DRAFT Joint Environmental Assessment / Initial Study and Finding of No Significant Impact / Mitigated Negative Declaration Antelope Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project Tehama County, California September 2019 Federal Lead Agency for NEPA U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office 10950 Tyler Road Red Bluff, CA 96080 Project Proponent and State Lead Agency for CEQA Resource Conservation District of Tehama County 2 Sutter Street, Suite D Red Bluff, CA 96080 Draft Environmental Assessment / Initial Study Page i Antelope Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 2 2.0 Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................................................................................................................. 13 3.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................... 25 3.1 Aesthetics ................................................................................................................................................................. 25 3.1.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 25 3.1.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 25 3.2 Agricultural Resources ............................................................................................................................................. 26 3.2.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 26 3.2.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 27 3.3 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................ 28 3.3.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 28 3.3.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 29 3.4 Biological Resources................................................................................................................................................. 31 3.4.1 Vegetation and Plant Communities ................................................................................................................. 31 3.4.2 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 31 3.4.3 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 34 3.4.4 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................................................. 37 3.4.5 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.6 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 38 3.4.7 Wetlands and Other Jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. ..................................................................................... 49 3.4.8 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 49 3.4.9 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 50 3.4.10 Fisheries ......................................................................................................................................................... 53 3.4.11 Affected Environment .................................................................................................................................... 53 3.4.12 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................. 55 3.5 Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 63 3.5.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 63 3.5.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 64 3.6 Energy ...................................................................................................................................................................... 67 3.6.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 67 3.6.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 67 3.7 Environmental Justice .............................................................................................................................................. 68 3.7.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 68 3.7.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 69 3.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...................................................................................................................................... 69 3.8.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 69 3.8.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 69 3.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ........................................................................................................................... 70 3.9.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................... 70 3.9.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................ 71 3.10 Hydrology and Water Quality ................................................................................................................................ 72 3.10.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................................................... 72 3.10.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................. 77 3.11 Land Use / Planning ............................................................................................................................................... 79 3.11.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................................................... 79 3.11.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................. 79 3.12 Noise ...................................................................................................................................................................... 80 3.12.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................................................... 80 3.12.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................. 80 3.13 Population / Housing ............................................................................................................................................. 81 3.13.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................................................... 81 3.13.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................. 82 Draft Environmental Assessment / Initial Study Page ii Antelope Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project 3.14 Public Services / Utilities ........................................................................................................................................ 82 3.14.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................................................... 82 3.14.2 Environmental Consequences / Impacts and Mitigation Measures .............................................................. 82 3.15 Recreation .............................................................................................................................................................. 83 3.15.1 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................................................