Environmental Impact Report Comments and Responses Volume 6 San Francisco Public Utilities Commission CALAVERAS DAM REPLACEMENT PROJECT San Francisco Planning Department File No. 2005.0161E State Clearinghouse No. 2005102102 Draft EIR Publication Date: October 6, 2009 Draft EIR Public Hearing Date: November 10, 2009 in Fremont, CA November 12, 2009 in San Francisco, CA December 14, 2009 in Sunol, CA Draft EIR Public Comment Period: October 6, 2009 through December 21, 2009 Comments and Responses Publication Date: January 5, 2011 Final EIR Certification Date: January 27, 2011 City and County of San Francisco San Francisco Planning Department Environmental Impact Report Comments and Responses Volume 6 San Francisco Public Utilities Commission CALAVERAS DAM REPLACEMENT PROJECT San Francisco Planning Department File No. 2005.0161E State Clearinghouse No. 2005102102 Draft EIR Publication Date: October 6, 2009 Draft EIR Public Hearing Date: November 10, 2009 in Fremont, CA November 12, 2009 in San Francisco, CA December 14, 2009 in Sunol, CA Draft EIR Public Comment Period: October 6, 2009 through December 21, 2009 Comments and Responses Publication Date: January 5, 2011 Final EIR Certification Date: January 27, 2011 City and County of San Francisco San Francisco Planning Department CALAVERAS DAM REPLACEMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT −−− COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUMES 4 AND 5 8. INTRODUCTION TO COMMENTS AND RESPONSES ................................... 8-1 8.1 Purpose of the Comments and Responses Document ........................................ 8-1 8.2 Environmental Review Process .......................................................................... 8-2 8.3 Document Organization ..................................................................................... 8-3 8.4 Organization of Comments and List of Commenters ......................................... 8-5 9. PROJECT VARIANT ........................................................................................ 9-1 9.1 Introduction to CDRP Variant ............................................................................ 9-1 9.2 Description of CDRP Variant ............................................................................. 9-3 9.3 Environmental Effects of CDRP Variant ......................................................... 9-40 9.4 Mitigation Measures Applicable to the CDRP Variant .................................. 9-161 9.5 Cumulative Impacts of the CDRP Variant ..................................................... 9-162 9.6 CDRP Variant and Consideration of Alternatives .......................................... 9-179 9.7 Summary of Impacts of the Variant Compared to the Draft EIR Project ....... 9-181 9.8 References ...................................................................................................... 9-198 10. MASTER RESPONSES ................................................................................. 10-1 10.1 Potential Future Enlargement of Calaveras Reservoir ..................................... 10-1 10.2 Baseline Used in the Environmental Analysis ................................................. 10-9 10.3 Hydrology ....................................................................................................... 10-21 10.4 Fisheries ......................................................................................................... 10-63 10.5 Greenhouse Gas Emissions .......................................................................... 10-111 11. COMMENTS AND RESPONSES ................................................................... 11-1 11.1 Federal, State, Regional, and Local Agencies ............................................... 11.1-1 11.2 Organizations ................................................................................................ 11.2-1 11.3 Individuals ..................................................................................................... 11.3-1 12. DRAFT EIR REVISIONS ................................................................................ 12-1 12.1 Changes in Response to Comments ................................................................. 12-1 12.2 Staff-Initiated Text Changes .......................................................................... 12-65 VOLUME 6 APPENDICES L. Comment Letters M. Transcripts of Draft EIR Public Hearings N. Proposed Instream Flow Schedules and Adaptive Management Implementation Plan O. Variant Air Quality Modeling P. Hydrology Modeling for the Variant Comments and Responses i 2005.0161E/Calaveras Dam Replacement Project Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES Figure 9.1: Location of CDRP Variant Project Elements Differing from the Draft EIR Project ....................................................................................................... 