Tacna Water Planning Project Environmental Report
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TACNA WATER PLANNING PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Prepared for: United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development- Arizona State Office 230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 206 Phoenix, AZ 85003 Prepared by: Stantec Consulting Services Inc. 6995 Sierra Center Parkway Reno, Nevada 89511 January 21, 2020 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................1 1.1 Purpose and Need for the Proposal ................................................................ 1 1.2 Project Background...........................................................................................1 1.3 Project Location and Description .................................................................... 1 1.3.1 Water Supply and Treatment ................................................................ 2 1.3.2 Water Storage ........................................................................................2 1.3.3 Replacement Distribution System ......................................................... 3 1.4 Project Alternatives............................................................................................3 1.4.1 Alternative 1 ...........................................................................................3 1.4.2 Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative)..................................................... 4 1.4.3 Alternative 3 ...........................................................................................4 1.4.4 Alternative 4 ...........................................................................................4 1.4.5 Alternative 5 ...........................................................................................4 1.4.6 Alternative 6 (No Action) ....................................................................... 4 2.0 Project Environment ......................................................................................................6 2.1 Land Ownership/Land Use ................................................................................ 6 2.2 Historic Preservation ..........................................................................................7 2.3 Threatened and Endangered Species/Biological Resources ........................ 7 2.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................................9 2.5 Floodplains .........................................................................................................9 2.6 Coastal Areas, Zone and Barriers ................................................................... 10 2.7 Important Farmland ........................................................................................ 10 2.8 Environmental Risk Management .................................................................. 10 2.9 Other Resources .............................................................................................. 10 2.9.1 Water Resources .................................................................................. 10 2.9.2 Air Quality ............................................................................................. 11 2.9.3 Noise ...................................................................................................... 11 2.9.4 Visual Impacts ...................................................................................... 11 2.9.5 Transportation ....................................................................................... 11 3.0 Summary of Environmental Measures ....................................................................... 12 3.1 Biological Resources ........................................................................................ 12 3.2 Construction Activities ..................................................................................... 12 4.0 References ...................................................................................................................13 List of Tables Table 1 Proposed Water Storage .......................................................................................... 2 Table 2 Land Ownership of Potential Sites ............................................................................ 6 List of Figures Figure 1 Vicinity Map Figure 2 Site Plan Tacna Water Planning Project Environmental Report January 21, 2020 Yuma County i Figure 3 Land Ownership Figure 4 National Wetland Inventory Map Figure 5 FEMA Floodplains Figure 6 Prime Farmlands List of Appendices Appendix A EJCREEN Maps Appendix B Class III Cultural Resources Inventory Report Summary Form Appendix C Biological Survey Report Acronyms and Abbreviations ADEQ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality AGFD Arizona Game and Fish Department BMPs Best Management Practices E East ER Environmental Report FPPA Farmland Protection Policy Act gpm gallons per minute NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service NWI National Wetland Inventory R Range RD Rural Development Stantec Stantec Consulting Services Inc. T Township Tacna Water Yuma County Improvement District 2017-02 U.S. United States USDA United States Department of Agriculture USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service W West WMIDD Wellton Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District Tacna Water Planning Project Environmental Report January 21, 2020 Yuma County ii 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose and Need for the Proposal An application for federal funding by the United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development (RD) is being submitted by Yuma County on behalf of the Yuma County Improvement District 2017-02 (Tacna Water). The purpose of the funding application is to replace the current water distribution system to the town of Tacna, Arizona, which is an USDA eligible area for water systems funding. The town of Tacna currently has a water distribution system that is more than 39 years old and has drinking water deemed as non-drinkable due to high levels of arsenic. Funding is needed to provide safe drinking water to the residents of Tacna. The proposed Project will upgrade the current water distribution system in order to address leaks and erosion. Additionally, plans are in place to address the existing poor water quality, as the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) placed an Administrative Order on the water system deeming the water non-drinkable due to high arsenic levels in 2012. The current water system is operating under an administrative order from the ADEQ and if the current water distribution system is not addressed the community will continue to be out of compliance with the ADEQ. This report has been prepared to evaluate the appropriate level of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation for the USDA RD funding assistance to construct and operate a clean and reliable drinking water system for Tacna Water. 1.2 Project Background The existing water system in Tacna has been in place since 1980. It is owned by the Tacna Water Management Company. The system includes a groundwater well, piping, pumps and water storage. Some upgrading of the system has been completed since 1980 including installation of a water intake on the Wellton-Mohawk canal, installation of water treatment in 2007, and repainting of the water storage tank. The existing water system serving the community of Tacna includes approximately 10,000 linear feet of polyvinyl chloride and transit pipe, an above ground welded steel water storage tank, a well, a booster pump and an intake on the Wellton-Mohawk canal. The system includes 175 service connections and typically provides water to 135 to 160 customers (approximately 310 people). The water system includes no fire hydrants and currently does not provide fire protection. No water treatment is currently provided. The piping and the tank are reported to be in poor conditions with evidence of leaks (Stantec, 2019a). 1.3 Project Location and Description The proposed Project is located in the town of Tacna in Yuma County, Arizona, approximately 42 miles from Yuma, Arizona (Figure 1). The Project can be accessed east or west along Interstate 8. The proposed replacement water system would include infrastructure located within portions of Township (T) 8 South (S), Range (R) 17 West (W), Section 25 and T8S, R16W, Section 30, Gila and Salt River Baseline and Meridian. Tacna Water Planning Project Environmental Report January 21, 2020 Yuma County 1 The proposed Tacna replacement water system (Project) would consist of three components and are discussed in detail below: 1) water supply and treatment; 2) water storage; and 3) a replacement water distribution system. Six potential sites have been identified to house the new water treatment and storage facilities (Figure 2). 1.3.1 Water Supply and Treatment The town of Tacna has two options available for water supply including either a groundwater well or a surface water intake from the Wellton Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District (WMIDD) canal. The water supply and treatment system would be designed to be capable of meeting the peak hour demand and maximum day demand respectively, at a minimum. A back-up water supply would also be constructed to allow for times when the primary water source may be unavailable. If Yuma County chooses a groundwater well, the proposed well would be located adjacent to the proposed treatment and storage site depending on the site selected, similar to the current configuration. The proposed well would replace