Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration Marin Country Club Water Facility Project
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INITIAL STUDY / MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION MARIN COUNTRY CLUB WATER FACILITY PROJECT SEPTEMBER 2010 Lead Agency: City of Novato Community Development Department 75 Rowland Way, #200 Novato, CA 94945-5054 Prepared By: Analytical Environmental Services 1801 7th Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 447-3479 www.analyticalcorp.com INITIAL STUDY / MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION MARIN COUNTRY CLUB WATER FACILITY PROJECT SEPTEMBER 2010 Lead Agency: City of Novato Community Development Department 75 Rowland Way, #200 Novato, CA 94945-5054 Prepared By: Analytical Environmental Services 1801 7th Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 447-3479 www.analyticalcorp.com TABLE OF CONTENTS Marin Country Club – Water Facility Project CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY ..................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 CEQA Lead Agency ..................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Purpose of the Proposed Project ................................................................. 1-2 1.4 Project Setting and Zoning ........................................................................... 1-2 1.5 Summary ...................................................................................................... 1-2 1.6 References. .................................................................................................. 1-2 CHAPTER 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Project Location ........................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Description of Proposed Project .................................................................. 2-1 2.3 California Environmental Quality Act Baseline Description ........................ 2-11 2.4 Required Permits and Approvals ............................................................... 2-16 2.5 Public Involvement ..................................................................................... 2-17 2.6 References ................................................................................................. 2-17 CHAPTER 3 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST ........................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Aesthetics ................................................................................................. 3.1-1 3.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources ......................................................... 3.2-1 3.3 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................. 3.3-1 3.4 Biological Resources ................................................................................ 3.4-1 3.5 Cultural Resources ................................................................................... 3.5-1 3.6 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................... 3.6-1 3.7 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................................................ 3.7-1 3.8 Hydrology and Water Quality .................................................................... 3.8-1 3.9 Land Use and Planning ............................................................................. 3.9-1 3.10 Mineral Resources .................................................................................. 3.10-1 3.11 Noise ....................................................................................................... 3.11-1 3.12 Population and Housing .......................................................................... 3.12-1 3.13 Public Services ....................................................................................... 3.13-1 3.14 Recreation ............................................................................................... 3.14-1 3.15 Transportation and Traffic ....................................................................... 3.15-1 3.16 Utilities and Service Systems .................................................................. 3.16-1 3.17 Mandatory Findings of Significance ........................................................ 3.17-1 CHAPTER 4 MITIGATION MEASURES .................................................................................. 4-1 Analytical Environmental Services i Marin Country Club – Water Facility Project September 2010 Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration City of Novato Table of Contents TABLES Table 2-1 Water Right Applications 31655 and 31656 ....................................................... 2-6 Table 2-2 Reservoir and Point of Diverison Details ............................................................ 2-6 Table 2-3 Proposed Place of Use ....................................................................................... 2-7 Table 2-4 Storage Reservoirs ............................................................................................. 2-8 Table 2-5 CEQA Baseline and Project Components ........................................................ 2-16 Table 3.3-1 SFBAAB Federal and State Attainment Status ............................................... 3.3-2 Table 3.3-2 Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards ........................................... 3.3-2 Table 3.4-1 Potentially Occuring Special Status Species ................................................. 3.4-11 Table 3.8-1 Points of Interest ............................................................................................. 3.8-6 Table 3.8-2 Water Availability ............................................................................................. 3.8-8 Table 3.8-3 February Median Flow ..................................................................................... 3.8-8 FIGURES Figure 2-1 Regional Location Map ....................................................................................... 2-2 Figure 2-2 Site and Vicinity .................................................................................................. 2-3 Figure 2-3 Proposed Reservoir 6 Grading Plan ................................................................... 2-4 Figure 2-4 Project Components ........................................................................................... 2-5 Figure 2-5 1993 Aerial ...................................................................................................... 2-12 Figure 2-6 1993 Aerial and Project Components ............................................................... 2-13 Figure 2-7 Site Photographs .............................................................................................. 2-14 Figure 2-8 Site Photographs .............................................................................................. 2-15 Figure 3.4-1 Habitat Map ..................................................................................................... 3.4-6 Figure 3.4-2 Site Photographs ............................................................................................. 3.4-7 Figure 3.8-1 Water Availability Analysis POI Map ............................................................... 3.8-7 Analytical Environmental Services ii Marin Country Club – Water Facility Project September 2010 Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Chapter 1 Introduction and Summary 1.1 INTRODUCTION The Marin Country Club (MCC) Water Facility Project (proposed project) is located within the City of Novato, approximately 20 miles north of the City of San Francisco, California. The proposed project is subject to permitting from the City of Novato and consists of constructing an onstream pond having a surface area of about 1.2 acres with a capacity of four acre-feet (af). The pond would be designed to impound water behind an earthen and concrete flashboard dam embankment having an outlet pipe for purposes of dewatering the pond. Material for the dam embankment would be obtained from excavation within the high water line of the pond. The pond would be located on the golf course at the MCC on the Arroyo San Jose watercourse, tributary to Novato Creek thence San Pablo Bay. The proposed pond is located within a chain of six existing ponds on the golf course. The proposed pond is a component of the project named in Water Right Applications 31655 and 31656, which is also reviewed in this document. The Water Right Applications seek the approval of diversion to storage of up to 85 af per year for storage in a total of seven onstream ponds (six existing and one proposed) all which are located on the Arroyo San Jose. Water would be used on 95 acres at the MCC for irrigation and industrial purposes. The MCC is currently using the surface runoff water stored in the six existing ponds, groundwater extracted from three wells located in the golf course, and imported water purchased from the North Marin Water District to meet its irrigation and industrial demands. The MCC is a private golf course located just west of Highway 101. The MCC has been in operation for over 50 years and currently offers a variety of services, including an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse, fitness center, pool complex, and tennis courts. The land for the MCC was purchased in 1956. Construction of the golf course and ponds started in late 1956 and the MCC opened on September 20, 1958 (Marin Country Club, 2009). 1.2 CEQA LEAD AGENCY The City of Novato was incorporated on January 20, 1960, and provides municipal services