9-13 Figure 9.2: Proposed Fish Screen at Alameda Creek Diversion Tunnel – CDRP Variant .............................................................................................................. 9-15 Figure 9.3: Proposed Fish Ladder at the Alameda Creek Diversion Dam – CDRP Variant .............................................................................................................. 9-18 Figure 9.4: Proposed Intake Tower Modifications – CDRP Variant .................................. 9-20 Figure 9.5: PG&E Power Line Upgrade Alignment – CDRP Variant ................................ 9-23 Figure 9.6: Work Areas for Proposed Fisheries Improvements at Alameda Creek Diversion Dam – CDRP Variant ...................................................................... 9-28 Figure 9.7a: Modeled Calaveras Reservoir Storage and Releases to Calaveras Creek, 1920-2002 – CDRP Variant ............................................................................. 9-90 Figure 9.7b: Modeled Calaveras Reservoir Storage and Releases to Calaveras Creek, 1920-2002 – CDRP Variant ............................................................................. 9-91 Figure 9.8: Modeled Storage in Calaveras Reservoir, Annual Average and Range in Storage Volume ................................................................................................ 9-92 Figure 9.9a: Modeled Flow in Alameda Creek Downstream of the ACDD, 1920-2002 – CDRP Variant ............................................................................. 9-96 Figure 9.9b: Modeled Flow in Alameda Creek Downstream of the ACDD, 1920-2002 – CDRP Variant ............................................................................. 9-97 Figure 9.10a: Analysis of 15-Minute USGS Gage Data from Alameda Creek above the ACDD and Flow Past the Dam (March 1996, December 1996, and February 1999) – CDRP Variant ...................................................................... 9-98 Figure 9.10b: Analysis of 15-Minute USGS Gage Data from Alameda Creek above the ACDD and Flow Past the Dam (February 2000, December 2002, and March 2006) – CDRP Variant .......................................................................... 9-99 Figure 9.11a: Modeled Flow in Alameda Creek Downstream of the Calaveras Creek Confluence, 1920-2002 – CDRP Variant ....................................................... 9-104 Figure 9.11b: Modeled Flow in Alameda Creek Downstream of the Calaveras Creek Confluence, 1920-2002 – CDRP Variant ....................................................... 9-105 Figure 10.1.1: Dam Cross-Section ........................................................................................... 10-7 Figure 10.4.1a: Proposed CDRP Variant Flow Schedules in Alameda Creek Below ACDD............................................................................................................. 10-71 Figure 10.4.1b: Proposed CDRP Variant Flow Schedules Below Calaveras Dam ................. 10-72 Figure 10.4.2a: Relationship of Spawning Habitat to Flow for Rainbow Trout and Steelhead in Alameda Creek Upstream of the Calaveras Creek Confluence ..................................................................................................... 10-76 Figure 10.4.2b Relationship of Spawning Habitat to Flow for Rainbow Trout and Steelhead in Alameda Creek Downstream of the Calaveras Creek Confluence ..................................................................................................... 10-77 Figure 10.4.3a: Map Depicting Rearing Habitat Functions Associated with Proposed Final Flow Schedules ..................................................................................... 10-78 Figure 10.4.3b: Map Depicting Spawning Habitat Functions Associated with Proposed Final Flow Schedules ..................................................................................... 10-79 Figure 11.1.1: CDRP Temporary Impacts to California Tiger Salamander Habitat ........ 11.1.3-28 Figure 1: Calaveras Dam Replacement Project and Mitigation Areas Locator Map (New) ............................................................................................. 11.1.15-28 Figure 2: Mitigation Areas and Regional Land Cover (New) ............................... 11.1.15-29 Comments and Responses ii 2005.0161E/Calaveras Dam Replacement Project Table of Contents Attachment A: Photographs of the Calaveras Dam Replacement Dam Project Mitigation Areas: South Calaveras, San Antonio, Sage Canyon, and Goat Rock ... 11.1.15-30 Figure 11.3.1: Average Daily Flow in Alameda Creek above the SFPUC’s Alameda Creek Diversion Dam, 2009-2010 ............................................................ 11.3.14-2 Figure 2.2: SFPUC Water Service