BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK Approved by the State Park and Recreation Commission May 2013 Big Basin Redwoods SP Final General Plan / EIR This document represents the Final General Plan and Environmental Impact Report approved by the State Park and Recreation Commission on May 17, 2013. References made to the Findings of Overriding Considerations are added (in italics) in the Executive Summary and throughout Chapter 5 in this document. The Department also prepared an Addendum to the Final EIR that introduces a January 2014 Settlement Agreement that stipulates specific actions to be taken by State Parks to further efforts to protect the marbled murrelet. These two documents are located in the Appendices. Published separately, is the Big Basin Redwoods SP general plan companion document titled “Final EIR Response to Comments,” which includes copies of public comment letters, Department responses, and related documents for compliance with CEQA. © 2013 California State Parks All Photographs copyright California State Parks unless otherwise noted. This document is also available as an electronic file at www.parks.ca.gov/generalplans Cover Photos: Old growth redwoods at Big Basin Redwoods SP 1936 photo of the Administration Building 1938 photo of the Big Basin Lodge BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK Final General Plan and Environmental Impact Report State Clearinghouse #2001112104 Edmund G. Brown Jr. Governor John Laird Secretary for Natural Resources Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Retired) Director of Parks and Recreation State of California The Natural Resources Agency Department of Parks and Recreation P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, California 94296-0001 Approved by the State Park and Recreation Commission May 2013 State of California · Natural Resources Agency Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret), Director Resolution 4-2013 Adopted by the CALIFORNIA STATE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION at its regular meeting in Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley, California May 17, 2013 General Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report for Big Basin Redwoods State Park WHEREAS, the Director of California State Parks has presented to this Commission for approval the proposed General Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report (“Plan”) for Big Basin Redwoods State Park (“Park”); and WHEREAS, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, established in 1902 through the efforts of the Sempervirens Club, was the first park in today’s California State Park System and is historically significant as one of the first public commitments to environmental preserva- tion and outdoor recreation; and WHEREAS, California State Parks, working together with the Sempervirens Fund, Save the Redwoods League, and other conservation organizations, recognizes the im- portance of preserving the ancient redwood forests, watersheds, and other significant natural features of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with the goal to make these places of beauty available for the people’s enjoyment for future generations; and WHEREAS, this general plan will guide the development and management of Big Basin Redwoods State Park for public use and resource protection for the next 20 or more years, by establishing goals and guidelines to assist in the daily and long-term man- agement of the Park to ensure that its natural and cultural resources are protected, while providing for a variety of recreation activities and visitor experiences; and WHEREAS, the Plan is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and includes the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) as a part of the General Plan, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 5002.2 and the California Code of Regulations Sec- tion 15166 (CEQA Guidelines), providing discussion of the probable impacts of future development, establishing goals, policies and objectives, and addressing all the re- quirements of an EIR; and WHEREAS, the Plan and EIR function as a “tiered EIR” pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21093, covering general goals and objectives of the Plan, and that the appropriate level of CEQA review will be conducted for each project relying on the Plan; and WHEREAS, the Final EIR (FEIR) calls for the Commission to make a statement of over- riding considerations pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines (CCR section 15093) when the agency decides to approve a project that will cause one or more significant environmen- tal effects to reflect the ultimate balancing of competing public objectives (including en- vironmental, legal, technical, social, and economic factors); and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 WHEREAS, the FEIR finds that there is the potential for a significant and unavoidable effect of the approval of the General Plan on the marbled murrelet, a rare and endan- gered species that nests in old growth redwoods; and WHEREAS, such findings are attached as an exhibit to this resolution; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That this Commission has reviewed and con- sidered the information and analysis in the Plan prior to approving the Plan, and this Commission finds and certifies that the Plan reflects the independent judgment and analysis of this Commission and has been completed in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act; and be it RESOLVED: In connection with its review of the Plan prior to approving the General Plan, this Commission independently finds that the environmental conclusions contained in the Environmental Analysis Section of the Plan are supported by facts therein and that each fact in support of the findings is true and is based on substantial evidence in the record and that mitigation measures or other changes or alterations have been incorporated into the Plan which will avoid or substantially lessen the potential impacts identified in the Plan; and be it RESOLVED: as presented in the attached Overriding Considerations and by substantial evidence in the record, that the benefits of the approval of the General Plan outweigh the potential significant effects on the marbled murrelet contained in the General Plan; and be it RESOLVED: The location and custodian of the Plan and other materials which constitute the record of proceedings on which the Commission’s decision is based is: State Park and Recreation Commission, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, California 94296-0001, Phone 916/653-0524, Facsimile 916/653-4458; and be it RESOLVED: The California State Park and Recreation Commission hereby approves the Department of Parks and Recreation’s General Plan and certifies the Environmental Impact Report prepared for Big Basin Redwoods State Park, dated May 2012; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED: That a Notice of Determination will be filed with the Office of Planning and Research within five days of this approval. Attest: This Resolution was duly adopted by the California State Park and Recreation Commis- sion on May 17, 2013 at the Commission’s duly-noticed public meeting at Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley, California. By: ___________________________________O R I G I N A L S I G N E D B Y Date: _______________5-17-13 Louis Nastro Assistant to the Commission For Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret), Director Secretary to the Commission State of California · Natural Resources Agency Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret), Director Resolution 5-2013 Adopted by the CALIFORNIA STATE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION at its regular meeting in Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley, California May 17, 2013 Boundary Amendment for West Waddell Creek State Wilderness in Big Basin Redwoods State Park WHEREAS, the Director of California State Parks has presented to this Commission for approv- al the proposed boundary amendment for the West Waddell Creek State Wilderness (“Wilder- ness”) in Big Basin Redwoods State Park; and WHEREAS, the Wilderness is a roadless area of outstanding scenic value that encompasses a significant portion of the Waddell Creek watershed (5,904 acres) and was named and classified by the State Park and Recreation Commission in November 1982 with the provision that the Waddell Canyon Road be excluded from the Wilderness to allow vehicle access for fire protec- tion and public safety purposes; and WHEREAS, California State Parks evaluated the potential for expanding the wilderness during the general plan process for Big Basin Redwoods State Park and determined that 390 acres of additional lands within the Waddell Creek watershed should be included in the designated state wilderness, a total of 6,294 acres as described in the Wilderness map (Exhibit A attached); and WHEREAS, the Wilderness designation is consistent with the purpose and vision of the Big Ba- sin Redwoods State Park General Plan, which includes specific goals and guidelines for its management to protect and preserve the primitive visitor experience and natural character of the landscape; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That this Commission has reviewed and considered the resource information and analysis presented by the Department prior to approving the boundary amendment and finds that this action is consistent with the approved Big Basin Red- woods State Park General Plan; and be it RESOLVED: The location and custodian of the General Plan and other materials which consti- tute the record of proceedings on which the Commission’s decision is based is: State Park and Recreation Commission, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, California 94296-0001, Phone 916/ 653-0524, Facsimile 916/653-4458; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED: The California State Park and Recreation Commission hereby ap- proves the Department of Parks and Recreation’s boundary amendment for the West Waddell Creek State Wilderness as described in Exhibit A, dated May 2012. Attest: This Resolution was duly adopted by the California State Park and Recreation Commis- sion on May 17, 2013 at the Commission’s duly-noticed public meeting at Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley, California. By: ___________________________________O R I G I N A L S I G N E D B Y Date: _______________5-17-13 Louis Nastro Assistant to the Commission For Major General Anthony L.