Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek State Park, D.L
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Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek State Park, D.L. Bliss State Park, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point State Park, Ward Creek Unit, and Washoe Meadows State Park Draft Initial Study/Environmental Assessment January 2007 Prepared by California Department of Parks and Recreation Bureau of Reclamation Sierra District, Resources Office Mid-Pacific Region Tahoe City, California Sacramento, California This page left blank intentionally Page 2 of 90 Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks & Ward Creek Unit California Department of Parks and Recreation United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation General Information about this Document What’s in this Document: The California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) have prepared this Initial Study/Environmental Assessment to examine the potential environmental impacts of the alternatives being considered for the proposed Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement project at Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks and the Ward Creek Unit in Placer and El Dorado Counties, California. The document describes why the project is being proposed, alternatives for the project, the existing environment that could be affected by the project, the potential impacts from each of the alternatives, and measures proposed to avoid, minimize and/or mitigate potential adverse effects on the environment. What you should do: Please read this Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA). Additional copies of this document as well as the technical studies are available for review at: • Northern Service Center California Department of Parks and Recreation One Capitol Mall – Suite 410 Sacramento, CA 95814 • Sierra District Office California Department of Parks and Recreation 7360 West Lake Blvd. Tahoma, CA 96142 • Placer County Library Tahoe City Branch 740 North Lake Blvd. Tahoe City, CA 96145 • El Dorado County Library South Lake Tahoe Branch 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 • California State Parks Internet Website www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=981 For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document can be made available in large print or on compact disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please contact the Environmental Coordinator listed below. Page 3 of 90 Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks & Ward Creek Unit California Department of Parks and Recreation United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation We welcome your comments. Questions or comments regarding this Initial Study/Environmental Assessment should be submitted to: Tamara Sasaki California Department of Parks & Recreation Sierra District Resource Office P.O. Box 16, Tahoe City, CA 96145-0016 E-mail Address: [email protected] Include “Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement” on the subject line Fax Number: 530/581-5849 Submissions must be in writing and postmarked, or received by fax or e-mail, no later than February 7, 2007. The originals of any faxed document must be received by regular mail within ten (10) working days following the deadline for comments, along with proof of successful fax transmission. What happens next: After comments are received from the public and reviewing agencies, DPR and USBR may: (1) give environmental approval to the proposed project, (2) undertake additional environmental studies, or (3) abandon the project. If the project is given environmental approval and funding is appropriated, DPR could design and construct all or part of the project. Page 4 of 90 Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks & Ward Creek Unit California Department of Parks and Recreation United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation List of Acronyms BMPs Best Management Practices CalTrans California Department of Transportation CARB California Air Resources Board CCC Civilian Conservation Corps CDC California Department of Conservation CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CNDDB California Natural Diversity Database CNPS California Native Plant Society CTC California Tahoe Conservancy DFG California Department of Fish and Game DPR California Department of Parks and Recreation EA/IS Environmental Assessment/Initial Study EIR Environmental Impact Report ºF Degrees Fahrenheit FPPA Farmlands Protection Policy Act FONSI/ND Finding of no significant impact/negative declaration GLO Government Land Office NAHC Native American Heritage Commission NEPA National Environmental Protection Act NHPA National Historic Preservation Act RWQCB Regional Water Quality Control Board SEZ Stream Environment Zone SMP Smoke Management Plan SP State Park TRPA Tahoe Regional Planning Agency TYC Tahoe Yellow Cress USBR United States Bureau of Reclamation USDI United States Department of the Interior USFS United States Forest Service USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service Page 5 of 90 Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks & Ward Creek Unit California Department of Parks and Recreation United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Initial Study with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration/ Environmental Assessment Submitted Pursuant to: (State) Division 13, California Public Resources Code (Federal) 42 USC 4332(2) (C) THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Department of Parks and Recreation ________________________ ___ Date of Approval Theodore L. Jackson, Jr. Deputy Director Park Operations Division California Department of Parks and Recreation Page 6 of 90 Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks & Ward Creek Unit California Department of Parks and Recreation United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation This page left blank intentionally Page 7 of 90 Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks & Ward Creek Unit California Department of Parks and Recreation United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation PROPOSED MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Pursuant to: Division 13, California Public Resources Code Project Description The California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) proposes to restore and enhance approximately 200 acres of riparian forests by removing encroaching conifers and remove approximately 0.5 mile of unnecessary roads, skid trails, and way trails that are sediment sources in the riparian corridors within 844 identified acres at Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks and Ward Creek Unit. If future funding becomes available, DPR would treat additional acres within the 844 acres identified. Work throughout the park units would include: • Removal of encroaching conifers in up to 200 acres in the identified riparian corridors using manual removal with hand crews and/or heavy equipment over snow. • DPR registered professional forester would determine thinning prescription on a site by site basis based on: riparian forest health, ability to remove felled trees and associated tree debris, and in consultation with regulatory agencies and DPR cultural and natural resources staff. • Removal of encroaching conifers in the riparian corridor manually by hand crews. • Removal of encroaching conifers in the riparian corridor may be completed using heavy equipment over snow at three parks: Sugar Pine Point State Park up to 41 acres D.L. Bliss State Park up to 4.5 acres Washoe Meadows State Park up to 28 acres • Removal of felled trees and debris out of riparian corridor for pile burning, chipping, or disposal depending on vehicle accessibility. DPR would write a smoke management plan (SMP) that includes identifying smoke sensitive areas (i.e., residences in project vicinity, schools, etc.) and submit it to the appropriate air quality regulator, El Dorado Air Quality Management District or the Placer Air Pollution Control District, for approval. The air quality regulator would limit the timing, location, amount and extent of burning to minimize possible adverse effects to sensitive receptors. • Pile burning would be done in designated areas agreed upon by regulatory agencies and DPR natural and cultural resources staff. • Obliteration and rehabilitation of approximately 0.5 miles of skid road, skid trail, and way trails in the riparian corridor. See Appendix C for trail removal and obliteration specifications. This may include hand crews and/or heavy equipment. Page 8 of 90 Riparian Hardwoods Restoration and Enhancement Burton Creek, D.L. Bliss, Ed Z’berg-Sugar Pine Point, and Washoe Meadows State Parks & Ward Creek Unit California Department of Parks and Recreation United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Determination This proposed Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is included to give notice to interested agencies and the public that DPR intends to adopt a MND for this project. This does not mean that DPR’s decision regarding the project is final. This MND is subject to modification based on comments received by interested agencies and the public.