed General Plan allocates lands for Street Rights-of-Way to ensure adequate provision for build out of a circulation network to serve future development. The 2002 General Plan did not specify lands allocated for this use. The Proposed General Plan allocates 2,275.6 acres for Street Rights-of-Way.

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City of La Quinta General Plan EIR Preferred Alternative Land Use Map I-5 La Quinta, California Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section II. Regional Environmental Setting

LA QUINTA GENERAL PLAN

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

II. REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

Introduction This Section of the EIR presents the regional and local setting of the General Plan Update, and sets the stage for the analysis provided in Section III. The environment in which La Quinta is located is characterized to give the reader a broad description of the issues that influence the City and its General Plan Update.

A. Aesthetics

The City of La Quinta is located within the Salton Trough, which is a low-lying area that was once covered by ancient Lake Cahuilla. The topography of the region progresses from the flat desert floor, where La Quinta is located, to the top of dramatic mountaintops that rise over 10,000 feet. The contrast between the flat desert landscape and the mountain peaks surrounding it provides views and picturesque landscapes for residents and visitors.

La Quinta is located along the eastern slope of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The Santa Rosa Mountains are the southern branch of the San Jacinto Mountains. Within these two mountain ranges is the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The Monument was created in 2000, in part to preserve the unique biodiversity within the region. The tallest mountain within this range is Mt. San Jacinto, which rises to an elevation of 10,804 feet. Mt. San Jacinto is the furthest north peak of the San Jacinto Mountains, and is only visible from the eastern portion of La Quinta, away from the foothills at the Valley margins.

The Santa Rosa Mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the city’s western boundary. Toro Peak is the tallest mountain in the Santa Rosa Mountains, rising to 8,717 feet. Closer yet, although much lower, are the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains, known as the Coral Reef Mountains. The Coral Reef Mountains are located within the La Quinta city boundary and rise about 1,000 feet above sea level. As their name implies, the Coral Reef Mountains look like giant coral reefs springing up from the valley floor. The Cove area of the City is situated within these mountains.

II-1 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section II. Regional Environmental Setting

Other mountains providing a visual resource for La Quinta include the San Bernardino Mountains to the northwest, Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, and the Indio Hills to the northeast and east.

The General Plan Update will result in growth and development throughout incorporated La Quinta and the Sphere of Influence, which may cause impacts to existing aesthetic and visual resources. A detailed analysis of visual impacts is addressed in Section III of this EIR.

B. Agriculture Resources

Agriculture has historically been a major economic sector in the eastern portion of the Coachella Valley, including La Quinta. Although most of the farms have within the incorporated regions of La Quinta no longer exist, agriculture is still an economic factor east of the incorporated boundary, within the proposed Sphere of Influence and beyond.

The Riverside County Important Farmland 2008 Map, developed by the California Department of Conservation, highlights areas within the Coachella Valley that are important agricultural producing lands. Prime Farmland includes areas with both good physical and chemical attributes able to sustain long-term agriculture production. Unique Farmland areas produce crops of statewide importance; however contain lower quality soils than those within Prime Farmland. Farmland of Local Importance are lands generally without irrigation, and which produce dry crops that may be important locally, but are not important for statewide agriculture production.1

A portion of incorporated La Quinta, and land within the proposed Sphere of Influence Planning Areas, contain lands listed as Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, and Farmland of Local Importance. In total, there are approximately 9,100 acres of such lands within the City limits and Sphere of Influence.2

The General Plan Update will facilitate new urban development on lands deemed important agricultural lands by the California Department of Conservation. Section III of this EIR provides analysis on the potential impacts to agricultural resources from implementation of the proposed General Plan Update.

1 Riverside County Important Farmland 2008 Map, prepared by California Department of Conservation, 2009. 2 As provided by City of La Quinta Planning Department through Riverside County Important Farmland GIS Data, http://redirect.conservation.ca.gov/DLRP/fmmp/county_info_results.asp.

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C. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gasses

Air quality in a given location is influenced by the type and concentration of pollutants emitted local and regionally. The Coachella Valley, including the City of La Quinta, is located within the Salton Sea Air Basin (SSAB). The SSAB shares a boundary with the San Diego Air Basin to the west, the South Coast Air Basin to the northwest, and the Mojave Desert Air Basin to the north. The SCAQMD is responsible for establishing the criteria by which air quality is measured in the Coachella Valley.

In the Coachella Valley, air quality has deteriorated over the last few decades due to increased development and construction activities both locally and regionally. While local emissions of pollutants affect air quality in the Coachella Valley, some of the air quality degradation can be attributed to sources outside of the SSAB, particularly from within the South Coast Air Basin, located west of the region.

Of all the criteria pollutants, ozone and suspended particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) are the most prevalent in the Coachella Valley; other pollutants are not believed to constitute significant threats to public health. Ozone and PM10 concentrations are recorded at monitoring stations in Indio and the Palm Springs International Airport. Data collected at local monitoring stations show a downward trend in amount of days over ozone and PM10 thresholds, however the Salton Sea Basin continues to be classified as a “serious” ozone non-attainment area.

The 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) was prepared to satisfy the State Implementation Plan requirements of the Clean Air Act, due to non-attainment status. In regards to PM10 levels, the region has also historically been designated as a serious non-attainment area for PM10, however due to new monitoring techniques that discount strong wind events, the SCAQMD has worked on re-designating the area from non-attainment to attainment for PM10. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved SCAQMD’s PM10 Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan in February 2010. This Plan details how the Coachella Valley is to proceed to improve its status from serious non-attainment to attainment for the PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

In addition to criteria pollutants, the emission of greenhouse gases also affects local and regional air quality. The City of La Quinta has prepared a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plan in order to systematically identify emission sources and reduce emission levels. The City, in keeping with AB 32, has set a reduction target of 10% below 2005 levels for the year 2020. The 2005 inventory estimated that community wide emissions totaled 460,946 metric tons of CO2e. Therefore, in order to achieve 2020 reduction targets, community wide emissions of GHG’s will have to be reduced to 414,852 metric tons of CO2e.

The 2035 General Plan Update will facilitate new growth in the region, which may impact air quality. Section III of this EIR will address the potential impacts on air quality.

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D. Climate

La Quinta is located in a subtropical desert characterized by hot dry summers and cool dry winters. The City’s climate is a direct result of the local geography and topography of the region.

La Quinta is located in the low-lying Coachella Valley on the eastern side of the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains. These mountains form a barrier between the moister coastal region to the west and the dry desert regions to the east and southeast. The mountains create a rain shadow effect on the Coachella Valley and reduce the amount of precipitation the Valley receives from winter storms that originate over the Pacific Ocean. Although the region remains dry most days of the year, the Valley does experience periodic rainfall from strong winter storms and summer monsoon thunderstorms.

The City of La Quinta experiences a dry subtropical desert climate. According to the Western Regional Climate Center, which measures average temperature and rainfall at the nearby Indio Fire Station, the average annual maximum temperature for the local area is 88.9° degrees, and average annual minimum temperature is 58.0° degrees.3 The region is characterized by summers with temperatures reaching well over 100° degrees during the day and staying above 70° degrees at night. July is the warmest month in La Quinta, with average maximum temperatures reaching 107° degrees. January is the coolest month, with average maximum temperature reaching 70.6° degrees. The coolest average minimum temperature also occurs in January, and reaches 39.1° degrees. The surrounding mountain temperatures are cooler than those on the valley floor, and typically experience a 5° degree Fahrenheit drop per 1,000-foot increase in elevation.4

La Quinta experiences periodic rainfall events primarily during the winter and summer seasons. The average annual rainfall is 3.31 inches per year. During the winter months, La Quinta receives an average of 2.01 inches of rainfall, with January typically being the wettest month. Winter rains are a result of low-pressure systems dropping south from the Gulf of Alaska and into Southern California. During El Nino years, the region can experience extended days of strong winter storms.

Summer rainfall in the Valley occurs as a result of the monsoon season, which extends from July through September when moist southeasterly winds draw moisture into the region from the Gulf of California and Mexico. La Quinta averages 0.70 inches of rainfall during the summer, with September averaging the most summer precipitation of 0.30 inches. Summer monsoon storms tend to be localized thunderstorm events that can drop heavy rainfall over short periods of time.5

3 Western Regional Climate Center, http://www.wrcc.dri.edu 4 “Technical Background Report to the Safety Element of La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update”, prepared by Earth Consultants, Inc., June 2010. 5 “Technical Background Report to the Safety Element of La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update”, prepared by Earth Consultants, Inc., June 2010.

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E. Biological Resources

The Planning Area is located within the Colorado Desert Sub-unit of the Sonoran Desert. The desert climate limits the types of vegetation that can be supported, and native vegetation is typically sparse. In higher elevations conditions are less extreme, with milder temperatures and higher annual rainfalls, which support a wider variety of plant and animal life.

In the Planning Area, naturally occurring habitat has largely disappeared as a result of agriculture and urban development. Vegetation in the City primarily takes the form of non-native landscape materials. However, native habitat is present on the slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains. In these areas, development potential has been limited by topography and restrictions on land use applied by local jurisdictions, including the City and County, through the application of Open Space land use designations, as well as through the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP).

The Planning Area is within the boundaries of the MSHCP, a regional planning effort that addresses the conservation of 27 species and 24 vegetation communities on more than 1.2 million acres in the Coachella Valley. The MSHCP has identified conservation areas throughout the Coachella Valley. In La Quinta, these are limited to lands in the Santa Rosa Mountains and its foothills, and are designated as Natural Open Space. Development on lands outside conservation areas is subject to payment of mitigation fees through the MSHCP. The MSHCP is further discussed in Section III-D.

As noted above, native vegetation in the City is most common within foothills, drainages and streams within and near the mountains. The most common native plant community in the Planning Area is Sonoran Creosote Bush Scrub, dominated by Creosote Bush, Burrobush, Brittlebush and similar common species. Other native plant communities include Sonoran Mixed Woody and Succulent Scrub, and Desert Dry Wash Woodland.

In the northern area of the City, windblown sandy habitat, including desert dunes and sand field habitats, have given way to stabilized sand habitats as a result of development. Natural communities have been degraded by the dominance of non-native and invasive species, and remaining vacant parcels are generally isolated. There are no sand field habitats within the City that have been identified for preservation in the MSHCP.

Desert Saltbush Scrub is prevalent in the Sphere. This plant community generally occurs on poorly drained soils with high salinity or alkalinity, as is common on agricultural lands which have lain fallow for long periods.

Common Wildlife Species There are a variety of common wildlife species in the Planning Area, which are supported by disturbed sand fields, saltbush scrub, agricultural and urban landscaping. Common species also occur in habitats on the southern and eastern edges of the Planning Area which have been less disturbed.

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Common insect species include Harvester Ants, Creosote Bush Grasshopper and Black Widow Spider. Common amphibians include California Toad and Pacific Tree Frog. Common reptiles found in the Planning Area include Zebra-tailed Lizard, Desert Horned Lizard, California Kingsnake and Colorado Desert Sidewinder. A variety of birds are found in La Quinta and its Sphere; these include the House Finch and House Sparrow, Abert’s Towhee, Mourning Dive and Red-tailed Hawk. Common mammals include bats, the Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Pocket Mouse and California Ground Squirrel.

Sensitive Species Special status species are those that are considered threatened or endangered under the California or federal Endangered Species Act. Several special status species are known to occur in the City or Sphere of Influence, most notably the Coachella Valley Fringe-Toed Lizard, Burrowing Owl, and Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. In addition to these species, habitat has been modeled for Coachella Valley milkvetch, Desert Tortoise and Palm Springs Pocket Mouse, although these species have not been observed in the City or Sphere. A complete discussion of sensitive species thought to occur in the Planning Area is included in Section III-D.

F. Cultural Resources

Cultural resources within the La Quinta General Plan Update Planning Area, includes paleontological remnants, artifacts from prehistoric cultures and more recent cultures, and culturally important buildings and structures.

During the late Miocene and early Pliocene era, or approximately 5 million years ago, the Salton Trough was an extension of the Gulf of California. Fossils from this time period have been found in sediment in the northern portion of the Coachella Valley, including the Painted Hills, Garnet Hill, and two places in the Indio Hills. In more recent time, repeated inundation of ancient Lake Cahuilla has resulted in the identification of fossils of snails and mollusks in the City and Sphere.

Early human settlement occurred throughout California approximately 8,000 to 12,000 years ago, during the beginning of the Holocene period. Native Americans occupied lands throughout the Coachella Valley during these ancient times. Historical records show that early Native American peoples in the Coachella Valley were from the Takic speaking Cahuilla tribe. Among this tribe were separate groups including the Pass Cahuilla, who occupied the modern day San Gorgonio Pass and Palm Springs area, the Mountain Cahuilla, who occupied the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains, and the Desert Cahuilla, who occupied the eastern Coachella Valley, which includes modern day La Quinta.

The first noted European explorations in the Coachella Valley occurred in 1823-1825 when Spanish explorers Jose Romero, Jose Maria Estudillo and Romualdo Pacheco led expeditions to find a route to current day Yuma, Arizona. These explorers traveled through the Coachella Valley on what was known as the Cocomaricopa Trail, which was an ancient Indian trading route. By the 1860’s, other European explorers, including William David Bradshaw, began traveling along the Cocomaricopa Trail and renamed it the Bradshaw Trail. Throughout the late 1800’s, the Bradshaw Trail was a commonly utilized route, until the completion of the Southern

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Pacific Railroad in 1876. By the 1870’s non-native settlements began to occur across the Coachella Valley, as new federal laws, including the Homestead Act and Desert Land Act, opened lands for new settlers. The discovery of underground water sources began to increase farming activities throughout the Valley in the early 20th century. By 1910, the date palm industry began to flourish in the region.

Tourism reached La Quinta and the Coachella Valley in the 1920’s, as the rich and famous of Hollywood began coming to the Valley to enjoy the beautiful scenery and climate. The La Quinta Resort was developed in 1926 and became a focus of the local economy.

The entire Coachella Valley began to boom after World War II, as more residents and visitors came to the area in pursuit of desert living and to enjoy newly developed golf facilities. Today, La Quinta continues to experience new growth and development based on this tradition.6

The General Plan Update will facilitate future growth in the City and Sphere of Influence Planning Areas. New development has the potential to impact cultural resources by both affecting identified cultural resources and those that may become unearthed due to grading activities. Section III of this EIR will address the impacts associated with cultural resources within the City of La Quinta and the Sphere of Influence Planning Areas.

G. Geology and Soils

Geology The Planning Area is located in a geologically complex and seismically active region. Much of Southern California, including the Coachella Valley and La Quinta, occurs along the boundary of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. These plates slide past each other in a northwesterly direction at a rate of approximately 2.5 inches annually, forming the San Andreas Fault system. Based on the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes, and its influence over seismic hazards in the area, the San Andreas is considered the “Master Fault” in Southern California. The Southern segment of the San Andreas fault zone passes approximately 4 miles to the northwest of the Planning Area.

The Planning Area is also located in proximity to other active fault zones, including the San Jacinto fault zone, which occurs approximately 16 miles to the south, as well as other smaller faults. The Planning Area is subject to seismic risks from several types of earthquake-producing faults. In addition to strong groundshaking from earthquakes, geological hazards that may affect the Planning Area include liquefaction, rockfall, and seismically induced settlement.

Section III-F, Geology and Soils, provides a detailed discussion of faults and associated hazards with potential to impact the Planning Area.

6 “Cultural Resources Technical Report for City of La Quinta General Plan (2010 Update), prepared by CRM Tech, July 8,2010.

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Soils Soils in the Planning Area are generally Holocene-age7 soils, comprised of alluvial, or waterborne sand and gravel, lacustrine (lake) sediments, and Aeolian (windborne) sandy soils in the valley portion of the Planning Area. Older, harder, crystalline rock that occurs in the mountains weathers and forms boulders or further erodes. The latter creates fine particles that are carried along canyons and drainages downslope, and are deposited as alluvial fans at the base of mountain slopes.

The Planning Area and region were inundated by ancient Lake Cahuilla as recently as 400 years ago. Lacustrine deposits may be up to 300 feet thick, and may form clay soils in the valley areas where these soils alternate in layers with alluvial fan sediments and rock debris from the adjacent mountains.

There are eleven primary soil series that have been mapped as occurring in the Planning Area. Nine of these are formed in alluvium: Carrizo Stony Sand, Carsitas Sands, Coachella Sands, Fluvents, Gravel Pits and Dumps, Gilman Sands and Loams, Indio Loams, Myoma Fine Sands, Salton Fine Sandy Loam. Except for Salton Fine Sandy Loam, these soils are generally well- drained. Two other soil types, Rock Outcrop and Rubble Lands dominate the western and southern portions of the Planning Area, in and near the Santa Rosa Mountains and alluvial fans.

Much of the valley, including the Planning Area, is subject to high winds, which lift soils from alluvial fans along the base of mountain slopes and canyons and other areas where loose, sandy soils occur. These sediments are carried along the central axis of the valley, generally from the northwest to southeast, creating a condition known as “blowsand”. This is further discussed in Section III-F, Soils/Geology, and in Section III-C, Air Quality. Where these soils are deposited they are subject to erosion. These soils are also generally considered compressible and unsuitable for development without the implementation of specialized grading techniques.

A more detailed analysis of constraints and opportunities associated with soils in the Planning Area is included in Section III-F.

H. Topography

The Coachella Valley and the City of La Quinta are located in a region that is subject to complex and dynamic geologic forces that have, and continue to shape its dramatically varied topography. The area is situated at the margin of the Colorado Desert and Peninsular Range physiographic provinces. Each province comprises a distinct geologic and climatic region that has resulted in diverse and unique landscapes. The Colorado Desert province, which encompasses the valley floor portion of the Planning Area, is part of a low-lying basin extending from the Banning Pass to the border with Mexico. To the southwest, the Planning Area enters the Santa Rosa Mountains of the Peninsular Ranges province.

7 Deposited within the last 11,000 years.

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Portions of the foothills and eastern and northern facing slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains that comprise the southern and westernmost Planning Area and create views visible from the lower elevations. Deeply incised canyons and rocky washes drain the mountains and foothills and gradually descend into alluvial fans. From the base of the mountains, the Planning Area extends east and north along the valley floor, gently sloping along a large alluvial fan that forms the Cove area at the valley margin.

Elevations in the Planning Area range from approximately 190 feet below mean sea level in the southeastern portion of the eastern Sphere of Influence, to approximately 1,700 feet above mean sea level on the lower slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Development opportunities and constraints are informed by the area’s topography, with development generally limited to the valley floor.

II-9 USGS 7.5’ topo quads Indio. LaQuinta, Valerie, Martinez Mt. Martinez Valerie, LaQuinta, Indio. quads topo USGS7.5’

Sources: AMEC, 06.02.2010 Sources: 09.08.11

C ity of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General Quinta La of City Topography MapTopography II-1 L a Quinta, California Quinta, La Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section II. Regional Environmental Setting

I. Hazards and Hazardous Materials

The City of La Quinta is predominantly a residential community with scattered commercial centers and limited quasi-industrial areas. There are currently no heavy industrial facilities in the incorporated City or Sphere which generate large quantities of hazardous waste; however smaller scale hazardous/toxic material generators exist throughout the region. These include dry cleaning businesses, auto repair shops, gas stations, medical facilities, and pest control companies. Additionally, many of the large agricultural production areas within the eastern Sphere, and golf courses found throughout the City, use and store pesticides and fertilizers that can be harmful to human health. According to the Department of Toxic Substances Control, there are no hazardous waste sites in La Quinta or its Sphere listed under Government Code 65962.5 The closest site listed is the Foster-Gardner site, which is a fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing plant located in Coachella.8

There are also numerous transportation corridors running throughout the City and surrounding area, including Highway 111, State Highway 68, Interstate 10, and the Southern Pacific Railroad. These routes are used for transporting hazardous materials. The transporting of hazardous materials along these corridors presents risks associated with the accidental release, spill, or exposure of hazardous materials on existing and future populations.

The City of La Quinta adopted the Multi-Hazard Functional Plan in 1996 that addresses the planned response to natural and man-made emergencies, including the release or spill of hazardous materials.

Section III of this EIR will further discuss the impacts and precautions associated with hazardous materials.

J. Hydrology and Water Quality

Hydrology Although the climate in the Coachella Valley and the Planning Area are generally temperate, seasonal storms can produce significant amounts of precipitation within short periods of time. Winter storms are responsible for much of the area’s annual rainfall, and usually occur between November and April. However, the region and surrounding mountains may also experience localized thunderstorms at other times, especially during the summer monsoon season. Rapid snowmelt from the mountains may also result in flooding downslope, including within the Planning Area.

The Planning Area is subject to flash flooding along natural or man-made channels and sheet flooding across the valley floor. Although of short duration, flash floods result in high peak water volumes and velocities, which are frequently intensified by features of the local natural and built environment. Rocky mountain slopes are steep and generally impervious, allowing for little infiltration. Water collects rapidly, flowing into channels on the valley floor. Runoff flows

8 www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov, accessed November 2, 2010.

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frequently carry considerable debris such as mud, sand and rock fragments, which may clog natural or built channels and restrict flow. When channels are impeded by debris or structures, or when flows exceed channel capacity, sheet flow occurs, with waters overflowing channel banks. Increased development also diminishes the area available for natural infiltration, replacing them with buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, and roadways.

In addition to rainfall and snowmelt, flooding can also be caused by the failure of water retention structures such as dams, levees, or above-ground reservoirs as a result of strong groundshaking from earthquakes. The Planning Area is not considered at risk from inundation from dam failure. Portions of the Planning Area have potential for flooding hazard from levee damage or failure along the Whitewater River or from above-ground water storage tanks at higher elevations within and adjacent to La Quinta. These risks are further discussed in Section III-H, Hydrology, as well as Section III-F, Geology and Soils.

The Planning Area is characterized by braided, ephemeral streams that disperse at the base of the mountains, as well as areas of sheet flow, described above. The main watercourse in the valley is the Whitewater River, which drains a 1,000 square mile watershed from the San Bernardino, Little San Bernardino, San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains. The River enters the lowlands near the southern San Gorgonio Pass, flowing southeasterly from there, and ultimately draining into the Salton Sea, which lies southeast of the Coachella Valley. In the City of La Quinta, the River is carried within the man-made Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel.

Historical records collected by the Army Corps of Engineers show that the Whitewater River experienced numerous large flood events in the 1800s, as well as many damaging floods in the 20th century. In 1965, damaging flood flows in the River in the lower Coachella Valley exceeded 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). This event stands as the maximum flood of record. The 1939 storm was the largest recorded storm in the Coachella Valley and is considered the standard project flood for sizing regional flood control facilities. This 1939 storm is roughly considered to be a 500 year storm.

Based on mapping prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), portions of the Planning Area are within 100-year flood zones. These primarily include the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel as well as other channels and detention basins that serve as stormwater management facilities. This is further discussed in Section III-H. Areas adjacent to the stormwater channel, as well as the Cove community, lands south and southeast of Lake Cahuilla, and portions of the City’s eastern Sphere are FEMA-mapped within the 500-year flood plain.

Responsibility for analysis and design of flood control structures lies with Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (RCFC&WCD). The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) manages regional facilities, which collect runoff from areas outside the City, including the mountains. CVWD has broad responsibility for planning, maintenance and construction of regional facilities’ improvements. Regional facilities in the Planning Area include the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel (Whitewater River), the La Quinta Evacuation Channel, the Bear Creek System, the East La Quinta Channel and Lake Cahuilla.

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Maintenance of local facilities, which collect runoff from local streets and properties to regional channels and basins, is the responsibility of the City of La Quinta. The City’s Master Drainage Plan, updated in 2009, describes local facilities, which include storm drains, culverts and catch basins within private development and local streets.

There are also several dikes in the Planning Area, which have been constructed to protect developed areas on the valley floor from runoff from mountain slopes. Three of these dikes were constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation, and are maintained by CVWD.

Issues related to flooding and hydrology, including a more detailed description of regional and local flood control facilities, are discussed in Section III-H.

Water Resources/Quality The Coachella Valley is underlain by a substantial subsurface groundwater basin, or aquifer, in which groundwater has accumulated over millions of years, primarily from runoff from surrounding mountains. The aquifer is naturally subdivided by fault barriers into subbasins, which are further divided into subareas. Most of the Coachella Valley, including the Planning Area, is underlain by the Whitewater River Subbasin.

Domestic Water Resources The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) provides domestic and irrigation water to the City and its Sphere. It uses wells to extract groundwater, which naturally recharge from runoff from the mountains, as well as from CVWD groundwater recharge ponds located in the western Valley and south of the Planning Area in Martinez Canyon. These ponds are supplied with imported Colorado River water delivered via the Colorado River Aqueduct.

Whitewater River Subbasin The Whitewater River Subbasin generally extends from the Whitewater River in the northwest to the Salton Sea in the southeast, encompassing approximately 400 square miles. It is estimated that Subbasin contains approximately 28.9 million acre-feet of water within the first 1,000 feet below ground surface.9 There are five subareas within the Subbasin: Palm Springs subarea, Garnet Hill subarea, Thermal subarea, Thousand Palms subarea, and Oasis subarea. The Thermal subarea underlies the General Plan Planning Area, and is part of the Lower Whitewater River Subbasin.10

Since the early 1900s and the growth of agricultural uses in the Coachella Valley, groundwater in storage the Whitewater River Subbasin has been steadily diminished to a point where demand has exceeded supplies. This condition, known as overdraft, has been exacerbated by increased development of the Valley, with accompanying demands for water to irrigate landscaped residential and resort areas and golf courses. CVWD data indicates that total water demand in the Coachella Valley increased from approximately 96,300 acre-feet per year in 1936, to 668,900

9 “Table 1, Engineer’s Report on Water Supply and Replenishment Assessment: Lower Whitewater River Subbasin Area of Benefit, 2010-2011,” prepared by Coachella Valley Water District, April 2010. 10 “Engineer’s Report on Water Supply and Replenishment Assessment: Lower Whitewater River Subbasin Area of Benefit, 2010-2011,” prepared by Coachella Valley Water District, April 2010.

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acre-feet per year in 1999.11 CVWD estimates that in 2009, there was a net loss in water storage in the lower Whitewater River Subbasin, with total outflows exceeding total inflows by 23,912 acre-feet.12

Water Quality The Coachella Valley has generally good to excellent water quality, except where water tables in the Subbasin are perched or semi-perched and groundwater contains high concentrations of dissolved solids. Within the Sphere, groundwater quality may also be affected by long-term discharge associated with septic systems. These impacts are generally less extensive and are expected to be addressed over the long term as sewer facilities become available to these areas. These issues are further discussed in Section III-P, Water Resources/Quality.

K. Existing Land Use

La Quinta is located in the desert region of Southern California, about 130 miles east of Los Angeles in central Riverside County. The City lies in the south central region of the Coachella Valley, in an area known as the Salton Trough, which is a fault-controlled valley basin with expansive and varying geography and biological habitats. The City is located approximately two miles south of Interstate 10, and can be generally described as being bound on the north by Hovley Lane East, on the south by Avenue 64, on the west and southwest by the Santa Rosa Mountains, and on the east by Harrison Street.

La Quinta historically has been a resort community attracting visitors from all parts of the country. Recent growth, however, has focused on residential and retail development, providing both a permanent home for year-round residents, and a second home for seasonal residents. The City of La Quinta, and the Coachella Valley in general, are winter destinations for “snowbird” residents who move to the desert from northern regions to escape the cold. As a result, a large number of homes built throughout the City are considered second homes.

The existing land uses are indicative of the typical low-density residential neighborhoods, country club communities, and resort developments across the Coachella Valley. Commercial, industrial, and community uses also exist, but represent a smaller portion of the city. La Quinta has set aside almost half of the land uses for open space, parks, and golf course facilities. These areas provide numerous recreational opportunities and improve the quality of life for all residents.

The 2002 General Plan currently includes three areas, including incorporated lands, two planning areas, and the Sphere. Approximately 60% of these lands are designated residential, with 85% designated as low density residential. The oldest neighborhoods are found in the Cove area, and include a mixture of single-family and multi-family residences built around a north/south street grid pattern. Vacant lots are still found in the Cove, and are likely to be developed as residential

11 Table 3-1, “Coachella Valley Urban Water Management Plan,” Coachella Valley Water District, November 2000. 12 “Table 2, Engineer’s Report on Water Supply and Replenishment Assessment: Lower Whitewater River Subbasin Area of Benefit, 2010-2011,” prepared by Coachella Valley Water District, April 2010.

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in the future. More recent residential development has occurred in the southern portion of La Quinta, and includes large country club communities, such as PGA West and Trilogy. The northern residential communities include neighborhoods built at low and medium densities. The northern subdivisions are more traditional neighborhoods without gates, as opposed to the new developments found in south La Quinta, that tend to be primarily gated communities. The City’s high-density residential land uses occur in the northern portion of the City. Areas within the two planning areas covered by the 2002 General Plan to the east of the City are designated for low density residential, and include large lot single family development and agricultural activities.

Commercial and office land use designations represent 4% of all land uses within La Quinta. Mixed/Regional Commercial, Community Commercial and Tourist Commercial designations are the most prevalent commercial uses, and make up 29%, 22%, and 21% respectively, of all commercial lands. Commercial uses are located primarily along Washington Street, Highway 111, Jefferson Street, Monroe Street, and within the Village. Land uses found in the Mixed/Regional Commercial designation include major retail centers with multiple anchor tenants such as Walmart Supercenter, Costco, Home Depot, Target and Kohls department stores. Small coffee shops, restaurants banks, service stations and boutique stores also are found in Mixed/Regional Commercial. Land uses in Community Commercial include larger retail centers, but have less acreage than retail centers in Mixed/Regional Commercial. Tourist Commercial is associated with the hospitality and service industry and includes resorts, hotels, timeshares and tourist commercial. An example of the Tourist Commercial land use is the La Quinta Resort, which is a historic development in the Cove featuring suites, villas, casitas, pool & spa facilities, tennis courts, five championship golf courses, and resort dining facilities.

La Quinta provides numerous passive and active recreational opportunities throughout the City, in the form of open space, parks, and golf courses. Approximately 35% of all lands within La Quinta are designated areas for community sporting events, golfing, hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing. Lake Cahuilla is a Riverside County operated regional park located in the southwestern portion of the City, and provides residents with equestrian facilities, fishing, camping, and a seasonal pool. The open space areas throughout the western portion of La Quinta include the Santa Rosa and Coral Reef Mountain areas, which provide passive recreational opportunities.

The City of La Quinta currently does not have industrial designations in its incorporated limits, however industrial lands are designated in surrounding planning areas. Major community facilities are also distributed throughout the City, and include fire stations, schools, civic uses, and major utility facilities.

The 2035 General Plan Update is proposing to consolidate land use designations from the current 2002 General Plan, and will also reduce the existing planning areas into two areas, consisting of incorporated lands within City Limits and the Sphere of Influence.

Section III of this EIR will discuss the environmental impacts associated with new 2035 General Plan Update.

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L. Surrounding Land Use

The City of La Quinta and its Sphere are located in the eastern Coachella Valley, along the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The City is surrounded by other local jurisdictions, including the cities of Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio, Coachella, and unincorporated areas of Riverside County. Land uses within these jurisdictions are very similar to the existing land uses found in La Quinta. Urban development has spread through the Valley primarily in a northwest to southeast direction. Therefore areas surrounding the northern portion of the City tend to be more urbanized than areas surrounding the eastern and southern portions of La Quinta.

The surrounding land uses in the northern portion of La Quinta fall within the jurisdictions of Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and a small portion of unincorporated Riverside County. The land uses within these jurisdictions include low-density residential neighborhoods, commercial uses, and recreation facilities. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which is a 55-acre tennis and entertainment facility, is located on the west side of Washington Street, between Fred Waring Drive and Miles Avenue, in the City of Indian Wells.

The cities of Indio and Coachella abut La Quinta to the east and northeast. Land uses include commercial, residential, and agricultural uses. The City of Indio has numerous large commercial centers, including the Indio Plaza Shopping Center and the Indio Fashion Mall along Highway 111. Residential uses in Indio and Coachella tend to be more traditional open neighborhoods, similar to those found in north La Quinta.

The unincorporated communities of Thermal and Vista Santa Rosa lie east of La Quinta. The Vista Santa Rosa Community is a community recognized on the Riverside County General Plan as an important producer of date palms, and also provides rural residential uses, equestrian uses and polo facilities. The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport is located in the westerly portion of Thermal, just east of the La Quinta Planning Area. Land uses in Thermal include light industrial, which is generally associated with agriculture production and the airport, as well as scattered residential and commercial uses.

The lands to the southeast and south of La Quinta are within the County of Riverside, and include areas subject to Native American Tribal jurisdiction. These lands are primarily used for agriculture production, rural residential, and open space.

Finally, the land uses surrounding the western border of La Quinta are within the County of Riverside, and are designated for open space conservation. These lands are located in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, which is a 271,400-acre reserve created in 2000 to preserve important biological resources. The Monument spans from the low desert to artic alpine lands found on the 10,834-foot San Jacinto Peak. The National Monument provides hiking opportunities and mountain vistas overlooking the City of La Quinta and the Coachella Valley.

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M. Mineral Resources

The Coachella Valley contains valued mineral resources due to the region’s highly active geologic nature. The numerous earthquake faults throughout the region create massive uplifting and folding of the land, and expose mineral resources on the surface. Mineral resources found throughout the region include sand, gravel, crushed stone, copper, limestone, and tungsten. Many of these resources are important for common construction projects including asphalt, concrete, road base, stucco and plaster.

The State of California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, identified areas in the Coachella Valley with important mineral resources, and classified areas into Mineral Resources Zones. La Quinta and surrounding areas are classified into three zones, including MRZ-1, MRZ-2, and MRZ-3. The majority of lands within the City and Sphere fall into MRZ-1, which are areas where no significant mineral deposits are present, or are less likely to occur. Many of these areas are already developed.

A small area of the City, near Lake Cahuilla, is located in MRZ-2, which includes areas where significant mineral deposits are present. This area is no longer used for gravel and sand mining production, but has been developed as The Quarry golf community. The third zone found in La Quinta includes the MRZ-3 area, which includes the Santa Rosa Mountains, foothills, and the Cove portion of La Quinta. Lands within this zone contain mineral deposits, however the significance of these deposits has not been evaluated.13

Future mining within the City of La Quinta and surrounding Sphere of Influence is unlikely due to the establishment of conservation areas, such as the Santa Rosa Wilderness Area, and due to existing urbanization.

Section III of this EIR will assess the potential impacts on mineral resources as a result of the 2035 General Plan Update.

N. Noise

Noise pollution is an unseen pollutant created by unwanted or undesired sounds. Excessive noise levels can create physical and psychological distress and harm to human beings, leading to temporary or permanent hearing loss, anxiety, high blood pressure, sleep deprivation, and overall reduction in quality of life. Due to the detrimental effects of excessive noise levels, the State of California has required local municipalities to include a Noise Element in their General Plans. Municipalities are also required to have noise ordinances to establish maximum ambient noise levels for sensitive areas.

The City of La Quinta currently has a Noise Ordinance and Noise Element within the 2002 General Plan to prevent excessive sound levels, which are detrimental to the public health,

13 City of La Quinta General Plan/Master Environmental Assessment, prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, March 20,2002.

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welfare and safety of residents. The Noise Ordinance and Noise Element establish exterior noise standards for various land uses, and appropriate time periods for construction other types of noise.

Noise is measured using the decibel (dB) as a unit of measurement, which describes the amplitude or strength of sound. Most common sounds range from 40 decibels (dB) to 100 dB. A normal conversation, for example, usually measures around 60 dB at a distance of 3-feet. A jet engine, on the other hand, can measure up to 110 dB, which is considered very loud and discomforting. Within the built environment, noise is created from various sources, including traffic, construction equipment, machinery, and people. The combination of sounds created by these various sources is called the ambient noise level.

Most municipalities analyze ambient noise levels to accurately measure the amount of noise affecting sensitive receptors, such as schools, residential units, or hospitals. Ambient noise is measured using Community Noise Equivalency Level (CNEL) units, which is a weighted average of the intensity of sounds over a 24-hour period. CNEL accounts for time of day and adds additional decibels during sensitive periods, such as between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The CNEL weighted decibel unit is called dBA. The City of La Quinta has determined that a CNEL of less than 65 dBA of exterior noise is acceptable for sensitive receptors.14

The City and Sphere are affected by noise from both mobile and stationary sources. Noise generated from vehicular traffic is the largest contributor of ambient noise in the City, however noise levels are also elevated due to nearby railway traffic, airplanes, construction activities and mechanical equipment. These noises can present a nuisance to sensitive receptors, including residential uses, hospitals, day care facilities, and schools. Various noise attenuation methods, including the use of double paned windows, walls, landscaping, and other construction techniques can help reduce the amount of exterior noise reaching sensitive receptors.

Future development proposed by the General Plan Update will continue to increase ambient noise levels within the La Quinta Planning Area. Section III of this EIR further addresses the existing and build out noise environment, and potential noise impacts associated with the implementation of the General Plan Update.

O. Population and Housing

The 2010 Census accounted for a total of 23,489 dwelling units within the City of La Quinta, and an estimated population of 37,467. The total number of occupied dwelling units within the City was identified as 14,820. Thus, nearly 37 percent of all housing units within La Quinta were unoccupied in 2010. The relatively high vacancy rate is largely due to seasonal, recreational, or occasional use homes, which account for 27.5% of all housing units. Although seasonal, recreational, and occasional residents generate a demand for services and utilize local

14 City of La Quinta General Plan/Master Environmental Assessment, prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, March 20, 2002.

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infrastructure and utilities, they are not accounted for in the La Quinta population figure of 37,467.

The 2010 population size of 37,467 and the 14,820 occupied dwelling units yield an average household size of 2.53. In order to estimate the full occupancy population for the City of La Quinta, the per household population size of 2.53 was multiplied by the existing number of dwelling units (23,489). Thus, the full occupancy population size of La Quinta in 2010 was approximately 59,427 people.

In 2010, the Sphere of Influence contained 801 dwelling units. Assuming a population size of 2.53 and full occupancy, the Sphere’s 2010 population was 2,027 people.

The overall Planning Area contained an estimated 24,290 dwelling units in 2010, which could support a total population size of 61,454 people.

P. Public Services and Utilities

The City of La Quinta and its and Sphere of Influence are served by a range of public service and facilities, such as local and regional governmental services, special districts, public utilities, and associated services and facilities. The following identifies the various public services and utilities that are available within the City of La Quinta and the Sphere.

