INITIAL STUDY / ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR LENWOOD/HIGH DESERT ESTATES SEWER PROJECT EPA GRANT APPLICATION NO. XP-989700-01-0 Prepared for COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO OFFICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS 157 West Fifth Street, 2nd Floor San Bernardino, California 92415 Preparation assistance by: TOM DODSON & ASSOCIATES 2150 North Arrowhead Avenue San Bernardino, California 92405 JANUARY 2001 INITIAL STUDY/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Lenwood/High Desert Estates Sewer Project EPA Grant Application No. XP-989700-01-0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. PURPOSE AND NEED A. Introduction .................................................. 1 B. Purpose of the Environmental Assessment ........................... 2 C. Purpose and Need ............................................. 2 II. PROPOSED ACTION, INCLUDING ALTERNATIVES A. Proposed Action .............................................. 4 1. Location ................................................ 4 2. Environmental Setting ...................................... 4 3. Project Characteristics ...................................... 5 B. Alternatives .................................................. 6 1. No Action Alternative ...................................... 6 2. Other Alternatives ......................................... 6 III. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT A. Air Quality ................................................... 7 B. Hydrology and Water Quality ..................................... 8 C. Utilities/Service Systems ........................................ 10 D. Land Use/Planning ............................................. 11 E. Transportation/Traffic .......................................... 11 F. Natural Resources ............................................. 12 1. Biological Resources ....................................... 12 2. Geology and Soils ......................................... 13 3. Mineral Resources ......................................... 14 4. Visual Resources/Aesthetics ................................. 14 G. Population and Housing ......................................... 15 H. Construction ................................................. 15 I. Energy Issues ................................................. 15 J. Coastal Zone Management Act .................................... 15 K. Cultural Resources ............................................. 16 L. Wild and Scenic Rivers .......................................... 16 M. Endangered Species ............................................ 16 N. Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands ................... 16 -ii­ INITIAL STUDY/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Lenwood/High Desert Estates Sewer Project EPA Grant Application No. XP-989700-01-0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page III. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT (continued) O. Farmland Protection ............................................ 17 P. Coastal Barrier Resources ....................................... 17 Q. Other Impact Issues ............................................ 17 1. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................. 17 2. Noise ................................................... 17 3. Public Services ........................................... 18 4. Recreation ............................................... 18 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES A. Air Quality ................................................... 19 B. Hydrology and Water Quality ..................................... 22 C. Utilities/Service Systems ........................................ 24 D. Land Use/Planning ............................................. 25 E. Transportation/Traffic .......................................... 26 F. Natural Resources ............................................. 28 1. Biological Resources ....................................... 28 2. Geology and Soils ......................................... 29 3. Mineral Resources ......................................... 30 4. Visual Resources/Aesthetics ................................. 31 G. Population and Housing ......................................... 31 H. Construction ................................................. 32 I. Energy Issues ................................................. 32 J. Coastal Zone Management Act .................................... 32 K. Cultural Resources ............................................. 32 L. Wild and Scenic Rivers .......................................... 33 M. Endangered Species ............................................ 33 N. Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands ................... 33 O. Farmland Protection ............................................ 33 P. Coastal Barrier Resources ....................................... 34 Q. Other Impact Issues ............................................ 34 1. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................. 34 2. Noise ................................................... 36 3. Public Services ........................................... 38 4. Recreation ............................................... 38 -iii­ INITIAL STUDY/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Lenwood/High Desert Estates Sewer Project EPA Grant Application No. XP-989700-01-0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page V. SUMMARY OF MITIGATION MEASURES TO BE INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT ...................... 39 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST ....................................... 42 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ............................... 42 Determination ..................................................... 42 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts ................................... 43 I. Aesthetics ............................................... 43 II. Agriculture Resources ...................................... 44 III. Air Quality ............................................... 45 IV. Biological Resources ....................................... 46 V. Cultural Resources ........................................ 47 VI. Geology and Soils ......................................... 48 VII. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................. 49 VIII. Hydrology and Water Quality ................................ 50 IX. Land Use and Planning ..................................... 51 X. Mineral Resources ......................................... 52 XI. Noise ................................................... 53 XII. Population and Housing ..................................... 54 XIII. Public Services ........................................... 55 XIV. Recreation ............................................... 56 XV. Transportation/Traffic ...................................... 57 XVI. Utilities and Service Systems ................................. 58 XVII. Mandatory Findings of Significance ............................ 59 References ....................................................... 60 Appendices Appendix 1 - Identification and Evaluation of Historic Properties Appendix 2 - Focused Desert Tortoise Survey -iv­ INITIAL STUDY/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Lenwood/High Desert Estates Sewer Project EPA Grant Application No. XP-989700-01-0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Table 1 Barstow Air Quality Data ........................................ 8 Table 2 Beneficial Uses of the Mojave River in Barstow Area ................... 9 Figure 1 Regional Location of Project ..................................... 61 Figure 2 Project Site .................................................. 62 Figure 3 Planned Sewerlines ............................................. 63 Figure 4 Project Site in Relation to Land Use ................................ 64 -v­ INITIAL STUDY/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Lenwood/High Desert Estates Sewer Project EPA Grant Application No. XP-989700-01-0 I. PURPOSE AND NEED A. INTRODUCTION The communities of Lenwood and Grandview are part of an unincorporated area within the sphere of influence of the City of Barstow in San Bernardino County, California. These communities are immediately adjacent to the corporate limits of Barstow. “Lenwood” and “Grandview” are not legal entities; they are the names by which the general areas they refer to are locally known. As such, they do not have hard-and-fast boundaries. “Lenwood” is generally considered to be the area south of the Burlington National Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks that run parallel to Route 66, or National Trails Highway. “Grandview” is generally considered to be the area north of the BNSF railroad tracks which run parallel to the National Trails Highway. High Desert Estates (HDE) is a type-B mobile home park development that is usually locally referred to as part of “Grandview.” Its name was given by the original developer. Figures 1 and 2 show the project area regionally and the specific proposed assessment district location. According to the 1990 Census, the Lenwood/Grandview area had 1,039 deeded lots, including 205 deeded lots in High Desert Estates. These properties, excluding the High Desert Estates, are currently on septic tanks, and the proposed project will extend sewer lines to these lots to replace the failing septic system in these communities. One Lenwood lot is already connected to the Barstow city sewer system, and 35 of the 834 Lenwood lots are adjacent parcels, owned by the same owner, with one dwelling straddling both. A total of 599 developed parcels will be immediately connected in Lenwood. The remaining 199 parcels will be provided with a lateral connection to the property line for sewer service when developed. Thus, all affected parcels in the Lenwood area will be served by the sewer system upon the completion of this project. Median household income for this area was $27,222 in 1990. The Lenwood community