DRAFT Environmental Impact Report California State Clearinghouse No. 2005011071 Castaic Lake Water Agency Honby Pipeline Project April 2005 This page intentionally left blank. DRAFT Environmental Impact Report California State Clearinghouse No. 2005011071 Castaic Lake Water Agency Honby Pipeline Project Prepared for Castaic Lake Water Agency 27234 Bouquet Canyon Road Santa Clarita, California 91350 Prepared by April 2005 525 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101 This page intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................................... ES-1 1.0 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Project Objectives ...............................................................................................................1-1 1.3 Intended Uses of the EIR...................................................................................................1-4 1.4 Permits and Other Approvals Required to Implement the Project.............................1-4 1.5 Related Environmental Documentation .........................................................................1-5 1.6 Public Involvement Process..............................................................................................1-5 1.7 EIR Organization................................................................................................................1-6 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Project Location ..................................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Project Components...........................................................................................................2-1 2.2.1 Pipeline Design......................................................................................................2-1 2.2.2 Construction ..........................................................................................................2-3 2.2.3 Testing and Disinfection ......................................................................................2-4 2.2.4 Project Schedule and Phasing..............................................................................2-4 2.2.5 Maintenance and Operations ..............................................................................2-5 2.2.6 Mitigation Measures Included as Part of the Project .......................................2-5 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, DIRECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES ......................................................................................................3.0-1 3.1 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................3.1-1 3.1.1 Environmental Setting.......................................................................................3.1-1 3.1.2 Impacts.................................................................................................................3.1-4 3.1.3 Mitigation Measures ..........................................................................................3.1-8 3.1.4 Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts .....................................................3.1-8 3.2 Biological Resources .......................................................................................................3.2-1 3.2.1 Environmental Setting.......................................................................................3.2-1 3.2.2 Impacts...............................................................................................................3.2-21 3.2.3 Mitigation Measures ........................................................................................3.2-25 3.2.4 Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts ...................................................3.2-27 3.3 Noise .................................................................................................................................3.3-1 3.3.1 Environmental Setting.......................................................................................3.3-1 3.3.2 Impacts.................................................................................................................3.3-3 3.3.3 Mitigation Measures ..........................................................................................3.3-4 3.3.4 Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts .....................................................3.3-5 3.4 Population and Housing ................................................................................................3.4-1 3.4.1 Environmental Setting.......................................................................................3.4-1 3.4.2 Impacts.................................................................................................................3.4-1 3.4.3 Mitigation Measures ..........................................................................................3.4-1 3.4.4 Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts .....................................................3.4-2 3.5 Significant Unavoidable Impacts ..................................................................................3.5-1 CLWA – Honby Pipeline i Draft EIR Table of Contents 4.0 GROWTH-INDUCING EFFECTS AND INDIRECT, GROWTH-RELATED IMPACTS.......................................................................................................................................4-1 4.1 Growth-Inducing Effects...................................................................................................4-1 4.2 Growth-Related Impacts ...................................................................................................4-2 4.2.1 Aesthetic/Visual Resources.................................................................................4-3 4.2.2 Agricultural Resources.........................................................................................4-3 4.2.3 Air Quality .............................................................................................................4-4 4.2.4 Biological Resources .............................................................................................4-7 4.2.5 Cultural Resources................................................................................................4-7 4.2.6 Geology, Soils, and Minerals ...............................................................................4-8 4.2.7 Hazards and Hazardous Materials.....................................................................4-9 4.2.8 Hydrology and Water Quality ..........................................................................4-10 4.2.9 Land Use and Planning......................................................................................4-11 4.2.10 Noise .....................................................................................................................4-12 4.2.11 Population and Housing....................................................................................4-12 4.2.12 Public Services .....................................................................................................4-13 4.2.13 Recreation.............................................................................................................4-14 4.2.14 Transportation and Circulation.........................................................................4-14 4.2.15 Utilities/Service Systems ...................................................................................4-15 5.0 CONSISTENCY WITH ADOPTED PLANS AND POLICIES................................................5-1 5.1 Southern California Association of Government’s Regional Comprehensive Plan and Guide (RCPG) and Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), and Compass Growth Vision Principles.................................................................................5-1 5.1.1 Consistency with Regional Comprehensive Plan and Guide Policies ....................................................................................................................5-1 5.1.2 Consistency with Regional Transportation Plan ..............................................5-5 5.1.3 Water Resources....................................................................................................5-8 5.1.4 Growth Visioning..................................................................................................5-8 5.1.5 Consistency with Growth Projections..............................................................5-10 5.2 County of Los Angeles General Plan ............................................................................5-10 5.2.1 Consistency with Policies...................................................................................5-10 5.2.2 Consistency with Growth Projections..............................................................5-11 5.3 Santa Clarita Valley Area Plan of the County of Los Angeles General Plan...........5-11 5.3.1 Consistency with Policies...................................................................................5-12 5.3.2 Consistency with Growth Projections..............................................................5-12