Fire Protection Fire protection services within the City and Sphere are provided by the Riverside County Fire Department through a contractual agreement with the City. There are a total of six stations available to respond to calls within the Planning Area, all staffed by full-time, paid firefighters as well as volunteers. There are three City-owned stations in the City of La Quinta. Three additional stations within the County Fire Department system are available for emergency response: one in Indian Wells, one in Indio, and a third at the Jacqueline Cochran Airport, east of the City’s eastern Sphere. The County dispatches calls through its centralized Emergency Command Center, which determines the responding station(s) based on location and need. In 2010, stations averaged a response time of between 5 and 7 minutes. The County also uses its dispatch system to provide ambulance services through its service provider, American Medical Response (AMR).

Police Protection The City contracts annually with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for police services, as it has since its incorporation in 1982. Within City limits, the Department operates as the La Quinta Police Department, and utilizes dedicated facilities, equipment and personnel. Police protection through the Sheriff’s Department also extends to the City’s Sphere. The Sheriff’s Department provides police protection throughout the Planning Area on a 24-hour basis. There are two Police Department offices in the City. The Sheriff’s Department also uses a third location, within the community of Thermal, for police services as well as jail facilities. The City’s 2010 contract with the Sheriff’s Department provides for the equivalent of 50.75 sworn officers and 5 community service officers. The Department provides a variety of services within the Planning Area. These are further described in Section III-M.

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Solid Waste Management Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services, LLC (Burrtec), provides solid waste disposal in the City through a franchise agreement with the City. Solid waste collected in La Quinta is transported to the Edom Hill Transfer Station to the west in the City of Cathedral City. From Edom Hill, waste is transported to one of three regional landfills: Lamb Canyon, Badlands or El Sobrante, each of which has remaining long-term capacity. Burrtec also provides solid waste recycling in the City to residential and commercial customers; green waste recycling is also available.

Domestic Water Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) is the domestic and irrigation water provider to the City and most of the Sphere of Influence. It sources most of its water supplies from groundwater, which is extracted through a system of wells located throughout the region, including La Quinta. CVWD also imports water to recharge the aquifer, using recharge basins located near Palm Springs and south and east of the Planning Area, in Martinez Canyon. CVWD’s water distribution system is generally located in public rights of way under existing streets. There are 10 existing or planned CVWD water storage tanks in the Planning Area.

California Water Code requires that CVWD prepare and periodically update an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) to analyze its current and future water supply. The UWMP is intended to ensure that sufficient supplies are available to serve land uses within its management area.

Wastewater Services In addition to domestic water services, CVWD provides the City with wastewater collection and treatment facilities. Sewer collection facilities are available in most areas of the City and Sphere of Influence, although septic systems are still utilized in some areas, primarily in the Sphere. CVWD has a system of wastewater lines throughout local streets, as well as force mains within major roadways. There are two CVWD wastewater treatment plants serving the City. Water Reclamation Plant 7 (WRP-7), serves the portion of the City north of Miles Avenue. Lands in the City and Sphere located south of Miles Avenue are served by the Mid-Valley Water Reclamation Plant. WRP-7 has the added capability to process wastewater to tertiary levels (suitable for irrigation). There is no tertiary treatment available at the Mid-Valley plant.

Schools The Planning Area lies within the boundaries of two public school districts. The Desert Sands and the Coachella Valley Unified School Districts (DSUSD and CVUSD, respectively) each provide public education for students in grades Kindergarten through 12 to students within their district boundaries.

DSUSD serves students located west of Jefferson Street and north of Avenue 48. This includes the City’s northern Sphere of Influence. There are seven DSUSD schools in La Quinta, including three elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and one alternative school. In addition, the District’s administrative offices are located in the City, on Dune Palms Road, south of Highway 111. DSUSD also provides early childhood education, after school programs. and

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special education services. It further serves adult GED, English as a second language, and citizenship students.

Students residing east of Jefferson Street and south of Avenue 48, including the City’s eastern Sphere of Influence, are served by CVUSD. There are two CVUSD schools in the Planning Area, including one elementary school and one middle school. Additional schools are located outside the Planning Area. CVUSD also operates an adult school that offers special education and tutoring services, as well as vocational training, preparation for GED testing, and citizenship classes.

There are three regional higher education institutions located in the nearby City of Palm Desert. These include the College of the Desert, a community college with associates degree and adult education programs; California State University, San Bernardino and the University of California, Riverside, each of which offers undergraduate and Master’s degree programs.

Libraries The La Quinta Library is located at 78-275 Calle Tampico. The City owns the library facility, which is operated by Riverside County. The Library contains 89,060 volumes within a 20,000 square foot space. Although the City has not established a standard for library facilities, the County Library system aims for an un-adopted standard of two volumes per capita. Based on this standard, existing library facilities are sufficient to serve the current population.

Medical Facilities In addition to a variety of small clinics and local physician’s offices throughout the Coachella Valley, there are three major regional health care facilities, all available to serve the Planning Area. These are briefly described below:

John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital The John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in the City of Indio is a 158-bed facility. It has a 24- hour emergency room, maternity care and pediatric services, an ambulatory surgery center, and an outpatient rehabilitation center. It also offers imaging services, orthopedic and joint replacement services, cardiovascular services, and a sports medicine program.

Eisenhower Medical Center The Eisenhower Medical Center (EMC) in Rancho Mirage includes a 313-bed hospital on its 130-acre campus. EMC also houses an emergency room, as well as the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences, the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, and the Betty Ford Center.

EMC recently completed the 92,000 square foot Eisenhower George and Julia Argyros Health Center in La Quinta, which includes an outpatient facility, express clinic, a pharmacy, laboratory, primary care physicians’ offices, an executive wellness program, and an imaging center.

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Desert Regional Medical Center The Desert Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Palm Springs is located approximately 20 miles east of La Quinta. DRMC houses 367 beds, providing general medical facilities, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services and the Level II Richards Emergency Trauma Center staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with at least one physician. DRMC is the only designated Trauma Center in the Coachella Valley.

Municipal Facilities The City provides municipal services and programs to the community through a variety of municipal facilities. These include City Hall, the Senior Center, the La Quinta Library and the La Quinta Museum. With the exception of the Museum, these facilities are clustered within or near the City Civic Center complex, located at 78-495 Calle Tampico. The City also owns a municipal golf course and several parks facilities, which are further described in Sections II-Q and III-N, Recreational Resources.

Telephone and Telecommunications Verizon serves as the primary telephone (land line) provider in the City. Given improvements in technology and decreased regulation in telephone service, the public now has access to a variety of choices, including cable-based and cellular services. New technologies are expected to continue to develop that will ensure the adequate provision of telephone and telecommunications to residences, businesses and other users in the Planning Area.

Electricity The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) provides electric power to the Planning Area. IID delivers power through generation as well as through contractual agreements with other providers. It has substations throughout the City, from which it steps down voltage for distribution to its customers. Residential uses account for the highest demand for electric power in the Planning Area.

Natural Gas The Gas Company provides natural gas where facilities are available within the Planning Area. Although there are major supply lines in Washington Street and Highway 111, service is limited in some portions of La Quinta and its Sphere. This is true of areas south of Airport Boulevard and east of Monroe Street, as well as parts of the Cove community, and some older developments in the Sphere. Residents in these areas rely on propane gas purchased from private firms.

Potential impacts to public services and utilities from implementation of the proposed General Plan Update are analyzed in Section III-M.

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Q. Recreation

Approximately 35% of all lands in the 2002 General Plan planning area are designated for open space, parks, and/or golf courses. Approximately 53% of lands within incorporated La Quinta alone are designated with land uses that support recreation.15 Recreational services and facilities are operated and maintained by four agencies, including the Riverside County Regional Parks and Open Space District, the City of La Quinta Community Services Department, the Desert Recreation District, and the Bureau of Land Management. In addition, there are many privately owned golf courses throughout the City.

The largest recreational opportunity in La Quinta is golf. Golf courses and golf clubs in the City hold various tournaments throughout the year, including the Humana Challenge, formerly the Bob Hope Classic.16

One of the largest parks within the City of La Quinta is the Lake Cahuilla County Park. Lake Cahuilla is an 845-acre park located in the southwestern portion of incorporated La Quinta. The County of Riverside operates and maintains the facility. Recreational opportunities at Lake Cahuilla include fishing, equestrian trails, camping, horse camps, and hiking. There is no swimming allowed at the lake, however a seasonal swimming pool is open during the summer.

The Desert Recreation District owns and operates the La Quinta Community Park in La Quinta. This 6.5-acre park includes a 5,000 square foot community center, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, a playground and picnic pavilion.

The La Quinta Senior Center is owned and operated by the City, and was built in 1994 to provide educational and recreational opportunities for local seniors. The 10,500 square foot facility includes multi-purpose rooms, kitchen, computer lab, health center, and other senior serving amenities.

The City of La Quinta Community Services Department maintains numerous small pocket parks, neighborhood parks, community parks, and trails throughout incorporated portions of the City. Pocket parks are generally less than one acre, and provide small playgrounds, tot lots, and passive seating areas. These small parks tend to be built within neighborhoods and serve local residents. Neighborhood parks are larger than pocket parks, but also are built to serve residents in local neighborhoods. These parks are generally two to ten acres and offer walkways, benches, and picnic areas, as well as active recreational opportunities such as playing fields, basketball courts, and playgrounds.

Community parks are larger scale parks and provide regional recreational opportunities for residents in La Quinta as well as the surrounding region. These parks generally range in size from twenty to forty acres and include large sport complexes that provide lighted multi-purpose fields, public restrooms, snack bars and shade structures. The City has joint ownership with

15 “City of La Quinta General Plan/Master Environmental Assessment”, prepared by Terra Nova Planning & Research, March 20, 2002. 16 http://www.playinlaquinta.com/golf.html

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Desert Sand Unified School District for the La Quinta Sports Complex, which is an 18.2-acre community park located off Avenue 50 near Washington Street.

The City has also coordinated with Family YMCA of the Desert to maintain the swimming pool at Fritz Burns Park, located near Avenue 52 and Avenida Bermudas.

The City has developed Class I, II, and III facilities for cyclists and pedestrian use. Existing bike routes link all portions of the city, including from the southern boundary to the northern city limits.

Bear Creek Path, located in the western portion of the Cove provides a popular paved walking trail along Bear Creek. In addition, there are numerous unpaved trails that provide access to open space areas. The Bear Creek Canyon Trail in the southern portion of the Cove provides hikers with approximately 4.5 miles of trail into the Santa Rosa Wilderness Area. Other trails in the region include the Boo Hoff Trail and the Cove to Lake Trail, which links Lake Cahuilla Park with the Cove.17

The City of La Quinta is located adjacent to some of the most expansive open space areas within the Coachella Valley. The southwestern portion of the City borders the Santa Rosa Wilderness Area, which is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management.

The General Plan Update will facilitate new growth and development in incorporated La Quinta and its Sphere of Influence. As growth and development occur, additional park and recreation facilities will be needed. Section III of this EIR further discusses the impacts that growth will have on recreation resources.

R. Transportation/Traffic

The pattern of the regional transportation network in the Coachella Valley has been affected by geographic orientation, topography and climate. Several major roadways accommodate regional traffic in the Coachella Valley, and include the U.S. Interstate-10 freeway, and Highways 111, 86, 74 and 62. U.S. Interstate-10 connects the Coachella Valley with the Los Angeles-Riverside- San Bernardino metropolitan areas to the west, and Phoenix to the east. Highway 111 is an essential intra-valley roadway which connects the Coachella Valley with the Imperial Valley to the southeast. Highway 74 connects the central Coachella Valley with mountain communities, southwestern Riverside County and northern San Diego County. State Highway 86 also provides important regional access to the eastern Coachella Valley and the Imperial Valley, while Highway 62 connects the valley to communities in the high desert Morongo Basin to the northwest.

The City of La Quinta and the Coachella Valley have continued to be one of the fastest growing regions in California. Major traffic corridors in the General Plan study area include Highways

17 “Parks and Trails”, http://www.la-quinta.org/Index.aspx?page=19, accessed June 28, 2011.

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111 and 86, and other planning area roadways such as Washington Street, Fred Waring Drive and Jefferson Street.

Within the City and planning area, the road network essentially follows a north-south/east-west grid with interconnections to major arterials. North-south traffic is channeled through major arterials such as Washington Street and Jefferson Street, while other arterial streets such as Fred Waring Drive and Avenue 52 convey east-west traffic. The roadway network in the City and unincorporated portions of the planning area is only partially built out.

Roadway Segments and Intersections A wide range of City and planning area roadways have been analyzed in the General Plan Traffic Study, which is reproduced in Appendix H of this EIR. This analysis shows that several roadway segments in the planning area are heavily congested, including portions of Washington Street, Fred Waring Drive and Highway 111.

The General Plan traffic analysis studied existing conditions along sixty-three (63) roadway segments and at thirty-seven (37) of the major intersections in the planning area. The assessment of existing conditions indicates that all but two of the 37 intersections analyzed are operating at Level of Service (LOS) C or better. The exceptions are the intersections of Washington Street at Highway 111 and Madison Street at 50th Avenue, which are currently operating at LOS D. An analysis of current operations along the 63 roadway segments analyzed indicates that all are operating at LOS A, with the exception of three segments on Washington Street and one segment on Highway 111 that are operating at LOS B.

Current and future traffic conditions and demand are further addressed in Section III-O.

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LA QUINTA GENERAL PLAN

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

III. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

A. Aesthetics

Introduction and Background The La Quinta General Plan Update Planning Area is located in the eastern portion of the Coachella Valley, along the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The desert setting and surrounding mountains provides picturesque backdrop and aesthetically pleasing environment for the community. This section describes the existing aesthetic qualities of the La Quinta Planning Area for the 2035 General Plan Update, which includes the incorporated portions of the City and the two Sphere of Influence areas. It also discusses the potential impacts that may occur from implementation of the General Plan Update and provides mitigation measures to reduce impacts to visual resources.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria for Determining Significance Article 5, Section 15064 of the CEQA Guidelines provides guidance for determining the significance of the environmental effects caused by a project. Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines provides a list of environmental factors that potentially may be affected by completion of a project. The La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update would have a significant effect on aesthetics if it is determined the project:

a) Has a substantial adverse effect on scenic vista.

b) Substantially damages scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway.

c) Substantially degrades the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings.

d) Creates a new source of substantial light or glare, which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area.

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1. Existing Conditions

Regional Setting

The Planning Area for the City of La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update is situated in the eastern portion of the Coachella Valley in central Riverside County. The region is in an area known as the Salton Trough, which is a fault controlled basin caused by the complex system of faults crossing the region, including the San Andreas Fault. The Salton Trough is an expansive basin that runs in a northwest to southeast direction, and includes varying topography and wildlife habitats. Within the General Plan Update Planning Area, elevations range from 190 feet below sea level in the southeastern portion of the Planning Area to 1,600 feet above sea level along the peaks of the Coral Reef Mountains in the southwestern portion of the Planning Area. Other topographic features in the region include the Indio Hills, located northeast of the Planning Area, and the Santa Rosa Mountains, located west of the Planning Area.

The City of La Quinta is part of a larger community of local jurisdictions that make up the Coachella Valley. To the north of La Quinta are the cities of Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio, and a small portion of unincorporated Riverside County. These communities are primarily made up of low-density residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, and resort and entertainment facilities. Jurisdictions to the east of La Quinta include Indio, Coachella, the communities of Vista Santa Rosa and Thermal. Land uses in these areas are predominantly low-density residential and commercial, but also include agricultural lands, polo fields, rural residential, and a regional airport. To the south of La Quinta are lands within the jurisdiction of the County of Riverside, and areas subject to Native American Tribal jurisdiction. These areas are predominantly agricultural lands, rural residential uses, and vacant desert lands. To the southwest and west of La Quinta is public open space that is conserved as part of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

Existing Scenic Conditions

The La Quinta General Plan Update Planning Area is comprised of many land uses, including residential, commercial, resort facilities, office parks, agricultural facilities, golf courses, open spaces, and vacant land. These land uses are built primarily on the Valley floor and within the Cove. Development within the City Limits is generally built at lower densities, and buildings throughout the Planning Area tend to be low-rise structures. Views of local mountains and scenic vistas throughout the incorporated portions of the City are generally good, however suburban development, including buildings, walls, and mature landscaping can limit views in certain places.

The eastern Sphere of Influence is rural and sparsely developed. Land uses in the Sphere include single family residential, agricultural production and equestrian uses. There is also a considerable amount of fallow vacant land once used for agriculture. Views of local mountains and scenic vistas throughout this portion of the Sphere are preserved and unobstructed due to sparse development. As a result of this rural character, the aesthetic quality is more open and views of surrounding mountains are less restricted when compared to the more developed portions of the region.

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Visual Character The existing visual character of the Planning Area can be characterized as both suburban and rural. The incorporated portion of La Quinta exemplifies suburban character. La Quinta’s suburban character is influenced by typical suburban land uses, including residential neighborhoods, commercial shopping centers, office parks, golf courses, parks, and community facilities. These land uses are built along landscaped boulevards with curb, gutter and sidewalks. Large retail centers are located along Highway 111, while community scale commercial development occurs on Washington Street and Jefferson Street.

The eastern Sphere can be characterized as more rural, and lack many of the suburban features found throughout the incorporated portions of La Quinta. Development is sparse, and land uses are predominantly associated with agricultural production, ranches, or nurseries. Existing residential uses within these areas are predominantly on larger lots. An exception is a single- family neighborhood near Jackson Street and Avenue 55, which is more typical of a suburban style subdivision. Roads throughout the eastern Sphere of Influence tend to be two-lane rural roads built without sidewalks, curbs and gutters, or landscaping.

Architectural Styles La Quinta includes a mixture of building types built over various time periods, and with a variety of architectural styles. Development includes structures built in the early twentieth century, and new master-planned communities built within the last decade. Architectural styles include those typical of Spanish Colonial, Mediterranean, Tuscan, and Modern styles. Spanish Colonial architecture is the most prevalent style used in La Quinta, and examples include the La Quinta Resort & Spa and the more recent Old Towne development in the Village.

Architectural styles throughout the Sphere of Influence Areas are limited and are associated with rural lifestyle. Large equestrian facilities and ranch style homes on large lots are scattered throughout the area.

Light and Glare Existing sources of light and glare in the Planning Area are found mostly within the city limits. Large commercial centers along Highway 111 produce light and glare from parking lots, signs, and street lighting for security purposes. There are also various car dealerships along Highway 111 that produce light and glare for security purposes. Existing school playfields and recreational facilities, such as La Quinta Park and La Quinta Community Park, also produce light and glare from overhead field lights. Major arterials throughout the City produce light and glare from street lamps, signalized intersections, and vehicle headlights.

Light and glare within the Sphere of Influence is minimized by the lower intensity of existing development. The eastern Sphere is dominated by vacant desert, agricultural fields and very low density residential, which produce lower levels of light than the urbanized areas of the City. The lack of street lights and traffic signals in the area also limit the amount of light and glare.

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2. Project Impacts

The 2035 General Plan Update will facilitate new development throughout the Planning Area through the adoption of its Land Use Map, and policies promoting development. Therefore, the General Plan Update has the potential to impact the existing aesthetic quality of the Planning Area. The General Plan Update does not, however, propose any significant changes to the land use pattern in the City.

The General Plan Update designates the Sphere for low density residential, commercial, industrial, and community facilities. The General Plan Update also requires the master planning of the eastern Sphere. This master plan could change the character of the eastern Sphere in the long term, should these lands be annexed into the City.

The following discussion highlights the potential impacts on aesthetic resources, including scenic vistas, scenic resources, visual character, and light and glare from implementation of the 2035 General Plan Update.

Scenic Vista Impacts

Within the Planning Area, scenic vistas include views of natural features, including the Santa Rosa, San Jacinto, and Little San Bernardino Mountains.

The General Plan Update will facilitate new development in areas that are currently vacant, and encourage redevelopment in existing urbanized areas within the City. The development of new manmade structures, including buildings, streets, signage, walls, and landscaping, has the potential to replace or disrupt views of the surrounding natural landscape. Redevelopment projects in existing urbanized areas may also potentially affect the scenic vista if they increase the intensity of the built environment. Conversion of empty lots or parking lots into new compact developments or structures increase the potential to block views of the surrounding desert and mountains from existing development.

Within the eastern Sphere, the General Plan Update will allow new residential, commercial and industrial uses upon annexation, on lands that are currently used for agriculture. The conversion of agricultural land has the potential to change the rural character of the area, and diminish the openness and views of nearby mountains. As described above, however, the General Plan Update includes master planning of the Vista Santa Rosa area prior to annexation or development in the City. The stated purpose of this master planning effort is the preservation of the neighborhoods character. In addition, the Sphere area will be subject to the policies and programs of the Land Use and Sustainable Community Elements if annexed.

The General Plan Update provides policies and programs to protect existing views and maintain existing scenic vistas. These include policies relating to the preservation of existing neighborhoods, and the implementation of development standards to reduce impacts from new or redeveloped projects on adjacent lands. Further, the City will continue to implement its Zoning standards, which limit building height, and control mass and scale. Finally, the Sustainable Community Element contains policies geared to high quality design in harmony with the natural

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environment, as well as the preservation of natural resources. The policies and programs contained in that Element will also limit the potential impacts on scenic vistas resulting from implementation of the General Plan Update. As a result, impacts on scenic vistas caused by implementation of the General Plan Update, will be less than significant.

Scenic Resources Impacts

Scenic Resources includes trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings that are visible from a state scenic highway. Currently, there are no state scenic highways that run through La Quinta or the Sphere of Influence. Therefore, impacts to scenic resources along a state scenic highway will be less than significant.

As discussed in more detail in the Cultural Resources Section, there are a number of recorded historic-period buildings in the Planning Area. New development has the potential to impact these structures. The General Plan includes policies protecting historic structures, and assuring that these structures are assessed and protected, where necessary, if development is proposed. In addition, impacts and mitigation measures associated with cultural resources are discussed further in Section III-E of this document. The policies of the General Plan, and mitigation measures included in Section III-E will assure that impacts associated with historic buildings will be less than significant.

Visual Character Impacts

The existing visual character of the Planning Area includes the existing look, feel, and quality of urbanized and natural areas. As described above, the Planning Area is currently characterized as both urban and rural. The incorporated portions of the Planning Area are predominantly urban, while the Sphere of Influence is predominantly rural. The General Plan Update has the potential to cause significant impacts on the existing visual character of the area, especially in the Sphere of Influence.

Existing development within the City consists of small scale and lower density residential, commercial, office, public facilities, golf courses, parks and open space. Buildings tend to be low-rise structures, which preserves views of the surrounding mountains from private and public lands. An interconnected street system provides accessibility throughout the City limits. For the most part, streets are developed with sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. Landscaping along public right-of-ways provides visual relief from the built environment and enhances the visual character of the community.

The General Plan Update does not propose changes in land use intensities or densities, insofar as no new land use designations are being considered. Policies and programs in the General Plan Update are consistent with the existing character of development in the City, and do not propose intensification or densification of the City or Sphere. Streets will continue to be developed with curb, gutter, and landscaping to improve visual character along public right-of-ways. Visual character impacts within the City, therefore, are expected to be less than significant.

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The visual character of the Sphere is currently more rural than that within the City’s limits, with very low-density ranch homes, small subdivisions, farms, polo fields, and vacant land. The General Plan Update does not change the land use designations within this area, and includes a requirement for master planning of the area prior to annexation. New development in the area will be governed by this master plan if these lands are annexed to the City. As stated in the General Plan Update, the master plan is to reflect the character of the area. This requirement will result in development consistent with this character, which will serve to preserve the visual character of the area.

As development occurs, new and expanded streets will also develop throughout the Sphere of Influence, and existing rural roads will be widened and developed with new sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. The development standards for these streets will include parkway landscaping, trails and sidewalks, as is required throughout the City, if these lands are annexed. The development standards will be set in the proposed master plan, which must be developed to reflect community character. The General Plan Update will therefore have less than significant impacts on the visual character of the Sphere of Influence.

Light and Glare Impacts

Light and glare impacts are associated with increased urbanization. Within the City limits, the majority of lands are developed, and daytime and nighttime skies are already affected to a limited extent by light and glare. The adoption of the General Plan Update will facilitate similar development patterns in the City to those that exist today. Further, the General Plan Update maintains policies and programs currently in effect that limit lighting, and the City’s Municipal Code prohibits light spillage onto neighboring properties. Therefore, implementation of the General Plan Update will have a less than significant impact on light and glare impacts within the City.

Build out of land uses proposed for the Sphere will increase the light and glare in this area. Dark skies will diminish with more traffic, buildings, street lights and indoor illumination. The City Outdoor Lighting Ordinance (Section 9.100.150 of the Municipal Code) provides regulations for reducing light and glare caused by new development. The General Plan Update maintains policies and programs to preserve low lighting levels and the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance, and requires all future development to develop according to these regulations.

Therefore, implementation of the General Plan Update will have a less than significant impact on light and glare.

3. Mitigation Measures

The La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update will facilitate continued urbanization in areas that are undeveloped, but also provides goals, policies and programs to reduce aesthetic impacts associated with new development. The City’s land use pattern will not change due to the Update, and the Land Use and Sustainable Community Elements will control the mass, scale and bulk of new projects and redeveloped sites. Impacts associated with aesthetics are expected to be less than significant, and no mitigation measures are required.

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B. Agricultural Resources

Introduction and Background The General Plan Planning Area has soils and topography suitable for agricultural production. The Riverside County Important Farmland Map of 2008 has designated areas within the Planning Area as being important farmland, particularly within the eastern Sphere. Currently, however, farming in the eastern Sphere is scattered, and much of the lands remain vacant or fallow. This section assesses impacts on agricultural resources from future growth and development resulting from the General Plan Update.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria for Determining Significance Article 5, Section 15064 of the CEQA Guidelines provides guidance for determining the significance of the environmental effects caused by a project. Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines provides a list of environmental factors that potentially may be affected by completion of a project. The La Quinta General Plan Update would have a significant effect on Agricultural Resources if it is determined the General Plan Update would:

a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance, as shown on the maps pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use.

b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act Contract.

c) Involve other changes in the existing environment, which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland, to non-agricultural use.

1. Existing Conditions

Agriculture has been a major source of economic activity in the Coachella Valley since the turn of the 20th century. The Valley provides excellent soils, flat topography, abundant sunshine, and available water resources, making it a contributor to the State’s agricultural production. The date palm was introduced to the Valley, and has historically been a staple crop for the region. Other crops, such as grapes, citrus, vegetables, turf production and ornamentals have also been farmed in the region. Land available for agricultural production continues to be threatened by increased urbanization. Since World War II, the Coachella Valley has increased in popularity as a resort destination, and become home for permanent residents, winter visitors, and the associated commercial development required to support these households.

La Quinta has experienced the same growth patterns experienced by other nearby cities in the Coachella Valley. The Sphere of Influence is more rural, with scattered farms, nurseries, and very low density development. Much of the farming in this area, however, has ceased and the area remains vacant land. Future development on these vacant lands will be more suburban in nature.

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Existing Agricultural Land Uses in the Planning Area

Agricultural uses in the General Plan Update Planning Area are located primarily within the Sphere of Influence, however a few small citrus groves are located within City limits.

Undeveloped portions of incorporated La Quinta and the Sphere are located in areas designated as Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, Unique Farmland or Lands of Statewide Importance, according to the Riverside County Important Farmland Map of 2008. The map was compiled by the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, under the California Department of Conservation. 1 In 2008, there were approximately 1,700 acres of important agricultural land located in the City, and 7,391 acres in the Sphere of Influence, for a total of 9,091 acres. A description of each classification is found below.

Prime Farmland Prime Farmland is defined as land with quality soil and moisture supply that allows for production of high yield crops when managed by modern farming methods. These lands are best suited for producing food crops, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops. The best use of the land is for cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and forestland, however urban uses are not recommended.2

Prime Farmland is the largest category of farmland found within the Planning Area. According to the Important Farmland Map of 2008, approximately 5,424 acres, or 66% of total land in the Sphere of Influence are designated Prime Farmland. Within the City Limits, 457 acres are designated as Prime Farmland.3

Farmland of Local Importance Farmland of Local Importance represents the second largest share of farmland within the Planning Area. These lands have the soil quality and characteristics of Prime Farmland or Statewide Important Farmlands, but lack available irrigation water. These lands may produce crops important to Riverside County, but are not listed as Unique Farmland Crops.4

The Sphere has approximately 1,832 acres of land under this category, which represents approximately 22% of total land within the Sphere of Influence. Within the City Limit, approximately 1,214 acres are designated as Farmlands of Local Importance.5

1 “Riverside County Important Farmland 2008”, prepared by California Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection, prepared September 2009. 2 Ibid. 3 As provided by City of La Quinta Planning Department through Riverside County Important Farmland GIS Data, http://redirect.conservation.ca.gov/DLRP/fmmp/county_info_results.asp. 4 “Riverside County Important Farmland 2008”, prepared by California Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection, prepared September 2009. 5 As provided by City of La Quinta Planning Department through Riverside County Important Farmland GIS Data, http://redirect.conservation.ca.gov/DLRP/fmmp/county_info_results.asp.

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Unique Farmlands Unique Farmlands represents the third largest type of farmland in the General Plan Update Planning Area. This type of farmland has reduced soil quality or characteristics from Prime Farmland or Statewide Important Farmlands, but can still be used for high value food and fiber crops. These lands are capable of producing crops such as citrus, olives, and avocados.6

The Sphere of Influence has approximately 133 acres designated as Unique Farmlands, which includes the nurseries in the northern Sphere of Influence. The City Limits has 29 acres designated as Unique Farmland.

Statewide Important Farmlands Statewide Important Farmlands represent the smallest share of farmland in the La Quinta General Plan Update Planning Area. These lands are similar to Prime Farmlands, however do not exhibit as good soil as Prime Farmland. Statewide Important Farmland still has a good combination of physical and biological characteristics for producing similar crops as Prime Farmlands, and is available for cropland, pastureland, rangeland, or forestland.7

There are minimal amounts of land considered Statewide Important Farmlands. The Sphere of Influence has only 1.98 acres of Statewide Important Farmlands, and the City Limit has no acreage designated as Statewide Important Farmlands.8

Williamson Act Lands Lands under the Williamson Act, or California Land Conservation Act, are agricultural lands that allow special tax assessment. These lands are taxed on the basis of agricultural production rather than market value. The goal of the Williamson Act is to protect agricultural land from being sold for development. 582 acres of land with Williamson Act contracts are located within the Sphere of Influence. Based on 2008 Riverside County data, approximately 218.9 acres were in renewal, and 363 acres were in non-renewal.9 Non-renewal means the farmland reverts back to market conditions and can be sold at fair market value. Farmland in non-renewal status generally indicates agricultural land will be developed to non-agricultural land uses.

6 “Riverside County Important Farmland 2008”, prepared by California Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection, prepared September 2009. 7 “Riverside County Important Farmland 2008”, prepared by California Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection, prepared September 2009. 8 As provided by City of La Quinta Planning Department through Riverside County Important Farmland GIS Data, http://redirect.conservation.ca.gov/DLRP/fmmp/county_info_results.asp.

9 As provided by City of La Quinta Planning Department through Riverside County Important Farmland GIS Data, http://redirect.conservation.ca.gov/DLRP/fmmp/county_info_results.asp.

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2. Project Impacts

Conversion of Designated Farmland Types

Implementation of the La Quinta 2035 General Plan will facilitate urban development on lands designated as Prime Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, Unique Farmland, and Farmlands of Local Importance. The designation is based on soil types, climatic conditions and access to irrigation, and does not consider the urban environment in which these lands may occur. As mentioned above, approximately 9,091 acres, or 29% of the General Plan Update Planning Area, is designated agricultural lands of statewide or local importance according to the Riverside County Important Farmland Map of 2008. There were approximately 1,700 acres of important agricultural land located in the City, and 7,391 acres in the Sphere of Influence. The 1,700 acres located within the City limits are not in agricultural production, and have been designated for urban uses for some time. Because these lands are located within the City limits, their loss has generally already occurred, and no significant impact will result.

Implementation of the General Plan Update does not require landowners to immediately convert farmland to new land uses. However, new development proposed will be required to develop according to new land use designations. As a result, agricultural lands will be affected by new growth and development. There are currently over 545,000 acres of important farmland in Riverside County10. The 7,391 acres of land designated as important farmland represents 1.3% of the total important farmland in the County. The eventual loss of these lands will not significantly impact agriculture in the region.

Land uses within the eastern Sphere of Influence are currently governed by the County’s Vista Santa Rosa Community Plan, which allows for both residential and agriculture related uses. These lands will continue under the jurisdiction of the County of Riverside until the completion of master planning for the area. The General Plan Update requires that the master planning consider the area’s character. This is likely to include very low intensity development, and agricultural or ranching uses. Further, the City’s Zoning Ordinance includes an Agricultural/Equestrian Overlay which applies to all lands in the Sphere. This overlay was specifically designed to allow for the preservation of agricultural and ranching uses in the Sphere area. No change to this Overlay is proposed, and the standards and land uses permitted in the Overlay would continue to apply to projects if they were annexed to the City.

Conflicts with Agriculture Zoning

Current zoning standards in the City provide for Very Low Density residential, which allows equestrian and ancillary agricultural uses on large residential properties. The Very Low Density Residential zone was established as a transition zone between urban uses within the City Limits and the agricultural lands within the Sphere of Influence. These uses allowed in the Very Low Density Residential zone, however are generally not associated with large commercial agricultural production. The Zoning Ordinance also includes an Agricultural/Equestrian Overlay

10 California Department of Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection. 2008-2010 Land Use Conversion inventory.

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which applies to all lands in the Sphere. This overlay was specifically designed to allow for the preservation of agricultural and ranching uses in the Sphere area. The zoning designations will remain, and the General Plan Update will have less than significant impacts on agricultural zoning in the City.

The eastern Sphere of Influence is currently under Riverside County jurisdiction, and will continue to abide by the County’s zoning standards. City standards will apply only if these lands are annexed into the City of La Quinta. The County’s Vista Santa Rosa Community Plan assigns a variety of land uses within four planning areas. One of these planning areas includes a proposed Village Center, and includes land uses such as Mixed-Use, High Density Residential, Medium Density, and Medium High Density Residential. The majority of lands in the Vista Santa Rosa Community, however, are designated Low Density Residential, Very Low Density Residential and Estate Density Residential. Small agriculture uses and equestrian related uses are permitted to continue in these low-density land use designations.11

The La Quinta General Plan Update designates the eastern Sphere of Influence primarily as Low Density Residential, and requires the preparation of a master plan prior to annexation. The master plan is further required to reflect the character of the area. Annexation to the City cannot occur without the completion of this master plan. Based on the character of the area, it can be expected that the master plan will contain provisions for equestrian and agricultural facilities, and that agricultural uses would remain within the land use mix of the area. Further, the Agricultural/Equestrian Overlay currently in effect under the City’s Zoning Ordinance will remain upon adoption of the General Plan. The Overlay allows and protects agricultural and equestrian activities in the Sphere, should any portion of these lands be annexed in the future. As a result, impacts associated with agricultural zoning would be expected to be less than significant.

Williamson Act Lands

In 2008, there was approximately 582 acres of land under Williamson Act Contract in the eastern Sphere of Influence, of which approximately 218.9 acres were in renewal, and 363 acres were in non-renewal. The program is voluntary, and landowners enter contracts with initial term of up to ten years. Based on the acreage currently in non-renewal, the general trend in the region has been to remove lands from Williamson Act contracts. The adoption of the General Plan Update will have no impact on these contracts, insofar as they are entirely controlled by the land owners. Since all contracts currently occur within the Sphere, which is not currently within the City’s jurisdiction, the General Plan Update will have no immediate impact on these contracts. In the long term, however, if the Sphere were to be annexed, the land owners would have the ability to cancel their contracts and develop their land in more suburban land uses, if the master plan were to so designate these lands. Conversely, nothing in the General Plan Update requires or mandates the termination of these contracts, and impacts associated with Williamson Act contracts will be less than significant.

11 “Vista Santa Rosa Community Land Use Concept Plan”, County of Riverside Planning Department, June 17, 2008.

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Conversion of Farmland to Non-agriculture Uses

The implementation of the General Plan Update will facilitate development on lands currently used for agriculture in the Sphere of Influence. The General Plan Update does not mandate that landowners terminate agricultural production, but provides regulations when development does occur on these lands. As previously stated, the General Plan Update includes the master planning of the Sphere, where agricultural activities occur. The master plan is required to consider and include community character, and may include agriculture as an allowed land use. Finally, none of the policies, programs or land use designations of the General Plan Update will apply to any of these lands if they are not annexed to the City. As a result, adoption of the General Plan Update will have a less than significant impact on the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses.

3. Mitigation Measures

The General Plan Update will facilitate continued urbanization in areas that are undeveloped and used for agriculture. The General Plan Update will not directly require conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses, however indirect pressures may encourage agricultural landowners to sell or develop the land. The following mitigation measures will reduce impacts associated with the conversion of agriculture land to nonagricultural uses.

1. Prior to lands under Williamson Act contract being annexed into the City of La Quinta, the City shall coordinate with property owners, County of Riverside, and appropriate state agencies to assure transfer of Williamson Act contracts to the City.

2. The master plan for the Vista Santa Rosa area will incorporate the area’s agricultural character.

3. New development will be required to provide buffers adjacent to existing agricultural lands.

4. Incorporate date palms, citrus trees, or other important crops into landscape plans for open space, right-of-way landscaping, and parks to the greatest extent possible.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

A. New development proposals shall be reviewed by the Planning Department to assure that master planning and development proposals provide buffering between agricultural lands and urban land uses. Responsible Parties: Planning Department, developers, affected landowners.

B. Work with the Department of Conservation and the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program to update the Riverside County Important Farmlands Map to reflect new urban development and available farmland with General Plan Update Planning Area. Responsible Parties: Planning Department, Department of Conservation, County of Riverside

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C. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases

Introduction This section of the EIR addresses potential impacts associated with air quality and greenhouse gas emissions that may arise from implementation of the General Plan Update. The existing air quality and greenhouse gas conditions, forecast emission projections within City limits and Sphere of Influence are described, and the potential impacts relating to changes from the previously approved General Plan are assessed.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria for Determining Significance The following thresholds or criteria are derived from Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, and are used to determine the level of potential effect. The significance determination is based on the recommended criteria set forth in Section 15064 of the CEQA Guidelines. For analysis purposes, build out of the La Quinta General Plan would have a significant effect on air quality emissions if it is determined that the project will:

a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan.

b) Violate any air quality standard or contribute substantially to an existing or projected air quality violation.

c) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard (including releasing emissions which exceed quantitative thresholds for ozone precursors).

d) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations.

e) Create objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people.

f) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment.

g) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases.

South Coast Air Quality Management District The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD or District) has established thresholds for certain criteria pollutants. Based on the District’s emission thresholds for criteria pollutants, any project would be considered to have significant impacts to air quality if the daily emissions exceed the values shown in the table below during construction or operation:

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Table III-1 Emissions Thresholds for SCAQMD Criteria Pollutant Daily Threshold (pounds) Carbon Monoxide (CO) 550 Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) 100 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 75 Oxides of Sulfur (SOx) 150 Particulate Matter (PM10) 150 Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 55 Source: SCAQMD daily thresholds for construction and operation within the Coachella Valley, March 2009.

In order to protect sensitive receptors from elevated concentration of pollutants, SCAQMD has developed methodology to assist lead agencies in analyzing localized air quality impacts from individual projects. Localized significance thresholds (LST) are not applicable to regional projects, such as this General Plan, but can be considered for project specific development proposals. The use of LST’s by local governments is voluntary and is to be implemented at the discretion of the lead agency. The SCAQMD’s Final Localized Significant Threshold Methodology, revised July 2008, should be referenced for additional information on LST’s.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions In addition to the thresholds criteria set forth under Appendix G in the CEQA Guidelines, consistency with Assembly Bill 32 and Executive Order S-3-05 are also considered in order to make a significance determination for greenhouse gas emissions. Briefly, AB 32 was adopted in 2006 and requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop regulation on how the state will combat global warming. The goals of AB 32 are to achieve a statewide GHG emission reduction to 1990 levels by 2020. The Executive Order calls for a statewide GHG emission reduction to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. For analysis purposes emissions of greenhouse gases from implementation of the proposed General Plan Update for the City of La Quinta would be considered significant if the Plan were to interfere with the objectives of AB 32 and S-3-05.

In order to protect air quality locally and contribute to the State mandate to reduce air quality emissions, the City of La Quinta has prepared a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan that is consistent with the goals of AB 32 and S-3-05.

SCAQMD Interim Thresholds for Greenhouse Gases In 2008, the SCAQMD established interim significance thresholds for GHG emissions and published a guidance document for analysis. For the purposes of determining whether or not GHG emissions are significant, project emissions are to include direct, indirect, and, to the extent information is available, life cycle emissions during construction and operation. The interim thresholds are based on a series of Tiers, under which projects being considered under CEQA should be analyzed. The analysis of impacts is recommended to use modeling programs readily available, which at the time of the writing of the guidance document, focused on the URBEMIS model. Since that time, SCAQMD has completed a new modeling tool, CALEmod, which has been used for the projection of both criteria pollutant emissions and GHG emissions in this

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document. The SCAQMD guidance document does not provide numerical thresholds for the analysis of GHG emissions. Rather, it recommends compliance with AB 32 reductions, CARB reduction percentages, and similar published data. These have been used in this analysis, as described below.

Conformity A project is considered to be in conformity with adopted attainment and maintenance plans if the project adheres to the requirements of the South Coast Air Quality Management Rule Book12 and Air Quality Management Plan13. Divergence from adopted attainment or maintenance plans would result in non-conformance, and occurs when a proposed project conflicts with or would result in a delay of implementation for any attainment or maintenance plan. A project is conforming if it complies with all applicable District rules and regulations, adopted and forthcoming control measures, and is consistent with the growth forecasts in the applicable plan(s) (or is directly included in the applicable plan). Conformity with growth forecasts can be established by demonstrating that the project is consistent with the land use plan that was used to generate the growth forecast. A non-conforming project would be one that increases the gross number of dwelling units, increases the number of trips, and/or increases the overall vehicle miles traveled in an affected area relative to the applicable land use plan.

1. Existing Conditions

Air quality conditions are a result of the geographic setting and local and regional activities. Local development and population growth, traffic, construction activities, and various site disturbances in City of La Quinta result in the emission of air pollutants that affect the local air quality. Although air pollution is emitted from various sources locally, regional air quality emissions also have an effect on the local air quality. Activities outside of the Salton Sea Air Basin (SSAB), in which La Quinta is located, result in the emission of pollutants that make their way into the SSAB from adjacent air basins, including the South Coast Air Basin.

Climate and Geographic Setting

Air quality in a given locality is a function of the amount of pollutants emitted and dispersed, as well as the local climatic and geographic conditions, which may reduce or enhance the formation of pollutants. The City of La Quinta is located in the Coachella Valley, and is subject to weather conditions that are typical of an inland desert climate. The San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountain Ranges west of La Quinta effectively cut off the region from coastal influences. During the summer, temperatures exceed 100ºF. In the summer months, daily highs are around 105ºF and lows are around 75ºF. In the winter, temperatures can drop below 20ºF, although winters are typically moderate, with daily average temperature highs around 70ºF and lows around 50ºF.

Annual rainfall is typically less than 4 inches on the Valley floor, with higher mountain slopes receiving increased rainfall with increased elevation. Precipitation often occurs in relatively high

12 South Coast Air Quality Management District Rules and Regulations, Adopted February 4, 1977. 13 “Final 2007 Air Quality Management Plan,” prepared by South Coast Air Quality Management District, June 2007.

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volumes in short duration, and results in stormwater runoff with considerable sediment deposition on the Valley floor.

The City of La Quinta is subject to high intensity wind events year round. During fall and winter months, high-pressure systems from the north can conflict with low-pressure systems from the south, and create a condition known as the Santa Ana winds, which can blow for multiple days at high speeds. These strong winds sweep up, suspend and transport large quantities of sand and dust, reducing visibility, damaging property and constituting a significant health threat.

Air Quality Management and Regulation

The federal and California Clean Air Acts regulate air quality management and establish air quality standards. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for managing criteria air pollutants in 1971. The California Clean Air Act (CCAA) became effective on January 1, 1989 and mandated health-based air quality standards for criteria pollutants at the state level. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) developed state standards, which are generally more stringent than federal standards, particularly in regard to carbon monoxide and particulate matter.

State Implementation Plans (SIP) regulate regional air quality by requiring management districts to develop strategic plans to meet the federal and state ambient air quality standards by the deadlines specified in the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and emission reduction targets imposed by the California Clean Air Act. The Final 2007 AQMP, prepared by SCAQMD, satisfies the State Implementation Plan requirements of the Clean Air Act.14

The Coachella Valley has become eligible for re-designation as being in attainment due to the annual average PM10 concentrations meeting the revoked federal standard. The peak 24-hour 3 average PM10 concentrations have also not exceeded the current federal standard (150 µg/m ). On February 25, 2010 the California Air Resources Board approved the Coachella Valley PM10 Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan from serious non-attainment to attainment for the PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard under CAA Section 107.

The SCAQMD is voluntarily requesting that EPA re-designate the Coachella Valley portion of the SSAB from “Serious” non-attainment to “Severe-15” and extend the attainment date of the 8- hour ozone standard to 2019. The District’s proposed control strategy includes two components, including a strategy for the South Coast Air Basin, and control of locally generated emissions in the Coachella Valley via regulations at the state and federal level.

Toxic Air Contaminants (TAC)

The US EPA regulates TACs through technology-based requirements that are implemented by state and local agencies. California regulates TACs through the air toxics program and the Air Toxics “Hot Spots” Information and Assessment Act.15 The CARB works alongside the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to identify TACs, and adopt Air Toxic

14 “2007 Air Quality Management Plan,” South Coast Air Quality Management District, June 1, 2007. 15 AB 2588.

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Control Measures (ATCMs) to reduce the identified TACs. Where there are federal standards, CARB must, at minimum, adopt the standards established by the US EPA.

Criteria Air Pollutants

The following air pollutants are collectively known as criteria air pollutants and are defined as those pollutants for which established air quality standards have been adopted by federal and state governments. The following provides a summary description of each criteria pollutant, detailed information can be found in the Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Report (Appendix B).

Ozone (O3) Ozone is a gas formed when byproducts of the internal combustion engine and other urban processes, particularly nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), react in the presence of ultraviolet sunlight. It is a pungent, colorless, toxic gas commonly referred to as smog.

Carbon monoxide (CO) Carbon monoxide is produced from the partial combustion of fossil fuels. EPA estimates that 85%-95% of all CO emissions come from motor vehicle exhaust. Carbon monoxide contributes to the production of methane, ozone, and carbon dioxide. It is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless toxic gas that at high concentrations can contribute to heart disease, anemia, and impaired psychological behavior.

Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Nitric oxide (NO) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) are the primary oxides of nitrogen that are considered criteria pollutants. NOx emissions are byproducts from the operation of motor vehicles, power plants, and off-road equipment. Short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide can result in airway constriction, diminished lung capacity, and is highly toxic by inhalation.

Sulfur Oxides (SOx) Sulfur oxides occur naturally from volcanic activity, and are generated as a result of various industrial processes. The most common sulfur oxide compound is Sulfur dioxide (SO2), which results from the combustion of high-sulfur content fuels, such as coal and petroleum. Sources include motor vehicle fuel combustion, fossil fuel power plants, chemical manufacturing plants, and sulfur recovery plants. Sulfur dioxide acts as an acid, can result in the formation of acid rain, and is a colorless, odorous gas.

Particulate Matter Particulate matter of ten microns or smaller in diameter are referred to as PM10, whereas PM2.5 consists of particles smaller than 2.5 microns. Particulate matter (PM) may be from soil and dust, soot and smoke, or aerosols, and is a byproduct of fuel combustion, tire wear, and wind erosion. Particles less than ten microns in diameter can enter the throat, nose, and lungs. Fine particulate matter poses a significant threat to public health and can cause increased respiratory infections, asthma attacks, and lung cancer.

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Lead (Pb) Lead occurs in the atmosphere from the manufacturing of batteries, paint, ink, and ammunition. Excessive exposure to airborne lead can lead to anemia, kidney disease, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and neuromuscular and neurological disorders.

Volatile Organic Compounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are also known as Reactive Organic Gas (ROG). This class of pollutants have no state or federal ambient air quality standards and are not classified as criteria pollutants, however they are regulated because they are responsible for contributing to the formation of ozone. They also contribute to higher PM10 levels because they transform into organic aerosols when released into the atmosphere.

Air Quality Standards

State and federal governments have each established ambient air quality standards for pollutants of concern, including the criteria pollutants listed above. The federal government sets primary standards to protect public health, including the health of sensitive populations, such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly, and sets secondary standards to protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

Air quality standards are intended to project sensitive receptors, which are people or land uses that may be especially subject to respiratory stress and/or significant adverse impacts as a result of exposure to air contaminants. The ARB designates people with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, children under 14, seniors over 65, and athletes as sensitive receptors. Hospitals, nursing and retirement homes, schools, daycares, playgrounds, parks, athletic facilities, and residential and transient lodging facilities are all considered sensitive land uses.

The following table shows state and federal (primary) air quality standards. State standards are generally more restrictive than federal standards.

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Table III-2 State and Federal Ambient Air Quality Standards State Standards Federal Standards** Pollutant Averaging Max. Averaging Time Max. Time Concentration Concentration Ozone 1 hour 0.09 ppm 1 hour 8 hour 0.07 ppm 8 hour 0.075 ppm Carbon Monoxide 1 hour 20.0 ppm 1 hour 35.0 ppm 8 hours 9.0 ppm 8 hours 9.0 ppm Nitrogen Dioxide 1 hour 0.18 ppm 0.10 ppm* (NO2) AAM 0.030 ppm AAM 0.053 ppm Sulfur 1 hour 0.25 ppm 1 hour .075ppm** Dioxide 24 hours 0.04 ppm 24 hours (SO2) AAM

Particulate Matter 24 hours 50 µg/m3 24 hours 150 µg/m3 3 (PM10) AAM 20 µg/m AAM Particulate Matter AAM 12 µg/m3 AAM 15 µg/m3 3 3 (PM2.5) 24 hours 35 µg/m 24 hours 35 µg/m Lead 30 day Avg. 1.5 µg/m3 3 month Avg. 0.15 µg/m3 Visibility Reducing Particles 8 hour No federal No federal Standard Standard Sulfates 24 hour 25µg/m3 No federal No federal Standard Standard Hydrogen Sulfide No federal No federal 1 hour 0.03 ppm Standard Standard Vinly Chloride 24 hour 0.01 ppm No federal No federal Standard Standard Notes: ppm = parts per million; ppb= parts per billion; µg/ m3 = micrograms per cubic meter of air; AAM = Annual Arithmetic Mean; Source: California Air Resources Board, 9/08/2010 Source: US EPA, September 2010 * Note that this standard became effective as of January 22,2010. ** Final rule signed June 2, 2010, effective as of August 23,2010

Regional Pollutants of Concern and Monitoring

The above standards are the thresholds by which regional ambient air quality is measured. In the Coachella Valley air quality has exceeded state and federal standards for ozone and particulate matter. In order to monitor regional pollutants of concern, the SCAQMD operates and maintains two regional air quality monitoring stations in Source Receptor Area 30 (SRA 30), including one at a Palm Springs Fire Station, and one in the City of Indio off of Jackson Street. These monitoring stations report daily air pollutant concentrations and meteorological conditions.

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The following discussion summarizes the past few years of data collected at the monitoring stations for PM10, PM2.5, and Ozone. The last 10-years of monitoring data can be seen in the Air Quality and GHG Report.

PM10 Emissions Natural sand migration, a process referred to as “blowsand,” generates two types of PM10 emissions: (1) natural PM10, which is produced by direct particle erosion and fragmentation, and (2) secondary PM10, whereby sand deposited on roadways is further broken up by motor vehicles, then re-suspended in the air.

PM10 levels in the Coachella Valley are attributed to fugitive dust emissions from grading and construction activities, agricultural practices, and strong winds. In the past several decades a concerted and joint effort has been made to limit fugitive dust emissions. SCAQMD establishes measures to reduce particulate matter, sets forth new measures that could further reduce particulate matter, and maintains a list of new measures that need further evaluation prior to implementation. Applicable state code and AQMD Rules, including Rule 403 (Fugitive Dust), enforce fugitive dust compliance.

The table below shows that the federal 24-hour standard for PM10 has not been exceeded at either monitoring station within SRA 30. However, PM10 levels continue to exceed state standards within SRA 30.

Table III-3 PM10 Monitoring Data for the Coachella Valley Maximum No. (%) Samples Monitoring Year Concentration Exceeding 24-hr. Annual Average Station (µg/m3/24hours) Standards (µg/m3) Federal1 State2 AAM3 AGM4 Palm Springs 2007 83 0 (0.0%) 6 (11.0%) 30.5 N/A 2008 73 0 (0.0%) 4 (8.0%) 23.2 N/A 2009 133 0 (0.0%) N/A N/A N/A 2010 145 0.0 0.0 19.4 18.3 2011 397 2.0 0.0 21.7 18.1 Indio 2007 146+ 0 (0.0%) 51 (59.0%) 53.5 N/A 2008 128 0 (0.0%) 25 (22.0%) 39.9 N/A 2009 132 0 (0.0%) N/A N/A N/A 2010 107 0.0 23.9 28.8 29.7 2011 376 2.0 18.6 32.6 35.4 Source: Annual air quality site monitoring reports, prepared by SCAQMD and ARB. 1 = > 150 µg/m3 in 24 hour period; 2 = > 50 µg/m3 in 24 hour period; 3 Federal Annual Average Standard AAM > 50µg/m3 revoked December 17, 2006. State standard is AAM > 20µg/m3 4 State Annual Average Standard = AGM > 20µg/m3

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PM2.5 Emissions The Coachella Valley is defined as unclassifiable for PM2.5, based on the 2007 State Area Designations and does not require a State Implementation Plan to demonstrate attainment. The following table shows that the federal and state 24-hour PM2.5 standard has not been exceeded, nor has the Federal AAM standard of 15 µg/m3. The AAM state standard of 12 µg/m3 has also not been exceeded in the past few years.

Table III-4 PM2.5 Monitoring Data for the Coachella Valley Max No. Days Annual Monitoring Year Concentration Exceeding 24-hr. Average Station (µg/m3/24hours) Standards (µg/m3) Federala AAM b, c Palm Springs 2007 32.5 0 8.5 2008 18.1 0 7.1 2009 21.8 0 6.6 2010 12.8 0 5.9 2011 26.3 0 6.0 Indio 2007 26.7 N/A N/A 2008 21.5 0 8.4 2009 27.5 0 7.8 2010 16.0 0 6.8 2011 35.4 0 7.1 Source: Annual air quality site monitoring reports, prepared by SCAQMD and ARB. a = > 65µg/m3 in 24 hour period, Federal standard prior to December 17, 2006. b = > 35 µg/m3 in 24 hour period, Federal standard as of December 17, 2006 c Federal Annual Average Standard = AAM > 15µg/m3 d State Annual Average Standard = AAM > 12µg/m3 as of July 5, 2003.

Ozone Emissions Although the SSAB has a history of exceeding regulatory ozone standards, the number of days and months that exceed the federal one-hour standard has dropped steadily over the past three decades. Under the Federal Clean Air Act, the SSAB is classified as a “severe-15” area, which must achieve attainment by June 15, 2019.

As previously noted, SCAQMD studies indicate that most ozone is transported to the Salton Sea Air Basin from the upwind South Coast Air Basin, which contains large metropolitan areas including Los Angeles. It is difficult to quantify the amount of ozone contributed from other air basins; however, improved air quality in the Coachella Valley depends upon reduced ozone emissions in the South Coast Air Basin.

The following table shows that the Palm Springs monitoring site exceeds the 1 hour and 8 hour federal and state standards more frequently than the Indio site.

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Table III-5 Ozone Monitoring Data No. Days Standard Exceeded Stations Year Max. Concentration Federal1 State2 1 Hour ppm 8 Hour ppm 8 Hour 1 Hour 8 Hour Palm Springs 2007 0.13 0.101 20 29 83 2008 0.11 0.101 20 26 70 2009 0.12 0.098 54 28 74 2010 0.114 0.099 52 20 78 2011 0.124 0.098 49 21 69 Indio 2007 0.11 0.094 6 8 48 2008 0.12 0.092 27 12 44 2009 0.10 0.090 24 6 41 2010 0.100 0.087 19 6 45 2011 0.099 0.090 19 3 42 Source: SCAQMD and ARB Annual Air Quality Data Tables. 1 = > 0.12 and 0.08 parts per million in 1 hour and 8 hour respectively. 2 = > 0.09 and 0.75 parts per million in 1 hour and 8 hour respectively.

Global Warming and Climate Change

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global mean temperatures have risen 0.74oC between 1906 and 2005; global sea surface temperatures have increased to depths of 3,000 meters since 1961; sea levels have risen by 0.17 mm since the beginning of the 20th century; and snow and glaciers continue to melt faster than new snow accumulation, contributing to rising sea levels.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA reports, the average surface temperature of the earth has warmed 1oF since the 1970s, and the earth’s surface is warming at a rate of 0. 29oF per decade. These increases have become known as global warming.

Industrialization, urban lifestyle, agricultural practices, production and manufacturing and other human activities result in the emission of greenhouse gas that are contributing to global warming and climate change, and include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), tetrafluoromethane, hexafluoroethane, sulfur hexafluoride, HFC-23 (fluoroform), HFC-134a (s, s, s, 2 –tetrafluoroethane), and HFC-152a (difluoroethane).

These gases are termed greenhouse gases due to their shared characteristic of trapping heat, are responsible for the global average increase in surface temperatures, and for the increase in the rate of warming. There is a high degree of correlation between the concentration of CO2 and average temperatures. At the beginning of the industrialized era compared to atmospheric concentration in 2005, CO2 levels had increased by 35%, methane by 151%, and nitrous oxide by 18%. In 2005, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere were nearly 380 parts per million (ppm). Comparatively, prior to the Industrial Revolution, about 250 years ago, CO2 levels were

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278 ppm, and over the past 650,000 years carbon dioxide levels have fluctuated between 180 and 300 ppm, making present day atmospheric CO2 levels substantially greater than at any point in the past 650,000 years.

Under current projection models given business as usual conditions, carbon dioxide levels are likely to increase to at least 730 ppm and possibly as high as 1,020 ppm by the year 2100, which would have a substantial effect on environmental and socio-economic conditions. Although there is much debate over what the effects of climate change will be, there is a general consensus that the levels of greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced in order to and limit air pollution and minimize the potential impacts of climate change.16

Greenhouse Gases

The following provides a summary description of each greenhouse gas, detailed information can be found in the Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Report (Appendix B).

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Sources of carbon dioxide include the decomposition of dead organic matter, respiration of bacteria, plants, animals and fungus, evaporation from oceans, volcanic out gassing, and from the combustion of coal, oil, natural gas, and wood. Carbon dioxide is removed from the air by photosynthesis, dissolution into ocean water, transfer to soils and ice caps, and chemical weathering of carbonate rocks.

Methane (CH4) Methane is released from low oxygen environments, the combustion of fossil fuels, and burning biomass. Methane remains in the atmosphere for approximately 9-15 years and is a more efficient absorber of radiation compared to CO2.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Sources of nitrous oxide include releases from microbial processes in soil and water, including those reactions that occur in fertilizer containing nitrogen, industrial processes, such as fossil fuel fired power plants, nylon production, nitric acid production, and vehicle emissions. Nitrous oxide can be transported into the stratosphere, deposited on the Earth’s surface, and converted to other compounds by chemical reaction.

Halons Halons are compounds consisting of bromine, fluorine, and carbon and are agents most typically found in fire extinguishers. Halons have been identified as to contribute to ozone-depletion and are known greenhouse gases. Halon production in the United States ended in 1993.

16 “Working Group III Contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change,” prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, May 2007.

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Chlorofluorocarbons Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are primarily used in air conditioners and refrigerators. They are also used as solvents to clean electronic microcircuits. Federal regulations require service practices that maximize recycling of ozone-depleting compounds during servicing and disposal of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment.

Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons HCFCs are similar to CFC’s, are generally used in aerosols and refrigerants, but break down more quickly in the atmosphere and are more chemically reactive due to their hydrogen component. HCFC’s affect stratospheric ozone, but to a much lesser extent than CFCs.

Climate Change Regulation

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) has been passed in order to comprehensively limit greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) at the state level by establishing an annual reporting program of GHG emissions for significant sources and sets emissions limits to cut the state’s GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. On June 1, 2005 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued executive order S-3-05, which calls for reduction in GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and for an 80 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050.

In 2004 the State of California generated 492 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (gross). Although the state’s population grew by 16 percent between 1990 and 2004 GHG emissions were reduced by 9.7 percent. GHG emission reductions are attributed to energy conservation measures such as use of energy efficient appliances and building materials that are prescribed under Title 24 of the California Building Code.

AB 32 was adopted by the state legislature in 2006, and set in motion a statewide effort to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through regulatory and market mechanisms. It sets forth a program to achieve 1990 emission levels by 2020 and requires CARB to proclaim 1990 GHG emissions and develop a Scoping Plan that can be implemented by January 1, 2012. CARB has reported that 1990 GHG levels were 427 million metric tons (MMT) for the state of California. The Scoping Plan, adopted on December 11, 2008, includes measures like a cap and trade program, green building strategies, recycling and waste reduction, and Voluntary Early Actions and Reductions. CARB has released reduction requirements for regions throughout the State.

California SB 375 was signed by the Governor in September 2008 and is intended to at least in part implement greenhouse gas reduction targets set forth in AB 32. The bill encourages regional land use planning to reduce vehicle miles traveled and requires jurisdictions to adopt a sustainable communities strategy.

The CEQA Guidelines now require the analysis and mitigation of impacts associated with greenhouse gases. The Guidelines require that all feasible mitigation measures be considered, including the adoption of plans and programs to reduce emissions of future development projects. The City’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan has been prepared to address these requirements.

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Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan

The City of La Quinta has completed a Greenhouse Gas Inventory and has prepared a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan as part of this General Plan Update. The intent of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan is to set goals, policies, and programs that will result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to targets identified in the Plan that meet the State’s mandates. The provisions of the Plan have been included in the analysis of air quality and greenhouse gas impacts provided below.

2. Project Impacts

The potential for air quality impacts in the La Quinta Planning Area will increase with implementation of the proposed General Plan Update. Air pollutants will be generated from a variety of activities occurring within the Planning Area, including grading and construction, vehicle emissions, and daily operations. Emissions generated by vehicular traffic are projected to be the greatest source of air pollutants. The use of natural gas and electricity for operation of existing and new buildings and structures will also result in the emission of air pollutants.

Major sources of pollutants associated with build out of the General Plan are quantified and described in detail in the Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Report, which can be found in Appendix B of this EIR. The following discussion summarizes the major findings of the Air Quality Analysis and makes a significance determination based on CEQA criteria and SCAQMD thresholds.

Compliance with SCAQMD AQMP

As mentioned above, the City of La Quinta is subject to the 2007 Air Quality Management Plan, prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The proposed La Quinta General Plan Update has the potential to increase development intensities and the City’s build out population compared to the 2002 General Plan, upon which population projections for the 2007 AQMP were based. The size and composition of the population has a direct effect on the amount of air quality emissions. The typical trend being that an increase in population results in a correlated increase in the level of air quality emissions. However, state legislation, such as SB 375 and AB 32, as well as regional and local programs and policies have shown that with proper land use planning, adherence to building codes, especially Title 24, and opportunities for alternative modes of transport, this trend can be reversed.

Under business as usual conditions, the proposed General Plan Update has the potential to conflict with or obstruct implementation of the adopted 2007 Air Quality Management Plan prepared by SCAQMD due to the increased densities proposed in the eastern Sphere, and the associated population projections. Although the proposed population projections for the General Plan Update within City limits are comparable to those set forth under the 2002 General Plan, the population for the Sphere of Influence is projected to nearly double. The projected increase in the population size within the Sphere of Influence as set forth in the General Plan Update, when compared with the Riverside County General Plan, has the potential to conflict with or obstruct implementation of the Air Quality Management Plan.

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Implementation of mitigation measures, including adherence to the GHG Reduction Plan are expected to substantially reduce emissions of air quality pollutants and reduce the per capita emission contribution. Therefore, it is expected that with mitigation measures, the General Plan Update will be consistent with the Air Quality Management Plan and impacts will be reduced.

Air Quality Standards

As mentioned above federal and state air quality standards have been established for several pollutants. Within the Coachella Valley, ozone and particulate matter concentration have exceeded air quality standards and are monitored and managed by SCAQMD.

The City of La Quinta requires best management practices (BMPs), adherence to building codes and standards, and the adoption of dust control plans for all new development. In addition, SCAQMD has established several programs specifically designed to limit the emission of ozone and the generation of particulate matter. Adherence to established and forthcoming programs and policies set forth by SCAQMD will assure that in and of itself, the proposed General Plan Update will not violate any air quality standard or substantially contribute to any existing or projected air quality violation.

Air Quality Emission Projections

Construction and operation of land uses set forth in the General Plan Update are expected to result in the generation and emission of air pollutants. The following quantifies these emissions.

Construction The General Plan Update has the potential to result in the development of 10,718 currently vacant acres, including residential, commercial, recreational open space, major community facilities, and street rights-of-way. As the General Plan is expected to build out over a 25-year period, this corresponds to an average annual build out of approximately 428.72 acres per year, 1,153 dwelling units, and 251,529 square feet of retail/industrial development.

For analysis purposes, emissions from construction activities are averaged over the 25-year build out period to estimate annual emissions. The Table below shows the emission projections for the average annual development likely to occur under implementation of the General Plan Update.

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Table III-6 Construction Emissions for the Planning Area (pounds per day) CO NOx ROG1 SOx PM10 PM2.5 City Limits Unmitigated 241.90 202.78 906.78 0.24 2,284.59 484.21 Mitigated 241.90 122.28 818.45 0.24 140.89 31.41 SCAQMD Threshold 550.00 100.00 75.00 150.00 150.00 55.00 Significant No Yes Yes No No No Sphere of Influence Unmitigated 206.06 172.73 772.45 0.21 1,946.14 412.47 Mitigated 206.06 104.16 697.20 0.21 120.01 26.76 SCAQMD Threshold 550.00 100.00 75.00 150.00 150.00 55.00 Significant No Yes Yes No No No Planning Area Total Unmitigated 447.96 375.51 1,679.23 0.45 4,230.73 896.68 Mitigated 447.96 226.44 1,515.65 0.45 260.90 58.17 SCAQMD Threshold 550.00 100.00 75.00 150.00 150.00 55.00 Significant No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Source: Air Quality and GHG Report, prepared by Terra Nova Planning and Research, June 2012. 1Reactive Organic Gases (ROGs), sometimes referred to as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

With implementation of mitigation measures, air quality emissions from construction activities within City limits are projected to remain below established thresholds for all criteria pollutants except for NOx and ROG. The sources of ROG’s during construction include the evaporation of solvents found in paints, varnishes, primers, and other surface coatings. Even with implementation of mitigation measures, air quality emissions of NOx and ROG have the potential to result in significant and unavoidable impacts from construction activities occurring within City limits.

Construction related air quality emissions from the development of lands within the Sphere of Influence are projected to exceed established daily thresholds for NOx and ROG, even with implementation of mitigation measures. Newly adopted and forthcoming fuel standards are expected to dramatically reduce emissions of NOx. Given the projected levels of NOx, it is conceivable that emission reductions from full implementation of the off-road diesel fuel standard will result in reducing emission to below threshold levels. In addition, requiring the use of the latest available technology and assuring that the construction fleet is properly maintained and updated will contribute to further limiting emissions. Nonetheless, construction activities within the Sphere of Influence have the potential to result in significant and unavoidable impacts to air quality from the emission of NOx and ROG.

Air pollutant emissions from construction activities are considered temporary impacts and will end once construction is complete. Nonetheless, during construction activities and assuming simultaneous construction of vacant lands within the Planning Area, the proposed General Plan

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Update has the potential to result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of NOx, ROG, and PM10. Projections of these criteria pollutants exceed established daily and have the potential to result in significant and unavoidable impacts for these criteria pollutants.

Operation Daily activities at operation will result in the emission of air quality pollutants from the use of electricity and natural gas, and will be emitted from area sources and moving sources. The use of electricity within the Planning Area results in offsite emissions from the production of electricity. Although emission associated with electricity do not occur within the physically boundary of the Planning Area, they are considered as part of the operational impacts from build out of the General Plan Update. Emissions from natural gas occur from the combustion of natural gas within the Planning Area for operational activities such as heating and cooling, and cooking. Area source emissions include the use of consumer products, the application of architectural coatings, hearth fuel combustion, and fuel used for landscaping purposes. Moving sources include emissions from vehicles at build out of the General Plan Update.

Electricity and natural gas usage rates were obtained from the utility companies as part of the inventory effort conducted for the GHG Reduction Plan. Per unit and per square footage usage rates were calculated based on data provided and said factors were used to project build out demand under business as usual conditions within the La Quinta Planning Area. The Urbemis model was used to estimate emissions from area sources and moving sources. Detailed methodology and assumption used to project build out demands and associated emissions are described in the Air Quality and GHG Report (Appendix B).

The table below summarizes the projected emissions associated with daily operations within the Planning Area, at build out, under business as usual conditions. Due to the size and scale of the City Limits and the Sphere of Influence, air quality emissions for all criteria pollutants (CO, NOx, SOx, Particulates and ROG’s) are projected to exceed established SCAQMD thresholds at operation.

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Table III-7 Projected Daily Emissions at General Plan Build Out Stationary Source Emissions Moving Total SCAQMD Source Emissions Threshold Emission Criteria Electricity Natural Area All Total Total Gas Sources Vehicles Lbs./Day Lbs./Day City Limits CO 597.49 219.14 7,044.98 8,471.50 16,333.11 550 NOx 3,435.58 377.96 375.10 788.00 4,976.64 100 SOx 358.50 0.004 18.16 23.00 399.66 150 PM10 119.50 0.71 1,001.99 3,894.00 5,016.19 150 PM2.5 N/a N/a 965.36 763.00 1,728.36 55 ROGs 29.87 28.54 4,112.07 949.00 5,119.48 75 Sphere of Influence CO 303.96 109.51 5,217.98 4,787.50 10,418.94 550 NOx 1,747.76 209.85 329.45 442.50 2,729.56 100 SOx 182.37 0.002 13.18 13.00 208.56 150 PM10 60.79 0.40 726.75 2,262.00 3,049.94 150 PM2.5 N/a N/a 700.09 443.00 1,143.09 55 ROGs 15.20 15.98 2,984.34 515.50 3,531.02 75 Planning Area Total CO 901.45 328.65 12,262.96 13,259.00 26,752.05 550 NOx 5,183.34 587.81 704.55 1,230.50 7,706.20 100 SOx 540.87 0.01 31.34 36.00 608.22 150 PM10 180.29 1.10 1,728.74 6,156.00 8,066.13 150 PM2.5 N/a N/a 1,665.44 1,206.00 2,871.44 55 ROGs 45.07 44.52 7,096.40 1,464.50 8,650.50 75 Source: Air Quality and GHG Report, prepared by Terra Nova Planning and Research, June 2012.

For build out of the General Plan Update, air quality emissions have the potential to result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of CO, NOx, SOx, PM10, PM2.5, and ROG. Projections of these pollutants exceed established daily thresholds and have the potential to result in significant and unavoidable impacts.

Sensitive Receptors

The land use plan has been designed to provide a buffer between sources of air quality emissions and sensitive receptors. Although daily criteria pollutant emission thresholds will be exceeded, it is expected that state and federal standards for regional pollutants of concern will be unaffected by the proposed General Plan. The 2007 AQMP has projected that ozone standards will be achieved by 2018 for the Coachella Valley. With implementation of mitigation measures, the La Quinta General Plan Update will not interfere with attainment of the 8-hour ozone standard. As mentioned above, the Coachella Valley is eligible for redesignation as attainment due to the

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annual average PM10 concentrations meeting the revoked federal standard, and since the peak 24- hour average PM10 concentrations have also not exceeded the current federal standard (150 µg/m3). Thus, the proposed General Plan Update is not expected to expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations and air quality impacts to sensitive receptors are expected to be less than significant.

Objectionable Odors

The proposed General Plan Update does not include any land uses that have the potential to generate objectionable odors. Further, individual projects which may be proposed within the City, or on Sphere lands if annexed, will be reviewed individually based on their potential to generate odors under CEQA. Therefore, it is considered unlikely that implementation of the General Plan Update, including lands within City limits and the Sphere of Influence, would result in objectionable odors affecting a substantial number of people. The General Plan Update is expected to have less than significant impacts in regards to odors.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Construction and operation of land uses set forth in the General Plan Update are expected to result in the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are characterized below.

Construction GHG Emissions As mentioned above, construction emissions are based on the ground disturbance and development of 10,718 acres, including residential, commercial, recreational open space, major community facilities, and street right-of-ways. Urbemis was utilized to estimate the CO2 emissions that will be generated as a result of construction activities. For analysis purposes, CO2 emissions from annual average construction activities were multiplied by 25 years in order to estimate the total GHG emissions likely to occur from construction activities. To determine the amount of CH4 and N2O associated with the CO2 level, a ratio of 0.00006 for CH4 and a ratio of 0.00003 for N2O were assumed, per ton of CO2 emitted. Ratios for CH4 and N2O are pursuant to figures for diesel operated construction equipment provided in the California Climate Action Registry General Reporting Protocol, Version 3.1, January 2009. CO2 Equivalence (CO2e) was calculated by using a global warming potential of 21 for CH4 and 310 for N2O.

The Table below shows the total summary of projected GHG emissions expected to occur from construction activities of the General Plan Update.

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Table III-8 GHG Emissions from Construction of the General Plan (metric tons) CO2 CH4 N2O CO2e City Limits 94,231.35 5.09 2.56 95,133 Sphere of Influence 80,271.15 4.33 2.18 81,039 Planning Area Total 174,502.49 9.42 4.75 176,172 Source: Air Quality and GHG Report, prepared by Terra Nova, June 2012.

It should be mentioned that projected GHG emissions are conservative in that they represent emission levels using current factors. New standards for heavy-duty diesel construction equipment are currently being developed and will be phased in beginning in 2012. Therefore, the analysis conducted for GHG emissions represents a worst-case scenario assuming the continued use of current model year or older construction equipment. In practice and as feasible, new model construction equipment shall be utilized for all construction activities within the La Quinta Planning Area.

Emissions of GHG’s during construction activities have the potential to either directly or indirectly result in a temporary impact on the local and regional air quality conditions. GHG emissions from construction will end once construction activities are complete. Therefore, the generation and emission of GHG’s from construction are not expected to have a long term or lasting impact on the environment and impacts to air quality from construction are expected to be less than significant.

Operational GHG Emissions The proposed project will result in the emission of greenhouse gases through the combustion of fossil fuels during operation of vehicles, the generation of electricity at power plants, combustion of natural gas, and the transportation of water. The following tables shows the projected GHG emissions from operation at build out of the General Plan Update and includes activities within City limits and the Sphere of Influence. Table III-9 GHG Emissions from Operation at General Plan Build Out (million metric tons) Natural Moving Water Electricity Gas Sources Transport Total City Limits 0.479 0.078 0.437 0.011 1.004 Sphere of Influence 0.243 0.044 0.253 0.007 0.548 Planning Area Total 0.722 0.122 0.690 0.018 1.552 Source: Air Quality and GHG Report, prepared by Terra Nova, June 2012.

Operational activities would result in the generation and emission of greenhouse gases, which could have significant impacts to air quality locally and regionally. Implementation of the

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Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan is intended to reduce impacts associated with the emission of greenhouse gases within City limits to levels that are less than significant.

Lands within the Sphere of Influence are currently governed by the County of Riverside and are not subject to compliance with the La Quinta Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. In the event that the Sphere of Influence continues to be governed by the County jurisdiction, then impacts from the emission of greenhouse gases are expected to be significant. Were the Sphere of Influence to be annexed into La Quinta City jurisdiction, then lands would be subject to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and compliance with said plan would assure that impacts to air quality from the emission of greenhouse gases would be reduced to levels below significance.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan The City of La Quinta has prepared a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan as part of the General Plan. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan quantifies the baseline emissions, projects future emission levels, and creates a plan to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions consistent with AB 32. As such, the targets set forth in the GHG Reduction Plan are to achieve 10% below 2005 emission levels by 2020 and 28% below 2005 levels by 2035.

The La Quinta Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan identifies 2005 as the base year and estimates that 460,946 metric tons of CO2e were emitted from community wide activities. With business as usual conditions the community wide CO2e is projected to be 668,627 metric tons in 2020, and 828,538 metric tons in 2035. In order to achieve targeted reductions, CO2e emission will need to be reduced by 253,775 metric tons by 2020, and by 496,657 metric tons by 2035. As seen in the GHG Reduction Plan, implementation of reduction measures will achieve 253,950 metric tons by 2020 and 496,681 metric tons by 2035. As such implementation of the GHG Reduction Plan will substantially reduce emission levels and assure consistency with state targets.

The La Quinta Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan identifies 2005 as the base year and estimates that 9,807 metric tons of CO2e were emitted from government activities. As set forth in the GHG Reduction Plan under business as usual conditions CO2e emitted as a result of government activities is projected to be 11,328 metric tons in 2020, and 12,671 metric tons in 2035. In order to achieve targeted reductions, CO2e emission will need to be reduced by 2,502 metric tons by 2020, and by 5,610 metric tons by 2035. As seen in the GHG Reduction Plan, implementation of reduction measures will achieve 2,514 metric tons by 2020 and 5,614 metric tons by 2035. As such implementation of the GHG Reduction Plan will substantially reduce emission levels and assure consistency with State targets.

The General Plan Update does not conflict with the GHG Reduction Plan or any other policies or regulations that are intended to reduce the emissions of GHG’s. Rather, the GHG Reduction Plan has been prepared as part of the General Plan Update process and with the intent to reduce GHG emission to levels that are consistent with state goals. Adoption and adherence to the GHG Reduction Plan will assure that emissions of GHG’s from the implementation of the proposed General Plan are reduced to levels below significance.

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Cumulative Impacts Global climate change is a cumulative impact by nature. For the most part an individual project does not generate enough GHG emissions to significantly influence global climate change. Nonetheless, individual projects may participate in a potential impact through incremental contribution, combined with the contributions of all other sources of GHG. In assessing cumulative impacts, it must be determined if a project’s incremental effect is cumulatively considerable.17 To make this determination the incremental impacts of the project must be compared with the effects of existing, proposed, and future projects.

For General Plan purposes, individual projects that are consistent with the greenhouse gas reduction plan will not result in cumulatively considerable impacts to greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Mitigation Measures

In order to mitigate the potential air quality impacts associated with implementation of the proposed General Plan Update, a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan has been prepared. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan is intended to substantially reduce emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases generated by activities within the City of La Quinta and serve as mitigation to reduce emissions. Measures set forth within the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan along with general measures set forth below will mitigate potential impacts to air quality. However, as illustrated above, emissions associated with operation of land uses at build out of the General Plan will exceed established thresholds, even when mitigated. Long term air emission impacts, therefore, will be significant and unavoidable.

The following mitigation measures are required in order to limit air quality emission within the Planning Area:

1. The City of La Quinta shall adopt and implement a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan that is consistent with targeted reductions set forth by the State.

2. As feasible, the newest model heavy-duty construction equipment shall be utilized for construction activities. The construction equipment fleet shall be updated to include the latest models; older equipment shall be phased out.

3. To reduce fugitive dust during construction activities, trucks leaving development sites should be washed off; haul trucks should maintain 2 feet of freeboard or be covered; equipment should be properly tuned and maintained; and low sulfur fuels should be used for construction equipment. Effective fugitive dust control measures can substantially reduce emissions as shown in the Table below.

17 CEQA Guidelines sections 15064(i)(1) and 15130.

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Table III-10 Air Quality Control Methods PM10 PM2.5 NOx Apply Soil Stabilizers to Inactive Areas 84% 84% Replace Ground Cover in Disturbed Areas 5% 5% Water Exposed Surfaces 3 Times Daily 61% 61% Reduce speeds on unpaved roads 44% 44% Use of aqueous diesel fuel 50% 50% 15% Use of Diesel Particulate Filter 85% 85% Use of Diesel Oxidation Catalyst1 15%-40% Source: Urban Emissions Model (URBEMIS2007) version 9.2.4. 1. Emission reductions vary depending on equipment type.

4. To reduce construction-related traffic congestion, developers and contractors shall configure construction parking to minimize traffic interference, provide a flag person to ensure safety at construction sites, as necessary, designate onsite travel routes to minimize impacts to nearby land uses, and schedule operations affecting roadways for off-peak hours, as practical.

5. Construction equipment shall be staged in locations that minimize impacts to nearby receptors.

6. La Quinta shall continue to coordinate with CVAG and SCAQMD regarding the implementation of local and regional air quality programs.

The follow mitigation measures are derived from consensus recommendations for reducing a project’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions:

1. Landscaping designs shall consider the use of trees and other vegetation to maximize the shading of buildings in order to reduce energy requirements for heating and cooling and provide carbon storage.

2. Desert landscaping techniques shall be utilized, including the use of automated water efficient irrigation systems and devices.

3. Smart scalping practices shall be encouraged to minimize fugitive dust emissions and reduce water demands.

4. Building designs shall strive to exceed Title 24 requirements or achieve LEED or Energy Star standard equivalence ratings or better; buildings shall be equipped with energy efficient and water conserving appliances and fixtures; building design shall include natural lighting and ventilation; and light colored “cool” roofs and cool pavement shall be utilized.

5. New buildings and substantial remodels including new roofs, should be designed to accommodate rooftop photovoltaic or above parking solar.

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6. Recycling and composting facilities and programs shall be readily available for all new and existing land uses and every effort shall be made to divert the landfill waste stream.

7. Utilize educational programs and demonstration gardens to inform the public and businesses of energy and water efficient techniques and sustainable practices.

The following design strategies will reduce reliance on traditional automobiles for transportation:

1. Promote the use of electric vehicles and alternative modes of transport by providing safe and convenient bicycle, scooter and other non-motorized transport travel lanes, and parking, as well as preferential plug-in stations for electric vehicle parking.

2. In designing and expanding travel corridors provide for pedestrian and bicycle paths that interconnect to commercial, recreational, and institutional land uses.

3. Assure all new development has safe and convenient access to public transit routes that include seated, shaded bus stop areas.

4. Incorporate recreational open space adjacent to or as part of residential land uses.

5. Expand and coordinate a Valley wide signal synchronization system within city limits and adjacent jurisdictions.

6. Work with CVAG, SCAG and regional transit authorities to work towards more efficient, region wide travel options.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

A. Building and landscape plans shall be reviewed for energy efficiency and soil stabilization. Landscapers and landscape-related businesses shall be required to show proof of completion of the CVAG’ Landscaper Certification Source. Responsible Parties: Public Works, Engineering, Planning, and Building Departments.

B. A report of air quality complaints and identified problems shall be provided in the annual review of the General Plan. Responsible Parties: Public Works, Code Compliance and Planning Department, and SCAQMD.

C. A report of emission reductions achieved shall be provided in the annual review of the General Plan. Responsible Parties: Planning Department and SCAQMD.

D. The City shall conduct review and prepare conditions of approval for all grading and development permits, as well as required dust control plans to assure that appropriate

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methods and technologies are in place to minimize the emissions of pollutants from the development activities. Responsible Parties: Public Works, Engineering, Planning, and Building Departments.

D. Biological Resources

Introduction This section discusses the biological resources in La Quinta, and assesses impacts on these resources from future growth and development brought on by the La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update. It also provides mitigation measures to reduce impacts to important biological resources. The following discussion is based on the Biological Resources Study prepared by AMEC in 2010.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria for Determining Significance The following standards and criteria have been drawn from Appendix G: Environmental Checklist Form of the CEQA Guidelines. The following factors have been considered to ensure that the General Plan EIR adequately addresses potential impacts to biological resources that may result from the development facilitated by implementation of the La Quinta General Plan. Build out of the proposed General Plan would have a significant impact on biological resources if it would: a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Game or US Fish and Wildlife Service. c) Have a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means. d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites. e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance. f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan.

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1. Existing Conditions

A comprehensive biological resources study was prepared for the General Plan Update by AMEC Earth and Environmental.18 The report is included in Appendix C of this document. AMEC consultants conducted a literature review that included the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB 2010), a variety of botanical and wildlife references pertinent to the Planning Area, biological surveys prepared by AMEC for projects in or near the planning area (AMEC 2003), including species accounts, life histories, and distribution and status of covered species, and a review of the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan website (2010). The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Web Soil Survey data available for La Quinta (NRCS 2010) was referenced to determine soil types in the Planning Area. AMEC biologists also conducted a field survey of the General Plan and Area as part of the biological resources assessment.

Regional Biological Setting

The Planning Area is located in a natural environment that displays substantial variation, including elevations ranging from 190 feet below sea level in the southeastern corner of the Sphere of Influence, to over 1,700 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Most of the City and the Sphere of Influence occur on the Valley floor, which is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild winters. Soil types and the natural habitats that can be supported in the Planning Area are affected by climate. There are eleven primary soil types found in the City and Sphere; most of these are sandy in nature, and well drained. Rock and rubble occur in the Santa Rosa foothills. Soil types in the Planning Area include Carrizo stony sand, Carsitas Sands, Coachella Sands, Fluvents, Gravel Pits and Dumps, Gilman Sands and Loams, Indio Loams, Myoma Fine Sands, Rock Outcrop, Rubble Land, and Salton Fine Sandy Loam. Soil properties in the Planning Area are further discussed in Section III-F, Geology and Soils.

There are limited areas of naturally occurring habitat in the City and on the Valley floor, as a result of agriculture and urban development. Lands on the slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains have little potential for development and native habitat still occurs. These lands are designated as Open Space in the existing and proposed General Plans. Elsewhere in the City, vegetation is primarily comprised of non-native ornamental plants introduced by developers and homeowners.

Natural Communities

The following natural communities occur within the Planning Area. The locations of these are shown on Exhibit III-1, Vegetation Communities.

18 “City of La Quinta General Plan Update: Biological Resources,” prepared by AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., June 2010.

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Stabilized Shielded Sand Fields Regionally, Stabilized and Partially Stabilized Desert Sand Fields are those in which sand is supplied through sand source and sand transport systems. In the Planning Area, these have generally been interrupted or shielded by barriers such as roads, buildings, and landscaping. The long-term persistence of stabilized shielded desert sand fields is compromised by the interruption of the sand source and sand transport system and occur in the Planning Area as Stabilized Shielded Sand Fields. Most of these areas have been developed for residential and commercial projects. In La Quinta, this natural community is limited to the northern portion of the PA in the vicinity of Highway 111, and largely consists of smaller, fragmented parcels heavily disturbed by their proximity to roads. It includes most of the remaining sand fields south of U.S. Interstate 10 that historically comprised the Big Dune.

Representative plants found in this community include Sand Verbena (Abronia villosa), Fanleaf Crinklemat (Tiquilia plicata), California Croton (Croton californicus), Four-wing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens), and Indian Ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides). In the Planning Area, no Stabilized Shielded Sand Fields community has been targeted for conservation in the MSHCP.

The non-native, invasive plant species Sahara Mustard (Brassica tournefortii) poses a serious threat to this community, as well as to sandy communities throughout the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. Although present in the Coachella Valley since the 1920’s, Sahara Mustard has become increasingly abundant. It has been demonstrated to negatively impact native flora as well as certain wildlife species, among them the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard.

Sonoran Creosote Bush Scrub The most common natural community in the Coachella Valley region is the Sonoran creosote bush scrub. Dominant plants include Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata), Burrobush (Ambrosia dumosa), Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), and other common desert perennials. Up to 75% of the vegegation in this community may be represented by wildflowers.

In the Planning Area, this community is primarily found above the shoreline of ancient Lake Cahuilla, as well as on the lower Santa Rosa Mountain slopes and portions of alluvial fans and bajadas emanating from the mountains. In these areas it is often intermixed with other plant communities, including Sonoran Mixed Woody and Succulent Scrub, and with Desert Dry Wash Woodland.

Sonoran Mixed Woody and Succulent Scrub Similar to creosote bush scrub, this community is typically more varied and contains a higher density of plants. It has a sizeable dominance of cacti and other stem succulents, unlike other Sonoran desert communities in the Planning Area. Typical species include Golden Cholla (Opuntia echinocarpa), Buckhorn Cholla (Opuntia acanthocarpa), Pencil Cholla (Opuntia ramosissima), Beavertail (Opuntia basilaris), California Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), and Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens). Creosote bush and other associated perennial shrubs are also associated with this community, which occurs on alluvial fans and slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

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Desert Dry Wash Woodland This community is characterized by open to dense, drought-deciduous, microphyllous woodland plants as tall as 30 to 60 feet. Members of the pea family are dominant, and may include Blue Palo Verde (Cercidium floridum), Ironwood (Olneya tesota), and Smoketree (Psorothamnus spinosus). Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi), Cheesebush (Hymenoclea salsola), Catclaw (Acacia greggii), and Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) may also be associated with this community. In the Planning Area, desert dry wash woodland occurs in association with canyon mouths and alluvial fans in the Santa Rosa Mountains. It is typical of ephemeral washes, which are subject to occasional flooding but without consistent surface flows.

Desert Saltbush Scrub There are a variety of species of saltbush that may occur in this community, which is characterized by a nearly uniform stand of shrubs that form a more complete cover than do plants associated with creosote bush scrub. Soils are usually fine-textured, poorly drained with high (ranging from 0.2-0.7%) salinity and/or alkalinity. Habitats are generally moist, with a sandy loam soil. Dominant species are one or more Atriplex, including Big Saltbush (Atriplex lentiformis), Allscale (Atriplex polycarpa) and Four-winged Saltbush (Atriplex canescens var. linearis). In some areas, Alkali Goldenbush and Honey Mesquite are common representatives of this habitat type. The latter are found east of Lake Cahuilla County Park in southern La Quinta. In scattered fallow parcels throughout the eastern Sphere, diminished examples of this habitat occur in various stages of re-growth. Where these “pseudo-Saltbush Scrub” areas occur, they often include a mixture of non-native alkali-tolerant species as well as native Atriplex.

III-39 So ur c e : AMEC, 0 6 . 0 2 . 1 0 Ci t y of La Qui nt a Ge ne r al Pl an EI R Ve g e t a t i o n Co mmuni t i e s La Qui nt a, Cal i f or ni a III-1

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Common Species

There are primarily two categories of habitat associated with wildlife common to the planning area. The most prevalent consists of the very disturbed and fragmented patchwork of remnant sand field, saltbush scrub, weedy (ruderal), agricultural, and residential/recreational development. Common species in this environment are those that are capable of surviving in ruderal plant communities or near residential, commercial, agricultural, and golf course developments.

Another habitat category is comprised of native, less altered habitats where the Santa Rosas and associated alluvial fans and canyons overlap in the western and southern portions of the Planning area. These remaining areas of native habitat sustain both common as well as some sensitive desert wildlife species and plant communities. Common wildlife species include insects such as several species of harvester and crater-nest ants, the native creosote bush grasshopper, burrowing sand roaches and sand scorpions, a wide range of native and non-native bee and wasp species, black widow spider and others.

Common species with potential to occur in the Planning Area are further described below.

Common amphibians include the California toad, Pacific Tree Frog and the non-native, naturalized Bullfrog where habitat provides suitable moisture. A variety of common lizard and snake species are found in the Planning Area. Lizard species include the Great Basin Whiptail, Side-blotched Lizard, Desert Iguana and Common Chuckwalla. Common snake species known from the Planning Area include Red Coachwhip, California Kingsnake, and Sonoran Gopher Snake, as well as venomous snake species including the Colorado Desert Sidewinder, which occurs in sandy habitats, and the Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, which is generally found in rocky habitats.

The Planning Area is also home to or is utilized by a wide variety of common bird species. Non- resident bird species may migrate through the area or utilize it for breeding or nesting only. Certain species nest elsewhere but over-winter in the Planning Area, while others species permanently reside in La Quinta. Verdin, Abert’s Towhee, Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher, Gambel’s Quail, Mourning Dove and Ladder-Backed Woodpecker use Desert Dry Wash Woodlands and wash habitats containing mixed shrub and tree habitat that provides primary nesting habitat. Other nesting sites include shrubs, ground surfaces and animal burrows within Creosote Bush, Saltbush and Woody Scrub communities. Landscaping within residential and/or recreational areas, as well as agricultural plantings, especially date palm groves, also provide suitable nesting habitat. Species utilizing agricultural areas include Red-Tailed and Red-Shouldered Hawk, Great Horned Owl, and American Kestrel. Raptors and common Ravens utilize cliff faces, rock outcrops and hillsides located in mountainous areas which occur primarily within Sphere areas. Black-Throated Sparrow, Horned Lark, Loggerhead Shrike and Say’s Phoebe characteristically utilize creosote bush, saltbush, and ruderal scrub communities within the Planning Area. A variety of songbird species use both desert riparian and scrub habitats in the winter months only; these include the Yellow-Rumped Warbler, White-Crowned Sparrow, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher and Ruby-Crowned Kinglet.

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These and other common species are not designated species of concern, however, most of them are protected by the provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The MBTA prohibits disturbing nests, eggs, and incubating birds, and of hatchling and fledgling birds during active nesting. The Burrowing Owl is a “covered” species under the MSHCP and is also protected by the MBTA. Although the MSHCP currently only requires surveys for Burrowing Owl within Conservation Areas, the MBTA requires surveys and mitigation anywhere Burrowing Owl is observed in the Planning Area.

Numerous larger common mammal species are found in the Planning Area, such as the Black- Tailed Jackrabbit Desert Cottontail, Striped Skunk, Northern Raccoon, Kit Fox, and Coyote. Smaller mammals include Pocket Mice, Cactus Mouse, Kangaroo Rats, Desert Woodrat, White- Tailed Antelope Squirrel, and California Ground Squirrel. Many of these non-special status species utilize a variety of habitat types within the Planning Area.

Special Status Species

There are several plant and animal species known or thought to occur within the Planning Area that are designated as Special Status species by federal, state and/or local agencies. Certain species within the Coachella Valley region are discussed herein as special status species in that they are locally endemic or utilize unique habitat.

Lists of these sensitive species are maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), which provide information about species ranges and occurrence probabilities. The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a non-profit conservation organization that maintains listings of native flora and determines the status of each species as rare, threatened, and/or endangered.

The following definitions are used by these agencies to determine the status of qualified species: (1) “Endangered” species are those with such limited numbers that they are considered to be in imminent danger of extinction; (2) “Threatened” species are those likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future, particularly on a local scale; and (3) “Sensitive” and “rare” species are those that are naturally rare or have been locally depleted or put at risk by human activities, and although perpetuation of these species does not appear to be significantly threatened, they are considered vulnerable and may be candidates for future listing.

Sensitive species listed in the following tables are those that have the potential to occur within the Planning Area and vicinity. The Biological Report, included as an appendix to this document, provides a comprehensive listing of sensitive species associated with the City, Sphere of Influence and vicinity. Following the tables is a description of each of the sensitive species.

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Table III-11 Special Status Plants in the La Quinta General Plan Area and Vicinity Common Scientific State and Local Federal Name Name Habitat Status Status Chaparral Abronia villosa Sandy areas CNPS List 1B.1 Sand-Verbena var. aurita Chaparral/Desert State: S2.1 None dunes Glandular Ditaxis Ditaxis claryana Sandy habitats CNPS List 2.2 Sonoran Desert State: S1S2 None scrub 0-465 meters California Ditaxis Ditaxis serrata Sonoran Desert CNPS List 3.2 var. californica Scrub State: S2.2 None

Table III-12 Special Status Reptiles in the La Quinta General Plan Area and Vicinity Common Scientific State and Local Federal Name Name Habitat Status Status Flat-tailed Horned Phyrnosoma Sandy habitats with State: S2 Lizard mcallii adjacent hardpan, often CDFG: CSC None sparsely vegetated, also CVMSHCP saltbush habitats Coachella Valley Uma Sand dunes, sand fields CDFG: Threatened Fringe-toed Lizard inornata Endangered/S1 CVMSHCP

Table III-13 Special Status Bird Species in the La Quinta General Plan Area and Vicinity Common Scientific State and Local Federal Name Name Habitat Status Status Burrowing Owl Athene Burrows/abandoned State: S2 cunicularia Foundation structures, CDFG: CSC None Creosote Bush & Ruderal Scrub CVMSHCP (edges of canals/agriculture) Prairie Falcon Falco Cliff faces (nesting), State: S3 None mexicanus Open habitats for foraging CDFG: Watchlist Black-tailed Gnatcatch Polioptila Desert scrub and State: S4 None melanura desert wash woodland habitats Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Fairly common in a State: S4 None ludovicianus variety of open CDFG: CSC habitats

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Table III-14 Special Status Mammal in the La Quinta General Plan Area and Vicinity Common Scientific State and Federal Name Name Habitat Local Status Status Western Yellow Lasiurus Primarily roosts in State: S3 None Bat xanthinus/ega the dead fronds of CDFG: CSC palms, including CVMSHCP landscape specimens Pocketed Nyctinomops Variety of arid habitats State: S2S3 None Free-tailed Bat femorosaccus Desert Scrub, Palm CDFG: CSC Oasis, Desert Wash, roosts in rocky cliffs Palm Springs Xerospermophilus Desert Scrub, Desert State: S1S2 Candidate Round-tailed tereticaudus Wash, Alkali Scrub, CDFG: CSC Ground Squirrel chlorus & levees, golf course CVMSHCP edges w/ adjacent native habitat Peninsular Ovis canadensis Lower elevations of the Threatened Endangered Bighorn Sheep nelsoni DPS eastern Peninsular CVMSHCP Ranges, including canyon bottoms, alluvial fans, and mountain slopes

Table Legend Habitat: terrestrial natural community descriptions per Holland (1986)

State of California and Local Status: Endangered, Threatened, Protected, Special Concern status per the California Fish and Game Code of 2007, as well as all species protected by the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (species covered by plan listed as CVMSHCP).

Federal Status: Endangered, Threatened and Candidate for listing status per the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended). It is mandatory that federally listed plant species be fully considered during preparation of environmental documents pertaining to the California Environmental Quality Act or National Environmental Policy Act, or any federal authorization.

California Native Plant Society (CNPS) listing rankings (CNPS 2010) are described as follows: List 1A: Plants (29) presumed extinct in California because they have not been seen or collected in the wild in California for many years. List 1B: Plants considered rare and endangered in California and throughout their range. All of the plants constituting List 1B meet the definitions of Section 1901, Chapter 10 (Native Plant Protection Act) or Sections 2062 and 2067 (California Endangered Species Act) of the California Department of Fish and Game Code and are eligible for state listing. It is mandatory that these plant species be fully considered during preparation of environmental documents pertaining to the California Environmental Quality Act. List 2: Plants considered rare, threatened or endangered in California but which are more common elsewhere. List 3: Plants about which more information is needed to assign them to one of the other lists. List 4: Plants of limited distribution (a “watch list”) or infrequent throughout a broader area in California, their vulnerability to threat appears low at this time.

Threat Rank 0.1 Seriously threatened in California (high degree/immediacy of threat) 0.2 Fairly threatened in California (moderate degree/immediacy of threat) 0.3 Not very threatened in California (low degree/immediacy of threat) State Ranks S1: 5 or fewer viable occurrences or fewer than 1,000 individuals statewide and/or less than 2,000 acres S2: 6 – 20 viable occurrences or fewer than 3,000 individuals statewide and/or 2,000 – 10,000 acres

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S3: 21 – 100 viable occurrences or fewer than 10,000 individuals statewide and/or 10,000 – 50,000 acres S4: Greater than 100 viable occurrences statewide and/or greater than 50,000 acres, apparently secure statewide S5: Community demonstrably secure statewide

Where two ranks are given (eg. S1S2) the species’ rank falls between the two ranks

Threat Ranks 0.1: Very threatened 0.2: Threatened 0.3: No current threats known

Of the species shown in the preceding tables, seven are not covered by the MSHCP. The following briefly describes these sensitive species and the likelihood of their occurrence in the Planning Area. Exhibit III-2, CNDDB, Critical and Modeled Habitat shows the general location of each species.

Sensitive Plant Species

Chaparral Sand-Verbena (Abronia villosa var. aurita) has been reported within the Planning Area at one location, which is now developed. Therefore, no further discussion of this species is included herein.

Glandular Ditaxis (Ditaxis claryana) is a small perennial herb of the Spurge family. It has been recorded at two locations in the Planning Area, within Sonoran Creosote Bush Scrub habitat. Both of these locations have been developed. The potential for this species to occur in the Planning Area is low, limited to southern and western portions of the area where suitable habitat is located. Mitigation for impacts to this species is primarily through spring or fall surveys after sufficient rainfall, and avoidance where populations are identified.

California Ditaxis (Ditaxis serrata var. californica) is another small perennial herb of the Spurge family. It is typically found in rocky alluvial fans, flood plains and dry washes, and in the Planning Area has been recorded in one location, west of Avenida Montezuma and Calle Nogales, in the Cove. This location still offers viable habitat for this species. Potential occurrence is moderate to high in the southern and western areas of the City.

Sensitive Bird Species

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) uses man-made structures such as piles of tree branches or debris, buildings or pipes, or burrows dug out by other wildlife, such as kit fox, desert tortoise or ground squirrels. Burrowing owl is a species of special concern and a protected raptor. Therefore, notification of CDFG and approved mitigation are required prior to any activity that may impact the species. Potential occurrence locations in the Planning Area include wherever undeveloped or fallow land occurs. It has been observed during surveys conducted in 2003 in the southern portion of the Planning Area. Mitigation includes site-specific surveys to identify the species.

Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus), a medium to large migratory raptor that winters in the region, prefers cliffs or steep rock ledges in the western and southern parts of the Planning Area. This species has been observed at the southwestern end of the City. It is a protected raptor as well as a

III-45 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures species of special concern. Therefore, CDFG notification and approved mitigation prior to any activity that might impact the species are required. Site-specific surveys are needed to identify the species.

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) has a range that extends through the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts of the US and northern Mexico. It lives in pairs throughout the year. The species is a small, resident songbird and has been identified at two locations in the Planning Area. It is most likely to occur in the western and southern portions of the City and Sphere. Site- specific surveys are needed to identify the species. Conservation of this species is served by limiting impacts to Desert Dry Wash Woodland and Sonoran Creosote Bush Scrub habitats.

The Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) is a reasonably common species in California, although in other parts of the U.S. it has been significantly depleted. In the Planning Area is occurs in undeveloped areas, hillsides to the south and west, and on the periphery of agricultural fields. There are no specific study or preservation prescriptions associated with this species.

Sensitive Mammal Species

Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus) is so named after the small fold, or “pocket” in its wing membrane. The species has large ears and long wings; these bats fly quickly and hunt insects on the wing. They roost in colonies of less than 100 in caves, crevices in rocky cliffs, or buildings. In the Planning Area they have been observed in one location, which has been developed as a golf course but still has suitable foraging and drinking use for this species. There is also suitable roosting habitat still located east of the site. The greatest threats to this species are habitat loss and unmanaged use of pesticides. Conservation prescriptions to protect this species include limiting impacts to rocky habitats that the species utilizes for roosting.

III-46 So ur c e : AMEC, 0 6 . 0 2 . 1 0 CNDDB, Cr i t i c a l Ha bi t a t & Mo de l e d Ha bi t a t Ci t y of La Qui nt a Ge ne r al Pl an EI R La Qui nt a, Cal i f or ni a III-2

09.08.11 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

Habitat Protection

Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan The Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) is a joint regional planning effort of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the National Park Service (NPS), as well as Riverside County and most local jurisdictions within the Coachella Valley, including the City of La Quinta. The MSHCP is intended to streamline and simplify compliance with the State and Federal Endangered Species Acts (CESA and FESA, respectively) and other applicable laws and regulations; obtain Take Authorization (Take Permits) pursuant to the FESA and the California Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) Act for Covered Activities in the Coachella Valley; and balance environmental protection with regional economic objectives. The City is a permittee under the MSHCP.

The General Plan Area is within the planning area for the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP). A portion of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains Conservation Area lies within the General Plan Area, on lands west of the eastern edge of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The location of this Conservation Area is shown on Exhibit III-3, Land Ownership and Conservation Areas. Should future development be proposed within the Conservation Area, it will be subject to compliance with specific goals and measures set forth in the MSCHP. These include conservation of lands for Essential Habitat for Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, as well as conservation of lands for other MSHCP-protected species and habitat, such as Le Conte’s thrasher, Desert tortoise, desert dry wash woodland natural community, and conservation of occupied burrowing owl burrows.

Conservation goals for La Quinta are set forth in the MSCHP. They are:

2,545 acres of Essential Habitat for the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep 387 acres of Conserved Habitat for the Le Conte’s thrasher 1,409 acres of Conserved Habitat for Desert Tortoise 76 acres of desert dry wash woodland Conserve occupied Burrowing Owl burrows as provided for in the MSHCP avoidance, minimization and mitigation measures.

On lands not designated for conservation, future development will be required to pay a mitigation fee to ensure the future availability of funds to purchase conservation lands. These fees are intended to offset the potential impacts of that development on the natural environment.

III-48 a

Source: AMEC, Source: 06.02.10 09.08.11

City of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General Quinta La of City Land Ownership and Conservation Areas Conservation LandandOwnership III-3 La Quinta, California Quinta, La Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

Regulation of Streambeds and Watercourses

There are numerous washes and streambeds in the Planning Area. In addition to the Whitewater River, there are several smaller, mostly unnamed streams that drain from the Santa Rosa Mountains. Streambeds and washes are subject to regulation by a variety of state and federal regulatory agencies. Where streambeds and washes qualify as Waters of the State of California, they fall under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). Water bodies determined to be Waters of the U.S. also fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE). Development projects that require construction activities within these water bodies must secure applicable permits.

Projects within streams and washes under CDFG jurisdiction may require a Streambed Alteration Agreement. Where USACOE holds jurisdiction, a Section 404 permit may be required to satisfy requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. USACOE may also require a formal delineation of the affected waterbody to determine the extent of jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. Compliance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act may also be required, necessitating a Water Quality Certification through the State Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) for state certification, and in some cases, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for federal certification.

The Whitewater River, which is the primary ephemeral stream in the Coachella Valley, runs generally northwest to southeast through the Coachella Valley. East of Washington Street, the river is called the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel. The Channel qualifies as both a Water of the State of California, and a Water of the U.S. Therefore, construction activities within the Channel require consultation with both CDFG and the USACOE, and permits must be secured from both agencies. In general, when a 404 permit is required, a state 401 Water Quality Certification is also required.

In the Planning Area, smaller streams emanating from the Santa Rosa Mountains include Bear Creek, which enters the City at the south end of the Cove, and the La Quinta Evacuation Channel, which extends northeasterly from the Bear Creek Channel. Such drainages constitute waters of the State and are under the jurisdiction of the CDFG. They are not considered “waters of the United States,” as defined by the USACOE. Project developers proposing construction activities within these streams must consult with CDFG, and may be required to obtain a Streambed Alteration Agreement as well as any other applicable permits and approves prior to the initiation of work.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

As previously discussed, nearly all common and special status birds in the Planning Area are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Under the MBTA, disturbance of nests, eggs or incubating birds while nests are active is prohibited. Within the Planning Area, the nesting period generally extends from March through August. Pre-construction surveys are required prior to project activities to determine if active nests are present within trees and bushes.

III-50 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

2. Project Impacts

Potential Direct and Indirect Impacts

Implementation of the proposed General Plan will facilitate new development and growth that will result in impacts to biological resources in the Planning Area. Population growth is expected to result in increased disturbance on open space lands, including human use, vehicle travel, garbage dumping, and potential increased frequency of wildfires. These activities have potential to impact plant communities that are as yet undisturbed by human activity.

Over time, certain non-native, invasive plants, such as Sahara Mustard, may be expected to spread in existing sand field habitat. While much of this habitat has already been developed, the continued spread of this and other non-native, invasive species has potential to result in adverse impacts to native species and supporting habitats.

Continued urban growth and development may be expected to result in displacement, injury or even death to wildlife species occurring on currently undeveloped or sparsely developed lands. Where native habitat is still present in the planning area, it may be impacted by increased vehicle travel, alteration of soils, vegetation removal and habitat degradation associated with new development. This is particularly true in the eastern Sphere as well as the southern and western portions of the planning area. Individual development projects may disrupt courtship and breeding behaviors of some native wildlife.

Future development in the planning area may also result in incidental take of listed species, whether they are residents or seasonal migrants. Impacts to special status species are cumulative, given other development that has or may be expected to take place in the Coachella Valley. It should be noted that these impacts are addressed in the Coachella Valley Multiple-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), which provides mitigation for incidental take resulting from individual development projects. Mitigation includes payment of per-acre mitigation fees for all new development within the MSHCP planning area.

Potential Impacts to Plant Communities

As development occurs within the General Plan Area, there is potential for the destruction of entire populations of common and sensitive plant species. There are no federal Threatened or Endangered plant species thought to occur in the Planning Area, however there are two special status plant species with probability of occurring. It is expected that impacts to special status or comment plant species will be less than significant if they are present, since they are most likely to occur within the southern and western portions of the Planning Area. These areas are designated for Open Space use within the existing and proposed General Plan and are not planned for development. Introduction of non-native plant species associated with landscaping could result in native plant species competing for water, nutrients and space.

III-51 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

Potential Impacts to Invertebrates, Reptiles and Amphibians

Invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians that occur in the Planning Area will be impacted by increased urbanization. These species are especially vulnerable to the impacts of off-highway vehicle traffic, as well as crushing from grading and construction activities. The Coachella Valley Fringe-Toed Lizard is the only federal listed Threatened and state listed Endangered reptile species that is thought to occur in the Planning Area. As urban development has encroached, the sandy habitat that supports this species has become increasingly compromised through the construction of roads, buildings and fences and other barriers that disrupt the natural blowsand process. Future development has potential to result in permanent loss of habitat that will impact individuals as well as entire populations. The Coachella Valley Fringe-Toed Lizard is a covered species under the MSHCP, which addresses impacts to this species through payment of fees and other measures.

Potential Impacts to Birds

As development in the Planning Area continues, it may be expected to result in habitat degradation and the direct loss of foraging and nesting sites for a variety of common and special- status bird species. Predation by domestic pets, increased competition for limited nesting sites, pesticide ingestion, and the introduction of parasites constitute indirect impacts that may occur. Some species may be especially disrupted by off-road vehicle activity, particularly during breeding season. Bird species that can tolerate human disturbance will likely continue to inhabit developed areas, and may be attracted to newly landscaped areas. Burrowing Owl may be impacted by the conversion of agricultural lands to urban development. This species is covered by special survey requirements of the MSHCP and receives protection under California Fish and Game code.

Potential Impacts to Mammals

Development activities involve mass grading and clearing, resulting in the removal of vegetation and wildlife. A wide range of common and sensitive wildlife species occur in the Planning Area and may be subject to increasing adverse impacts as urbanization encroaches. Bats may roost in abandoned buildings, bridges over the Whitewater River, and untrimmed date palm trees, and these should be surveyed prior to disturbance. The Pocketed Free-tailed Bat typically roosts in rocky terrain of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The existing and proposed General Plan designated these lands as Open Space, preserving them from development, and this is expected to avoid or minimizing potential impacts to this species.

The direct and indirect impacts of continued development affect smaller mammals, including a variety of common and sensitive species. Off-road vehicles, domestic pet predation, and surface disturbance that could crush burrows pose specific hazards to these species, such as the Palm Springs Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel, which is a candidate for Federal listing.

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep (PBS) habitat occurs on the rocky hillsides of the Santa Rosa Mountains, including lands that occur in the southwestern portion of the Planning Area. Portions of these lands fall within the MSHCP Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains Conservation Area.

III-52 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

It is expected that development within these areas will continue to be limited, both by the City’s Hillside Conservation Zone Ordinance and restrictions on development within the MSHCP Conservation Area. However, this species may be subject to indirect impacts associated with development at the base of the mountain slopes. PBS are susceptible to toxic plants associated with landscaping, collision with vehicles, and parasites. This species is generally intolerant to human disturbance. They have been known to abandon hillside habitat as a result of human activities such as hiking or other recreational activities. PBS are a covered species within the MSCHP and development within or adjacent to PBS habitat is subject to a variety of requirements set forth in the MSCHP.

Summary of Impacts The ultimate build out of the General Plan Planning Area has the potential to significantly impact biological resources by reducing native habitat areas and directly affecting fauna. However, the majority of lands on which development will occur are on the Valley floor, in areas already impacted by urban development or agricultural activities. These areas are part of the MSHCP, and new development projects will be required to pay mitigation fees associated with the MSHCP to allow for the preservation of habitat and species in designated conservation areas.

Further, areas where non-covered sensitive species occur are identified in the General Plan, and the Plan requires the preparation of special studies for projects proposed in those areas. Those studies will provide an assessment of the potential impacts, and recommend mitigation measures if necessary.

The General Plan also designates Natural Open Space for hillside areas on the west and southwest portions of the City, which are areas of potential habitat for the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. The Natural Open Space designation will not result in development in these areas, and will protect these lands for the long term.

Finally, existing regulations, including the provisions of the MSHCP, the requirements enforced by the California Department of Fish and Game, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Army Corps of Engineers will continue to be enforced by the City. These requirements and regulations are designed to protect species, water bodies and habitats from negative impacts associated with development. The General Plan acknowledges these requirements, and includes policies to maintain their implementation for future projects as they are proposed.

The imposition of the mitigation measures identified below will assure that impacts to biological resources will be reduced to less than significant levels.

3. Mitigation

The build out of the General Plan will result in impacts to biological resources. With the implementation of the following mitigation measures, however, these impacts will be reduced to less than significant levels.

III-53 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

1. The City shall require payment of Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan mitigation fees prior to issuance of occupancy permits for development projects required to pay such fees.

2. The City shall refer land owners and developers of lands slated for conservation under the MSHCP to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments and/or Coachella Valley Conservation Commission for guidance and permitting assistance.

3. The City shall maintain and update as necessary all maps of conservation and mitigation fee boundaries for the MSHCP.

4. Where appropriate, the City shall require site-specific, species-specific surveys for the seven species not covered by the MSHCP.

5. Projects proposed for development within areas identified as having potential for occurrence of Glandular Ditaxis, California Ditaxis, Prairie Falcon, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Loggerhead Shrike and Pocketed Free-tailed Bat, as identified in the General Plan, shall be required to retain a qualified biologist to prepare biological resource surveys.

6. Prior to the issuance of any ground disturbing permit for qualifying projects19 in a Conservation Area, the City shall require a protocol compliant survey for Burrowing Owl, in compliance with the MSHCP Section 4.4.

7. The City shall require protocol compliant surveys for burrowing owl prior to the issuance of any ground disturbing permit for fallow lands outside MSHCP Conservation areas

8. The City’s Land Use Map shall designate as “Open Space” all publicly owned Conservation lands for the MSHCP.

9. In compliance with the requirements of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), the City shall continue to require that for development projects proposing removal of vegetation between March and August, a qualified biologist shall be retained to determine whether any bird nests or young occur on the site, and if they occur, to provide mitigation measures compliant with the MBTA.

10. In compliance with the regulatory requirements of the California Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Regional Water Quality Control Board as they relate to “waters of the State of California” and/or “waters of the United States”, and prior to the initiation of any project within the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel, the City shall require that consultation and/or permitting by State and federal agencies by demonstrated in writing.

19 Qualifying projects do not include single family residences, non-commercial accessory uses and structures (including but not limited to second units on an existing legal lot), or the operation and maintenance of Covered Activities other than levees, berms, dikes, and similar features known to contain burrowing owl burrows.

III-54 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

11. Prior to the initiation of any project within any defined blueline stream other than the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel, the City shall require that consultation and/or permitting by California Department of Fish and Game be demonstrated in writing.

12. The City shall encourage new development projects to incorporate native desert plant materials into project landscaping to the greatest extent possible, and shall discourage the use of invasive, non-native species.

13. The City shall use zoning standards and the design review process to assure that adequate buffers are provided between urban development and environmentally sensitive areas, including Conservation Areas for the MSHCP, to the greatest extent possible.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

A. The City shall review the potential impacts of development projects on biological resources through the Initial Study review process. Where appropriate, impacts shall be clearly documented and mitigation measures recommended. Responsible Parties: Planning Department, Project Developer/Consulting Biologist.

B. Prior to the issuance of occupancy permits, the City shall require that all applicable biological resource mitigation actions, including payment of Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan mitigation fees by applicable projects, and compliance with applicable state and federal regulatory permits, shall be satisfied. Responsible Parties: Planning Department, Biologist, California Department of Fish and Game, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Project Developer/Consulting Biologist.

C. On an annual basis, City staff shall evaluate biological resources reference materials and update City records and inventories to ensure that resource databases are maintained in a timely and adequate manner. Responsible Parties: Planning Department, Project Developer/Consulting Biologist.

D. During grading, construction and other development activities, development projects shall be monitored to ensure that grading limits are observed and that native and other appropriate landscape materials are preserved and integrated into all areas of the project in accordance with approved landscape plans. Responsible Parties: Planning Department, Developer/Consulting Biologist.

E. Cultural Resources

Introduction and Background This section discusses the rich cultural resources in La Quinta, and assesses impacts on these resources from future growth and development brought on by the General Plan Update. It also provides mitigation measures to reduce cultural resource impacts. The following discussion is

III-55 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures based on the Cultural Resources Technical Report and the Paleontological Technical Report prepared by CRM Tech in 2010.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria for Determining Significance

Article 5, Section 15064 of the CEQA Guidelines provides guidance for determining the significance of the environmental effects caused by a project. Appendix G of CEQA provides a list of environmental factors that potentially may be affected by completion of a project. The La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update would have a significant effect on Cultural Resources if it is determined the project will:

a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource as defined in 15064.5.

b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to 15064.5.

c) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature.

d) Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries.

The CEQA Guidelines define the term “historical resource” to include the following20:

1. A resource eligible by the State Historical Resources Commission as listed in the California Register of Historical Resources (Public Resource Code 5024.1, Title 14 CCR, Section 4850 et seq.)

2. A resource included in a local register of historical resources as defined in section 5020.1(k). This includes properties recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution.

3. Any object, building, structure, site, area, place, record, or manuscript which a lead agency determines to be historically significant or significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of California. Generally a lead agency can determine a resource to be ‘historically significant’ if it meets criteria for listing on the California Register of Historic Resources (Pub. Res. Code 5024.1, Title 14 CCR, Section 4852). The following includes the criteria for listing:

a. Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California’s history and cultural heritage.

b. Is associated with the lives of person important in our past.

20 “California Environmental Quality Act 2010, Statutes & Guidelines”, prepared by AEP, January 1, 2010.

III-56 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

c. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values

d. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

4. A lead agency is not precluded from determining a resource to be a ‘historical resource’ as defined by Public Resources Code 5020.1(j) or 5024.1 when the resource is not listed in the California Register of Historical Resources, included in a local register of historical resources, or identified in an historical survey.

SB 18 and Native American Consultation

The purpose of SB 18 is to protect traditional tribal cultural places. In accordance with the Bill, the City of La Quinta is required to offer consultation with California Native American Tribes regarding proposed land use planning decisions involving General Plan adoption or amendment. In preparation of the Cultural Resources Technical Report for the La Quinta General Plan Update, contact has been made with regionally active Tribes provided by the Native American Heritage Commission. CRM Tech received only one letter of response, including a letter from the Cabazon Band of Indians, during preparation of the Cultural Resources Technical Report.21

1. Existing Conditions

Cultural Resources are important for understanding the history and heritage of the community, and for preserving important archaeological and paleontological resources. The City of La Quinta and the Coachella Valley region have a rich cultural past, as discovered through recent paleontological and archaeological surveys.

Approximately 5 million years ago, the Coachella Valley was part of an inland sea, as the Gulf of California extended up to the present day Banning Pass. Paleontological resources continue to be found proving aquatic life was once part of the region’s past.

It is believed that the earliest human settlements occurred 8,000 to 12,000 years ago from Native Americans. Prehistoric records show that early Native American peoples in the Coachella Valley were from the Takic speaking Cahuilla tribe.

The first noted Spanish explorers in the Coachella Valley were Jose Romero, Jose Maria Estudillo, and Romualdo Pacheco, who in 1823 led expeditions to find a route to current day Yuma, Arizona. These explorers traveled through the Coachella Valley through what was known as the Cocomaricopa Trail, which was an ancient Indian trading route.

21 “Cultural Resources Technical Report for City of La Quinta General Plan (2010 Update), prepared by CRM Tech, July 8, 2010.

III-57 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

Non-native settlements began to flourish across the Coachella Valley as new federal laws, including the Homestead Act and Desert Land Act, opened lands for new settlers by the late 1870’s. The discovery of underground water sources began to increase farming activities throughout the Valley in the early 20th century. By 1910, the date palm industry began to flourish in the region.

Tourism reached La Quinta and the Coachella Valley in the 1920’s, as the rich and famous of Hollywood began coming to the Valley to enjoy the beautiful scenery and climate. The entire Coachella Valley began to boom after World War II as more residents and visitors came to the area.22

Paleontological Resources

Paleontological Resources are fossilized records of previous life forms found beneath the ground or among exposed geologic features. Fossils are nonrenewable remains of organisms that include vertebrate, invertebrate, plant, or marine organisms typically of more than 10,000 years of age. They are a significant record of ancient life, important for understanding evolutionary changes in organisms, providing information on past climatic conditions and ecology, and helping scientists determine ages of rocks and sediment in which they are found. Fossils are mostly found within sedimentary rock, and commonly include marine shells, bones and teeth of fish, reptiles, and mammals, leaf assemblages, and petrified wood. The location and type of soil that fossils are found in are an important part of paleontological resources, as they indicate typical geologic formations that are conducive to finding fossils.

Paleontological sensitivity refers to the degree to which a geologic formation is likely to produce significant nonrenewable fossils, based on past discoveries within a particular geologic formation. Sedimentary units tend to have high sensitivity due to their potential for significant paleontological resources.

Significant paleontological resources include vertebrate or invertebrate fossils. In general, vertebrate fossils, or those with backbones, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, tend to be more rare than invertebrate fossils, and therefore are considered a more significant paleontological resource. The geologic formations that vertebrate are found in are considered areas of highest sensitivity. All identifiable fossils, however, are considered potentially significant until determined to be insignificant by a qualified paleontologist.

The geologic formations and units in the General Plan Update Planning Area have been studied to determine paleontological significance. The Planning Area is made up of five geologic formations, including Dune Sand, Granitic Rock, Pleistocene Alluvium, Holocene Alluvium, and Lake Cahuilla Beds. Exhibit III-4 shows the location of these geologic formations. Through literature and map research, institutional records research, and past paleontological monitoring from recent construction activities, these different geologic formations have been designated as “high,” “low,” or “undetermined” according to their paleontological sensitivity. Pleistocene

22 “Cultural Resources Technical Report for City of La Quinta General Plan (2010 Update), prepared by CRM Tech, July 8, 2010.

III-58 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

Alluvium is considered to have the oldest sediments, and therefore likely to contain the greatest source of fossil resources. The Lake Cahuilla beds are also designated as a high sensitivity area due to an abundance of fossils. Granitic Rock sediments are considered low sensitivity due to lack of fossil resources, and areas of Dune Sand and Holocene Alluvium are undetermined, due to limited study or limited exposure of sediment likely to contain fossil resources. The locations of each of these three paleontological sensitivity areas are also identified in Exhibit III-4.

III-59 S.O.I.

City Limit Undetermined Sphere of Influence

Low

Undetermined

High Paleontologic Low Sensitivity Paleontologic Sensitivity Ci t y Li mi t s S.O.I. High Paleontologic Sensitivity High Paleontologic Sensitivity Low

Undetermined Low

Source: CRM 2010Source: TECH, August, 07.02.12 City of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General Quinta La of City Paleontological Sensitivity Map Sensitivity Paleontological III-4 La Quinta, California Quinta, La Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

High Sensitivity Paleontological Areas Areas that are determined to be of “high” paleontological sensitivity include areas made up of Pleistocene sediments, and sediments from ancient Lake Cahuilla beds. Pleistocene sediments are located in the southwestern portion of the Planning Area. Construction projects throughout other areas of Riverside County have yielded significant fossil resources in Pleistocene sediment, including highly significant vertebrate fossils. Recent studies and inventories conducted in the General Plan Update Planning Area, however, have indicated that no significant paleontological resources exist within local Pleistocene sediments. The closest paleontological resource found in Pleistocene sediment was recorded three miles northeast of the northern portion of the Planning Area, along the southern portion of the Indio Hills.23 Nevertheless, these areas are of high sensitivity due to their potential for containing significant paleontological resources.

Sediments found within the Lake Cahuilla beds are associated with deposits from the ancient Lake Cahuilla. These sediments cover a large portion of the eastern and southern portion of the Planning Area. Although no Pleistocene age fossils have be reported in ancient Lake Cahuilla, this area has yielded numerous vertebrate and invertebrate fossils that are less than 10,000 years old. According to paleontological records, six paleontological localities have been recorded in the southern section of the Planning Area, and include fish, lizards, snakes, rabbits, diatoms, ostrapods, and mollusks. As a result of these finds, the Lake Cahuilla beds are of high paleontological sensitivity, and potentially contain paleontological resources that could be affected by earth-moving activities.24

Low Sensitivity Paleontological Areas Areas determined as being of “low” paleontological sensitivity are areas made up of Granitic Rock. These areas are located in the southwestern, southern and northwestern portion of the Planning Area. Paleontological studies have shown these areas as not containing significant paleontological resources and unlikely to contain fossil resources.

Undetermined Areas Areas in the Planning Area made up of Holocene Alluvium and Dune Sand are considered the youngest geologic formations, and therefore unlikely to contain significant fossil resources. Holocene Alluvium is present in the western and southwestern portion of the Planning Area, and Dune Sand is located in the northern portions of the Planning Area. Paleontological studies have indicated that these young sediments may overlie older alluvium that contains Pleistocene age fossils, and therefore may also be considered high sensitivity areas. Because of the complex nature of these geologic formations, and lack of paleontological discoveries, these areas have been designated as “Undetermined Areas” for paleontological resources.

Cultural Resources Discovered in Planning Area

The Planning Area is rich with history, as indicated by the large number of archaeological sites, historic period buildings, and other historic and prehistoric discoveries found throughout it.

23 Paleontologic Resources Technical Report for City of La Quinta General Plan (2010 Update), prepared by CRM Tech, August 12, 2010. 24 Ibid.

III-61 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

These cultural resources include remnants from the Native Cahuilla people to more recent residents of La Quinta. Cultural resources encompass all human related remnants as well as non- traditional property types, such as citrus groves, date gardens, and natural features.

This section discusses the existing cultural resources that have been identified in the General Plan Update Planning Area. Exhibit III-5 provides a map showing previously surveyed areas for cultural resources within the Planning Area.25

Archaeological Resources The archaeological resources found within the General Plan Update Planning Area are remnants from prehistoric peoples who took advantages of the resources in ancient Lake Cahuilla. Lake Cahuilla covered portions of La Quinta, primarily below the 42-foot above sea level contour. Archaeological records show that ancient people followed the shoreline according to the various lake levels, until A.D. 1650 when the lake rapidly receded to complete desiccation within 80 to 100 years. The Cahuilla people were believed to be the first inhabitants of the area dating back to the Archaic Period, and thrived in the area until European settlers arrived in the early 1800’s.

Cultural surveys have identified approximately 500 archaeological sites, both historic and prehistoric, in the Planning Area. In addition to these sites, approximately 170 isolates, or localities with fewer than three artifacts, have also been discovered. The majority of these archaeological finds are from Native American tribes and include pottery, burned animal bone, grinding stones, chipped stone, cremation and other remains. Recent surveys in the sand dune portions of La Quinta have found remnants from the Archaic Period, including the presence of worked fine-grained, dark gray basalt and shell beads, and burial sites. Other Archaic sites have been discovered throughout the Planning Area due to the presence of hunting remains, Olivella beads, and basalt, which were common in the Archaic period. The oldest site recorded in the Coachella Valley is located just outside the La Quinta city boundary, and includes a site proven to be 2,700 years old. An archaeological survey prepared in the southwestern portion of the Planning Area revealed more than 30 prehistoric archaeological sites, indicating that Village sites were at one time concentrated along the shores of ancient Lake Cahuilla.

Recent contacts with local Native American tribes, including the Torres Martinez, Augustine, and Cabazon bands of the Desert Cahuilla people have also uncovered culturally sensitive lands within the Planning Area. Past development and earth-moving projects throughout the region have uncovered Native American cremation and burial sites. Letters received from the Native American Heritage Commission have also indicated that sacred Native American cultural resources are located within a half-mile of the Planning Area.26

25 “Cultural Resources Technical Report for City of La Quinta General Plan (2010 Update), prepared by CRM Tech, July 8, 2010. 26 “Cultural Resources Technical Report for City of La Quinta General Plan (2010 Update), prepared by CRM Tech, July 8,2010.

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Historic Resources Historic resources include culturally important buildings, structures, or features that are typically related to non-Native settlements. The State of California has determined that historic buildings are those older than 45-50 years of age. Over the last few decades, historic resources surveys have revealed a large inventory of historic buildings, structures, and features in La Quinta.

The Riverside County Historical Commission prepared a historical survey between 1981 and 1983 and recorded 30 buildings and portions of the Coachella Canal within the La Quinta Planning Area as historical resources. Between 1996 and 1997, the City of La Quinta recorded 60 additional properties and buildings as historical resources. As a result of that survey, the City designated the Cove area as a potential historic district under the Historic Preservation Ordinance, due to the large number of recorded historical buildings. In 2006, the City updated the 1996-1997 survey and recorded an additional 183 buildings to the California Historical Resources Inventory, and noted an additional 74 buildings as potentially significant historic resources.

The combination of these past surveys have highlighted approximately 280 buildings and other built features in the General Plan Update Planning Area as having the potential to be historically significant and eligible for listing in the California Historic Resources Inventory. The majority of these buildings are single-family homes of various ages, including both pre and post-WWII vintage, and are representative of various architecture styles.27 The General Plan requires that cultural resources, including potentially historic structures, be studied prior to their being impacted by development.

27 “Cultural Resources Technical Report for City of La Quinta General Plan (2010 Update), prepared by CRM Tech, July 8,2010.

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2. Project Impacts

Impacts to Historical Resources

Implementation of the General Plan Update will facilitate new development throughout the Planning Area. Within the City limits, the majority of new development will be associated with redevelopment or infill. As discussed above, there have been approximately 280 buildings and other built features identified as having the potential to be historically significant within the Planning Area. As such, future development projects, including modifications to existing buildings, demolition, grading activities, site excavation, and construction could potentially result in direct or indirect disturbance or destruction of historic resources. Since these structures and features are documented, site surveys should be conducted to assess potential harm to these resources, if alteration or demolition is proposed. The General Plan requires that site specific studies be conducted when development is proposed. These studies will include an assessment of the potential impacts to cultural resources, and assure that impacts to these resources are reduced to less than significant levels.

The Sphere is more rural and does not contain the intensity of development found within the City limits. Historical resources throughout the Sphere may be associated with farming. As shown in the Exhibit III-5, the level of study in the Sphere has been much more limited than within the City. This is largely due to the limited number of development proposals in the area. Implementation of the General Plan, however, could facilitate development within the Sphere, if these areas are annexed. As a result, impacts to unknown historic resources would be potentially significant. The City’s survey requirements for historic and prehistoric resources would be applied for these properties, however, to assure that resources were identified and protected.

With such protective measures, impacts on historic resources would be reduced to less than significant levels. Therefore, impacts to historic resources as a result of implementation of the General Plan Update will be less than significant with mitigation.

Impacts to Archaeological Resources

As discussed above, previous cultural surveys have identified approximately 500 archaeological sites, both historic and prehistoric, throughout the entire General Plan Update Planning Area. Many of these prehistoric resources are from early Native Americans of the Cahuilla tribe. Exhibit III-5, shows areas throughout the City Limit that have been assessed for cultural resources. Vacant lands that have not been surveyed may contain buried archaeological resources. Future construction activity on these lands, including grading activity, site excavation, and general construction could potentially result in direct or indirect disturbance or destruction of archaeological resources. Site surveys are required by the City as part of the entitlement process, to assess potential harm to these resources. As such, new development projects will be required to conduct surveys for possible archaeological resources.

The Sphere Planning Areas consist of more rural, undisturbed land which may contain buried archaeological resources. Due to the lack of development activity, the majority of these areas have not been previously surveyed. Implementation of the General Plan Update will facilitate

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new development on these lands, potentially impacting undiscovered archaeological resources. Future construction and development activity in the Sphere, including grading activity, site excavation, and general construction, could result in direct or indirect disturbance or destruction of archaeological resources. Site surveys are required by the City as part of the entitlement process, to assess potential harm to these resources. Development proposals made for these areas after annexation, should it occur, will be required to conduct cultural surveys as part of the entitlement process.

With proper mitigation measures, impacts to archaeological resources within the General Plan Update Planning Area are expected to be less than significant.

Impacts to Paleontological Resources

Implementation of the General Plan Update will facilitate new development throughout the Planning Area. As shown in Exhibit III-4, the City and its Sphere exhibit varying degrees of paleontological sensitivity according to soil types. Sediments related to the ancient Lake Cahuilla beds exhibit the highest paleontological sensitivity. In comparison, granitic rock soils found along the Coral Mountains, which surround the Cove, have low paleontological sensitivity. New development activity, including construction, grading, and other site disturbances in moderate and high sensitivity areas has the potential to impact paleontological resources. Mitigation measures will be required to reduce paleontological impacts to less than significant levels.

Impacts to Native American Resources

Senate Bill 18 requires contact with local tribes when a General Plan Update is prepared. The City notified all Tribes listed by the State as potentially having sacred lands in the area, as required by SB 18. Two letters were received, one from the Cabazon Band, and one from the Agua Caliente Band. The letters stated that the Tribes have no specific information regarding cultural resources within or near the General Plan Update Planning Area.28

3. Mitigation Measures

The following mitigation measures will reduce impacts to Cultural Resources to less than significant levels.

1. The City will continue to pursue government-to-government consultation with pertinent Native American representatives and tribal organizations, as required by SB 18.

2. All proposed project sites will be surveyed by a qualified archaeologist, historian, and/or architectural historian, as appropriate, to identify any potential cultural resources that may be affected, unless existing evidence shows that such survey is unnecessary.

28 “Cultural Resources Technical Report for City of La Quinta General Plan (2010 Update), prepared by CRM Tech, July 8,2010.

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3. The City will maintain and expand as necessary the existing historical resources inventory to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date register of known cultural resources in the Planning Area.

4. New development projects proposed for areas of high sensitivity for paleontological resources shall be required to prepare paleontological resource surveys as part of the entitlement processing.

5. A paleontological resource evaluation shall be prepared in conjunction with site specific geotechnical analysis required for grading and building permits for projects located in low paleontological sensitivity and undetermined areas. Evaluation should include bore samplings to understand whether grading and/or building will impact underlying Pleistocene or older soils.

6. The City will require a paleontological monitor during earth moving activities in high sensitivity areas.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

A. The Planning Department shall review site-specific historic, archaeological, and paleontological surveys prepared for new development projects in sensitive areas prior to entitlement of new development projects. Responsible Party: La Quinta Planning Department, developer, Professional Archaeologist/Paleontologist.

F. Geology and Soils

Introduction This section of the EIR addresses potential impacts associated with geology and soils that may arise from implementation of the General Plan Update. The existing geologic and soil conditions within the City and Sphere of Influence are described, and the potential impacts of build out are assessed.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria For Determining Significance The following standards and criteria have been drawn from Appendix G: Environmental Checklist Form of the CEQA Guidelines. The following factors have been considered to ensure that the General Plan EIR adequately addresses potential impacts to geology and soils that may result from the adoption and implementation development of the La Quinta General Plan. Implementation of the General Plan would have a significant effect on soils and geology if it is determined that the project will:

a. Expose people or structures to potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving:

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i. Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault. ii. Strong seismic ground shaking. iii. Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction. iv. Landslides. b. Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil. c. Locate the project on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code, creating substantial risks to life or property. d. Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater.

Seismic Hazard Mapping Act The State of California enacted the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act (SHMA) in 1990. It is intended to protect the health and safety of the public from seismically induced ground failure, including ground shaking, liquefaction, and slope stability. The California Geological Survey (CGS) is responsible for implementing the Act. It is charged with providing local governments with maps that identify areas susceptible to such hazards.

Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act The Alquist-Priolo Act was enacted in 1972 to mitigate hazards related to surface faulting by identifying zones where surface fractures have occurred. It establishes Alquist-Priolo Zones to identify and prohibit construction or development within areas that are at risk of surface fractures. It is the responsibility of the State Geologist to establish regulatory zones around the surface traces of active faults and to issue appropriate maps identifying Alquist-Priolo zones.

1. Existing Conditions This section discusses the physical characteristics of the City and Sphere, as well as community safety. It also summarizes the geologic and seismic hazards portions of the Technical Background Report prepared for the General Plan29.

Geologic Setting

The General Plan Update Planning Area is located at the boundary of the Colorado Desert Province, a low elevation basin extending from the Banning Pass to the U.S. border with Mexico, and the Peninsular Ranges Province, which is characterized by a series of northwest- trending Valleys and mountain ranges. The unique landscapes of each of these physiographic provinces have been formed by diverse geologic and climatic process. Portions of La Quinta are situated on the Valley floor, rising to the foothills lower slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

29 “Technical Background Report to the Safety Element Update, City of La Quinta, California,” prepared by Earth Consultants International, July 2010.

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Elevations within the Planning Area generally range from approximately 190 feet below sea level at the southeastern corner of the Planning Area, to 1,700 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

The Whitewater River traverses the northern part of the City. It is the primary drainage in the Coachella Valley, and intermittently drains the surrounding mountains as well as the northern portion of the Valley. For most of the year, streambeds in the Santa Rosa Mountains are dry. However, following storms they may carry significant flows that accumulate within a short period of time.

There are also numerous canals and aqueducts crossing the Planning Area. Ultimately, these terminate at Lake Cahuilla, a man-made storage reservoir located in the southern portion of the Planning Area.

In geological terms, the Valley portion of La Quinta is located at the edge of the Salton Trough, a broad tectonic depression that has been sinking over millions of years and has filled with several thick sediment layers that form what is now the Valley floor. The trough is physically continuous from the San Gorgonio Pass to the Gulf of California.

Ancient Lake Cahuilla occupied the area where most of modern La Quinta is located, possibly as recently as 400 years ago, when it evaporated. At one time, it covered an area of more than 2,000 square miles.

Soils and Geologic Units

Soil Types There are seven soil units that have been mapped in the Planning Area, each of which is described below. Exhibit III-6 shows the locations of these soils in the Planning Area.

Alluvial sand and gravel of the Whitewater River (Qg) Soils in this unit are comprised of very young, unconsolidated alluvium deposited by the Whitewater River, with crudely bedded sand, silt, gravel, boulders, and debris deposited by floodwaters. River sediments are highly susceptible to erosion and may be re-distributed and/or buried by flooding. In general, construction within floodways is limited to roadway crossings or pipelines. These soils are highly compressible; therefore, construction of such improvements must include bridge supports that are anchored in underlying, more stable soils. Hazards associated with these soils include scour from flood flows and damage from large debris, such as boulders.

Windblown sand (wind-lain dune sand) (Qs) This is a common soil type in the region, and is mapped all through the northern portion of the City. Windblown, or Aeolian deposits are generally comprised of reworked alluvium. Silty and fine- to medium-grained sands are lifted by strong winds that occur frequently in the area, and deposited to form shifting sand dunes (Qs). This soil unit has a high susceptibility to erosion, settlement, and collapse.

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Interbedded lacustrine (clay of valley areas) (Ql) As noted above, the region was the site of Ancient Lake Cahuilla, as well as other large lakes that inundated the Salton Trough. These soils consist of lacustrine (lake) sediments up to 300 feet thick, layered with alluvial fan and colluvial sediments deposited from mountain slopes.

Potential for soil collapse of lacustrine soils is considered low given the presence of deeper sediments from the ancient lakes that underlies the youngest alluvium. Lacustrine soils have high permeability, except for where they interbed with silt or clay layers, which slow the downward percolation of water. There is generally low potential for expansive soils, with the exception of lake deposits with silt and clay near structural foundation elements.

Alluvial deposits (sand of Valley areas) (Qa) These soils are geologically young and near-surface, often containing organic debris, and have been rapidly deposited by flash floods. Therefore, engineering issues include compressibility, and soil collapse, with the introduction of irrigation water into dry soils. These soils are also highly susceptible to erosion, with moderate to high permeability. They are appropriate for use as fill after the removal of organic materials and oversized rocks, but for compaction generally require the addition of water.

In the Planning Area, alluvial deposits generally occur along the base the Santa Rosa Mountains to the west. Older, more developed portions of La Quinta, which occur downwind of Eisenhower Mountain, are built on alluvium. Towards the south of the Valley, alluvial soils are interbedded with fine-grained lacustrine sediments.

Alluvial fan sand and gravel deposits (Qf) Alluvial fan deposits occur on active fans draining mountain canyons. They consist of poorly bedded silt, sand, and gravel, with boulders sometimes present in the upper part of the fans. Younger fans have a somewhat smooth surface, networked with braided ephemeral streams. Older fans may have a slightly elevated surface divided by embedded stream channels. These deposits progressively transition into finer-grained alluvial and ancient lake deposits that occur in the lower Valley.

Because they are typically unconsolidated, younger fan deposits are susceptible to settlement or collapse, as well as wind or water erosion. Although generally more consolidated, older fan deposits may have a higher percentage of clay at and near the surface, with potentially expansive soils.

Landslide deposits (Qls) There are several large landslides that have been mapped in the Santa Rosa Mountains above La Quinta. The Martinez Mountain Landslide is located south of the City, and partially encroaches into La Quinta. It is one of the largest and most spectacular landslides in the area. It occurred in prehistoric times and is a rock avalanche comprised of coarse debris that was transported nearly six miles.

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Soils associated with landslides are generally considered unstable and may be compressible, especially around perimeters, with the addition of increased loads such as deep fill embankments. In the event of strong ground shaking or undercutting by streams at the toe, they may be reactivated.

Quartz diorite (hard crystalline rock) (Qd) This is the oldest geologic unit in the La Quinta area. Hard, crystalline rock forming the mountains is buried beneath the alluvium. Crystalline rocks vary widely in texture, composition and physical properties. Rocks underlying La Quinta are “plutonic,” meaning they have crystallized from the molten state deep within the Earth’s crust. Those forming the mountains in the Planning Area are comprised of minerals that are most closely associated with quartz diorite. It is estimated that magma from which this rock crystallized over 65 million years ago.

Crystalline rock is highly durable and has formed the steep slopes and deep canyons within and above the City. Where not highly weathered, deposits are very hard and cannot be excavated easily. Typically they are non-water bearing, with low to moderately low permeability, except where jointed and fractured. These rocks are generally non-expansive, and provide strong foundation support. Rockfall hazard occurs where slopes are covered by boulders.

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Geologic Hazards in the La Quinta Area

Geologic hazards in the Planning Area include landslides and slope instability, compressible, collapsible or expansive soils, soil corrosivity, ground subsidence, erosion, and wind-blown sand.

Slope Failure Slope failure may affect a relatively small area and often only for a very short time. However, it can result in substantial damage to property, and can be quite costly. The Planning Area encompasses foothills and mountain slopes associated with the Santa Rosa Mountains. Where development occurs at the base of these landforms it may be susceptible to a variety of hazards associated with slope instability, such as landslides and surficial failure, including soil slips, mud or debris flows, and rockfalls. In La Quinta this hazard primarily affects more developed areas located near the base of mountains. Perched on slopes, boulders can result in a rockfall hazard to development adjacent to these slopes. Hazards may be increased by earthquakes, periods of intense rainfall, or human activities associated with construction, such as grading and blasting. A variety of factors influence the stability of the slope, including height, steepness, shear strength and the orientation of underlying weak layers.

Free-falling or tumbling masses of bedrock that have disconnected from steep canyon walls or cliffs are called rockfalls or rockslides. Rockfall hazards increase when rock slopes become extremely steep, such as may occur as a result of erosion or human activities. Strong ground shaking, intense rainfall, or grading and blasting can generate rockfall or rockslides. In the Planning Area, rockfall hazard is primarily present for lands at or near the base of boulder- covered slopes.

Rock types that occur in the Planning Area are generally resistant to landslides. In mountains above the City, mapping shows several “rock avalanche” landslides. If cut to very steep gradients, and depending on their overall composition and strength, these rocks may become susceptible to slope failure.

Surficial failures associated with soil slip may result from strong winter storms when soils have deposited in canyon sideslopes and in gullies and ravines. They occur most frequently on steep slopes, which occur in higher hills and mountains within and adjacent to the Planning Area.

The most dangerous and destructive of all types of slope failure is debris flow, also known as mudflow, mudslide, and debris avalanche. These flows are rapidly moving watery mixtures containing mud, rock, vegetation, and are capable of transporting very large debris such as boulders or trees. Debris flows are usually associated with prolonged storms. Within the Planning Area, lands at the base of moderate to steep slopes or at the mouths of drainage channels are most vulnerable to debris flows.

Compressible Soils Soils that are geologically young (Holocene age), have low density and are of unconsolidated sediments. They may compress under the weight of fill embankments and structures. These soils

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often include recently deposited alluvium, which occurs in the Valley portion of the Planning Area.

A variety of factors may affect the soil’s overall compressibility. These include soil characteristics such as texture and grain size, density and moisture and the thickness of the compressible layer(s), as well as engineering parameters. In addition to the Valley floor, portions of the Planning Area most likely to contain compressible soils include the Whitewater River, as well as wind-blown deposits, hillside areas, especially at the base of natural slopes, and within canyon bottoms and swales. Although older alluvial fan deposits in the Planning Area are relatively dense, upper layers, which may be disturbed and/or weathered, are typically compressible. Deep fill embankments, generally more than 60 feet deep, may also compress under their own weight. Geotechnical analyses and the application of appropriate engineering techniques are mitigation measures that may be used to reduce potential hazards associated with compressible soils.

Collapsible Soils Recently accumulated soils in arid or semi-arid environments may be subject to soil collapse, or hydroconsolidation. These soils are typically dry and contain tiny voids. If partly supported by clay or silt, they become rearranged and lose cohesion when inundated. Even relatively light loads can cause these soils to settle substantially and quickly under these conditions. When surface water permeates them, differential settlement can occur. Where settlement occurs at or near buildings, particularly when heavy irrigation takes place near a building foundation, structures such as walls or foundations may crack.

In the Planning Area, localized settlement can occur where soils such as alluvium or wind-borne soils have been recently deposited. Hazards associated with collapsible soils can be addressed through site-specific geotechnical studies and sound engineering and site design.

Expansive Soils Varying amounts of fine-grained silts and clays within soils may shrink or swell as moisture content changes. The presence of expansive soils may create pressure that can affect structures or other surface improvements.

In the General Plan Update Planning Area, the Valley floor is underlain by alluvial sand and gravel interbedded with fine-grained lakebed deposits such as silts and clays. There may be considerable variation in the expansion characteristics of these soils after site grading. Typical soil profiles on older alluvial fan deposits may include substantial amounts of clay material that would be expected to be moderately expansive.

In general, rock formations in hills and mountains have low expansion characteristics, although clays with expansive materials may be present in sheared zones within rock. Where engineered fills near the finished surface include expansive soils, damage may result. This risk may be minimized by ensuring that surface fill is free of expansive soils, as much as feasible. Surface fill may also be pre-saturated as determined by a soil engineer. Other measures include good surface drainage and efficient irrigation systems that do not result in excessive watering.

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Corrosive Soils Soil and buried metallic structures, such as water mains or elements within building foundations, may react in a variety of ways involving complex electrochemical and bacteriological processes.

The most common identifying factor for corrosive soils is electrical resistivity. Cumulative impacts may occur over time, with substantial damage to underground metallic objects where soils have low resistivity. Corrosive soil characteristics also include high acidity (low pH), high moisture content, high chloride or low oxygen levels, and the presence of certain bacteria. The risk of corrosion is also increased where sulfide compounds are present. These compounds may occur when sulfate-reducing bacteria converts sulfates, which are not directly corrosive to metals, to soluble sulfides, which can be corrosive to concrete.

On the Valley floor, sediments may be present that are corrosive to metallic objects, such as pipelines. A corrosion engineer can test soils prior to construction. Other means to reduce risks associated with corrosive soils may include the use of special cement mixes, specialized coatings or protective wrapping materials, and specified soil water content.

Ground Subsidence Ground subsidence occurs when the ground surface gradually sinks or settles, with no horizontal movement. Subsidence is primarily caused by human activity. The extraction of sub-surface water, oil or gas in sediment filled Valleys and floodplains are primary contributors. Although less common, natural forces, such as earthquake movements, can also result in subsidence and have in some cases resulted in abrupt elevation changes across faults.

The effects of regional subsidence include earth fissures, sinkholes or depressions, and surface drainage disruption. Certain improvements may be sensitive to slight elevation changes, including canals, levees, and underground pipelines; these are most at risk from subsidence. Structures such as wells, buildings, roads and railroads can also be damaged where substantial subsidence occurs.

When groundwater extraction surpasses supplies, a condition known as overdraft, a loss of aquifer storage capacity can occur and create subsidence. This condition exists in the Coachella Valley. Therefore, the regional water management district, Coachella Valley Water District, has instituted a variety of measures to manage subsidence. These include the use of imported water, artificially recharging groundwater basins, and reducing pumping of local wells.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has monitored subsidence rates in the Coachella Valley over several decades. These data indicate rapid increases in subsidence rates, which is primarily attributed to groundwater extraction in the Valley.

Irreversible subsidence can occur when groundwater is removed from clay and silt layers in the underlying aquifer, creating surface fissures and cracks. In the Coachella Valley, fissures have been recorded in one instance in La Quinta, in 1948 near the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Subsidence is most typical in valleys where overdraft is an issue.

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CVWD is addressing this regional issue in its groundwater management program. The District has implemented a range of programmatic measures, including groundwater recharge, imported water, and a variety of water conservation techniques and programs.

Erosion Climate, topography, soil and rock types, and vegetation are all factors that influence erosion, runoff, and sedimentation. These issues are relevant to La Quinta given the area’s topography. Adjacent mountains are composed of fractured bedrock that has undergone rapid geologic uplift. The region is subject to infrequent but often powerful winter storms that generate high rates of erosion. Where wildfires have removed vegetation from mountain slopes, erosion risk is further increased. These conditions are intensified when storms create large volumes of sediment that flow to areas downslope.

Within the Valley portion of the Planning Area, canyon bottoms and other areas contain soils that are unconsolidated and most susceptible to erosion. Natural erosion processes may be accelerated by human activities such as agriculture and development, even where soils are more consolidated. Grading and clearing activities eliminate protective vegetation, modify natural drainage patterns, and compress soils. Slopes created by cut and fill may be at greater risk of erosion than natural slopes. Development also reduces the surface area available for water to percolate. This increases the risk of downstream sedimentation and flooding.

Development plans for new projects in La Quinta are required to incorporate temporary and permanent erosion control. Where such projects exceed one acre, developers must obtain coverage under the Statewide General Construction Permit and the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. Requirements associated with this coverage include the preparation of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), Best Management Practices (BMPs) and in some cases the preparation of a Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP).

Wind Erosion Wind erosion is common in flat, bare, dry and sandy areas. Wind erosion damages land and natural vegetation through sediment transport and re-deposition. These processes result in soil loss and deterioration of structures and air pollution.

Throughout the Coachella Valley, varying levels of hazards associated with wind-blown (Aeolian) sand occur, and there are a variety of conditions that contribute to the creation and transport of sand in the region. These include the orientation of landforms such as hills and mountains, the nature of the bedrock, the location of the Whitewater River floodplain, slope of the Valley floor, and sparseness of vegetation on undeveloped lands on the Valley floor. The characteristic hot, dry desert climate is a major factor, as are precipitation rates. The Valley receives low amounts of annual rainfall, with the exception of infrequent intense winter storms.

Much of the Valley, including the Planning Area, is susceptible to wind and wind-blown sand hazards. A variety of health problems are associated with wind and blowing sand, such as skin disorders, allergies and respiratory irritation, and eye infections.

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While some areas of La Quinta are sheltered at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, the majority of the Planning Area is located with an active wind erosion zone. The northern portion of the City is underlain by soils that are subject to erosion, as shown on Exhibit III-7. Soils may be loosened and transported during grading and construction activities. For this reason, routine site watering or cessation of construction on extremely windy days are used to mitigate construction impacts.

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Seismic Activity

The majority of Southern California is located at the boundary between the North American and Pacific tectonic plates, which are moving past each other at varying rates. Most of western southern California, including the Coachella Valley, is located on the Pacific Plate. This plate is moving at a rate of approximately 165 feet in 1,000 years (50 millimeters per year), generally in a northwesterly direction.

The San Andreas Fault marks the boundary between these two plates. This major fault trends generally northwest to southeast, approximately 4 miles north of the planning area. It accommodates approximately 60% to 70% of the plate movement described above, while the rest is distributed among other faults within the San Andreas system as well as those associated with the Eastern California Shear Zone. As a result, the Planning Area is located in a physical and geographic area that is susceptible to strong seismic activity.

Measuring Seismic Events Earthquakes release seismic energy that is measured in terms of intensity and magnitude. Several factors determine the intensity of ground shaking, including the earthquake’s magnitude, distance from the epicenter, and soil and rock composition. A variety of logarithmic scales have been used by seismologists to measure earthquakes.

The most common measure of seismic intensity is the Modern Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale. The MMI scale measures damage from partial or total collapse of masonry structures to severe damage or devastation of underground infrastructure, bridges, overpasses or other improvements.

The Richter Scale measures earthquake magnitude as a function of amplitude of ground motion at distance from the epicenter, based on a scale from one to ten. A tenfold increase in the wave amplitude is represented by each increase along the scale.

The seismic moment (Mw) measure, which correlates the size of an earthquake to the amount of energy released when a fault ruptures, is the measurement system currently favored by seismologists. Each one-point increase in magnitude corresponds to a 32-fold increase in energy.

