Draft Lake Mendocino Master Plan MendocinoMaster County, CaliforniaPlan U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District Revised 2019 Page Intentionally Blank APPROVAL I have reviewed this Master Plan and Environmental Assessment for Lake Mendocino and Coyote Valley Dam for the guidance of future development for recreation and environmental stewardship efforts within the Lake Mendocino Project located near the City of Ukiah, Mendocino County, California. This Master Plan is technically sound, environmentally acceptable, and is in compliance with ER/EP 1130-2-550, Project Operations, Recreation Operations and Maintenance Policies. Therefore, I approve this Master Plan for the Lake Mendocino and Coyote Valley Dam Project, subject to updates as needed for the benefit of flood risk management, public use, and environmental stewardship. __________________________ __________________________ Date Travis J. Rayfield Lieutenant Colonel Commander, San Francisco District i Draft Lake Mendocino April 2019 Master Plan Executive Summary The Lake Mendocino Master Plan (Master Plan) provides the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) a vision and direction to manage Lake Mendocino and its resources. The original Master Plan for Lake Mendocino was approved in 1959 and last updated in 1977, and serves as the guiding document for USACE responsibilities to preserve, conserve, restore, maintain, manage, and develop these project lands and associated resources. This revision to the 1977 Master Plan and the associated Environmental Assessment (EA) describe the existing conditions at Lake Mendocino and identify recreational opportunities and measures to preserve and protect natural and cultural resources. The Master Plan also outlines developmental needs, analyzes special problems, and provides guidance on public use, water quality, invasive species, natural areas, and historic properties within the USACE project boundaries. The Master Plan and EA provide a synopsis of the history of the area and recreational development of Lake Mendocino. This Master Plan presents a comprehensive inventory of natural, cultural, and recreational resources; land use classifications to guide future management; modernization of existing park facilities; resource objectives for each management unit; and an evaluation of existing and future needs required to provide a balanced management plan to improve outdoor recreation opportunities and sustain natural resources. The Master Plan makes recommendations for future improvements to Lake Mendocino’s facilities based on the land use classifications. It provides guidance to balance recreation opportunities, flood risk management, and the preservation of natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. Public participation is an important aspect of the development of the Master Plan. Public scoping meetings were held in the City of Ukiah in February 2018 to kick off the Master Plan process. The purpose of the public meetings was to provide information to the public on the USACE master planning process and to identify the changes and improvements the public would desire to see in the future at Lake Mendocino. Coordination with Tribal partners was also part of the Master Plan development process. Following internal USACE reviews, the Master Plan and EA will be made available for a final public review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and official NEPA public meetings will be held before the plan is finalized. ii Draft Lake Mendocino April 2019 Master Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – Introduction 1 1.1 Project Authorization 1 1.2 Project Purpose 1 1.3 Watershed and Project Location 2 1.4 Purpose of the Master Plan 2 1.5 Master Plan History and REvision 3 1.6 Applicable Laws and Policy Guidance 6 Chapter 2 – Project Setting and Factors Influencing Resource Management and Development 10 2.1 Lake Mendocino Access 10 2.2 Description of the Reservoir 10 2.3 Hydrology (Surface Water, Ground Water) 12 2.4 Water Quality 12 2.5 Topography, Geology, Soils, and Seismicity 13 2.6 Climate 21 2.7 Fish and Wildlife Resources 24 2.8 Vegetation 27 2.9 Cultural Resources 34 2.10 Demographics and Economics 36 2.10 Recreation Facilities, Activities, and Needs 39 2.11 Real Estate 42 Chapter 3 – Resource Objectives 44 3.1 Goals and Objectives 44 Chapter 4 – Land Allocation, Land Classification, Water Surface, and Project Easement Lands 53 4.1 Land Allocation. 53 4.2 Land Classification. 