Environmental Assessment Lake Berryessa Recreation Areas Development Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region December 2017 Mission Statements The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Environmental Assessment Lake Berryessa Recreation Areas Development prepared by U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region Central California Area Office Contents Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................................................................... i Summary i Chapter 1 Introduction and Purpose and Need ................................................................ 1-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1-1 Location of Recreation Areas ................................................................................................... 1-3 Background and History of Lake Berryessa ............................................................................. 1-4 Management and Development of Lake Berryessa ......................................................... 1-4 Public Involvement .......................................................................................................... 1-5 Visitor Services Plan ........................................................................................................ 1-6 Purpose and Need ..................................................................................................................... 1-6 Scope and Organization of This Environmental Assessment ................................................... 1-7 Chapter 2 Description of Alternatives................................................................................ 2-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 2-1 No-Action Alternative .............................................................................................................. 2-3 Putah Canyon RA ............................................................................................................ 2-3 Monticello Shores RA...................................................................................................... 2-5 Berryessa Point RA .......................................................................................................... 2-5 Spanish Flat RA ............................................................................................................... 2-5 Steele Canyon RA ............................................................................................................ 2-6 Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................... 2-10 Overview of Proposed Development ............................................................................. 2-10 Putah Canyon RA .......................................................................................................... 2-15 Monticello Shores RA.................................................................................................... 2-17 Berryessa Point RA ........................................................................................................ 2-19 Spanish Flat RA ............................................................................................................. 2-20 Steele Canyon RA .......................................................................................................... 2-22 Construction Overview .................................................................................................. 2-24 Operations and Maintenance.......................................................................................... 2-27 Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................ 3-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 3-1 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................ 3-3 Affected Environment ...................................................................................................... 3-3 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-10 Biological Resources .............................................................................................................. 3-15 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-16 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-27 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................. 3-38 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-39 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-42 i EA – December 2017 Lake Berryessa Recreation Areas Development Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................... 3-45 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-45 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-48 Land Use ................................................................................................................................. 3-53 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-53 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-56 Noise ....................................................................................................................................... 3-59 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-59 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-63 Public Health and Safety ......................................................................................................... 3-69 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-69 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-73 Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 3-78 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-78 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-82 Socioeconomics ...................................................................................................................... 3-84 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-84 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-86 Transportation and Circulation ............................................................................................... 3-87 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-88 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-89 Utilities and Service Systems.................................................................................................. 3-91 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-91 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................... 3-95 Visual Resources ..................................................................................................................... 3-98 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3-98 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................. 3-100 Water Resources ................................................................................................................... 3-103 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 3-103 Environmental Consequences and Mitigation Measures ............................................. 3-106 Cumulative Impacts .............................................................................................................. 3-110 Past, Present, and Reasonably