The term “Maximum Probability Earthquake” (MPE) is used to reference the largest earthquake likely to occur on a fault or fault segment within a specified time period. The MPE is used to assess potential seismic risk in a region, to prepare engineering or emergency plans, and to develop design parameters and safe construction practices. The preparation of policies and programs regarding potential earthquake hazards and impacts also reference the MPE.

The California Geological Survey assigns the highest magnitude earthquake a fault is capable of producing based on physical limitations such as the length of the fault or fault segment. This is known as the Maximum Magnitude Earthquake (Mmax). Faults that could result in significant impacts in the La Quinta area are shown on Table III-15. The Table shows that the entire Southern segment of the San Andreas fault has the potential to generate a magnitude 8.0 earthquake, or the equivalent to a Level X-XI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.

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Table III-15 Horizontal Peak Ground Accelerations and Seismic Intensities Distance to Distance to PGHA (g) Magnitude MMI from Fault or Fault Segment La Quinta La Quinta from M of M max M (mi) (km) max (median) max

San Andreas fault (entire 3.4 – 8.8 5.4 – 14.2 8.0 0.50 – 0.34 XII - X Southern)

San Andreas (Coachella 3.4 – 8.8 5.4 – 14.2 7.2 0.50 – 0.36 XI - IX segment)

San Andreas (Coachella + San 3.4 – 8.8 5.4 – 14.2 7.7 0.6 – 0.41 XII - X Bernardino)

San Andreas (San Bernardino) 17.6 – 28.2 28.4 – 45.4 7.5 0.23 –0.15 IX - VIII

San Jacinto (Anza) 16.3 – 23.4 26.3 – 37.7 7.2 0.21 – 0.15 IX – VIII

Burnt Mountain 15.4 – 26.2 24.8 – 42.2 6.5 0.14 – 0.08 IX - VI Eureka Peak 16 – 26.7 25.8 - 43 6.4 0.14 – 0.08 IX - VI San Jacinto (Coyote Creek) 18 –23.8 29 – 38.3 6.6 0.13 – 0.10 IX – VII Pinto Mountain 28 – 37.8 45.1 – 60.9 7.2 0.13 – 0.09 IX – VII Pisgah – Bullion 31.5 – 39.5 50.7 – 63.6 7.3 0.12 – 0.09 VIII - VI

Abbreviations: mi – miles; km – kilometer; Mmax – maximum magnitude earthquake; PGHA – peak ground horizontal acceleration as a percentage of g, the acceleration of gravity; MMI – Modified Mercalli Intensity. Several other faults have the potential to generate seismic shaking similar to that experienced in La Quinta during the 1992 Landers earthquake. Faults that would generate a similar level of shaking include: North Frontal (both East and West segments, individually), Calico-Hidalgo, Elsinore (Julian segment), Lenwood- Lockhart-Old Woman Springs, Helendale-South Lockhardt, San Jacinto (San Jacinto Valley segment), San Jacinto (Borrego segment), Brawley Seismic Zone, Earthquake Valley, and Elmore Ranch. All of these faults would generate peak ground accelerations in the 0.05 to 0.09 range (median) and 0.08 to 0.16 range (median plus 1 sigma), with Modified Mercalli intensities in the V to VIII range.

It is estimated that there is a 10% probability that a ground motion of approximately 0.5g will be exceeded in 50 years near La Quinta City Hall. In the area of the City nearest the San Andreas fault, in the northeastern most corner of the City, there is a 10% probability that a ground motion of approximately 0.64g could be exceeded in 50 years. These are moderate to very high levels of ground shaking, which would be expected to result in moderate to heavy damage, especially to buildings that are older or poorly constructed.

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Major Faults Affecting La Quinta Planning Area and Vicinity

Earthquakes can result in impacts ranging from significant property damage to the loss of public services and facilities and the loss of life. The most severe impacts in the La Quinta area would be expected to result from strong ground shaking associated with earthquakes. Earthquakes and associated groundshaking can also generate other impacts, such as landslides, damage or destruction to structures, liquefaction, and settlement. Fires, hazardous materials releases, disruption of essential facilities and services such as water, sewer, gas, electric, drainage, and transportation can also occur. Flooding may happen when dam or water tanks fail as a result of ground shaking.

The most significant faults with potential to affect the General Plan area are discussed below. The locations of these faults are shown on Exhibit III-8, Faults and Historical Seismicity Map.

San Andreas Fault Zone The San Andreas, which passes approximately 4 miles northwest of the Planning Area, is considered the “Master Fault” in Southern California. This is because of the influence it has over seismic hazards, as well as the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes it generates. The San Andreas fault extends approximately 690 miles, from the Salton Sea to Cape Mendocino in northern California. The 2007 Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities (WGCEP) estimated that the southern San Andreas fault has a 59% probability of causing an earthquake of at least magnitude 6.7 (Richter scale) in the next 30 years.

A rupture along the entire southern San Andreas fault, including, from south to north, the Coachella, San Gorgonio-Garnet Hill, San Bernardino and Mojave segments, with an epicenter along the San Andreas fault closest to La Quinta represents the worst case scenario for La Quinta. Such an occurrence would generate peak ground accelerations in the City between 0.5 g and 1.1 g, which would result in severe to violent ground shaking.

San Jacinto Fault Zone The San Jacinto fault zone is located between 26 and 38 miles south of the planning area. Extending approximately 175 miles, it intersects with the San Andreas fault in San Bernardino, and trends southeasterly toward the Brawley area. South of the U.S./Mexico border it continues as the Imperial fault. The San Jacinto fault has historically produced more large earthquakes than any other fault in southern California, albeit none as large as the 1857 and 1906 earthquakes on the San Andreas fault. WGCEP estimates there is a average 31% probability of all the segments of the San Jacinto fault rupturing between 1994 and 2024.

The Anza and Coyote Creek segments, respectively, are the segments of San Jacinto fault zone closest to La Quinta. WGCEP studies (2008) indicate that there is an average recurrence interval for earthquakes along the Anza segment of 238 years, with the most recent earthquakes occurring between 205 and 235 years ago. Should a Mw 7.2 earthquake occur on this segment, it would be expected to generate peak ground accelerations in the Planning area of between about 0.15g and 0.32g.

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Burnt Mountain Fault The Burnt Mountain fault was unknown prior to 1992; it is one of several of the Eastern Mojave Shear Zone faults. In 1992 a ground-surface rupture, thought to be a large aftershock of the Landers earthquake, occurred along a 3.1-mile-length of this fault. Geologic mapping indicates this fault is approximately 13 miles long and is approximately 15 miles north of the City at its closest point. It is considered capable of producing a magnitude 6.0 to 6.5 earthquake. Based on a Mw 6.5 earthquake along this fault, horizontal ground accelerations of between 0.08g and 0.21g could occur in La Quinta, with higher accelerations in the northern portion of the City, closest to this fault.

Eureka Peak Fault The Eureka Peak Fault is approximately 12.5 to 15 miles long and is a right-lateral strike-slip fault. Along with other faults, it ruptured during the 1992 Landers earthquake, and is thought to have caused the Joshua Tree earthquake of April 22, 1992. The Eureka Peak fault is considered capable of generating earthquakes of between Mw 5.5 and 6.8. In the event of a Mw 6.4 earthquake on this fault, estimates indicate it could generate horizontal peak ground accelerations in the Planning Area of between 0.08g and 0.21g.

Pinto Mountain Fault This fault occurs approximately 28 miles north-northwest of the city of La Quinta at its nearest point, at the boundary of the north side of the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Its length is thought to be between 45 and 56 miles. As defined in the Alquist-Priolo Act, it is considered an active fault, in that it has ruptured at least four times within the last approximately 9,400 years. A scenario entailing a 7.2 earthquake on this fault would generate peak horizontal ground acceleration in La Quinta of about 0.09g to 0.21g. Damage in the City would be characteristic of MMI intensities of between VII and IX.

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Seismically Induced Geotechnical Hazards

Seismically induced hazards include strong ground shaking and ground failure as a result of earthquakes. These can result in significant damage to development. The following discusses potential geotechnical hazards that may occur in the Planning Area.

Groundshaking Seismically induced ground shaking poses the most potentially significant geotechnical hazard to the Planning Area. As discussed previously, large earthquakes along regional faults such as the San Andreas and San Jacinto fault zones have the capacity of generating moderate to severe ground shaking in the planning area.

There are several factors that determine the effects of ground motion and the degree of structural damage that may occur. These include earthquake intensity, distance from the epicenter to the site, composition of soil and bedrock, building design, as well as others. As distance from the fault along which the earthquake occurs increases, peak ground accelerations and seismic intensity generally decrease. Local conditions such as soft soils, shallow ground water, and the presence of ridge tops may amplify the effects of seismic waves and may also result in higher localized accelerations. There are many tools that local agencies have available to ensure structural safety from seismic events. These include the Uniform Building Code, California Building Code, and Unreinforced Masonry Law. These are further discussed under Mitigation of Earthquake Hazards, below.

Groundshaking can result in various types of ground failure, including liquefaction and slope failure, which are among the most destructive. Others, such as landslides, seismically induced settlement, deformation of sidehill fills, and ridgetop fissuring and shattering can occur. These are discussed categorically below.

Liquefaction Liquefaction is a sudden increase in water pressure between soil grains that causes soils to take on the qualities of a liquid or semi-viscous substance. It occurs when groundshaking occurs over a relatively long duration, with intensity exceeding 0.2 g. Soils that are susceptible to liquefaction are generally loose, unconsolidated, soils with relatively shallow groundwater depths (50 feet or less). Liquefaction can substantially decrease soil shear strength, causing settlement to occur and resulting in damage to structures. Structures may sink or tilt when bearing capacity is weakened. Ground undulation, lateral spreading or displacement, and flow failures or slumping may also take place.

Given its proximity to major, active regional fault systems, the entire Planning Area is subject to strong ground shaking. Loose, unconsolidated soils occur primarily on the Valley floor portion of the Planning Area. The southeastern area of the City and the entire eastern Sphere are susceptible to liquefaction due to both shallow groundwater and soil type. Liquefaction potential in this area is moderate where groundwater is at depths of 30 to 50 feet below the surface. It ranges to high where groundwater is found at depths 30 feet and higher. Areas of the Planning Area that are susceptible to liquefaction are shown on Exhibit III-9.

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Landslides and Rockfall Strong ground motion from earthquakes can exacerbate unstable slope conditions, causing landslides and rockfall. As described previously, landslide vulnerability is a function of a variety of geologic and physical conditions.

Portions of the Planning Area wherein development is located downslope of mountain slopes and steep canyon walls are considered most susceptible to rockfall. This includes much of the older, more developed areas of the City, which are surrounded on three sides by mountains comprised of granitic rock. These areas are shown on Exhibit III-9.

Seismically Induced Settlement When strong ground shaking occurs, it can cause soils to become more tightly packed, collapsing voids and pore spaces, and reducing the thickness of the soil column. Soils that are especially subject to this risk include loose and unconsolidated sediments, such as young alluvial and wind- deposited soils, as well as artificial fill that has not been properly compacted during construction. As shown on Exhibit III-6, these soil units (mapping units Qa, Qa/Ql and Qs) occur throughout many portions of the Planning Area.

Deformation of Sidehill Fills Where roadways or level building pads are constructed on natural slopes, they may require artificial fill wedges, also called sidehill fills. Differential settlement can also occur in the wedge itself, or in building of the slope face. In the Planning Area, there is potential for sidehill fill deformation in mountains and hillsides. Construction in these areas is most commonly required when service roads and foundation pads are to be cut into the side of a slope for improvements such as above-ground water tanks, or to create wider roads or building pads. The potential for this hazard may be determined through site-specific geotechnical investigations. Implementing sound engineering principles and practices will minimize this risk.

Ridgetop Fissuring and Shattering Strong ground shaking can amplify seismic energy, and result in shattering surface soils on steep, narrow ridgelines or linear fissures at ridge crests. Particularly susceptible are structures located at high ridges bordered by steep slopes. Development along the ridgelines of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains within and bordering the Planning Area is generally limited to above- ground water storage tanks. To mitigate these hazards, avoiding development along ridgelines is indicated. Site-specific geotechnical evaluations, re-contouring topography to reduce conditions that may contribute to amplification, and proper grading techniques may reduce this hazard and should be implemented where any development or improvements are considered.

Seiche Standing wave oscillations, or seiches, can occur in enclosed or partially enclosed water bodies of shallow to moderately shallow depth. Waves continue in a back and forth motion after the originating force has ceased. Seiches are caused by tides, wind, or seismic events, and may occur in reservoirs, lakes, ponds, or swimming pools. The frequency of the seismic waves, distance and direction from the epicenter, style of the fault rupture (dip-slip or strike-slip) and the design of the enclosed water body all affect seismically induced seiching. Although seismically induced seiche waves are generally less than 1.7 feet high, heights of up to 6.6 feet have been reported.

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The Planning Area contains numerous lakes, ponds, and reservoirs that may be subject to seiches as a result of ground shaking, including Lake Cahuilla, the recharge basins south of La Quinta, and smaller golf course lakes. As noted above, the variety of factors that affect the potential seiche wave amplitude from these waterbodies make them difficult to predict.

Seiches may also result in damage to water storage reservoirs, such as those that occur within and adjacent to the Planning Area. The Coachella Valley Water District has indicated that their facilities have been constructed or updated based on criteria as set forth by the American Water Works Association, which developed them following the 1992 Landers-Big Bear sequence and the 1994 Northridge earthquakes. These issues are further discussed in the Section III-H, Hydrology.

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2. Project Impacts

As the General Plan Area builds out, the potential for a number of geologic and seismic hazards will increase. New development will result in construction of structures and infrastructure that could expose persons and property to geological hazards in the event of a seismic event. The following discusses potential geological impacts associated with build out of the General Plan.

Geological Conditions

Seismicity The City and Sphere are subject to potentially moderate to severe ground shaking as a result of earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault Zone and associated faults in the area. Although no active or potential active faults occur in the Planning Area, geological analyses conducted for the General Plan indicates that the Planning Area could experience moderate to very high ground shaking from earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault. These levels of ground shaking have potential to cause moderate to heavy damage, especially to older and poorly constructed buildings. Strong ground shaking can also result in indirect hazards, including slope instability, liquefaction, settlement, landslides, and flood inundation. A variety of other hazards can also occur, which are no less destructive. These may include urban fires, failure of water storage or containment structures, such as levees, dikes or reservoirs, and toxic chemical releases.

Post-earthquake conditions may be worsened by damage to infrastructure and utility systems. Roadways in the region and Planning Area may fail, thus restricting access into and through the area, including by emergency response vehicles and personnel. Telephone, gas, energy, and water may be substantially affected, impeding affect efforts to improve conditions and make available necessary support such as fire suppression, and access to potable water as well as heating and cooling. In addition, operations at critical facilities such as hospitals may be impacted, with reduced functionality for a period of time depending on the intensity of the earthquake.

Smaller structures may also be damaged by seismic activity. Unreinforced masonry buildings are at the greatest risk. Foundations may shift, resulting in exposed power lines, gas leaks, and fires, and exposed power lines. All new buildings in La Quinta must utilize reinforced masonry. Further, new construction must comply with the Uniform Building Code (UBC), and it is expected that this compliance will allow structures to resist major earthquakes without collapsing, even if structural damage occurs. State law requires that unreinforced masonry buildings be retrofitted, and the City has a mandatory mitigation program. In La Quinta, five of seven unreinforced masonry buildings have been retrofitted. The two remaining buildings are adobe structures; although still unmitigated, they are vacant and are not being used.

Liquefaction Several areas in the City and Sphere have potential to be impacted by liquefaction, which is a loss of shear strength when fine-grained soils become saturated. Damage can result when buildings tilt or sink. There is a moderate potential for liquefaction in the southeastern portion of the Planning Area, and a high potential in the eastern Sphere. To mitigate for this risk, site-

III-88 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures specific studies should be conducted prior to any proposed development in areas considered to be susceptible to liquefaction as mapped in the General Plan.

Seismically Induced Slope Instability Areas at risk due to seismically induced slope instability occur within the southern and western portions of the Planning Area near the base of steep slopes associated with the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains. These areas have been mapped and are shown in the General Plan as well as this EIR. For the most part, development is expected to be limited within these areas. Nonetheless, lands downslope of mountain slopes and hillsides may be susceptible to risks associated with landslide and rockfall. Therefore, as required in the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act, future development in areas mapped as being at risk from slope instability should be evaluated according to procedures recommended by the Division of Mines and Geology.

Seismically Induced Inundation The Planning Area is not within an inundation area for a dam under the jurisdiction of the California Division of Dam Safety. Potential for seismically induced inundation in the Planning Area may occur in the event of levee failure along the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel, the Coachella Canal and Lake Cahuilla. Above-ground water storage reservoirs in the Planning Area contain large quantities of water. If these structures are damaged in an earthquake, downslope areas are at risk of flooding. Mitigation for these potential hazards are provided in Section III-H, Hydrology, and include regular monitoring of these facilities to ensure their structural integrity.

Soil Characteristics

There are eleven soil types found in the City and Sphere of Influence areas, which exhibit a variety of characteristics, of which some may influence geological hazards including slope instability, collapsible, compressible, and expansive soils, corrosivity, ground subsidence, and erosion. Soil structure also affects drainage, infiltration, and other hydrological processes. These impacts are further analyzed in Section III-H of this EIR.

Development at the base of foothills and slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains may be subject to slope instability such as rockfall, and to a more limited extent landslides, debris flow and rockslide. These risks are expected to increase as a result of seismically induced ground shaking. Mitigation includes limiting development at the base of steep slopes, as well as measures that are available to property owners such as installation of retaining structures and landscaping to stabilize hillsides, and avoiding heavy irrigation.

Alluvial and windblown soils occur in various portions of the Planning Area. Windblown sand deposits occur in the northern City and Sphere, while soils associated with alluvial fan deposits occur throughout the southern and western/northwestern portions of the City. Soils associated with alluvial (water) and aeolian (wind) processes are subject to loss of cohesion when saturated, which may result in collapse and/or hydroconsolidation. Structures built on these soils may be damaged as a result. Site-specific geotechnical studies should be conducted in areas where these soils are present to analyze potential risks and provide specific engineering recommendations.

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Much of the Planning Area is underlain by lacustrine deposits associated with ancient Lake Cahuilla. These soils contain varying amounts of clay and silt, which may be expansive. Shrinking and swelling can result in damage to structures and other surface improvements. Appropriate site design incorporating good surface drainage and other engineering techniques are used to mitigate this hazard.

Ground subsidence, where in the ground surface sinks or settles due to extraction of groundwater or oil and gas. Substantial and sudden elevation changes may occur during seismic ground shaking, and can result in damage to canals, pipelines and drainage improvements. Subsidence is a regional issue in that it is thought to be related to reductions in groundwater supplies in the aquifer. It is being addressed through Coachella Valley Water District water management programs, including groundwater recharge and water conservation programs.

Unconsolidated soils occur in many areas of the City and Sphere and are particularly subject to erosion, including wind erosion. Erosion can result in soil loss and diminish soil productivity. Wind erosion, which occurs through much of the Valley, including the Planning Area, affects overall air quality, health, and can result in damage to structures. Much of the Planning Area is within an active wind erosion zone. Mitigation measures include installation of wind barriers and soil watering at construction sites. Erosion control measures are required for projects in the Planning Area. These issues are also addressed in Section III-C, Air Quality.

3. Mitigation Measures

1. The City shall periodically confer with the California Geological Survey, Riverside County, neighboring communities, and other appropriate agencies to improve and routinely update the database of local and regional geologic conditions, including seismic and geotechnical hazard in the General Plan Area.

2. The City shall continue to require that development in areas subject to rockfall, landslide, liquefaction and/or other geotechnical hazards prepare detailed geotechnical analyses that include mitigation measures intended to reduce potential hazards to less than significant levels.

3. The City shall continue a cooperative agreement with the County Geologist, State Geologist, or contract state-certified geologist and/or geological engineer to review and determine the adequacy of geotechnical, fault hazard studies and/or soils studies for proposed projects in the General Plan Area, and to enforce the implementation of mitigation measures.

4. The City shall require that development in areas subject to collapsible or expansive soils conduct soil sampling and laboratory testing and implement mitigation measures that minimize such hazards.

5. The City shall require that all new structures be built in accordance with the latest version of the California Building Code (CBC).

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6. The City shall continue to encourage that structures that pose a safety threat due to inadequate seismic design are retrofitted or removed from use. The City shall encourage all other property owners to seismically upgrade their properties.

7. The City shall consult and coordinate with California Geological Survey, Coachella Valley Water District and other appropriate agencies to support and participate in local and regional efforts at groundwater conservation and recharge in order to minimize potential impacts of subsidence due to groundwater extraction, including the periodic monitoring of groundwater levels and surface elevations in the City.

8. The City shall coordinate and cooperate with public and quasi-public agencies to ensure that major utilities shall continue to be functional in the event of a major earthquake.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

A. During site preparation for any project, the City Engineer and/or Building and Safety Department staff shall visit the site to assure compliance with applicable conditions of approval, City ordinances, and erosion control plans. Responsible Parties: City Engineer, Building and Safety Department, project developer, grading contractor.

B. Subsequent to preparation of final development plans and specifications and prior to grading and construction, the Geotechnical Consultant and/or the City Engineer shall review foundation plans to confirm compatibility with site-specific geotechnical conditions and conformance with the recommendations contained herein. The need for additional subsurface exploration shall be determined on a project-by-project basis. Responsible Parties: City Engineer, Geotechnical Consultant.

C. Rough grading shall be performed under geological and/or engineering observation by the Geotechnical Consultant and the City Engineer, accordingly, as appropriate. Responsible Parties: City Engineer and Geotechnical Consultant.

G. Hazards and Hazardous Materials

Introduction The City of La Quinta is an urbanized area within the Coachella Valley. With any urbanized region, the potential for exposure to hazards and hazardous material is always prevalent due commerce and industrial activities, transportation and distribution of products, and use of hazardous materials. La Quinta is not immune to these hazards, as numerous business and households use hazardous materials for commerce and daily living, and due to the constant flow of truck and rail traffic transporting hazardous materials through the City and region. Other hazards to residents include the presence of airports, and presence of wildfire zones. This section assesses impacts associated with hazards and hazardous materials on new growth likely to occur as a result of implementing the General Plan Update. It also provides mitigation measures to reduce hazardous impacts on existing and future residents.

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Thresholds of Significance/Criteria for Determining Significance Article 5, Section 15064 of the CEQA Guidelines provides guidance for determining the significance of the environmental effects caused by a project. Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines provides a list of environmental factors that potentially may be affected by completion of a project. Build out of the La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update would have a significant effect from hazards or hazardous materials if it is determined the plan will:

a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials.

b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment.

c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school.

d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment.

e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area

f) For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, would the project result in a safety hazard for people residing or working in the project area.

g) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan.

h) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires, including where wildlands are adjacent to urbanized areas or where residences are intermixed with wildlands.

1. Existing Conditions

Hazardous Materials Management

Hazardous waste is any liquid, solid, gas, or sludge that is potentially dangerous to human health and the environment, including everyday commercial products, such as pesticides, cleaning fluids, and household sprays, as well as byproducts of manufacturing processes. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified hazardous waste into four types of hazardous waste including listed wastes, characteristic wastes, universal wastes, and mixed

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wastes.30 Listed wastes include wastes from common manufacturing and industrial processes, waste from specific industries such as petroleum refining or pesticide manufacturing, and discarded commercial products. Characteristic wastes include non-listed wastes that exhibit ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. Universal wastes include items such as batteries, mercury-containing equipment, and fluorescent lamps and bulbs. Mixed wastes contain radioactive and hazardous waste components. All hazardous waste poses a threat to humans and the environment, and therefore is regulated by federal, state and local programs.

Federal Programs The EPA has been given authority and responsibility to regulate hazardous waste by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA). Through the Act, the EPA is responsible for monitoring the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. Amendments to the RCRA, including the 1984 Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments, and those established in 1986, forced the EPA to increase enforcement of to underground storage tanks for petroleum and other hazardous substances, focus on waste minimization programs, such as phasing out hazardous wastes from landfills, and finally mandating corrective measures regarding the release of hazardous waste.31

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), known as Superfund, is another federal act enacted on December 11, 1980. CERCLA created a tax on chemical and petroleum industries to help fund cleanup of abandoned and uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The Act is also responsible for establishing the National Priorities List, which lists nationwide hazardous waste sites that are a priority for EPA cleanup. As of December 6, 2010, there are no Superfund sites located in La Quinta or the Sphere of Influence.32

In October 17, 1986, CERCLA was amended by the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA). SARA provided important changes to CERCLA, including increasing the size of the cleanup trust fund, encouraging more citizen participation on cleanup measures, increased State involvement in the Superfund program, and providing more innovative treatment technologies for cleaning up hazardous waste sites. SARA also revised the National Ranking System, which is used by the EPA to assess whether a hazardous waste site should be placed on the National Priorities List. As of December 6, 2010, there are no Superfund sites listed on the National Priorities List located in La Quinta or the Sphere of Influence.33

More recent EPA efforts and responsibilities for managing hazardous waste include management of wastes from homeland security incidents. The Waste Management for Homeland Security Incidents requires EPA to provide technical support to Federal, state, local, and tribal authorities on waste management and cleanup efforts resulting from natural disasters, terrorist attacks, major accidents, and disease outbreaks. The main responsibility of the EPA is to promote pre-planning efforts to deal will hazardous waste disasters and encourage various stakeholders to prepare for

30 “Wastes-Hazardous Waste-Waste Types”, http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/index.htm, accessed December 6, 2010. 31 “Wastes-Hazardous Wastes”, http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/index.htm, accessed December 6, 2010. 32 “CERCLA Overview”, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/cercla.htm, accessed December 6, 2010. 33 “CERCLA Overview”, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/cercla.htm, accessed December 6, 2010.

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natural and man-made disasters. The EPA is also required to review emergency response plans for Federal agencies, and participate in exercises with Federal, state, local and tribal emergency responders.

State Programs The California Certified Unified Program Agencies, or CUPA, is a collection of state and regional agencies in charge of regulating hazardous waste. They are responsible for the administration, permits, inspection and enforcement of various environmental and emergency management programs, including the Underground Storage Tank Program, the Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act Program, Hazardous Materials Release Response Plans, and Hazardous Waste Generator and Onsite Hazardous Waste Treatment Programs. The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) is responsible for administrating and certifying the CUPA’s. Two state agencies that are also heavily involved with CUPA activities include the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is responsible for protecting public health and environment from the two millions of hazardous waste generated each year in California. They regulate under the authority of the federal RCRA of 1976 and the California Health and Safety Code. The DTSC operates a variety of programs including the following:

-Overseeing site cleanups at improperly managed waste sites -Ensuring those who generate, handle, transport, store and dispose of hazardous waste do so properly. -Enforcement actions against those who fail to manage hazardous waste appropriately. -Exploring and promoting pollution prevention and encouraging reuse and recycling. -Evaluating soil, water and air samples at sites and developing new analytical methods -Practicing other environmental sciences, including toxicology, risk assessment, and technology development. -Involving the public in DTSC’s decision-making.

DTSC is required to compile and update each year, or as appropriately, a list of hazardous waste sites pursuant to Section 65962.5(a). The DTSC has created the EnviroStor database of properties throughout California that may be contaminated. There are no hazardous waste sites in La Quinta or Sphere of Influence that are listed pursuant to Section 65962.5(a). The closest listed site is the Foster-Gardner facility in Coachella, located south of Avenue 50 between Highway 86 and Highway 111.34

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is responsible for regulating wastewater discharges to surface waters and groundwater. This includes discharges from all construction, industrial, municipal, and agricultural activities. The SWRCB delegates these responsibilities to various regional water quality control boards throughout California. La Quinta falls under the jurisdiction of the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 7. The Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board is responsible for overseeing

34 Cortese List: Section 65962.5(a) http://www.calepa.ca.gov/sitecleanup/corteselist/SectionA.htm

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corrective actions associated with leaks and improper disposal from underground storage tanks, such as gas station tanks, and provides assistance to County of Riverside Department of Environmental Health on underground storage leaks.

Regional Programs The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) provides programs and services related to protecting public health, safety and the environment. Within the DEH are two divisions, including the District Environmental Service, and the Environmental Protection and Oversight. The Environmental Protection and Oversight Division (EPO) is responsible for handling and regulating hazardous materials, land use, water systems, underground storage tanks, solid waste and business emergency plans. The Department of Health is responsible for managing a list of all hazardous waste generators in the County. As of December 8, 2010, La Quinta has 50 generators of hazardous waste. Generators include golf courses, gas stations, cleaners, grocery stores, car dealerships and city maintenance facility yards.

Emergency response in La Quinta involves numerous state, regional, local, and non-profit agencies whose goal is to prepare local residents for emergencies caused by natural or human incidents. The State of California passed the California Emergency Services Act in 1970 to provide the basic legal authorities for emergency management in the State. The Act created the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), which serves as the lead agency for emergency management and to organize all levels of government, businesses, community organizations and volunteers to deal with local emergencies. The County of Riverside operates the Office of Emergency Services through Riverside County Fire Department. Riverside County OES is responsible for mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities from hazards and threats occurring in Riverside County.35

Local Emergency Response The City of La Quinta’s Emergency Services Division is responsible for the community’s preparedness and response to natural and manmade disasters and emergencies. The City has prepared the Emergency Operations Plan to plan and prepare for emergencies.

La Quinta has also established Code Red, which is an ultra high speed telephone communication service that provides emergency notifications to local residents during emergencies. The City is also involved in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, which educates volunteers in the community about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills. The CERT group is organized to support the City of La Quinta during emergencies or disasters.36

Hazardous Waste Transportation

The General Plan Update Planning Area is near four major transportation routes commonly used for transporting hazardous waste. The Union Pacific Railroad and Interstate 10 are located approximately 2.5 miles north of the City boundary. The Union Pacific Railroad runs adjacent to

35 Office of Emergency Services, http://www.rvcfire.org/opencms/functions/oes/, accessed December 17, 2010. 36 “Emergency Services”, http://www.la-quinta.org/Index.aspx?page=80, accessed December 13, 2010.

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Interstate 10. Approximately 16% of goods carried by Union Pacific trains are chemical goods, which may include hazardous waste.37 Highway 111 runs through the northern portion of the Planning Area, between Washington and Jefferson Street. Finally, State Route 86 is located east of La Quinta, and provides regional access to the Imperial Valley.

Hazardous waste cleanup on transportation routes is the responsibility of various state and federal agencies. Caltrans has created the Hazardous Waste Management program to assist local districts statewide with management and cleanup of hazardous materials encountered on roads that are under Caltrans responsibility.38 The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the US Department of Transportation are responsible for regulating the shipment of hazardous waste by requiring appropriate labeling, packaging, and loading of hazardous materials. The CHP also requires motor carriers and drivers involved in transporting hazardous materials to obtain a hazardous materials transportation license.39 The United State Department of Transportation has created the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) to ensure safe transport of hazardous materials by air, rail, highway and water. 40

Existing Public and Private Airports

The General Plan Update Planning Area is located near two airports, including the Bermuda Dunes Airport and the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport. The Bermuda Dunes Airport is a small privately owned airport located north of the Planning Area, just south of Interstate 10, and west of Jefferson Street in the Bermuda Dunes community. The Bermuda Dunes Airport has one east-west runway measuring approximately 5,000 feet in length. The airport averages approximately 110 flights a day.41

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport is a public airport located just east of the Planning Area, east of Harrison Street and between Airport Boulevard on the north and Avenue 60 on the south. The airport is a general aviation airport and handles approximately 209 flights a day. There are two runways, including Runway 17-35, which is an 8,500 foot north-south runway, and Runway 12-30, which is a smaller 4,995 foot northwest-southeast runway. The majority of flights are from single engine aircraft, and there are no commercial flights at the airport. The airport houses a variety of private, corporate, and charter aircrafts that accommodate business travelers, tourists, and residents.42

37 Union Pacific 2009 Annual Report” www.up.com, accessed December 17, 2010. 38 “Caltrans Hazardous Waste Management”, http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/env/haz/, accessed December 17, 2010. 39 “Publications”, www.chp.ca.gov, accessed December 17, 2010. 40 PHMSA, http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/about, accessed December 17, 2010. 41 Bermuda Dunes Airport, http://bermudadunesairport.com/, accessed December 17, 2010. 42 “Airport Operational Statistics” http://www.rcjcra.com, accessed December 17, 2010.

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Fire Hazards

Fire hazards exist where wildland areas are adjacent to or are intermixed with urbanized areas. Many of these wildland areas include rugged topography with highly flammable vegetation. La Quinta is situated at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, however, these areas are considered low wildfire zones. The open space and wilderness areas on the western portion of the City are made up primarily of Granitic rock and sparse desert vegetation. Therefore, there is limited vegetation to burn that could cause a major wildfire. The flat urbanized areas of La Quinta are considered very low wildfire areas.

2. Project Impacts

Implementation of the General Plan Update will facilitate new growth and development across the City and the Sphere. Increased growth will not only result in an increased population susceptible to hazards and hazardous materials, but will include businesses and development projects that use, store, and/or transport hazardous material. As such, build out of the proposed General Plan has the potential to increase the number of people that are susceptible to hazards and hazardous materials in the Planning Area.

Transport of Hazardous Material Impacts

The Planning Area, as previously mentioned, is located near a network of roads, highway, and rail lines that carry hazardous materials on a daily basis. New growth and development facilitated by the General Plan Update will have the potential to increase populations living in and around these routes. Although the primary travel corridors are located north of the Planning Area, accidents and spills that occur during the transport of hazardous materials have the potential to affect the La Quinta General Plan area.

Hazardous materials are highly regulated by various government agencies, such as Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, and the US Department of Transportation, and cleanup and containment of these accidents is monitored by these same agencies. Emergency evacuation and response plans, such as Code RED, are already developed in La Quinta to provide automated notification to residents during an emergency, including hazardous waste spills.

The General Plan Update provides commercial and light industrial land use designations, particularly the Sphere, that will potentially increase the amount of hazardous materials transported throughout the area.

Cleanup of hazardous materials, and emergency evacuation response plans are already in place. As such, significant hazards to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials as a result of implementation of the General Plan Update is expected to be less than significant.

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Hazardous Material Release Impacts

Household Hazardous Waste The General Plan Update proposes approximately 8,114 additional residential units in the City Limits, and 20,699 new units within the Sphere of Influence. These new residential uses have the potential to use and store household cleaning supplies, chemicals, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and other potentially hazardous materials. The amount of hazardous materials used by these new residential uses will be typical of what is found within existing neighborhoods throughout the region. The relatively small amount of hazardous materials and chemicals found in households may pose a minimal danger to the household during a spill or accidental release, however these household spills and accidents are not expected to create significant hazards. Hazardous waste centers throughout the Coachella Valley, including the Burrtec Waste and Recycling Center in Palm Desert, and the household hazardous waste facility in Palm Springs, are available for residents to dispose of household hazardous waste.

Non-residential Hazardous Materials The General Plan Update also proposes new commercial, industrial, and institutional uses that will potentially use, store, and transport hazard materials. These uses, such as gas stations, dry cleaners, assembly plants, and mechanical shops rely on hazardous materials for everyday business. The General Plan Update proposes approximately 3,218,039 square feet of additional commercial uses in the City, 2,458,797 square feet of additional commercial in the Sphere of Influence, 611,408 square feet of new industrial/light manufacturing uses in the Sphere of Influence, and approximately 195 acres of new community facilities. New golf courses throughout the Planning Area may also use and store hazardous materials, such as pesticides and fertilizers.

All commercial, industrial and municipal generators of hazardous materials are regulated by federal, state, and local agencies regarding the proper use, disposal and cleanup of hazardous materials. The Riverside County Department of Health is responsible for managing a list of all hazardous waste generators in the County. New hazardous waste generators that locate in the Planning Area will be required to abide by County Department of Environmental Health policies, and register on the hazardous waste generator list. This list provides residents and public officials information as to where hazardous materials are located throughout La Quinta.

With the continued implementation of federal, State and local regulations and programs, these impacts will be less than significant.

Impacts from Hazardous Materials Sites

The General Plan Update Planning Area is not located on the “Cortese” list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, and managed by the California Environmental Protection Agency. The closest active hazardous materials site in the region is located on the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport located east of the Planning Area. Hazardous materials at this site are associated with the airport facilities, as well as historic Army

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and Navy uses. 43 No new development throughout the Planning Area will be located on hazardous materials sites pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. As such, there will be no impact related to new populations being located on hazardous materials sites.

Airports and Associated Hazards Impacts

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport is immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of the Sphere of Influence. As a result, aircraft using the airport may fly over the Planning Area.

The County of Riverside has prepared the Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, which provides policies for Airport Influence Areas for all airports in the County. Eastern portions of the La Quinta Planning Area are located within the Jacqueline Cochran Airport Influence Area Zone D and E of the Compatibility Plan. New development within the eastern boundary of the Sphere of Influence will need to abide by Compatibility Plan polices and land use regulations. Land uses such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes are discouraged in Airport Compatibility Land Use Zone D, and the number of residential dwelling units is regulated in this zone. Within Zone E, there are no residential or commercial restrictions, however prohibited uses include those that create hazards to flights, including tall objects, visual and electronic forms of interference, and developments that attract birds, such as landfills.44

The General Plan Update proposes non-residential land uses, including both industrial and commercial uses within Zone D, and residential uses are proposed in Zone E. These uses are allowed according to the Compatibility Plan. Therefore, hazards related to the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport will have a less than significant effect on development within the Planning Area.

The General Plan Update Planning Area is also near the Bermuda Dunes airstrip. This private airfield is located approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the northern Sphere of Influence and City limit, along Interstate 10 west of Jefferson Street. The 5,000-foot runway is oriented in an east- west direction, and approaches and takeoff patterns generally do not affect any portion of the Planning Area.45 According to the Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, the far northern portions of La Quinta, including the northern Sphere of Influence, are located in Compatibility Land Use Zone E. As previously mentioned, there are no residential or commercial restrictions in Zone E, however prohibited uses include those that create hazards to flights, including tall objects, visual and electronic forms of interference, and developments that attract birds, such as landfills.46 Proposed land uses within Zone E are compatible with the Bermuda Dunes Compatibility Plan. Therefore, implementation of the General Plan Update will have a less than significant impact within the vicinity of a private airstrip.

43 “Hazardous Waste and Substances Site List”, www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov, accessed January 14, 2011. 44 “Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan; Volume I”, prepared by Mead & Hunt, October 14, 2004. 45 Bermuda Dunes Airport, http://bermudadunesairport.com/, accessed December 17, 2010.