53 Chapter 5 – Resource Plan 59 5.0 Resource Plan 59 5.1 Management Unit #1 – Lake Mendocino 61 5.2 Management Unit #2 – Dam Operations, Dam, Control Tower, Spillway 63 5.3 Management Unit #3 – Pomo Cultural Center 68 iii Draft Lake Mendocino April 2019 Master Plan 5.4 Management Unit #4 – Unique Wildflower Area 71 5.5 Management Unit #5 – Winery Point 78 5.6 Management Unit #6 – Sho-da-kai Recreation Area 82 5.7 Management Unit #7 – Chekaka Recreation Area 84 5.8 Management Unit #8 – Pomo Recreation Area 92 5.9 Management Unit # 9 – Kyen Campground/Oak Grove Day Use Area/North Boat Ramp 95 5.10 Management Unit # 10 – Miti Recreation Area 98 5.12 Management Unit # 12 – Bushay Campground/Mesa Day Use Area 104 5.13 Management Unit # 13 – Bill Townsend Fish Hatchery 108 5.14 Management Unit # 14 – Disc Golf Course 110 5.15 Management Unit # 15 – Project Administrative Buildings 112 Chapter 6 – Special Topics/Issues/Considerations 113 Chapter 7 – Agency and Public Coordination 114 Chapter 8 – Summary and Recommendations 117 8.1 Summary Overview 117 8.2 Land Classifications 117 8.3 Recommendation 118 8.4 Using the Master Plan 122 8.5 Updating the Master Plan 123 8.6 Including Others in the Master Planning Process 123 Chapter 9 – Bibliography 125 iv Draft Lake Mendocino April 2019 Master Plan FIGURES Figure 1. Monthly climate data for the City of Ukiah, CA. ....................................................... 21 Figure 2. Distribution of jobs by industry in Mendocino County as compared to the State of California. .................................................................................................................................... 38 Figure 3. Recreational Activities ................................................................................................. 61 Figure 4. Paved pathway along the top of the CVD. ................................................................... 63 Figure 5. Control tower at the CVD. ........................................................................................... 65 Figure 6. Spillway for CVD. ...................................................................................................... 65 Figure 7. Pomo Cultural Center. ................................................................................................ 68 Figure 8. Tribal decorations and display cases within the Pomo Cultural Center. ..................... 68 Figure 9. Main sign for the Pomo Cultural Center ...................................................................... 70 Figure 10. Burke’s Goldfields .................................................................................................... 71 Figure 11. Burke’s Goldfields site located in the Wildlife Management Area. .......................... 72 Figure 12. Burke’s Goldfields site identified below the CVD ................................................... 75 Figure 13. 1977 Master Plan map showing the location of 2 Wildflower Areas. ...................... 77 Figure 14. Garzini Winery. ......................................................................................................... 78 Figure 15. Garzini Winery. ......................................................................................................... 78 Figure 16. Cliffside erosion at Winery Point. ............................................................................ 79 Figure 17. Tractor artifact at the Garzini Winery site. ............................................................... 80 Figure 18. Sho-da-kai/Rattlesnake Island. ................................................................................. 82 Figure 19. South Boat Ramp and Jet Ski Beach. ......................................................................... 84 Figure 20. Jet Ski Beach. ............................................................................................................ 85 Figure 21. Cabin at Lake Sonoma. ............................................................................................. 86 Figure 22. Before and after images of vegetation clearing at the overlook. .............................. 87 Figure 23. Site and building plan for overlook kiosk from original 1977 Master Plan. ............ 88 Figure 24. Shelters with interpretive signage from Lake Sonoma. ............................................ 89 Figure 25. Parking lot at the overlook. ....................................................................................... 89 Figure 26. Illegal activity at the overlook area. .......................................................................... 89 Figure 27. Beach used to park boats at Miti Campground. ........................................................ 98 Figure 28. Deteriorating campsite facilities at Miti Campground. ............................................. 99 Figure 29. View of Inlet Road leading to Bushay Campground. ............................................. 105 Figure 30. Bill Townsend Fish Hatchery ................................................................................. 108 Figure 31. Disc golf basket.