Notice of Intent to Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration County of Humboldt Recorder’S Office 825 5Th Street Fifth Floor Eureka, CA 95501
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Notice of Intent to Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration County of Humboldt Recorder’s Office 825 5th Street Fifth Floor Eureka, CA 95501 Project Title: Hog Island Oyster Company Shellfish Farm in Arcata Bay Lead Agency: Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District (HBHRCD) 601 Startare Drive Eureka, CA 95501 Lead Agency Contact: Adam Wagschal, Deputy Director Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Phone number: (707) 443-0801 Email: [email protected] Project Location: Tidelands in Arcata Bay, California (parcel 506-121-001) General Plan Land Use: Natural Resources Zoning: Natural Resources/Water. Project Description: Hog Island Oyster Company (HIOC) proposes to grow the three species of oyster that have been historically cultivated in Arcata Bay – Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), Kumamoto oysters (Crassostrea sikimea), and the native “Olympia” oysters (Ostrea lurida) – with a primary focus on Pacific oysters. HIOC’s hatchery and nursery operations are already permitted to produce these species and will provide a steady, local seed supply. HIOC will employ exclusively near-bottom culture methods, using bags or baskets on intertidal longlines (up to 27 acres), with a small amount (up to 3 acres) of “raised rack and bag” culture. The intertidal longline methods include the use of SEAPA-type culture baskets or “tipping bags.” The proposed HIOC Project would be phased in over a 5-year period, with an initial focus on those areas already classified as Conditionally Approved by the California Department of Public Health. Harvested oysters would be processed at HIOC’s hatchery facility in Samoa, California, and sold primarily within HIOC’s family of California seafood restaurants. Proposed culture areas will avoid eelgrass beds by working at higher tidal elevations ranging from +1.6 feet to +4.6 feet MLLW and incorporating a 16-foot buffer from eelgrass when installing shellfish aquaculture gear. The Initial Study/Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration will be available for the public’s review and comment beginning March 13, 2021, online at http://humboldtbay.org/ or upon request from HBHRCD at (707) 443-0801. Written comments are due to Adam Wagschal at [email protected] or 601 Startare Drive, Eureka, CA 95502 by 4:00 p.m. April 12, 2021. HBHRCD will consider adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration at a public meeting on or after April 15, 2021. Questions or comments may be directed to Adam Wagschal, [email protected]. Signature:________________________________ Date: March 8, 2021 COMMISSIONERS 1st Division Humboldt Bay Larry Doss Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District 2nd Division (707) 443-0801 Greg Dale P.O. Box 1030 3rd Division Stephen Kullmann Eureka, California 95502-1030 4th Division Richard Marks 5th Division Patrick Higgins DATE: March 9, 2021 TO: Commenting Agencies/ Interested Parties FROM: Adam Wagschal, Deputy Director SUBJECT: Initial Study and Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration Recirculation for the Hog Island Oyster Company Shellfish Farm in Arcata Bay (SCH#2021020128) The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District is recirculating the initial study and draft mitigated negative declaration for Hog Island Oyster Company’s proposed shellfish farm in Arcata Bay (Application No. 2020-03). The sole purpose of the recirculation is to revise certain language in the initial study that was inconsistent and may cause confusion regarding the extent of the applicant’s proposed eelgrass buffer. As noted in the initial study, the applicant proposes a 16- foot buffer from existing vegetated eelgrass cover documented within the project site. The District has received questions as to whether certain language in the initial study implies that the applicant proposes a 30 foot buffer. This language has been changed to make it clear that the proposed buffer is 16 feet. This is not a change in the project or proposed mitigation; rather the language has been revised to ensure that the proposed buffer is described consistently throughout the document. The changes to the initial study are shown in a redline version of the document that has been uploaded on the District’s website for public review (http://humboldtbay.org/ ). These changes have been incorporated on pgs. 7, 11, 12, 46, and 52. The District plans to respond to all comments received on either version; therefore, there may be no need to resubmit comments already provided to the District. Comments can be submitted in writing to: [email protected] or 601 Startare Drive, Eureka, CA 95501 by 4:00 p.m., April 12,2021. Thank you, Adam Wagschal, Deputy