46 “Riverside County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan; Volume I”, prepared by Mead & Hunt, October 14, 2004.

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Impacts to Emergency Response and Evacuation Plans

The City currently contracts with Riverside County Fire Department for emergency services, and the City’s Emergency Services Division is responsible for preparing the community for natural and man made disasters and emergencies. The General Plan Update will facilitate new development, and therefore will increase population throughout the Planning Area. This increase in population has the potential to affect emergency response plans and emergency evacuation plans. Additional emergency services, including new police and fire services, will be required as development and population increases. In addition, the City’s Emergency Services Division will need to accommodate the influx of new residents to the area. Impacts to emergency response as a result of new development and population increases brought on by the General Plan Update will potentially be significant, unless mitigated. Mitigation measures provided below will reduce impacts to less than significant levels.

The City prepared the Emergency Operations Plan to prepare for emergencies, and has instituted the Code RED notification system to help notify the public, through telephone calls, about emergencies such as water contamination, evacuation notices, wildfires, bomb threats, hazardous spills, and other emergency situation. The City is also involved in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. New residents of La Quinta, as a result of new development brought on by implementation of the General Plan, may allow for more volunteers for groups such as CERT. The General Plan Update, therefore, is expected to have a less than significant effect with an adopted emergency response plans or emergency evacuation plans.

Wildfire Hazard Impacts

The La Quinta Planning Area is situated in a Valley, along the base of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains. Much of the western portion of the Planning Area, particularly within the City, such as the Cove, is located near the urban-wildland interface. The wilderness areas that surround La Quinta, as well as other areas along the base of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto, are made up of Granitic rock and sparse desert vegetation. The sparse desert vegetation along these mountainsides does not provide the explosive fuels needed for wildfires. Wildfire risk within the General Plan Update Planning Area, therefore, is less than significant.

3. Mitigation Measures

The General Plan Update provides policies and programs to reduce the severity of hazards and lower risks involved with accidental release of hazardous materials or other emergencies. The following mitigation measures will also help promote a safe environment for existing and future residents, and ensure impacts will be less than significant.

1. The City will ensure that new generators of hazardous materials will comply with all local, state, and federal regulations, as required by law.

2. The City will work with Riverside County Fire, Caltrans, CHP, and other local, state, or federal agencies to regulate the transport or hazardous materials along local roadways, state highways, and railways that run through the City or in the vicinity.

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3. The City shall incorporate and abide by the policies and regulations highlighted in the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport Master Plan and the Riverside County Airport Compatibility Land Use Plans for all new development within the Compatibility Land Use Zones of the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport and the Bermuda Dunes Airport.

4. The City shall update the Emergency Operations Plan as necessary to address and plan for synchronized response to potential emergencies including release or spills of hazardous materials.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

A. Development plans and permits for uses that use, transport, and/or store hazardous materials shall be submitted, reviewed, and regulated by proper agencies. Responsible Parties: Riverside County Fire Department, Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, City of La Quinta Planning Division, California Certified Unified Program Agencies, CHP, Caltrans

H. Hydrology

Introduction This section discusses the hydrological resources in La Quinta, and assesses impacts on these resources from future growth and development brought on by the General Plan Update. It also provides mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts to hydrology. The following section describes the existing hydrological conditions, evaluates potential impacts to hydrological resources from implementation of the proposed General Plan and sets forth mitigation to reduce impacts to levels below significance.

It should be noted that Section P: Water Resources and Quality further addresses water quality.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria For Determining Significance The following standards and criteria have been drawn from Appendix G: Environmental Checklist Form of the CEQA Guidelines. To ensure that the General Plan EIR adequately addresses potential impacts associated with hydrology as a result from the adoption and implementation development of the La Quinta General Plan, the following factors have been considered. Implementation of the General Plan would have a significant effect on hydrology if it is determined that the project will:

a.) Violate any water quality standards or wastewater discharge requirements.

b.) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner which would result in flooding on- or off-site.

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c.) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the rate of surface runoff in a manner, which would result in flooding on- or off-site.

d.) Create or contribute runoff water, which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff.

e.) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard area as mapped on a federal Flood Hazards Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map or other flood hazard delineation map.

f.) Place within a 100-year flood hazard area structures, which would impede or redirect flood flow.

g.) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving flooding, including flooding as a result of a levee or dam.

h.) Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow.

1. Existing Conditions

The distribution and circulation of water in a given area is referred to as hydrology. Within this EIR, hydrology is associated with the management of floodwaters and surface runoff, which are significantly influenced by the geography and climate of a particular locale. The local microclimate also affects the amount and intensity of precipitation and therefore plays an important role in local hydrology. Hydrological conditions in the Planning Area been analyzed in the Technical Background Study prepared for the General Plan, which is summarized herein.47

The Coachella Valley, including the Planning Area, is situated at the western end of a tectonic depression, known as the Salton Trough, which extends from Baja California to the Salton Sea at the eastern end of the Coachella Valley. In the Planning Area, the Valley floor encompasses a broad, gently sloping basin. This basin forms where canyons of the Santa Rosa Mountains emerge onto alluvial vans, the Whitewater River floodplain, and sediments of prehistoric lakes. The foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains rise in and adjacent to the western portion of the Planning Area. Most development, including that along the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains in the western portion of the City, occurs on the Valley floor.

The Planning Area and the region generally enjoy a temperate climate characterized by mild winters and warm, dry summers. However, regional conditions are influenced by proximity to the San Bernardino, San Jacinto, and Santa Rosa Mountain ranges and associated climatic zones. Flooding can occur as a result of rapid melting of mountain snowpack. Occasional intense thunderstorms can also cause flooding. Storms occur most frequently during the winter months, between November and April, although the area also experiences monsoon storms during the

47 “Technical Background Report to the Safety Element Update, City of La Quinta, California,” prepared by Earth Consultants International, July 2010.

III-102 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures summer and early fall (July through September). While generally of short duration, these storms may generate several inches of rainfall in localized areas.

Rainfall in the region varies widely. In the surrounding mountains, average rainfall is approximately 25 inches annually, whereas on the Valley floor, including the Planning Area, it averages 3 inches. Even in the absence of rain in the Valley itself, flooding can occur when runoff and associated mud and debris flows from mountain slopes. When precipitation occurs rapidly, dry soils quickly become saturated and cannot sufficiently percolate the increased runoff.

Hydrological Conditions and Flood Hazards

Floodplains are meant to carry excess waters during flooding, which is a recurring, natural event. Flooding becomes a hazard when human uses encroach into floodplains. This encroachment occurs frequently since floodplains are optimal for agriculture, access to water supplies and transportation routes. Flooding is among the most destructive and costly of all natural disasters on a global level and causes more deaths per year than any other geologic hazard. Dollar-based economic losses as a result of ever-expanding development on floodplains has steadily increased over the last several decades.

It is difficult to predict rainfall in the region, since it varies widely from year to year. A review of annual rainfall totals and peak streamflow gages on the Whitewater River demonstrates this inconsistency. Although in most years, stream discharges have remained at at or near zero cubic feet per second (cfs), by contrast, peak flows exceeded 10,000 cfs on November 22, 1965 and January 25, 1969. There is potential for substantial damage when floodwaters reach such high velocities.

In the planning area, flooding primarily occurs under two scenarios: 1) flash flooding along natural or man-made channels and 2) sheet flooding across the Valley floor. Brief but powerful storms can cause high peak volumes and velocities, which are often intensified by local conditions including both the built environment as well as naturally occurring landforms and geology. In La Quinta, mountain slopes comprised of impervious rock impede percolation. Water quickly collects and flows into channels on the Valley floor, often transporting with it large amounts of mud, sand, rock fragments and other debris.

Flows may exceed the existing natural or man-made channel capacities, or channels are impacted by debris or structures. Water overflows channel banks, creating the condition known as sheet flow or sheet flooding.

Increasing urban development results in an increase in impervious surfaces such as buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, and roadways that reduce the area available for natural percolation. Downstream areas are then subject to water that formerly would have been absorbed. Unless new development provides storm drain systems to carry increased flows, downstream flooding risks may increase. In the La Quinta Planning Area, these risks are especially prevalent for development downstream of canyons and the base of mountains, since surrounding mountain slopes generally receive greater levels of rainfall.

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Regional Stormwater Management

Analysis and design of flood control structures in the region is the responsibility of the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (RCFC). In the Planning Area, the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) manages regional facilities, which collect runoff from areas outside the City, including surrounding mountains. Planning, maintenance and construction of improvements for regional facilities fall within the broad management responsibilities with which CVWD is charged. Of primary concern to CVWD are rivers, major streams and tributaries, as well as areas of substantial sheet flow. Regional facilities in the Planning Area include the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel (Whitewater River), the La Quinta Evacuation Channel, the Bear Creek System, the East La Quinta Channel and Lake Cahuilla. These are further described below.

Local Drainage Management

The City of La Quinta is responsible for local facilities, which collect and convey runoff from local streets and properties to regional channels and basins. The recently updated City Master Drainage Plan (2009) describes these local facilities. The City has not formally adopted the Plan, but uses it to manage and document the location and condition of existing stormwater management facilities. It has also been used to obtain FEMA Letters of Map Revision for some flood areas.

Major Regional and Local Flood Control Facilities

Major flood control in the planning area are described below and are mapped on Exhibit III-10, FEMA Flood Zones and Flood Control Facilities.

Whitewater River/Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel The Whitewater River, which is called the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel in the Planning Area, is the principal drainage course in the City, extending through the Coachella Valley for 50± miles, with an average cross section of 260 feet. The Channel is generally dry but may be inundated during storm events. In most locations it is unlined. Portions are protected by unreinforced sand levees. Although the Channel generally follows the recent historical natural river path, it deviates from this course where it passes through the City between Jefferson Street and Miles Avenue. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has indicated the potential for breakout of the levee system along this reach of the river in the event of a 100-year storm. This is further discussed under Seismically Induced Flooding, below.

The aforementioned unreinforced sand levees are classified by FEMA as “Provisionally Accredited Levees,” indicating that they provide protection from the 100-year flood. CVWD has recently (2009) submitted required documentation to FEMA demonstrating the protection capabilities of these levees in compliance with requirements of Section 65.10 of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations (Title 44, Chapter 1 of the Code of Federal Regulations).

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Bear Creek System Runoff from the Santa Rosa Mountains to the west/southwest flows into the Upper Bear Creek System, which is located along the southerly and westerly margins of the Cove. The system includes the Upper Bear Creek Training Dike, Upper Bear Creek Detention Basin, Bear Creek, as well as Bear Creek Channel and four associated side inlet channels and a downstream drop structure. The dike diverts runoff from a 1.7 square mile drainage area, then directs it along Bear Creek to the detention basin, which has a storage capacity of 752 acre-feet. Bear Creek Channel receives outflows from the Basin. The Channel is approximately 2.5 miles long. It is a soil- cement lined trapezoidal channel with 100-year flood flow capacity, with four inlet channels on the western side that drain smaller canyons. From the Channel, flows continue into the Oleander Reservoir downstream, thence into the La Quinta Evacuation Channel, and ultimately discharge into the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel. The City has applied for FEMA accreditation of the training dike and is awaiting receipt of the formal accreditation letter.

Oleander Reservoir The Oleander Reservoir detention basin is located in the La Quinta Resort and Club Mountain golf course. In collects runoff from the Bear Creek system as well as flows from drainage areas north and west of it. Flows then discharge into the La Quinta Evacuation Channel. In the event of a 100-year storm, the elevation of the reservoir is projected to be 44 feet.

La Quinta Resort Channel The La Quinta Resort Channel is a man-made channel generally located along the western boundary of the City northwest of the Cove. Runoff from mountains west of this area is collected along this Channel and conveyed to the Oleander Reservoir.

East La Quinta System The East La Quinta System is located along the southeastern edge of the Cove area, comprised of the riprap lined, trapezoidal East La Quinta Channel and several detention basins. It collects drainage from hills east and south of Calles Bermudas as well as outflows from the Calle Tecolate Detention Basin located at the southwestern point of the Cove. The system channels flows to the Avenida Bermudas Detention Basin, which manages runoff and debris from surrounding drainage areas via a 60-inch reinforced concrete buried storm drain with 100-year stormwater flows capacity. Flows from the basin are conveyed to the La Quinta Evacuation Channel.

La Quinta Evacuation Channel The La Quinta Evacuation Channel flows northeasterly from the Bear Creek Channel, approximately 3.5 miles through developed areas of the City to the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel. This Channel is designed to capture and carry stormwater from various flood control systems in the City. There are two reaches, of which the lower is approximately 2.4 miles long within a 50-foot wide trapezoidal earthen channel. The upper reach is a grass-lined, irregularly shaped channel approximately 1.1 miles long.

La Quinta North Diversion Channel This facility is described in the City Master Drainage Plan as conveying “the [Standard Project Flood] SPF from off-site mountain areas northwest of the City . . . southerly to the Oleander

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Reservoir.” It is unclear whether this is an additional facility or another name for the La Quinta Resort Channel.

Lake Cahuilla Lake Cahuilla, while not a flood control facility, constitutes a major regional facility managed by CVWD and is therefore considered herein as part of the evaluation of flooding hazards. Lake Cahuilla was constructed in 1969 as a reserve storage facility for irrigation water. The lake is located on approximately 135 acres at the base of the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains, between Avenues 56 and 58, west of Jefferson Street. It terminates the Coachella Branch of the All-American irrigation canal. The Lake Cahuilla County Park, operated by Riverside County Parks and Open Space District, is located at the same site on lands leased by CVWD to the Parks District.

Lake Cahuilla has a capacity of approximately 1,500 acre-feet of water at depths of 11 to 12 feet, protected by a levee system approximately 25 feet high and 100 feet wide. It is cement lined and sealed with a six-inch layer of soil cement. Lake Cahuilla contains more than 50-acre feet of storage capacity. Normally a facility with this capacity would fall under the purview of the Division of Dam Safety. However, since Lake Cahuilla is not impounded by an artificial barrier (dam), the Division does not oversee it. Nonetheless, the structural integrity of levees protecting the lake have potential to be compromised in a severe earthquake and should therefore be monitored routinely. This is further discussed under Seismically Induced Flooding, below.

Local Structures Within the Planning Area there are a variety of local structures, including storm drains, culverts and catch basins located within private development and area streets. These facilities collect and retain stormwater and irrigation runoff, and in some cases, detain flows for eventual evaporation or infiltration. The City requires that new developments retain project-related stormwater runoff produced over the peak twenty-four-hour period of a 100-year storm, unless requirements are waived by the City Engineer.

Dikes There are several dikes located near the base of mountains in the Planning Area, which have been constructed to protect developed areas on the Valley floor from runoff from mountain slopes. In addition to the Bear Creek Training Dike, previously discussed, these include three dikes constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation: the Eastside Dike, which was constructed to protect the Coachella Branch of the All-American Canal; and Dike 2 and Dike 4, which were constructed to protect Lake Cahuilla as well as lands between Avenue 58 and Avenue 66. Dike 2 and Dike 4 total 5.2 miles, and are located south and southeast of Lake Cahuilla, respectively. Dike 4 encompasses the Guadalupe Dike and Guadalupe Training Dike. Dike 4 is accredited by FEMA; Dike 2 is not yet accredited.

CVWD has constructed approximately 165 acres of groundwater recharge basins within the Dike 4 impound area. These basins comprise an important component of groundwater replenishment programs discussed in CVWD’s Urban Water Management Plan for recharge of the groundwater basin in the eastern Coachella Valley. These facilities are also discussed in Section III-P, Water Resources/Quality.

III-106 06.26.12

City of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General Quinta La of City Exhibit FEMA Flood Hazard Zones and Flood Control Facilities Control Flood FEMAand Zones Hazard Flood III-10 La Quinta, California Quinta, La Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

National Flood Insurance Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) evaluates flood hazards. As mandated by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, FEMA administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to provide subsidized federal flood insurance to residents of communities where future floodplain development is regulated. FEMA has developed Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for many areas in the United States so as to determine the need for and availability of federal flood insurance. FIRMs assist the federal government in establishing appropriate flood insurance premiums as well as determining elevations and flood proofing measures. Through the National Flood Insurance Reform Act (1994) established grant programs for flood mitigation to states and local communities. The Community Rating System (CRS) was instituted through the 1994 legislation, and implements a system by which communities that manage and protect natural floodplain functions and erosion hazards are credited.

The City of La Quinta has held NFIP membership since 1985. Most recent La Quinta FIRM maps were updated in 2008 and include 12 community panels. Riverside County has participated in the NFIP since 1980. Property owners within the Planning Area are therefore eligible for flood insurance, and must purchase insurance prior to obtaining financing to buy, build or improve structures in a Special Flood Hazard Zone based on FEMA mapping.

FIRM maps include a variety of flood risk information based on historic, meteorological, hydrologic and hydraulic data, as well as existing development, open space and topographic conditions within an area. They also incorporate the results of engineering studies conducted by FEMA, which establish the “base flood” (100-year flood). Areas subject to the 100-year flood are considered at high risk of inundation. FEMA uses these data to delineate Special Flood Hazards Zones.

FIRM maps are subject to updates as local conditions, including development, hydrologic conditions, populations, and other variables may change frequently. All areas of flooding are not necessarily identified on these maps. FEMA has instituted a Map Modernization Program to improve the accuracy of FIRM maps. It has set a goal of creating digital maps to delineate 65% of the continental U.S. and 92% of the population.

Flood Hazard Zones in the Planning Area

Flood Hazard Zone data from corresponding FIRM Community Panels (maps) for the La Quinta planning area is described below and shown on Exhibit III-10, FEMA Flood Zones and Flood Control Facilities. As noted above, FIRMs for La Quinta were published in 2008. There have been two floodplain map revisions for the Planning Area approved by FEMA. As a result, all developed areas in the City’s corporate limits are outside the 100-year flood zone and do not require flood insurance.

Zone A: Areas of 100-year flood where no base flood elevations or depths are shown. Requires flood insurance.

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Zone AO: Areas of 100-year flood with average depths of 1 – 3 feet, generally from sheet flow on sloping terrain. Requires flood insurance. Zone X: Areas of 500-year flood with average depth of less than 1 foot or less than one square mile drainage area; and protected by levees from 100-year flood. No base flood elevations or depths are shown. Flood insurance available but not required. Zone D: Areas where flood hazards are undetermined but flooding is possible. Flood insurance available but not required.

As shown on Exhibit III-10, Zones A or AO in the Planning Area (areas within the 100-year flood plain) occur within the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel, the La Quinta Evacuation Channel, Bear Creek Channel, and detention basins.

Areas within Zone X include portions of the area north and south of the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel, the entire Cove area, several areas south and southeast of Lake Cahuilla, and a portion of the City’s eastern Sphere of Influence.

All-Weather Crossings

There are two primary crossings over the Whitewater River in La Quinta. These are at Washington Street and Jefferson Street, and provide all-weather access. Other all-weather crossings include those at Eisenhower Drive and Washington Street at the La Quinta Evacuation Channel. The City regularly inspects these crossings for scour damage during and after flooding.

The Coachella Branch of the All-American Canal extends through the City and is used for irrigation purposes, and does not serve as a flood control facility. Canal crossings occur at Avenue 50 and Avenue 52. Flows through the canal are managed by CVWD, and these crossings are expected to remain passable during storm events. Nonetheless, periodic inspections are needed to ensure the safety and reliability of these crossings.

Bridge Scour

Erosion in or along a streambed can damage bridge foundation supports, including piers and abutments. Scour can occur when upstream flows are forced downstream, eroding the streambed adjacent to bridge piers, when directional changes in flow result in erosion adjacent to abutments, or when flows are forced through a narrow opening, increasing velocities and causing erosion. This phenomenon can occur along highway or railroad bridges, and may take place either on the floodplain, in the main channel, or in both areas. Scour has resulted in substantial damage and even collapse of bridges elsewhere in the U.S. The State of California has implemented a seismic retrofit program that includes inspection of bridge underpinnings. This program is expected to help reduce potential impacts from scour to bridge foundations.

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Seismically Induced Inundation

Strong ground shaking or other effects resulting from earthquakes can undermine water retention and storage structures, such as dams, levees, and above-ground water tanks. Resulting flooding can inundate downslope or adjacent areas. The following describes conditions in the Planning Area relative to this risk.

Dam Failure The California Division of Dam Safety is charged with ensuring the structural reliability of large capacity dams in the state. California State Water Code, Division 3, contains statutes governing the safety of dams. The Division monitors structural safety of dams higher than 25 feet or with more than 50 acre-feet of storage capacity. Data from the California Office of Emergency Services indicates that there are no potential inundation risks from existing dams to the Planning Area. As previously discussed, although Lake Cahuilla has a storage capacity of more than 50- acre feet, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Division since it is not impounded by a dam.

Levee Failure and Seiching There are several major stormwater or irrigation facilities in the Planning Area that are protected by levees. These include the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel, the Coachella Canal and Lake Cahuilla. Levee systems can be damaged or fail as a result of lateral spreading, which can occur as a result of strong ground shaking. Lateral spreading is the lateral movement of underlying soils either which have become liquefied or fractured. Levee damage has occurred in the Imperial Valley and other areas as a result of liquefaction and lateral spreading. Although the potential inundation area of the canal or Lake Cahuilla has not been demonstrated through engineering analyses, should either fail completely, development directly downstream would be impacted.

Unreinforced sand levees along the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel in the Planning area are subject to damage from erosion and strong ground shaking associated with earthquakes. CVWD periodically maintains these levees. Where the Channel passes through the City between Jefferson Street and Miles Avenue, it diverges from the natural watercourse. FEMA flood insurance studies (2008) indicate the potential for a “breakout” along this reach of the river during a 100-year storm. In the event of such a breakout, a 50% loss of channel capacity could occur, as well as flooding within a portion of the City’s northeast Sphere-of-Influence and in the cities of Coachella and Indio.

Open bodies of water, such as canals, above-ground storage tanks, detention basins and swimming pools are subject to seiching, or water sloshing, during strong ground shaking from earthquakes. In the Planning Area, the water bodies listed above as well as Lake Cahuilla may be subject to seiching during earthquakes. Downslope development may be inundated when water overtops or damages containment structures as a result of seiching. The following further describes risks associated with inundation from above-ground storage tanks, of which there are several in the Planning Area.

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Inundation from Above-Ground Storage Tanks Strong ground shaking can cause structural damage to above-ground water storage tanks, especially when they are not adequately braced and baffled. Tanks can be lifted off of foundations by the movement of sloshing water, damaging the shell and roof and causing the bottom to bulge. Water may also be released when pipes leading to the tank are sheared off. In California and Mexico, the Landers and Big Bear earthquakes in 1992, the Northridge (1994), and the Sierra El Mayor-Cucupah in 2010 all resulted in damage to water tanks, with inundation of homes down gradient also occurring in some cases. As a result of the 1992 and 1994 earthquakes, design standards for steel water tanks were revised. New tank design calls for flexible joints at connection points so that movement can occur in all directions.

In addition to inundation of structures down slope, potable water supplies may be reduced, impacting availability of drinking water as well as fire flows and other emergency services needs. Water supplies may be impacted for 30 days or longer should damage occur to other critical facilities, such as aqueducts that carry imported water throughout southern California, wells, pipelines and other facilities associated with the domestic water system in the region and Planning Area. This emphasizes the need to inspect and retrofit tanks to make certain their structural reliability in the event of an earthquake, as well as to ensure that water supplies in reservoirs are kept at or near capacity.

CVWD has ten water reservoirs in the Planning Area, with a total capacity of 44.6 million gallons. These are of welded steel, constructed current seismic and American Water Works Association standards. The oldest was constructed in 1982 and the most recent in 2008. Many although not all of these are situated in elevated locations upslope of existing development.

Federal and State Regulatory Requirements

Federal Clean Water Act The Clean Water Act (CWA) was enacted in 1972, and was intended to set goals for restoring and maintaining water quality through reduction of point source pollution by industry and sewage treatment facilities. Waterbodies containing “waters of the U.S.” fall under the jurisdiction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which administers Section 404 of the CWA for these waters. In the Planning Area, development projects proposing construction activities within the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel are subject to compliance with Section 404 regulations and may be required to obtain a 404 permit. Such projects may also be subject to compliance with Section 401 of the CWA, which is administered in the Planning Area by the State Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), Colorado River Basin Region. These issues are further discussed in Section III-D, Biological Resources.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) In 1987 the CWA was amended to require states to reduce runoff into waterways. These requirements are implemented by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. NPDES mandates the adoption of stormwater management plans and programs to reduce runoff of pollutants in storm water systems into waters of the United States.

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The RWQCB implements the NPDES on a statewide basis. The Board issues NPDES permits to local jurisdictions., which are held as joint permits among multiple jurisdictions in some regions, including Riverside County. The NPDES program in which La Quinta participates also includes Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District, CVWD, Riverside County, and all Riverside County cities except for Blythe.

California Fish and Game Code When surface disturbance and/or land development has potential to alter the bed and banks of streambed areas in the Planning Area, a site-specific Streambed Alteration Agreement (SAA) may be required, pursuant to Section 1602 of the California Fish and Game code. This is also further discussed in Section III-D, Biological Resources.

2. Project Impacts

Implementation of the proposed General Plan will facilitate urban development that will result in an increase in impervious surfaces, such as roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots. Water that would have been re-absorbed into the ground will runoff to downstream areas. The City and CVWD have worked pro-actively to protect developed areas in the City from flood hazards. Currently, with the exception of some golf courses that serve dual purpose as stormwater retention areas, no developed areas in the City are within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Zone. Therefore, property owners in the City are not required to purchase flood insurance. However, localized flooding can still occur in some areas, primarily where storm drains are not adequately sized or temporary retention facilities are not present. Further, it is difficult to predict conditions that may create localized flooding. This may occur when storm flows carrying debris clog catch basins or inlets, or in the event that levees are compromised or overtopped. In such instances, residents may need to evacuate, and the City should prepare evacuation plans for this potential. Further, land use planning must consider the location of critical facilities, including schools, or facilities where hazardous materials may be used, stored or generated on-site.

Substantial areas in the City are zoned by FEMA as having potential to flood during a storm stronger than the 100-year event, or subject to shallow flooding during a 100-year storm. Therefore, property owners outside Special Flood Hazard Areas are encouraged by FEMA to purchase flood insurance. It should also be noted that flood zone mapping within areas subject to moderate flood hazard is incomplete.

Given that the region is seismically active, the Planning Area may be susceptible to flooding if water reservoirs or water retention structures or facilities should fail. The Planning area is not located downstream of any State-regulated dam, or within a dam inundation area as identified by the Division of Dam Safety. The City and Sphere are traversed by the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel, which is protected in many areas by a system of sand levees. These have potential for seismic settlement or liquefaction, especially in the event of strong ground shaking or long periods of rain. Earthquakes can also create seiche conditions within open waterbodies, such as Lake Cahuilla, canals, reservoirs and catch basins. The sloshing movement of water within containment structures can damage them, and water may overtop, potentially inundating areas down slope.

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There is potential for the regional domestic water system to be damaged and potentially unusable for a period of greater than 30 days in the event of a large-scale earthquake. Therefore, water storage tanks should be maintained as full as possible, and their integrity ensured through periodic inspections and repair as needed. Coachella Valley Water District has indicated that the water storage tanks in the area are built to current seismic standards.

The General Plan includes goals, policies and programs to ensure that future development is reviewed for potential risk of flood hazards and to require that it include on-site stormwater retention facilities. It also encourages the retention of natural watercourses wherever feasible, and/or providing for compatible open space and recreational uses within areas subject to flooding.

Flood Protection Measures for Property Owners

Future development within the Planning Area may be subject to localized flooding risks, especially where flood hazard mapping is incomplete. The General Plan includes a range of policies intended to reduce these risks, including enforcement of existing County and City ordinances that address hazards and floodplain regulations; updating hazards mapping regularly; and public education about flood hazards. Project developers and property owners are encouraged to implement site design and other means to avoid or reduce risks to personal property, including structures. These are further addressed under Mitigation, below.

3. Mitigation Measures

1. The City shall continue to encourage project developers to use engineering and design techniques that minimize the potential for the occurrence of inundation, including seismically induced inundation.

2. The City shall continue to coordinate with the Coachella Valley Water District to monitor the structural safety of the levees around Lake Cahuilla and along the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel within the City.

3. The City shall continue to coordinate with the Coachella Valley Water District to monitor the structural integrity of above-ground water tanks and reservoirs, and where needed, to implement bracing techniques to minimize potential structural damage and/or failure.

4. The City shall coordinate and cooperate with the Coachella Valley Water District in the filing of FEMA applications to amend the Flood Insurance Rate Maps, as necessary.

5. The City shall continue to coordinate with CVWD to assure the adequate inspection of bridge crossings for scour damage during and after significant flooding events, and shall coordinate with the appropriate state agencies to participate in the state’s bridge scour inventory and evaluation program.

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6. New development shall continue to be required to construct on-site retention/detention basins and other necessary stormwater management facilities that are capable of managing 100-year stormwater flows.

7. New development immediately adjacent to regional flood control facilities shall continue to have the option of discharging 100-year stormwater flows directly into the stormwater channel, subject to approval by the appropriate agencies.

8. The City shall refer developers of new projects within areas historically used for agriculture to the Coachella Valley Water District to identify the location of subsurface agricultural drains.

9. The City shall routinely update its Emergency Operations Plan to address flooding hazards within the City.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

A. The City Engineer shall report to the City Council on a regular basis to ensure that local drainage plans are updated and drainage control projects are implemented. Reports shall include information regarding the status of regional drainage facilities affecting flood control in the City. Responsible Parties: City Engineer, City Council, Coachella Valley Water District

B. Prior to issuance of building permits, the City shall review and approve project-specific hydrology and hydraulic studies, Water Quality Management Plans and mitigation plans for development proposals, and shall ensure they are adequate with regard to stormwater management, on-site retention, best management practices and pollution control. Responsible Parties: City Engineer, Project Developer

I. Land Use and Planning

Introduction and Background This section of the EIR addresses potential impacts and opportunities associated with land use and planning from implementation of the La Quinta General Plan. The existing conditions, development and land use designations within the City and Sphere of Influence are described, and the potential impacts relating to changes in the land use from the previously approved General Plan are assessed.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria for Determining Significance The following thresholds or criteria are derived from Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, and are used to determine the level of potential effect. The significant criteria are at least in part based on the recommendations set forth in Section 15064 of the CEQA Guidelines. For analysis purposes build out of the La Quinta General Plan would have a significant effect on land use and planning if it is determined that the project will:

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a) Physically divide an established community;

b) Conflict with any applicable land use plan, policy, or regulation of an agency with jurisdiction over the project (including, but not limited to the general plan, specific plan, local coastal program, or zoning ordinance) adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect; or

c) Conflict with any applicable habitat conservation plan or natural community conservation plan.

1. Existing Conditions

The City of La Quinta was first established as a rural and predominantly agricultural community. Today, the City of La Quinta consists of an urban core with residential, resort, and commercial development surrounded by hillside open space that offers recreational opportunities and land preservation. Lands within city limits have mostly been developed with a few undeveloped infill lots located throughout the urban area. The Sphere of Influence, east of the city limits contains undeveloped lands that represent the greatest growth and land conversion potential.

The existing land uses in the Planning Area are governed by the 2002 Comprehensive General Plan, which includes La Quinta City limits, as currently amended, two Sphere of Influence areas, one north and one east of the City limits, and two Planning Areas, both of which are east of the City limits beyond the Sphere of Influence. Planning Area 1 is west of Jackson Street and Planning area 2 is to the east.

Surrounding Land Use The City of La Quinta is located in the central portion of the Coachella Valley within the southern region of Riverside County. The Coachella Valley contains several cities and a few unincorporated communities of Riverside County. The Coachella Valley is located in between the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountain Ranges on the west and the Little San Bernardino Mountains on the East.

There are a number of jurisdictions surrounding the City of La Quinta including Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, Indio. North of La Quinta are the cities of Indio and Coachella, and Riverside County. The cities of Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City and Palm Springs are up- Valley from La Quinta and consist of similar land use designations, while the communities of Thermal and Mecca are located down-Valley and tend to include land uses associated with agricultural production and light industry as well as residential land uses. Although the overall region can be described as rural, with large swaths of open desert, the established communities within the Coachella Valley constitute an urbanized area that include a range of residential, commercial, industrial, public facilities and open space land uses. Lands immediately east of the City are within unincorporated Riverside County and include the City’s Sphere of Influence and Planning Areas 1 and 2. For the most part, these lands are largely vacant, undeveloped and sparsely populated.

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Land uses east and south of the City Boundary and Planning Areas are designated for agricultural purposes, residential uses, and open space and are within Riverside County. These include Native American Tribal lands.

Lands to the west and south of the City Boundary are also within unincorporated Riverside County and include mountain slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains that are designated for open space preservation as public lands.

Existing City Limits Land Use Residential development in the City of La Quinta is consistent with residential development patterns observed throughout the Coachella Valley. La Quinta consists primarily of low density and resort residential development with scattered medium and high-density development occurring in certain areas of the City. Residential development represents approximately 40% of the City land uses with low density residential accounting for 76%, medium density 17% and high density residential making up only 1% of the total designated land use for residential. Low- density residential land uses range from 0 to 4 dwelling unit per gross acre. Medium and high- density land uses range from 0 to 20 dwelling units per gross acre.

Commercial land uses are established throughout the City and account for approximately 6% of the designated land uses. Commercial land uses generally occur at the intersection of two major travel corridors. Highway 111, which transects the northern portion of the City, represents a dense commercial corridor. The community center contains an established Village Commercial area, which is located just north of the Cove neighborhood. The Tourist Commercial land use designation serves to provide retail services in conjunction with the major tourist attractions such as golf, dining, and resort facilities.

The City’s Open Space land use designation largely consists of golf course development in the urban core and land use preservation in the surrounding hillsides. The City has integrated public and private open space areas, including parks and recreational facilities. Recreational open spaces include golf courses, open space associated with the Whitewater River and the La Quinta Channel, and recreational trails and opportunities associated with the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains.

The Whitewater River, an ephemeral stream that serves as the primary drainage corridor for the Coachella Valley, runs generally west to east through the northern portion of the City. The La Quinta Channel is another major drainage feature that conveys runoff flows from the mountains surrounding the cove area from the southwest portion of the City diagonally through the central portion of the City in an easterly direction, where it connect with the Whitewater River in the northeast portion of the City. Various golf courses are developed in conjunction with these ephemeral waterways.

Institutional development and public facilities, such as schools, libraries, fire and police stations are characterized as major community facilities and are located throughout the City of La Quinta. The City’s Civic Center complex is centrally located on Calle Tampico and contains government and community facilities, the senior center, a library, and park land. The Civic Center and associated facilities are situated in close proximity to the downtown Village Commercial area.

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Table III-16 Existing Land Use Designations within City Limits 2002 General Plan Designations Developed Undeveloped Total VLDR Very Low Density up to 2 du/ac 261 198.2 459.2 LDR Low Density up to 4 du/ac 3,202.5 3,096.9 6,299.4 MDR Medium Density up to 8 du/ac 1,063.9 324.2 1,388.1 MHDR Medium-High Density up to 12 du/ac 14.5 69 83.4 HDR High Density up to 16 du/ac 0.6 86.7 87.3 Total Residential Acreage 4,542.4 3,775.0 8,317.5 M/RC Mixed Commercial 87.9 309 397 CC Community Commercial 24.2 93.7 117.9 NC Neighborhood Commercial 61.8 50.8 112.5 CP Commercial Park 0.0 64 64 O Office 0.0 39.9 39.9 TC Tourist Commercial 206.2 145.3 351.5 VC Village Commercial 64.4 68.8 133.2 Total Commercial Acreage 444.5 771.5 1,216.0 I Industrial 0.0 0.0 0.0 MC Major Community Facilities 178.3 13.1 191.3 P Park Facilities 601.3 128 729.3 OS Open Space 1,246.2 4,258.7 5,505.00 G Golf Course Open Space 3,125.3 986.7 4,111.90 W Watercourse/Flood Control 468.9 132.8 601.7 Total Other Acreage 5,619.90 5,519.3 11,139.2 Total Acreage 10,606.7 10,065.8 20,672.6

The general land use pattern described above reflects 2002 General Plan designations based on current land use development throughout the City. The existing land uses within the City’s Sphere of Influence are described below.

Existing Land Uses in the Sphere of Influence The City of La Quinta has included adjacent lands to the north and east of the existing City boundary as part of the Sphere of Influence. North and east of the existing City boundary are small areas within the Sphere of Influence that currently contain vacant lands and limited existing residential development, all land uses in these areas are currently designated as low density residential. The larger Sphere of Influence located south of Avenue 52 also consists of vacant parcels and limited residential development, and is designated as low density residential with scattered medium density residential, open space golf course development, and a small area designated for commercial land use.

The City has studied the land use pattern in the Sphere, and has considered several potential annexation proposals in the past. These proposals included analyses relating to the availability and cost of the provision of services in the Sphere. These analyses found that in the eastern Sphere in particular, lands have been encumbered by the County as collateral for a regional bond issue. As a result, there will be no property tax generation to the City from these lands for a number of years. The fiscal analysis concluded that the annexation of property in the Sphere

III-117 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures would have a negative fiscal impact on the City. At the time of the analysis, a per unit mitigation fee was considered, but the proposed annexations did not proceed, and the mitigation program was not implemented. The costs associated with annexation to the City, however, still exists, and will remain an issue as annexation proposals occur in the future.

Table III-17 2002 Land Use Designations within Sphere of Influence

2002 General Plan Land Use Designations Developed Undeveloped Total VLDR Very Low Density up to 2 du/ac 0.0 0.0 0.0 LDR Low Density up to 4 du/ac 549.5 286.5 836 MDR Medium Density up to 8 du/ac 171.7 66.2 237.9 MHDR Medium-High Density up to 12 du/ac 0.0 0.0 0.0 HDR High Density up to 16 du/ac 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total Residential Acreage 721.3 352.7 1,073.90 M/RC Mixed Commercial 4.5 0.0 4.5 CC Community Commercial 0.0 0.0 0.0 NC Neighborhood Commercial 0.0 0.0 0.0 CP Commercial Park 0.0 0.0 0.0 O Office 0.0 0.0 0.0 TC Tourist Commercial 0.0 0.0 0.0 VC Village Commercial 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total Commercial Acreage 4.5 0.0 4.5 I Industrial 0.0 0.0 0.0 MC Major Community Facilities 2 0.0 2 P Park Facilities 0.0 0.0 0.0 OS Open Space 0.0 0.0 0.0 G Golf Course Open Space 229.8 88 317.8 W Watercourse/Flood Control 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total Other Acreage 231.8 88 319.8 Total Acreage 957.6 440.7 1,398.3

Total Existing Land Uses in the Planning Areas In addition to the Sphere of Influence, there are also two separate Planning Areas that were considered as part of City’s planning efforts under the 2002 General Plan. Planning Area 1 is located east of Monroe Street and Planning Area 2 is located east of Jackson Street. Planning Areas 1 and 2, east of the existing city boundary, are currently governed by Riverside County. The existing land uses in Planning Area 1 are comprised of vacant parcels, agricultural uses, and very low density residential. Planning Area 2 contains vacant parcels, polo fields, agricultural uses, and very low-density residential land uses. Lands within Planning Area 1 and 2 are designated for a variety of land uses including mixed/regional commercial, office, and industrial land uses. Existing land use designation for Planning Areas 1 and 2 can be seen in the following Table.

