Palm Desert Groundwater Replenishment Project Draft Environmental Impact Report SCH# 2017041072 prepared by Coachella Valley Water District 75515 Hovley Lane East Palm Desert, California 92211 Contact: Luke Stowe, Environmental Supervisor Phone: (760) 398-2651 prepared with the assistance of Rincon Consultants, Inc. 301 9th Street, Suite 310 Redlands, California 92374 Phone: (805) 644-4455 November 2017 Palm Desert Groundwater Replenishment Project Draft Environmental Impact Report SCH#2017041072 prepared by Coachella Valley Water District 75515 Hovley Lane East Palm Desert, California 92211 Contact: Luke Stowe, Environmental Supervisor Phone: (760) 398-2651 prepared with the assistance of Rincon Consultants, Inc. 301 9th Street, Suite 310 Redlands, California 92374 Phone: (805) 644-4455 November 2017 This report prepared on 50% recycled paper with 50% post-consumer content. Table of Contents Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations................................................................................................................ vii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 1 Summary of the Proposed Project .................................................................................................. 1 Statement of Project Objectives ..................................................................................................... 4 Summary of Project Impacts and Mitigation Measures ................................................................. 4 Alternatives Summary .................................................................................................................... 4 Issues of Concern / Areas of Controversy ....................................................................................... 5 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................14 1.1 Legal Authority ..................................................................................................................14 1.2 Lead, Responsible, and Trustee Agencies .........................................................................14 1.3 Purpose of the EIR .............................................................................................................15 1.4 Scope and Content ............................................................................................................15 1.5 CEQA Process Overview ....................................................................................................16 1.5.1 Public Scoping Comments and Responses .......................................................20 1.6 Organization of the EIR .....................................................................................................23 2 Project Description .......................................................................................................................25 2.1 Project Applicant ...............................................................................................................25 2.2 Lead Agency Contact Person .............................................................................................25 2.3 Project Location ................................................................................................................25 2.4 Project Objectives .............................................................................................................26 2.5 Overview of CVWD Water Supply .....................................................................................27 2.5.1 Water Supply Sources .......................................................................................28 2.5.2 Groundwater Supply and Quality .....................................................................28 2.6 Description of Proposed Project .......................................................................................29 2.6.1 Project Background...........................................................................................29 2.6.2 Existing Site Characteristics ..............................................................................30 2.6.3 Proposed Groundwater Replenishment Facilities ............................................32 2.6.4 Project Operations ............................................................................................38 2.7 Project Construction Schedule and Activities ...................................................................38 2.7.1 Dewatering Activities ........................................................................................39 2.7.2 Vehicles and Equipment ...................................................................................39 2.7.3 Hours and Workforce .......................................................................................39 2.7.4 Utilities ..............................................................................................................39 2.8 Permits and Consultation ..................................................................................................40 2.9 Alternatives .......................................................................................................................41 2.9.1 Alternatives Assessed in this EIR ......................................................................41 2.9.2 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated ...........................................................43 2.10 Cumulative Scenario .........................................................................................................44 3 Environmental Impact Analysis ....................................................................................................49 3.1 Aesthetics ..........................................................................................................................51 Draft Environmental Impact Report i Coachella Valley Water District Palm Desert Groundwater Replenishment Project 3.1.1 Environmental Setting ......................................................................................51 3.1.2 Regulatory Framework .....................................................................................55 3.1.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures ....................................................................61 3.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources ..................................................................................65 3.2.1 Environmental Setting ......................................................................................65 3.2.2 Regulatory Framework .....................................................................................66 3.2.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures ....................................................................67 3.3 Air Quality .........................................................................................................................71 3.3.1 Environmental Setting ......................................................................................71 3.3.2 Regulatory Framework .....................................................................................73 3.3.3 Air Quality Management ..................................................................................76 3.3.4 Regulatory Framework .....................................................................................77 3.3.5 Sensitive Receptors ...........................................................................................82 3.3.6 Impact Analysis .................................................................................................83 3.3.7 Project Impacts .................................................................................................85 3.4 Biological Resources ..........................................................................................................93 3.4.1 Environmental Setting ......................................................................................93 3.4.2 Regulatory Framework .....................................................................................98 3.4.3 Impacts and Mitigation Measures ..................................................................101 3.5 Cultural, Tribal Cultural, and Paleontological Resources ................................................107 3.5.1 Cultural Setting ...............................................................................................107 3.5.2 Geologic Setting ..............................................................................................109 3.5.3 Regulatory Framework ...................................................................................110 3.5.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures ..................................................................115 3.6 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................127 3.6.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................127 3.6.2 Environmental Setting ....................................................................................127 3.6.3 Regulatory Framework ...................................................................................134 3.6.4 Impacts and Mitigation Measures ..................................................................135 3.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions .............................................................................................139