Environmental Setting
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4.7 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY Because of this condition FEMA has classified several thousand acres of land along Martis Creek into a Zone A floodplain category – “Special Flood Hazard area (100-year flood)”. The size of this acreage is approximately 1,300 acres that are located mostly in Sections 19, 20, 29, and 30. This area is located up stream from Martis Creek Lake, along side State Route 267, and in an area where drainage channels of the Martis, West Martis, Middle Martis and East Martis Creeks converge. A smaller strip of land located along both sides of Martis Creek in low lying terrain is also classified as Zone A. Subsequent development under the Proposed Land Use Diagram would be located outside of the designated 100-year floodplain. The 100-year floodplain would be designated as Open Space. However, this land use map option would result in the substantial development of approximately 4,300 acres of the Plan area, which would increase impervious surfaces and would alter drainage conditions and rates. AA Existing Martis Valley General Plan Land Use Map A vast majority of the Plan area, per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via their National Flood Insurance Program, is in a Zone X designation – “Areas determined to be outside 500 year floodplain”. While most of the Plan area is dominated by terrain not prone to flooding there are low lying areas along Martis Creek that are subject to 100-year floods. Because of this condition FEMA has classified several thousand acres of land along Martis Creek into a Zone A floodplain category – “Special Flood Hazard area (100-year flood)”. The size of this acreage is approximately 1,300 acres that are located mostly in Sections 19, 20, 29, and 30. This area is located up stream from Martis Creek Lake, along side State Route 267, and in an area where drainage channels of the Martis, West Martis, Middle Martis and East Martis Creeks converge. A smaller strip of land located along both sides of Martis Creek in low lying terrain is also classified as Zone A. Subsequent development under the existing Martis Valley General Plan Land Use Map would be located outside of the designated 100-year floodplain. The 100-year floodplain would be designated as Open Space. However, this land use map option would result in the substantial development of approximately 4,900 acres of the Plan area, which would increase impervious surfaces and would alter drainage conditions and rates. AB Alternative 1 Land Use Map A vast majority of the Plan area, per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via their National Flood Insurance Program, is in a Zone X designation – “Areas determined to be outside 500 year floodplain”. While most of the Plan area is dominated by terrain not prone to flooding there are low lying areas along Martis Creek that are subject to 100-year floods. Because of this condition FEMA has classified several thousand acres of land along Martis Creek into a Zone A floodplain category – “Special Flood Hazard area (100-year flood)”. The size of this acreage is approximately 1,300 acres that are located mostly in Sections 19, 20, 29, and 30. This area is located up stream from Martis Creek Lake, along side State Route 267, and in an area where drainage channels of the Martis, West Martis, Middle Martis and East Martis Creeks converge. A smaller strip of land located along both sides of Martis Creek in low lying terrain is also classified as Zone A. Subsequent development under the Alternative 1 Land Use Map would be located outside of the designated 100-year floodplain. The 100-year floodplain would be designated as Open Space. However, this land use map option would result in the substantial development of approximately 3,700 acres of the Plan area, which would increase impervious surfaces and would alter drainage conditions and rates. Placer County Martis Valley Community Plan Update May 2002 Draft Environmental Impact Report 4.7-63 4.7 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY AC Alternative 2 Land Use Map A vast majority of the Plan area, per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) via their National Flood Insurance Program, is in a Zone X designation – “Areas determined to be outside 500 year floodplain”. While most of the Plan area is dominated by terrain not prone to flooding there are low lying areas along Martis Creek that are subject to 100-year floods. Because of this condition FEMA has classified several thousand acres of land along Martis Creek into a Zone A floodplain category – “Special Flood Hazard area (100-year flood)”. The size of this acreage is approximately 1,300 acres that are located mostly in Sections 19, 20, 29, and 30. This area is located up stream from Martis Creek Lake, along side State Route 267, and in an area where drainage channels of the Martis, West Martis, Middle Martis and East Martis Creeks converge. A smaller strip of land located along both sides of Martis Creek in low lying terrain is also classified as Zone A. Subsequent development under the Alternative 2 Land Use Map would be located outside of the designated 100-year floodplain. The 100-year floodplain would be designated as Open Space. However, this land use map option would result in the substantial development of approximately 3,500 acres of the Plan area, which would increase impervious surfaces and would alter drainage conditions and rates. Policies and Implementation Programs New developmental projects in the Plan area would be required to adhere with policies and implementation programs of the Martis Valley Community Plan that are listed below. Compliance with these Plan policies and implementation programs would mitigate drainage and flooding impacts to less than significant. Policy 6.E.2 The County shall ensure that new storm drainage systems are designed in conformance with the Placer County Flood Control and Water Conservation District's Stormwater Management Manual and the County Land Development Manual. Policy 6.E.3 The County shall continue to implement and enforce its Grading Ordinance and Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. Policy 6.E.4 The County shall continue to support the programs and policies of the watershed flood control plans developed by the Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Policy 6.E.7 The County shall require new development to adequately mitigate increases in stormwater peak flows and/or volume. Mitigation measures must take into consideration impacts on adjoining lands in the Town of Truckee and Nevada County adjacent to Placer County, and Martis Lake and its tributaries. Policy 6.E.8 The County shall encourage project designs that minimize drainage concentrations and impervious coverage and maintain, to the extent feasible, natural site drainage conditions. Policy 6.E.9 The County shall require that new development conform with the applicable programs, policies and recommendations of the Placer County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. Martis Valley Community Plan Update Placer County Draft Environmental Impact Report May 2002 4.7-64 4.7 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY Policy 6.E.10 The County shall require projects that have significant impacts on the quantity and quality of surface water runoff to allocate land as necessary for the purpose of detaining post-project flows and/or for the incorporation of mitigation measures for water quality impacts related to urban runoff. Policy 6.F.1 The County shall require that arterial roadways and expressways, residences, commercial and industrial uses and emergency facilities be protected, at a minimum, from a 100-year storm event. Policy 6.F.3 The County shall continue to work closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Resource Conservation District, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the State Department of Water Resources, and the Placer County Flood Control District, in defining existing and potential flood problem areas. Policy 6.F.4 The County shall require evaluation of potential flood hazards prior to approval of development projects. The County shall require proponents of new development to submit accurate topographic and flow characteristics information and depiction of the 100-year floodplain boundaries under fully developed, unmitigated runoff conditions. Policy 6.F.5 The County shall maintain natural conditions within the 100-year floodplain of all rivers and streams except under the following circumstances: a. Where work is required to manage and maintain the stream's drainage characteristics and where such work is done in accordance with the Placer County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, California Department of Fish and Game regulations, and Clean Water Act provisions administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; or b. When facilities for the treatment of urban runoff can be located in the floodplain, provided that there is no destruction of riparian vegetation. c. For the construction of bridges or other similar drainage crossings. d. Where recreational facilities can be safely and sensitively located. Policy 6.F.7 The County shall cooperate with the Placer County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, surrounding jurisdictions, the cities in the county, and other public agencies in planning and implementing regional flood control improvements. Policy 6.F.9 The County shall continue to implement floodplain zoning and undertake other actions required to comply with FEMA requirements, and to maintain the County's eligibility under the National Flood Insurance Program. Policy 6.F.12 The County shall ensure that new storm drainage systems are designed in conformance with the Placer County Flood Control and Water Placer County Martis Valley Community Plan Update May 2002 Draft Environmental Impact Report 4.7-65 4.7 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY Conservation District's Stormwater Management Manual and the County's Land Development Manual.