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Table III-18 2002 Land Use Designations within Planning Areas P1 P2 2002 LU Designations Developed UnDev. Total Developed UnDev Total VLDR up to 2 du/ac 0.0 0.0 0.0 64.4 0.0 64.4 LDR up to 4 du/ac 2,447.20 551.2 2,998.4 5,213.6 846.8 6,060.3 MDR up to 8 du/ac 58.2 62.7 120.8 358.8 100.5 459.3 MHDR up to 12 du/ac 259.7 78.9 338.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 HDR up to 16 du/ac 0.0 0.0 0.0 93.7 71.4 165.1 Total Residential Acreage 2,765.0 692.7 3,457.8 5,730.4 1,018.70 6,749.1 M/RC Mixed Commercial 0.0 0.0 0.0 69.3 14.3 83.6 CC Community Commercial 7.2 2.9 10 219.7 33.1 252.8 NC Nhhd Commercial 47.2 2.5 49.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 CP Commercial Park 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 O Office 0.0 0.0 0.0 43.7 0.0 43.7 TC Tourist Commercial 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 VC Village Commercial 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total Commercial Acreage 54.4 5.3 59.7 332.7 47.3 380.1 I Industrial 0.0 0.0 0.0 319.7 60.6 380.3 MC Facilities 29 0.0 29 0.0 36.7 36.7 P Park Facilities 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 OS Open Space 0.0 44.5 44.5 496.2 149.4 645.6 G Golf Course OS 198.8 59.8 258.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 W Water/Flood Control 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total Other Acreage 227.8 104.3 332.1 815.9 246.6 1,062.5 Total Acreage 3,047.3 802.3 3,849.5 6,879.0 1,312.70 8,191.7

Summary of Existing Land Uses The 2002 General Plan contains a total of 34,112 acres within City limits, the Sphere of Influence and Planning Areas 1 and 2. Land use designations include a variety of residential, commercial, open space, and public facility development. Overall, approximately 75% of the designated land uses are developed and 25% remain undeveloped.

The following table shows the developed and undeveloped acreage for each land use type and the total acreage assigned through the entire Planning Area.

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Table III-19 Existing Land Use Summary 2002 General Plan Land Use Designations Developed Undeveloped Grand Total VLDR Very Low Density up to 2 du/ac 325.4 198.2 523.6 LDR Low Density up to 4 du/ac 11,412.8 4,781.4 16,194.1 MDR Medium Density up to 8 du/ac 1,652.6 553.6 2,206.10 MHDR Medium-High Density up to 12 du/ac 274.2 147.9 422 HDR High Density up to 16 du/ac 94.3 158.1 252.4 Total Residential Acreage 13,759.1 5,839.1 19,598.2 M/RC Mixed Commercial 161.7 323.3 485 CC Community Commercial 251.1 129.7 380.7 NC Neighborhood Commercial 109.0 53.3 162.2 CP Commercial Park 0.0 64.0 64 O Office 43.7 39.9 83.6 TC Tourist Commercial 206.2 145.3 351.5 VC Village Commercial 64.4 68.8 133.2 Total Commercial Acreage 836.1 824.1 1,660.2 I Industrial 319.7 60.6 380.3 MC Major Community Facilities 209.3 49.8 259 P Park Facilities 601.3 128.0 729.3 OS Open Space 1,742.4 4,452.6 6,195.1 G Golf Course Open Space 3,553.9 1,134.5 4,688.3 W Watercourse/Flood Control 468.9 132.8 601.7 Total Other Acreage 6,895.4 5,958.2 12,853.6 Total Acreage 21,490.6 12,621.5 34,112.0

Regional Land Use Planning The Coachella Valley Association of Government (CVAG) is the Valley-wide planning authority and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is the regional planning authority for the City of La Quinta. The SCAG Regional Comprehensive Plan48 was adopted in 2008 and proposed policies, goals and programs that are intended to address regional issues such as transportation, housing, air quality, water resources. Land use planning can be effective in addressing these concerns by proving continuity and interconnectivity through a region, gaining efficiencies through mixed use, and preserving open space and water course resources.

2. Project Impacts

Although several land use changes are proposed under the General Plan Update, the Preferred Alternative does not significantly change the overall development pattern for the La Quinta Planning Area. Planning Areas outside of City limits have been reduced to the Sphere of Influence and no longer call out separate Planning Areas 1 and 2, which were part of the 2002 General Plan. Under the proposed General Plan Update similar land use designations have been consolidated to simplify land use descriptions.

Some land use designations under the 2002 General Plan have been grouped together and consolidated into a single land use designation under the proposed update. For example, Very

48 “Final 2008 Regional Comprehensive Plan,” prepared by the Southern California Association of Governments, 2008.

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Low and Low Density Residential land use designations have been combined under the Low Density land use designation as set forth under the proposed land use plan. Similarly, the Medium Density, Medium-High Density, and High Density Residential land uses under the 2002 General Plan have been consolidated under the new land use designation, Medium/High Density Residential. Several of the commercial and retail land use designations that were individually defined under the 2002 General Plan are reclassified into one of the three new commercial land use designations: General Commercial; Tourist Commercial; and Village Commercial.

Proposed Land Uses within City Limits

The following describes the proposed land use designation set forth under the General Plan Update for those lands within the City limits of La Quinta. The calculations of dwelling units and square footage were based on the following assumptions:

For residential development, all lands are assumed to develop at 75% of the maximum density allowed in that designation. For commercial and industrial development, all lands are assumed to develop with 22% building coverage, which is representative of single-story commercial development in the City, and assumes surface parking and landscaping requirements consistent with current standards.

The proposed General Plan includes 7,255.7 acres of residentially designated lands within the City limits, and includes two land use designations for residential; Low Density Residential (LDR) and Medium/High Density Residential (M/HDR). The General Plan Update has the potential to result in a total of 25,585 LDR units and 6,017 M/HDR units in the City limits, which would be an increase of 8,114 residential units, compared to the existing residential development within City limits. The Low Density Residential Land Use Designation allows for 0 to 4 single-family residential units per acre and applies to existing and vacant lots, subdivisions, country club communities, and the clustering of condominiums or town homes with common area amenities. LDR also allows for equestrian uses on lots of 1/2 acre or larger. The M/HDR Land Use designation allows for 0 to 16 attached or detached dwelling units on smaller lots, and provides for multi-family units including condominiums, town homes and apartments.

Commercial land use designations have been grouped into one of the following categories: General Commercial; Tourist Commercial; or Village Commercial. The total commercial acreage under the General Plan Update within City limits is 1,005.1 and consists of 669.3 acres that have been developed and 335.8 acres that are currently vacant. These acreages correspond to 6,414,036 square feet of existing commercial development and the potential for the development of an additional 3,218,039 square feet at build out. Thus, the total commercial square footage in the City limits at build out will be 9,632,074 square feet.

The Major Community Facilities land use designation, including schools, government buildings, and service facilities, makes up 446.5 acres consisting of 252.7 developed acres and 193.8 acres that are currently vacant. The land use designations assigned for Open Space include Natural and Recreational lands. Natural Open Space consists of 6,933.3 acres that are intended to be preserved in perpetuity, including lands within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains

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National Monument, as well as public lands within the Santa Rosa Wilderness. It should be mentioned that Natural Open Space lands within the said Monument and Wilderness areas are federally managed public lands that are owned and regulated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Open Space Recreation consists of 4,392.2 acres that have been developed and an additional 867 acres that are currently vacant but are designated for development as recreational open space, golf courses, and watercourses. Street rights-of-way consist of 1,764.6 acres that have been developed as roadways and an additional 191.1 acres that have been designated but remain undeveloped. As proposed, there are no designated industrial lands within the City limits. All lands proposed for the industrial and light manufacturing land use designations are located within the Sphere of Influence.

The Table below shows the proposed land use designations within City limits, along with the developed and vacant acreages and existing and proposed unit development associated with residential and commercial land uses. Based on the total developed and undeveloped acreage, land within the city limits is approximately 64 percent built out.

Table III-20 Proposed Land Use for City Limits

Developed Vacant Total Existing Potential Total Land Use Designation (Acres) (Acres) (Acres) Units Units Units Low Density Residential 4,006.0 1,583.7 5,589.7 20,834 4,751 25,585 High Density Residential 1,292.4 373.6 1,666.0 2,655 3,362 6,017 Subtotal 5,298.4 1,957.3 7,255.7 23,489 8,114 31,603 Existing SF Potential SF Total SF General Commercial 385.6 184.0 569.6 3,695,282 1,763,309 5,458,591 Tourist Commercial 206.6 138.9 345.5 1,979,889 1,331,106 3,310,996 Village Commercial 77.1 12.9 90.0 738,865 123,623 862,488 Subtotal 669.3 335.8 1,005.1 6,414,036 3,218,039 9,632,074 MC Facilities 252.7 193.8 446.5 Open Space Natural 2,171.6 4,761.7 6,933.3 Open Space Recreation 4,392.2 867.0 5,259.2 Street Rights-of-Way 1,764.6 191.1 1,955.7 Grand Total 14,548.8 8,306.7 22,855.5

Land use designation as set forth under the General Plan Update are consistent with the existing development pattern and land uses. Land use designation and development as proposed are not expected to divide residents, businesses, or existing communities. Rather, the General Plan Update assures continuity between existing development and planned future development by refining land use designations and assigning land uses to vacant lands within City limits. The proposed Land Use plan is also consistent with the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP), which sets forth the regional conservation planning efforts including the City of La Quinta. Therefore, as proposed the General Plan Update would not conflict with the established CVMSHCP and impacts to habitat conservation planning or natural community conservation planning will be less than significant.

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Sphere of Influence

The Sphere of Influence represents the greatest potential for land use conversion, since only 11.5% of the area is currently developed. Under the General Plan Update, the Sphere of Influence is primarily designated for low-density residential development, consisting of 7,378 acres out of the total 8,101.4-acre area. The remaining land use designations include 24.6 acres of medium/high density residential, 285.1 acres of general commercial, 63.8 acres of industrial/light manufacturing, 29.8 acres of major community facilities, and 319.9 acres for street rights-of-way. Although the proposed land use development pattern is consistent with the 2002 General Plan, implementation would result in a substantial change to the existing character within the Sphere of Influence.

The Sphere of Influence is currently governed by Riverside County and lands within the Sphere, east of the current City limit, have been conceptualized for development as the Vista Santa Rosa (VSR) Community. A VSR Land Use Concept Plan was approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on June 17, 2008. The approved Land Use Plan with acreage and potential unit build out is shown in Table III-21 below. The following acreage is limited to that portion of the Vista Santa Rosa Land Use Plan that overlaps with the Sphere of Influence as defined by the proposed General Plan Update for La Quinta.

Table III-21 Riverside County Vista Santa Rosa Land Use

Existing Potential Total Vista Santa Rosa Developed Vacant Total Units Units Units Estate Residential 136.9 1,160.3 1,297.2 580 580 Very Low Residential 37.9 887.5 925.4 888 888 Low Residential 235.8 4,003.5 4,239.3 786 6,005 6,791 Medium Residential 73.4 128.5 201.9 482 482 Medium High Residential 2.5 249.6 252.1 1,498 1,498 High Residential 23.6 135.5 159.0 1,422 1,422 Residential Subtotal 510.0 6,565.0 7,075.0 786 10,875 11,661 Existing Potential SF SF Total SF Commercial Retail 1.2 16.6 17.8 11,928 158,985 170,913 Commercial Tourist 0.0 119.9 119.9 - 1,149,107 1,149,107 Business Park 34.0 247.3 281.3 325,445 2,370,213 2,695,658 Community Center 7.5 112.2 119.6 71,617 1,074,468 1,146,086 Retail Subtotal 42.7 495.9 538.6 408,991 4,752,774 5,161,764 Public Facilities 28.2 40.2 68.4 Street Rights of Way 313.9 0.0 313.9 TOTAL 894.7 7,101.1 7,995.9 Includes that portion of the VSR Land Use Concept Plan that falls within the proposed Sphere of Influence for La Quinta.

Under the Riverside County land use designations, the Sphere of Influence area north of city limits is designated as medium density residential with 2 to 5 units per acres. Currently, this area

III-123 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures only contains an estimated 15 homes. Under the Riverside County Land Use designation, this area could build out to contain as many as 285 dwelling units. The following Table shows the Riverside County Land Use designation for the area north of City limits within the Sphere of Influence.

Table III-22 Riverside County Land Use North Sphere

Existing Potential Total Land Use Developed Vacant Total Units Units Units Medium Density Residential 27.5 71.9 99.4 15 270 285 Street Rights of Way 6.2 0.0 6.2 0 0 0 Total 33.7 71.9 105.6 15 270 285

The following summarizes the build out potential under the current Riverside County land use designations. Table III-23 Riverside County Land Use Sphere Summary

Existing Potential Total Units/ Land Use Developed Vacant Total Units/Sq.Ft. Units/ Sq.Ft Sq.Ft Residential 537.5 6,636.9 7,174.4 801 11,145 11,946 Retail 42.7 495.9 538.6 408,991 4,752,774 5,161,764 Public Facilities 28.2 40.2 68.4 Street Rights of Way 313.9 - 313.9 Total 928.4 7,173.0 8,101.5

The La Quinta General Plan Update proposes different land use intensities compared to those set forth under the Riverside County Land Use Plan. As proposed, the La Quinta General Plan Update would result in the development of up to 21,270 residential units, 2.7 million square feet of commercial, and 611,408 square feet of industrial land uses within the Sphere of Influence east of City limits.

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Table III-24 General Plan Update East Sphere Land Use Existing Potential Total Vista Santa Rosa Developed Vacant Total Units Units Units Low Residential 524.0 6,754.84 7,278.82 786 20,265 21,051 Medium High Residential 0.24 24.36 24.6 0.0 219 219 Residential SubTotal 524.2 6,779.2 7,303.4 786 20,484 21,270 Sq. Ft. Sq. Ft. Total SF

General Commercial 28.57 256.57 285.14 273,792 2,458,762 2,732,554 Industrial/Lgt. Mfg. 0.0 63.8 63.8 0.0 611,408 611,408 MC Facilities 28.17 1.61 29.78 Street Rights-of-Way 313.74 313.7 TOTAL 894.7 7,101.2 7,995.9 Includes that portion of the Sphere that is located east of the city limits.

As proposed under the General Plan Update, that portion of the Sphere of Influence north of the existing city limits would be developed as low density residential at 0 to 4 units to the acre, which is slightly less (53 units) than that proposed under the County’s land use designation.

Table III-25 General Plan Update Land Use North Sphere Existing Potential Total Land Use Developed Vacant Total Units Units Units Low Density Residential 27.5 71.9 99.4 15 216 231 Street Right of Way 6.19 0 6.19 Total 33.7 71.9 105.6 15 216 231

Only 928 acres of the Sphere of Influence are currently developed, with the remaining acreage, 89% of the total area, vacant. The following table details the existing and proposed land use designations within the Sphere of Influence, including the total number of existing dwelling units and square footage associated with commercial and industrial land uses as set forth under the General Plan Update. The proposed land use plan has the potential to result in the development of 21,281 low-density residential units, 219 high-density residential units, 2,732,557 square feet of commercial, and 611,408 square feet of industrial and light manufacturing within the entire Sphere of Influence.

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Table III-26 General Plan Update Land Use Sphere Summary

Existing Potential Total Land Use Developed Vacant Total Units/Sq.Ft. Units/ Sq.Ft Units/ Sq.Ft LD Residential 551.5 6,826.6 7,378.1 801 20,480 21,281 M/HD Residential 0.2 24.4 24.6 -- 219 219 General Commercial 28.6 256.6 285.1 273,760 2,458,797 2,732,557 Industrial/Lgt. Mfg. 0.0 63.8 63.8 0.0 611,408 611,408 MC Facilities 28.17 1.61 29.8 Street Right of Way 319.93 0.0 319.9 Total 928.4 7,173.0 8,101.4

Development within the Sphere of Influence is not expected to occur in the short term. There is limited infrastructure currently available, and existing economic conditions do not favor expansion at this time. However, in the mid- to long-term, the land use designations assigned under the General Plan Update are expected to be developed accordingly.

The proposed land use plan represents an intensification of land use development compared to the existing conditions. When compared to build out conditions as defined by the Riverside County Land Use designations, the proposed General Plan Update would result in a substantial increase in the development of residential land uses, but a decrease in commercial development. Land uses proposed under the General Plan Update will not divide or displace existing homes or businesses. However, the proposed land use designations would result in an intensification of residential densities, which has the potential to substantially change the existing character within the Sphere of Influence. The character of the existing development within the Sphere of Influence has the potential to be transformed from a low-density rural community to an urban low-density residential community through intensification of land use development.

The General Plan includes policies and programs designed to provide buffers between residential and commercial or industrial land uses, and the City’s Municipal Code includes standards that require any non-residential development to appropriately protect surrounding residential development. Nonetheless, the intensification of the proposed residential densities within the Sphere of Influence as proposed under the General Plan Update have to potential to conflict with the County’s existing Vista Santa Rosa Land Use Concept Plan, which may result in significant impacts to residential land uses. However, the General Plan Update requires the preparation of a master plan prior to annexation of this area, which reflects the character of Vista Santa Rosa. The development of this master plan is required to involve the community, and reflect the neighborhood’s character.

As described above, the City has found that annexation of lands in the eastern Sphere would have a negative fiscal impact on the City. Although past annexation requests were not completed, conditions have not changed since this analysis was undertaken, and it would be expected that annexation proposals in the future would have a similarly negative fiscal impact. The General Plan includes policies that require both the preparation of fiscal impact analyses for annexation proposals, and a Development Agreement in association with annexation. The Development

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Agreement would establish the parameters for development, and would include mitigation fee payments for projects that are fiscally negative for the City. These Development Agreements would eliminate the potential fiscal impacts to the City.

The imposition of these policies on future annexation proposals will assure that potential impacts associated with land use planning are less than significant.

Summary of Impacts

Changes in land use designations as proposed in this General Plan Update do not significantly differ from the 2002 General Plan. Rather, land use designations have been re-characterized and consolidated to provide for more concise land use designation descriptions and a simplified land use map. Each land use designation as set forth in the General Plan Update is summarized below:

Low Density Residential, (LDR) (0-4 dwelling unit per gross acres): Allows for larger lot single- family residential development, subdivisions, country club communities, and the clustering of condominiums or town homes with common area amenities. Equestrian uses are allowed on lots of one acre or larger. This is the most common land use designation in the City.

Medium/High Density Residential, (M/HDR) (0-16 dwelling units per gross acres): Allows single family attached and detached units on smaller lots – particularly in the Cove. Multi-family units including condominiums, town homes and apartments with common area amenities are also appropriate in this designation.

General Commercial (GC): Allows larger community scale shopping centers on parcels 20 acres or larger in size along major arterials. Uses include a range of commercial activities, all types of retail sales, grocery stores, automobile sales, professional and medical office buildings, restaurants and similar activities. Also allows for Mixed Use developments, with combined residential and retail uses.

Tourist Commercial (TC): Allows resort hotels, tourist commercial retail developments, recreational uses, restaurants and timeshare or fractional ownership. Allows for resort mixed use activities, such as single and multi-family residential units, golf courses, timeshares, RV parks and resorts with the preparation of a Specific Plan.

Village Commercial (VC): Allows retail, professional office, hotels and pedestrian oriented retail development. This designation also allows for Mixed Use developments, which combine, residential and retail uses in one project.

Industrial/Light Manufacturing (I/LM): Allows for non-polluting industrial uses operating entirely in an enclosed structure. Outdoor storage is permitted if fully screened from view. Uses include clean manufacturing, airport related uses, warehousing/distribution, and mini-storage.

Major Community Facilities: This designation is applied to existing or planned municipal, educational, non-profit and/or religious organizations, or public service facilities. Typical land

III-127 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures uses within this designation include civic centers and other governmental offices, public parking lots, fire stations, schools, facilities for non-profit organizations and utility substations.

Open Space-Natural (OS-N): This designation includes natural open space areas including the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains and hillsides, nature preserves and conservation areas, trails, drainage channels, and watercourses/flood control.

Open Space-Recreational (OS-R): This designation includes regional and local parks, golf courses, golf-course resorts, and watercourses/flood control.

General Plan Planning Area As proposed, the General Plan Update includes 30,957 acres consisting of 22,856 and 8,101 acres within City limits and the Sphere of Influence, respectively. Implementation of the proposed General Plan has the potential to result in a total of 53,103 dwelling units on 14,658 acres of residentially designated lands, 12,364,631 square feet of commercial development on 1,290 acres, and 611,408 square feet of industrial/light manufacturing on 63.8 acres. Implementation of the General Plan has the potential to result in the designation of 476.3 acres of Major Community Facilities, 6,933.3 acres of Open Space Natural, 5,259.2 acres of Open Space Recreation, and 2,275.6 acres of street rights-of-way. The following table summarizes land uses proposed within the entire La Quinta General Plan Update planning area.

Table III-27 Proposed Land Use Summary

Developed Vacant Total Existing Potential Total Land Use Designation (Acres) (Acres) (Acres) Units Units Units Low Density Residential 4,557.5 8,410.3 12,967.8 21,635 25,231 46,866 High Density Residential 1,292.6 398.0 1,690.6 2,655 3,582 6,236 Subtotal 5,850.1 8,808.3 14,658.4 24,290 28,813 53,103 Existing SF Potential SF Total SF General Commercial 414.2 440.6 854.7 3,969,042 4,222,106 8,191,148 Tourist Commercial 206.6 138.9 345.5 1,979,889 1,331,106 3,310,996 Village Commercial 77.1 12.9 90.0 738,865 123,623 862,488 Subtotal 697.9 592.4 1,290.2 6,687,796 5,676,835 12,364,631 Industrial/Lgt. Mfg. 0.0 63.8 63.8 -- 611,408 611,408 MC Facilities 280.9 195.4 476.3 Open Space - Natural 2,171.6 4,761.7 6,933.3 Open Space - Recreation 4,392.2 867.0 5,259.2 Street Rights-of-Way 2,084.5 191.1 2,275.6 Grand Total 15,477.2 15,479.7 30,956.9

The General Plan Update is consistent with land use development strategies outlined in SCAG’s Regional Comprehensive Plan. Both Plans share a common goal of achieving sustainable community(s) through thoughtful and integrated land use planning. The proposed General Plan Update will not result in significant impacts to land use planning relative to the Regional Plan. See the circulation element for a discussion of impacts relative to the SCAG’s Regional Transportation Plan.

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The entire planning area is located within the Coachella Valley MSHCP fee area, with conservation lands limited to the Santa Rosa Mountains, which are designated as Open Space Natural. As proposed, the General Plan Update for the La Quinta Planning Area does not conflict with the established CVMSHCP and impacts to habitat conservation planning or natural community conservation planning will be less than significant.

City Limits The proposed land use designations within the City of La Quinta incorporated City limits will not significantly affect the pattern of development that has already occurred. The overall character is not expected to be significantly impacted by the proposed land use plan, nor is the plan, or development facilitated by the plan, expected to divide an established community. The proposed land use plan is consistent with existing land use designations and the current development pattern and does not represent a significant change to land uses within the city limits.

Sphere of Influence As described above, the Sphere of Influence land use designations, as set forth under the General Plan Update, represent the greatest divergence from existing development and land use designations proposed under the Riverside County General Plan, with the exception of the Sphere north of City limits. That portion of the Sphere of Influence located north of City limits is consistent with land use development intensities set forth under the Riverside County General Plan. Therefore, residential land use development in the Sphere north of the City limits as set forth under the General Plan Update would not result in significant impacts to established land use designations.

Land use designations within that portion of the Sphere of Influence that overlaps with the County’s Vista Santa Rosa Land Use Concept Plan have the potential to result in significant impacts. The General Plan update proposes residential land use intensities that could nearly double the residential development proposed under the Vista Santa Rosa Land Use Concept. This is primarily due to the difference in allowable densities for low density residential, which is set at a maximum of 2 units to the acre under the VSR Plan and allows for up to 4 units to the acre under the proposed General Plan Update. Therefore, as proposed residential land use designations conflict with established residential land use designations set forth in the VSR Land Use Concept Plan, implementation of the General Plan Update has the potential to result in significant impacts to future development in the eastern Sphere of Influence. In order to reduce potential impacts, a master plan that is reflective of the community’s wants and needs will be developed for the Sphere of Influence.

As proposed under the General Plan Update, non-residential land use designations are more or less consistent with the land use designations set forth under the VSR Land Use Concept Plan. Land use designations for commercial development are somewhat reduced compared to the VSR Plan. Although the General Plan Update proposes an industrial and light manufacturing land use designation, the permitted activities are not expected to conflict with the land uses set forth under the VSR Plan. Commercial/retail and industrial land uses proposed under the General Plan Update are consistent with the County’s VSR Land Use concept, and no significant land use impacts have been identified.

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3. Mitigation Measures

Potential land use incompatibilities are addressed through policies and programs set forth in the General Plan and through adherence to the Municipal Code. A Master Plan of Development specific for the Sphere of Influence will be prepared that is reflective of the community’s wants and needs. Development within the Sphere of Influence shall be subject to policies set forth in the said Master Plan. The General Plan also includes policies and programs designed to assure that adequate infrastructure is available prior to development occurring in an area; and that land use compatibility and neighborhood character be preserved throughout the City and Sphere. These policies and programs reduce the potential impacts associated with land use and planning to less than significant levels. No mitigation is required.

J. Mineral Resources

Introduction The City of La Quinta is located within a region known as the Palm Springs Production- Consumption Region, containing significant mineral deposits, including sand and gravel, which are important mineral resources for the state’s economy. The California Division of Mines and Geology has classified areas throughout the Palm Springs Production-Consumption Region with different mineral resource zones based on the value of resources available within the ground. This discussion assesses impacts on mineral resources from future growth and development brought on by the La Quinta 2035 General Plan Update. It also provides mitigation measures to reduce impacts on mineral resources.

a) Results in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state.

b) Results in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan.

1. Existing Conditions

The State of California has recognized the importance of mineral resources for construction materials and other economic purposes. Mining and extraction of mineral resources continues to be threatened by urbanization and development in areas where important mineral resources exist. The California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA) addresses the loss of regionally significant mineral deposits to urban development.

III-130 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

The Act requires the Department of Conservation to create Production-Consumption Regions, which are areas where significant mineral resources of statewide importance and regional significance are produced and consumed, and a classification system that identifies lands where significant mineral resource deposits are located. As mentioned earlier, La Quinta is located in the Palm Springs Production-Consumption Region. The Palm Springs Production-Consumption Region covers approximately 631 square miles of the Coachella Valley from near Cabazon to Thermal49. Small portions of southern La Quinta, including lands south of Avenue 60, are located outside the Palm Springs Production-Consumption Region, and therefore are not located within a Mineral Resource Zone. Lands within the Production-Consumption Region are classified according to the presence of valuable mineral resources. La Quinta has two Mineral Resource Zones, MRZ-1 and MRZ-3. These zones are shown in Exhibit III-11. The definition of each Mineral Resource Zone is provided below50:

MRZ-1: Areas where adequate information indicates that no significant mineral deposits are present, or where it is judged that little likelihood exists for their presence.

MRZ-3: Areas containing known or inferred mineral deposits, the significance of which cannot be evaluated from available data.

As seen in Exhibit III-11, the majority of incorporated regions of La Quinta and the Sphere of Influence are located in MRZ-1, or areas where adequate information indicates that no significant mineral deposits are present, or are likely to occur. Most areas within MRZ-1, particularly within incorporated La Quinta, are urbanized and developed. Land designated MRZ- 1 in the Sphere of Influence is mostly agricultural land with small residential subdivisions and large lot residential.

Lands that fall under the MRZ-3 designation make up a small portion of La Quinta. These areas are known to contain mineral deposits, however there have been no evaluations on the significance of these resources. The MRZ-3 designation is found only in the southwestern portion of the City, including along the Coral Reef Mountains and within the Cove area. Aside from the development that already exists within the Cove, the majority of land in the MRZ-3 zone is designated as open space. The Open Space designation does not permit mining activities, and requires the land to be preserved in its natural state. A small portion of MRZ-3, located just north of Avenue 60 and west of Madison, is undeveloped vacant land designated for low density residential development.

49 “Update of Mineral Land Classification for Portland Cement Concrete-Grade Aggregate in the Palm Springs Production-Consumption Region, prepared by California Department of Conservation, California Geologic Survey, 2007. 50 “Update of Mineral Land Classification for Portland Cement Concrete-Grade Aggregate in the Palm Springs Production-Consumption Region; Special Report 198,” prepared by California Department of Conservation, California Geologic Survey, 2007.

III-131 M ineral ResourceMineral Zone MapZone

Palm Springs Production - Production Springs Palm Consumption Boundary RegionBoundary

M R Z - 1: MRZ1: information - geologic Whereavailable Areas indicates that little likelihood exists for the the for exists likelihood little that indicates presences of significant mineral resources mineral significant of presences M RZ - 3: MRZ3: mineral- inferred known or containing Areas occurrences of undetermined mineral mineral undetermined of occurrences resources significances resources

California Geological Survey, Geological California Outside Palm Springs Production Springs Palm Outside 2007. #198, Report Special Consumption RegionConsumption

O utside Palm Springs Production Springs Palm Outside Consumption RegionConsumption

Map Revised by: Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc.

Map Revised on: January 6, 2011 09.08.11

C ity of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General Quinta La of City Exhibit M ineral Resource Zone MapZone Resource Mineral III-11 La Quinta, California Quinta, La Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

2. Project Impacts

The General Plan Update will facilitate new development or redevelopment throughout the City and Sphere. There are no mining operations occurring within the Planning Area.

The majority of lands within the City are developed. Remaining vacant lands include infill lots, and scattered parcels located primarily within the Cove area and southwestern portion of the City Limits, which may develop according to land use designations proposed by the General Plan Update.51 As shown in Exhibit III-11, these areas are located in MRZ-3, or areas containing known or inferred mineral deposits, the significance of which cannot be evaluated from available data. These areas, however, are surrounded by urban development, and mineral extraction activities are incompatible and unlikely on remaining vacant parcels.

According to Special Report 198, prepared by the California Department of Conservation, other areas within the Coachella Valley, including the Whitewater area, and within the foothills north and east of Indio, are more suitable for mineral extraction.52 The General Plan Update maintains similar land use designations to those previously in effect on City parcels in the MRZ-3 area, and does not provide land use designations conducive for mineral extraction. Therefore, implementation of the General Plan Update does not result in loss of availability of locally- important mineral resource considered valuable to the region and state, and does not result in the loss of availability of mineral resource recovery sites delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan. Impacts on mineral resources caused by the implementation of the General Plan Update will be less than significant.

The General Plan Update will also facilitate new development within the Sphere of Influence. As mentioned earlier, however, the majority of these lands are located within the MRZ-1 designation, or an area determined as having no significant mineral resource deposits. Currently, this area is used for agricultural purposes, and there are no known mineral leases, claims, or prospects located in the Sphere of Influence or vicinity. Therefore, implementation of the General Plan Update does not result in loss of availability of locally-important mineral resource considered valuable to the region and state, and does not result in the loss of availability of mineral resource recovery sites delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan. Implementation of the General Plan Update, therefore, will have no impact on mineral resources within the Sphere of Influence.

3. Mitigation Measures

None Required.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

None Required.

51 http://maps.google.com, accessed July 5, 2011. 52 “Update of Mineral Land Classification for Portland Cement Concrete-Grade Aggregate in the Palm Springs Production-Consumption Region; Special Report 198,” prepared by California Department of Conservation, California Geologic Survey, 2007.

III-133 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

K. Noise

Introduction This section describes existing noise conditions in the General Plan Update Planning Area and analyzes the potential impacts caused by various potential noise sources associated with build out of the proposed General Plan Update. An acoustical analysis has been prepared in conjunction with the General Plan Update, and the results have been used to prepare the analysis of noise impacts presented in this section of the EIR.53 The study is included in its entirety in Appendix F of this EIR. This section also sets forth noise-related mitigation measures, which will effectively reduce construction, operational and traffic noise impacts to acceptable levels.

Thresholds of Significance/Criteria For Determining Significance The following thresholds or criteria are derived from Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, which are used to determine the level of potential effect. Build out of the proposed General Plan will have a significant effect on noise levels if the project results in the following:

a.) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies;

b.) Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive ground-borne vibration or ground- borne noise levels;

c.) Causes a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project;

d.) Causes a substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project;

e.) If located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, a project would expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels;

f.) If located within the vicinity of a private airstrip, a project would expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels.

1. Existing Conditions

Noise is defined as “unwanted sound.” Unwanted sound includes noise that interferes with normal activities, inflicts physical harm on individuals, or causes adverse effect on health. Excessive noise or prolonged exposure to noise can contribute to temporary and permanent impairments, such as hearing loss, fatigue, stress, sleep deprivation, anxiety and annoyance. Although noise has been accepted as a necessary by-product of urban development, it can become an environmental hazard. A variety of components of the urban environment generate

53 “City of La Quinta General Plan Update Noise Element Technical Report,” prepared by Urban Crossroads, Inc., June 3, 2011.

III-134 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

noise; these include construction equipment and activities, motor vehicles, air traffic, mechanical equipment, household appliances, and other sources.

Existing Noise

The General Plan Update Planning Area enjoys a moderately quiet noise environment, especially within residential areas. Primary sources of noise throughout the City are caused primarily by motor vehicle traffic on City streets, particularly major roadways. This includes general operation of cars, trucks, and bus lines. Other noise generators in the City include those associated with commercial uses and construction noise. These noises include loading dock operations, trucks entering and leaving commercial centers, and mechanical equipment, such as fans, motors, and compressors.

Construction noise is generally short-term and is generated by construction equipment, including trucks, bulldozers, graders, concrete mixers, pile drivers and other mobile and fixed construction equipment.

This General Plan Update does not propose any construction, and as such, does not evaluate specific construction related noises. Rather, this report gives a planning level analysis of future impacts that will occur within the City and Sphere of Influence.

The Sphere of Influence consists primarily of agricultural and vacant lands, and vehicular traffic is much less than that found throughout the City. As such, the Sphere of Influence enjoys a quiet noise environment. Within the eastern Sphere, noise is generated from periodic flights and general aviation operations at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport. The airport is located adjacent to the eastern boundary of the eastern Sphere, east of Harrison Street. Within the northern Sphere of Influence, noise is also generated from occasional overhead flights associated with the Bermuda Dunes Airport, which is located two miles northeast.

The effects of noise increase dramatically when incompatible land uses are located next to one another. Potential land use incompatibilities include residential areas or other sensitive receptors located near industrial and commercial uses.

Noise Fundamentals The most common unit of measure for noise levels is the A-weighted decibel (dBA) scale. The A-weighted decibel scale reflects only those frequencies that are audible to the human ear. The decibel scale threshold ranges from 0 dBA to 140 dBA, with higher decibels considered painful to the human ear. The most common sounds range is between 40 dBA (very quiet) and 100 dBA (very loud). For example, a normal conversation at three feet is approximately 60 dBA, whereas a loud jet engine flying overhead generates 110 dBA.

The logarithmic nature of the decibel means that a doubling of sound energy of a noise source results in an increase in the decibel rating of only 3 dBA. For example, the doubling of traffic noise on a busy street will generally only increase sound levels by 3 dBA. Changes of 3 dBA are barely perceptible to the human ear. In order for a human ear to perceive a sound as being twice as loud, the sound must increase by nearly 10 dBA. In community settings, changes in noise

III-135 Terra Nova/La Quinta General Plan EIR Section III. Existing Environmental Concerns, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures

levels occur over a period of years. Changes of 5 dBA are readily perceptible and changes of 10 dBA are considered twice as loud.

The City of La Quinta measures intensity of sound and bases noise standards on the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL). CNEL is the average intensity of a sound over a 24-hour period. It accounts for the decrease in background noise levels that occur during evening and nighttime hours, as well as people’s increased sensitivity to noise during these times. Penalty factors are added for sounds that occur in evening and nighttime hours.

Noise sources can result from “line sources” or “point sources”. Line sources include linear sources of noise, such as a freeway or busy street. Point sources are generally stationary, such as HVAC units or air compressors. Noise transmission is affected by a variety of factors, such as temperature, wind speed and direction, as well as the type of ground surface. Soft ground surfaces tend to reduce sound levels better than hard surfaces. This reduction of sound intensity caused by surfaces, walls, vegetation or other material is called attenuation. A drop off rate of 4.5 dBA per doubling distance is typical across soft ground. In comparison, hard ground, such as concrete, stone, and hard packed earth reduce sound by 3.0 dBA per doubling distance. Effective noise barriers, such as walls or berms, can help reduce noise levels by 10 to 15 decibels. These types of barriers can provide relief from traffic noise. Vegetation, on the other hand, is less effective for reducing noise levels. For a noise barrier to work, walls need to be high enough and long enough to block the view of a road.

Regulatory Setting

The State has established guidelines for appropriate noise level ranges for a variety of land uses within a community. The range of allowable exterior noise levels for various land uses is shown in Exhibit III-12. This matrix is used to ensure noise compatibility of proposed land uses and helps predict the future noise environment. Where sensitive land uses will be exposed to noise levels of 60 dBA CNEL or higher, an acoustical study may be required. In residential areas in California, the standard is a CNEL of 65 dBA. Mitigation measures are required where sensitive land uses will be exposed to noise levels greater than 65 dBA CNEL. Interior noise standards are provided by Chapter 12 of the California Building Code. According to the Code, interior noise levels from exterior sources shall not exceed 45 dB in any habitable room. As discussed below, the City of La Quinta uses the noise levels shown in Exhibit III-13, as a guideline to achieve long-term noise compatibility for land uses.

III-136 Source: City of La Quinta General Plan Update Noise Element Technical Report, Urban Crossroads, June 3, 2011. 3, June UrbanCrossroads, Report, Technical Element Noise Update Plan General Quinta La of City Source: 09.08.11

C ity of La Quinta General Plan EIR Plan General Quinta La of City Land Use and Noise Compatibility Noise and LandUse La Quinta, California Quinta, La III-12