Director Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District INITIAL STUDY Prepared Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act PROJECT: Hog Island Oyster Company Shellfish Farm in Arcata Bay (Application Number 2020-03) LEAD AGENCY: Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District REVISED DRAFT March 8, 2021 Table of Contents Table of Contents i Section 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Purpose of this Document 1 1.2 Scope of this Document 1 1.3 Impact Terminology 1 1.4 General Information 2 Section 2.0 Surrounding Land Uses and Setting 4 Section 3.0 Project Description 10 3.1 Project Scope and Objectives 10 3.2 Mitigation Measures and Best Management Practices 10 3.3 Project Area 11 3.4 Proposed Species and Culture Methods 12 3.4.1 Intertidal Longline Systems 14 3.4.2 “Rack and Bag” System 17 3.4.3 Planting, Harvest, and Maintenance Activities 19 3.4.4 Vessel Use and Transit Route 19 Section 4.0 Checklist and Evaluation of Environmental Impacts 21 Section 5.0 Reference List 78 Section 6.0 List of Preparers 91 Tables Table 1. Proposed Mitigation Measures and Best Management Practices (BMPs) .............................. 11 Table 2. Proposed Gear Quantities for Intertidal Longline System Lengths and Areal Groupings . 16 Table 3. Timing of Salmonid use of Humboldt Bay ................................................................................. 31 Figures Figure 1: HIOC Project Vicinity Map ........................................................................................................... 5 Figure 2: Upland Habitat and Developed Areas adjacent to the HIOC Project ..................................... 6 Figure 3: Eelgrass Current and Historical Presence in the HIOC Project Area ...................................... 8 Figure 4: Project Map and Vicinity ............................................................................................................. 13 Figure 5: Intertidal Longline Systems with SEAPA‐style Baskets at Low Tide ................................... 14 Figure 6: Tipping Bags with Floats at High Tide ...................................................................................... 15 Figure 7: Longline Schematic with Anchor System and Pole Spacing between Anchors .................. 16 HIOC Shellfish Farm in Arcata Bay i Humboldt Bay Harbor District Revised Draft Initial Study March 2021 Figure 8: Raised Rack and Bag Culture Schematic ................................................................................... 17 Figure 9: Aerial View of Rack and Bag ...................................................................................................... 18 Figure 10: Proposed Transit Route for HIOC Project............................................................................... 20 Figure 11. Green Sturgeon Use of Humboldt Bay .................................................................................... 30 Appendices Appendix A. Marine Debris Management Plan Appendix B. Protocols for Inadvertent Archaeological Discoveries for Ground Disturbing Project Permits, Leases, and Franchises Appendix C. Sampling Plan for Hog Island Oyster Company (HIOC) and Humboldt Bay Oyster Company (HBOC) Appendix D. Cumulative Impacts Analysis HIOC Shellfish Farm in Arcata Bay ii Humboldt Bay Harbor District Revised Draft Initial Study March 2021 Section 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of this Document This initial study (IS) assesses the environmental effects of developing a new shellfish culture operation by Hog Island Oyster Company (HIOC) in Arcata Bay, California. The name of the project is HIOC Shellfish Farm in Arcata Bay (the HIOC Project). This IS was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and in compliance with the State CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, California Administrative Code, Section 1400 et seq.). The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District (District) is the state lead agency under CEQA. The District must evaluate the environmental impacts of the HIOC Project when considering whether to approve the HIOC Project. The IS serves as an informational document to be used in planning and decision‐making, and does not recommend approval or denial of the HIOC Project. 1.2 Scope of this Document This document evaluates the HIOC Project’s potential impacts related to the following topics: aesthetics mineral resources agricultural and forestry resources noise air quality population and housing biological resources public services cultural resources recreation energy transportation geology and soils tribal cultural resources greenhouse gas emissions utilities and service systems hazards and hazardous materials wildfire hydrology and water quality mandatory findings of significance land use and planning 1.3 Impact Terminology The following general terms are used in this IS to describe the significance of