Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Cactus Avenue Corridor Groundwater Wells Project Prepared by: Eastern Municipal Water District 2270 Trumble Road Perris, CA 92572-8300 With Assistance From: 9665 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 320 0011292.01 San Diego, CA 92123 Eastern Municipal 858.875.7400 Water District March 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Purpose of this Document ....................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Scope of this Document .......................................................................... 1-1 1.3 CEQA Process ........................................................................................ 1-2 1.4 Impact Terminology ................................................................................ 1-3 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................... 2-4 2.1 Project Overview ..................................................................................... 2-4 2.2 Project Purpose ...................................................................................... 2-4 2.3 Project Location ...................................................................................... 2-4 2.4 Project Siting Criteria .............................................................................. 2-5 2.5 Environmental Setting ............................................................................. 2-5 2.5.1 Sensitive Receptors ........................................................................ 2-5 2.5.2 Utilities ............................................................................................ 2-6 2.5.3 Transportation ................................................................................. 2-6 2.5.4 Airports ........................................................................................... 2-6 2.5.5 Air Quality and Water Quality .......................................................... 2-7 2.5.6 Geology .......................................................................................... 2-7 2.5.7 Habitat Conservation Plan .............................................................. 2-7 2.5.8 Existing Site Conditions ................................................................ 2-10 2.6 Proposed Project Description ............................................................... 2-20 2.6.1 Extraction Wells ............................................................................ 2-20 2.6.2 Treatment Facility ......................................................................... 2-23 2.6.3 Pipelines ....................................................................................... 2-26 2.6.4 Construction Schedule .................................................................. 2-28 2.6.5 Equipment Staging Areas ............................................................. 2-28 2.7 Environmental Commitments ................................................................ 2-29 2.8 Required Permits and Approvals .......................................................... 2-30 3. ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM ............................................................. 3-1 3.1 Aesthetics ............................................................................................... 3-5 3.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources ....................................................... 3-9 3.3 Air Quality ............................................................................................. 3-12 3.4 Biological Resources ............................................................................ 3-20 3.5 Cultural Resources ............................................................................... 3-28 3.6 Energy .................................................................................................. 3-33 3.7 Geology and Soils ................................................................................. 3-37 3.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................................. 3-45 3.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ........................................................ 3-50 3.10 Hydrology and Water Quality ................................................................ 3-56 3.11 Land Use and Planning ......................................................................... 3-64 Initial Study and Mitigated i Eastern Municipal Water District Negative Declaration March 2020 Cactus Avenue Corridor Groundwater Wells Project 3.12 Mineral Resources ................................................................................ 3-66 3.13 Noise ..................................................................................................... 3-67 3.14 Population and Housing ........................................................................ 3-82 3.15 Public Services ..................................................................................... 3-83 3.16 Recreation ............................................................................................ 3-90 3.17 Transportation ....................................................................................... 3-92 3.18 Tribal Cultural Resources ..................................................................... 3-96 3.19 Utilities and Service Systems .............................................................. 3-100 3.20 Wildfire ................................................................................................ 3-105 3.21 Mandatory Findings of Significance .................................................... 3-108 4. FEDERAL CROSS-CUTTING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION EVALUATION ............................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Federal Endangered Species Act ........................................................... 4-1 4.2 National Historic Preservation Act .......................................................... 4-2 4.3 Clean Air Act ........................................................................................... 4-3 4.4 Coastal Zone Management Act .............................................................. 4-3 4.5 Farmland Protection Policy Act ............................................................... 4-4 4.6 Executive Order 11988—Floodplain Management ................................. 4-4 4.7 Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and Executive Order 13168 .................................................................... 4-4 4.8 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act .......................................................... 4-5 4.9 Executive Order 11990—Protection of Wetlands .................................... 4-5 4.10 Executive Order 13112—Invasive Species ............................................. 4-6 4.11 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act ..................................................................... 4-6 4.12 Safe Drinking Water Act—Source Water Protection ............................... 4-6 4.13 Executive Order 13195—Trails for America in the 21st Century .............. 4-7 4.14 Executive Order 13007—Indian Sacred Sites ......................................... 4-7 4.15 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ........... 4-7 4.16 Environmental Justice ............................................................................. 4-8 5. REPORT PREPARATION ................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Report Authors ........................................................................................ 5-1 5.2 References ............................................................................................. 5-1 Figures Figure 2-1: Regional Location ...................................................................................... 2-8 Figure 2-2: Project Overview ........................................................................................ 2-9 Figure 2-3: Treatment Facility Overview ..................................................................... 2-24 Figure 3-1: Flood Hazard Areas ................................................................................. 3-63 Figure 4-1: EPA EJScreen Map of Minority Population ................................................ 4-1 Figure 4-2 : DWR DAC Mapping Tool .......................................................................... 4-2 Initial Study and Mitigated ii Eastern Municipal Water District Negative Declaration March 2020 Cactus Avenue Corridor Groundwater Wells Project Tables Table 2-1: Construction Vehicle Fleet for Wells ......................................................... 2-21 Table 2-2: Energy Consumption ................................................................................. 2-22 Table 2-3: Construction Vehicle Fleet for Treatment Facility ...................................... 2-25 Table 2-4: Treatment Facility Energy Consumption ................................................... 2-26 Table 2-5: Construction Vehicle Fleet for Pipelines .................................................... 2-28 Table 2-6: Permits and Approvals .............................................................................. 2-30 Table 3-1: Criteria Pollutant Attainment Status – SCAB ............................................. 3-13 Table 3-2: SCAQMD Air Quality Significance Thresholds .........................................