Palo Corona Regional Park General Development Plan Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared by Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District 4860 Carmel Valley Road Carmel, California 93923 Contact: Rafael Payan, General Manager prepared with the assistance of Rincon Consultants, Inc. 437 Figueroa Street, Suite 203 Monterey, California 93940 April 2019 Palo Corona Regional Park General Development Plan Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared by Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District 4860 Carmel Valley Road Carmel, California 93923 Contact: Rafael Payan prepared with the assistance of Rincon Consultants, Inc. 437 Figueroa Street, Suite 203 Monterey, California 93940 April 2019 This report prepared on 50% recycled paper with 50% post-consumer content. Table of Contents Table of Contents Initial Study .............................................................................................................................................1 1. Project Title .........................................................................................................................1 2. Lead Agency Name and Address .........................................................................................1 3. Contact Person and Phone Number ...................................................................................1 4. Project Location ..................................................................................................................1 5. Surrounding Land Uses .......................................................................................................1 6. Setting .................................................................................................................................4 7. General Plan Designation ....................................................................................................8 8. Zoning..................................................................................................................................8 9. Description of Project .........................................................................................................9 10. Other Public Agencies Whose Approval is Required ....................................................... 19 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected ........................................................................................ 21 Determination ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Environmental Checklist ...................................................................................................................... 23 1. Aesthetics ......................................................................................................................... 23 2. Agriculture and Forestry Resources ................................................................................. 29 3. Air Quality ........................................................................................................................ 33 4. Biological Resources ......................................................................................................... 39 5. Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................... 53 6. Energy .............................................................................................................................. 57 7. Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................. 59 8. Greenhouse Gas Emissions .............................................................................................. 69 9. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ................................................................................... 75 10. Hydrology and Water Quality .......................................................................................... 81 11. Land Use and Planning ..................................................................................................... 89 12. Mineral Resources ........................................................................................................... 91 13. Noise ................................................................................................................................ 93 14. Population and Housing ................................................................................................... 99 15. Public Services ................................................................................................................ 101 16. Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 105 17. Transportation ............................................................................................................... 107 18. Tribal Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 113 19. Utilities and Service Systems ......................................................................................... 117 20. Wildfire .......................................................................................................................... 121 21. Mandatory Findings of Significance ............................................................................... 125 References ......................................................................................................................................... 127 Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration i Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Palo Corona Regional Park General Development Plan Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 127 List of Preparers ......................................................................................................................... 133 Tables Table 1 Current Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards .............................................. 34 Table 2 MBARD Maximum Daily Emissions .................................................................................. 35 Table 3 Estimated Construction Emissions ................................................................................... 36 Table 4 Estimated Operational Emissions .................................................................................... 37 Table 5 Federal and State Listed Plants with Potential to Occur in the Plan Area ....................... 44 Table 6 Special Status Plants Documented in the Plan Area ........................................................ 44 Table 7 Federal and State Listed Animals with Potential to Occur in the Plan Area .................... 45 Table 8 Special Status Animals Documented in the Plan Area ..................................................... 45 Table 9 Sensitive Natural Communities Known to Occur or with Potential to Occur within the Vicinity of the Plan Area ................................................................................................... 46 Table 10 Paleontological Sensitivity of Geologic Units in the Project Area .................................... 60 Table 11 Vertebrate Localities near Palo Corona Regional Park .................................................... 62 Table 12 Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions .................................................................................. 72 Table 13 Typical Noise Levels from Equipment at Construction Sites............................................ 95 Table 14 Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment ...................................................... 97 Table 15 Trip Generation for GDP Buildout .................................................................................. 109 Figures Figure 1 Regional Location ................................................................................................................2 Figure 2 Plan Area and Park Units .....................................................................................................3 Figure 3 Surrounding Land Uses .......................................................................................................5 Figure 4 Rancho Cañada Unit ......................................................................................................... 10 Figure 5 Front Ranch Unit .............................................................................................................. 11 Figure 6 Back Country Unit ............................................................................................................ 12 Figure 7 Rancho Cañada Unit Community Activity Areas .............................................................. 15 Figure 8 Vegetation Communities ................................................................................................. 41 Figure 9 Geologic Units in Palo Corona Regional Park (Dibblee and Minch 2007a, b) .................. 61 Figure 10 FEMA Flood Hazard Areas ................................................................................................ 84 ii Table of Contents Appendices Appendix A Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Modelling Results Appendix B Fish Lower Barn Historic Structure Report Appendix C Special Status Species Evaluation Tables Appendix D Dog Park Reference Noise Level Appendix E Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District