2-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Project Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Environmental Assessment APRIL 2009 MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION • ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2-Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Project DRAFT APRIL 2009 Prepared for Department of Water Resources U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 1416 9th Street 2800 Cottage Way, MP-152 Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento CA 95825 Table of Contents SUMMARY ..............................................................................................................i SECTION 1 Introduction.....................................................................................1-1 1.1 CEQA Requirements, Lead Agency, and State Actions........................................... 1-1 1.2 NEPA Requirements, Lead Agency, and Federal actions ........................................ 1-2 1.3 Background............................................................................................................... 1-2 1.4 Contents and Organization of the MND/EA............................................................. 1-6 1.5 Public Review Process.............................................................................................. 1-6 SECTION 2 Project Description.........................................................................2-1 2.1 Purpose of and Need for the Project ......................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Purpose of the Project.................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.2 Need for the Project ..................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Project Objectives..................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Key Design Criteria .................................................................................................. 2-2 2.4 Project Location........................................................................................................ 2-2 2.5 Project Facilities ....................................................................................................... 2-2 2.5.1 Overview...................................................................................................... 2-2 2.5.2 2-Gates Concept........................................................................................... 2-3 2.5.3 Project Construction .................................................................................. 2-11 2.5.4 Project Schedule ........................................................................................ 2-14 2.6 Project Operations................................................................................................... 2-15 2.6.1 Overview.................................................................................................... 2-15 2.6.2 Factors Considered in Project Operations.................................................. 2-16 2.6.3 Modeling Operations and Monitoring with Adult and Larvae/Juvenile Behavior Models........................................................................................ 2-17 2.6.4 2-Gates Operations in Conjunction with OCAP BO Flow Management .. 2-18 2.7 Environmental Monitoring for Operations ............................................................. 2-22 2.7.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 2-22 2.7.2 Monitoring Objectives ............................................................................... 2-23 2.7.3 Monitoring Methods .................................................................................. 2-23 2.7.4 Monitoring Needs ...................................................................................... 2-24 2.7.5 Existing Monitoring Programs................................................................... 2-31 2-Gates_MND_EA_Draft.doc i MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION / ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DRAFT 2-GATES FISH PROTECTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT APRIL 2009 2.7.6 New / Added Monitoring Programs to Evaluate 2-Gates Operations ........2-33 2.7.7 Data Collection, Handling, Storage and Disposition..................................2-35 2.7.8 Quality Assurance/Quality Control............................................................2-35 2.8 Environmental Protection Measures Schedule........................................................2-41 2.8.1 Avoidance of Sensitive Resources .............................................................2-41 2.8.2 Compensation for Potential Impacts on Sensitive Aquatic Species...........2-41 2.8.3 Erosion, Sediment Control, and Spill Prevention Measures ......................2-41 2.8.4 Turbidity Control........................................................................................2-42 2.8.5 Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) Emission Control Measures .......................................................................................2-43 2.8.6 Plans ...........................................................................................................2-43 2.9 Mitigation Measures................................................................................................2-43 2.10 Required Permits and Environmental Approvals....................................................2-44 2.10.1 California Environmental Quality Act .......................................................2-44 2.10.2 National Environmental Policy Act ...........................................................2-44 2.10.3 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/ U.S. Coast Guard ....................................2-44 2.10.4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Service .................2-44 2.10.5 California State Historic Preservation Office.............................................2-45 2.10.6 California Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board ............2-45 2.10.7 California Department of Fish and Game ..................................................2-45 2.10.8 State Lands Commission............................................................................2-45 2.11 Alternatives Considered ..........................................................................................2-45 2.11.1 Other Barrier Alternatives..........................................................................2-45 2.11.2 Barriers at Other Locations ........................................................................2-46 2.11.3 Design Considerations and Site-Specific Alternatives...............................2-46 2.11.4 No Action Alternative ................................................................................2-47 2.12 Analysis Considerations..........................................................................................2-47 SECTION 3 Related Projects Considered in the Cumulative Impact Analysis ...........................................................................................3-1 3.1 California Department of Water Resources – Bay-Delta Conservation Plan............3-1 3.2 California Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation – Franks Tract Project ..................................................................................................3-2 3.3 California Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation – South Delta Improvements Program .........................................................................3-3 3.4 Contra Costa Water District – Water Quality Improvement Projects .......................3-4 ii 2-Gates_MND_EA_Draft.doc SECTION 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.4.1 Alternative Intake Project ............................................................................ 3-4 3.4.2 Contra Costa Canal Replacement Project.................................................... 3-4 3.4.3 Contra Costa Water District and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation – Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project ....................................................... 3-5 3.5 Central Valley Project Improvement Act Required Program ................................... 3-5 3.6 Sacramento County Water Agency and East Bay Municipal Utilities District – Freeport Regional Water Project .............................................................................. 3-5 3.7 Other Potential Projects ............................................................................................ 3-6 SECTION 4 Environmental Baseline .................................................................4-1 Project Title .............................................................................................................. 4-1 Lead Agency Name and Address.............................................................................. 4-1 Contact Person .......................................................................................................... 4-1 Project Location........................................................................................................ 4-1 Project Applicant’s Name and Address .................................................................... 4-2 General Plan Designation ......................................................................................... 4-2 Zoning 4-2 Description of Project ............................................................................................... 4-2 Existing Land Uses and Setting ...............................................................................