Environmental Impact Report California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project State Clearinghouse #2006072060 Prepared for: California Department of Fish and Game Prepared by: March 2007 Final Environmental Impact Report California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project State Clearinghouse #2006072060 Prepared for: California Department of Fish and Game Marine Region 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100 Monterey, CA 93940 Contact: John Ugoretz, Nearshore Ecosystem/MLPA Coordinator 831/649-2893 Prepared by: Jones & Stokes 268 Grand Avenue Oakland, CA 94610-4724 Contact: Jeff Thomas 510/433-8962 March 2007 Jones & Stokes. 2007. Environmental Impact Report: California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project. Final. March. State Clearinghouse #2006072060. (J&S 06682.06.) Oakland, CA. Prepared for California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region, Monterey, CA. Contents Page Figures..................................................................................................... iv Tables...................................................................................................... iv Acronyms and Abbreviations.................................................................... v Chapter 1. Introduction................................................................................................1-1 1.1. CEQA Compliance...........................................................................1-1 1.2. Format and Organization of Final Environmental Impact Report .........................................................................................1-1 1.3. Public Review of Draft Environmental Impact Report......................1-2 1.4. Revisions to Draft Environmental Impact Report.............................1-2 1.5. Comments Received on Draft Environmental Impact Report.....................................................................................................1-2 1.6. Preparation of Final Environmental Impact Report..........................1-4 1.6.1. Lead Agency...........................................................................1-4 1.6.2. Final EIR Authors....................................................................1-4 Chapter 2. Comments and Responses.......................................................................2-1 2.1. Introduction......................................................................................2-1 2.2. Responses to Comments ................................................................2-1 2.2.1. Master Response 1.0—Improper Implementation of the MLPA ......................................................................................2-2 2.2.2. Master Response 2.0—Inadequacy of Science Standard ...........................................................................................2-3 2.2.3. Master Response 3.0—Inadequacy of Socioeconomic Analyses..................................................................2-5 2.2.4. Master Response 4.0—Failure to Consider Existing Marine Protected Areas ......................................................2-6 2.2.5. Master Response 5.0—Failure to Consider Existing Fishing Management Measures..........................................2-6 Letter A, from Steve Black Response to Letter A, from Steve Black...........................................2-8 Letter B, from Bill Richmond Response to Letter B, from Bill Richmond........................................2-9 Letter C, from Paul Douglas Response to Letter C, from Paul Douglas ......................................2-10 Letter D, from California Department of Transportation, District 4 Final Environmental Impact Report March 2007 California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative i Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project J&S 06682.06 Contents Response to Letter D, from California Department of Transportation, District 4.................................................................2-11 Letter E, from Tom and Sheri Hafer Response to Letter E, from Tom and Sheri Hafer ..........................2-12 Letter F, from Port San Luis Harbor District Response to Letter F, from Port San Luis Harbor District.............................................................................................2-14 Letter G, from PRBO Conservation Science Response to Letter G, from PRBO Conservation Science ...........................................................................................2-19 Letter H, from PRBO Conservation Science Response to Letter H, from PRBO Conservation Science ...........................................................................................2-21 Letter I, from Greg Glenn Response to Letter I, from Greg Glenn...........................................2-22 Letter J, from Morro Bay National Estuary Program Response to Letter J, from Morro Bay National Estuary Program ..........................................................................................2-23 Letter K, from Willow Forest Response to Letter K, from Willow Forest ......................................2-25 Letter L, from Willow Forest Response to Letter L, from Willow Forest.......................................2-27 Letter M, from David Valentine Response to Letter M, from David Valentine ..................................2-28 Letter N, from NRDC, the Otter Project, and the Ocean Conservancy Response to Letter N, from NRDC, the Otter Project, and the Ocean Conservancy ..........................................................2-29 Letter O, from California Fisheries Coalition Response to Letter O, from California Fisheries Coalition..........................................................................................2-34 Letter P, from Moss Landing Harbor District Response to Letter P, from Moss Landing Harbor District.............................................................................................2-41 Letter Q, from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Response to Letter Q, from Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute...........................................................................2-42 Letter R, from Pacific Fishery Management Council Response to Letter R, from Pacific Fishery Management Council......................................................................2-43 Letter S, from Bill James Response to Letter S, from Bill James ...........................................2-44 Letter T, from Jesus Ruiz Response to Letter T, from Jesus Ruiz ..........................................2-45 Letter U, from John Wolfe Response to Letter U, from John Wolfe..........................................2-46 Letter V, from Marc Shargel Response to Letter V, from Marc Shargel ......................................2-47 Final Environmental Impact Report March 2007 California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative ii Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project J&S 06682.06 Contents Letter W, from Jakki Keal and Linda Yamane Response to Letter W, from Jakki Keal and Linda Yamane ..........................................................................................2-48 Chapter 3. Revisions to the Draft Environmental Impact Report ............................3-1 3.1. Introduction......................................................................................3-1 3.2. Changes to Project Description since Issuance of DEIR .......................................................................................................3-1 3.3. Summary of Environmental Effects .................................................3-2 3.4. Revisions .........................................................................................3-2 3.4.1. Executive Summary................................................................3-2 3.4.2. Chapter 2. Project Description................................................3-3 3.4.4. Chapter 5. Physical Resources ..............................................3-6 3.4.5. Chapter 7. Social Resources ..................................................3-6 3.4.6. Chapter 11. References Cited ................................................3-7 3.4.7. Appendix D. Side-By-Side Comparison Maps of the Proposed Project and Alternatives 1and 2 by Subregion .........................................................................................3-8 3.4.8. Appendix F. Species Likely to Benefit from MPAs in the Central Coast Study Region ...................................................3-9 Final Environmental Impact Report March 2007 California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative iii Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project J&S 06682.06 Contents Figures Follows Page Revised Figure 2-1a Proposed MPA Network (Package P) — Northern Study Region ...........................................................................3-6 Revised Figure, Appendix D, Subregion 4 .........................................................3-8 Tables On Page 2-1. Commenters on DEIR ................................................................................2-2 2-2. Overall Summary for Proposed Project.......................................................3-3 2-3. Individual MPAs in Proposed Project ..........................................................3-3 2-5. Habitat Representation in Proposed Project ...............................................3-4 Final Environmental Impact Report March 2007 California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative iv Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project J&S 06682.06 Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations