DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE LAKEVIEW AMPHITHEATER Onondaga County, New York Lead Agency: Onondaga County 401 Montgomery Street Room 407 Court House Syracuse, New York 13202 Contact: David Coburn Phone: (315) 435-2647 Prepared By: C&S Companies 499 Col. Eileen Collins Boulevard Syracuse, New York 13212 Contact: Bob Palladine Phone: (315) 455-2000 and Environmental Design & Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Environmental Services, D.P.C. 217 Montgomery Street, Suite 1000 Syracuse, New York 13202 Contact: Ben Brazell Phone: (315) 471-0688 Date Accepted by Lead Agency: July 1, 2014 Online Access: http://www.ongov.net/environment/amphitheater.html Public Comment Period: July 9, 2014 – August 11, 2014 Public Hearing: July 23, 2014; 11:00 a.m.; Legislative Chambers (Room 407 Court House) TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................... viii FIRMS/ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE DEIS .......................................... ix 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION ....................................................................................... 10 2.1 SITE DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ......................................................... 14 2.3 PROJECT PURPOSE, NEED, AND BENEFITS .......................................................................... 14 2.4 PROJECT CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION ........................................................................ 15 2.4.1 Pre-Construction Activities .................................................................................................... 15 2.4.2 Site Construction .................................................................................................................. 16 2.5 REVIEWS, APROVALS, AND OTHER COMPLIANCE DETERMINATIONS ............................... 17 2.5.1 SEQR Process ...................................................................................................................... 18 2.5.2 Agency and Public Review ................................................................................................... 20 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS, POTENTIAL IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES ...................... 23 3.1 GEOLOGY, SOILS, AND TOPOGRAPHY ................................................................................... 23 3.1.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................... 23 3.1.1.1 Geology............................................................................................................................. 23 3.1.1.2 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 23 3.1.1.3 Topography ....................................................................................................................... 24 3.1.2 Potential Impacts .................................................................................................................. 24 3.1.2.1 Construction ...................................................................................................................... 24 3.1.2.2 Operation .......................................................................................................................... 24 3.1.3 Proposed Mitigation .............................................................................................................. 25 3.2 WATER RESOURCES ................................................................................................................. 26 3.2.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................... 26 3.2.1.1 Surface Waters ................................................................................................................. 26 3.2.1.2 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................... 27 3.2.1.3 Groundwater ..................................................................................................................... 28 3.2.1.4 Floodplains and Floodways ............................................................................................... 29 3.2.1.5 Stormwater ........................................................................................................................ 29 3.2.2 Potential Impacts .................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.2.1 Construction ...................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.2.2 Operation .......................................................................................................................... 31 3.2.3 Proposed Mitigation .............................................................................................................. 31 3.3 CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY ...................................................................................................... 32 3.3.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................... 32 3.3.1.1 Climatic Conditions ........................................................................................................... 32 3.3.1.2 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 33 3.3.2 Potential Impacts .................................................................................................................. 34 3.3.2.1 Construction ...................................................................................................................... 34 3.3.2.2 Operation .......................................................................................................................... 35 3.3.3 Proposed Mitigation .............................................................................................................. 35 3.3.3.1 Construction ...................................................................................................................... 35 3.3.3.2 Operation .......................................................................................................................... 37 Draft Environmental Impact Statement ii Lakeview Amphitheater 3.4 BIOLOGICAL, TERRESTRIAL, AND AQUATIC ECOLOGY ........................................................ 37 3.4.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................... 37 3.4.1.1 Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.1.2 Fish and Wildlife ................................................................................................................ 42 3.4.2 Potential Impacts .................................................................................................................. 56 3.4.2.1 Construction ...................................................................................................................... 56 3.4.2.2 Operation .......................................................................................................................... 60 3.4.3 Proposed Mitigation .............................................................................................................. 62 3.4.3.1 Vegetation ......................................................................................................................... 62 3.4.3.2 Fish and Wildlife ................................................................................................................ 63 3.4.3.3 Threatened and Endangered Species............................................................................... 64 3.5 VISUAL AND AESTHETIC RESOURCES ................................................................................... 65 3.5.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................... 65 3.5.1.1 Visually Sensitive Resources ............................................................................................ 66 3.5.2 Potential Impacts .................................................................................................................. 71 3.5.2.1 Construction ...................................................................................................................... 71 3.5.2.2 Operation .......................................................................................................................... 71 3.5.3 Mitigation .............................................................................................................................. 78 3.6 HISTORIC, CULTURAL, AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES ............................................... 79 3.6.1 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................... 79