Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Piedras Blancas Cabin and Camping Project (PBCCP) & Portions of the California Coastal Trail (CCT) & Vault Toilets September 2017 Prepared by: Michael Walgren, Environmental Scientist State of California California Department of Parks and Recreation San Luis Obispo Coast District 750 Hearst Castle Road San Simeon, CA 93452-9740 MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This Initial Study (IS) has been prepared by the Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed Piedras Blancas Cabin and Camping Project (PBCCP) and Coastal Trail Project (CCT). The PBCCP site consists of about 18 acres located west of Highway 1 about 11 miles north of the community of San Simeon Acres and about midway between the Elephant Seal Viewing Area and Arroyo de la Cruz Creek. The CCT would be located generally west of Highway 1 and would extend north from the Elephant Seal Viewing Area (Visitor Parking Lot #4) to the Caltrans parking lot proposed south of Arroyo de la Cruz Creek (Figure 2). In addition, two structures will be built to house pit toilet units in existing parking lots, and pig exclusion fencing will be installed on Highway Right-of-Way fencing along the CCT route. A description of each project component is provided below: Piedras Blancas Cabin and Camping Project (PBCCP) The PBCCP consists of new transient lodging (cabins and camping), day use facilities, interpretive trails, and a portion of the CCT on a roughly 18 acre bluff top area (part of 26 acre parcel APN 011-231-012). A preliminary site plan for the PBCCP is provided in Figure 3. It is anticipated the PBCCP (excluding the CCT) would result in 4.1 acres of development. Existing development on the PBCCP site includes a motel, diner, a state residence inside the motel manager’s quarters, and a detached state residence, a detached garage, two sheds, volunteer trails, and related improvements/infrastructure (such as a paved parking lot, wells, septic systems, dirt roads, fencing, etc.). A bluff trail is present along an existing fenceline. California Coastal Trail (CCT) The CCT will be constructed in two segments over a total of about four miles extending north from an area near the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse to a parking lot to be constructed by Caltrans south of Arroyo de la Cruz. Specifically: Segment 1 would extend from the Elephant Seal Viewing Area (Visitor Parking Lot #4) to an area known as North Lighthouse Beach and would be located on a portion of APNs 011-221-038, -044, -046. Segment 2 would extend from North Lighthouse Beach to the PBCCP site’s northern property line and would be located on a portion of APNs 011-221-038, - 042 and 011-231-012. This segment would continue from the PBCCP site and extend to the Caltrans parking lot to be developed south of Arroyo de la Cruz Creek on portions of APNs 011-231-005, -013, -014, -018; 011-161-017, and 011-181-018, -014. The CCT will consist of a trail corridor (averaging 5 feet wide on ADA sections to allow for wheelchairs and hikers to pass each other) on land owned by State Parks, as well as 8 viewpoints and boardwalks along the trail. The entire northern segment of the CCT (from the motel to Arroyo de la Cruz) will be five feet wide with aggregate base. The Piedras Blancas Cabin and Camping Project & Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Portions of the California Coastal Trail & Vault Toilets Contents Initial Study of Environmental Impacts ............................................................................ 5 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 10 Regulatory Guidance ............................................................................................... 10 Lead Agency ............................................................................................................ 10 Background and Need for the Project ...................................................................... 11 Document Organization ........................................................................................... 12 Summary of Findings ............................................................................................... 12 2. Project Description .................................................................................................... 13 Project Location and Setting ............................................................ 13 Project Description ................................................................................................... 15 Project Objectives .................................................................................................... 32 Discretionary Approvals ................................................................... 32 Previous Approvals and CEQA Compliance ............................................................ 33 Consistency With Local Plans and Policies ...................................... 34 Standard Project Requirements ............................................................................... 35 3. Environmental Checklist ............................................................................................ 43 I. Aesthetics and Visual Resources ................................................. 43 II. Agricultural Resources ................................................................. 46 III. Air Quality ................................................................................... 49 IV. Biological Resources .................................................................. 58 V. Cultural Resources ...................................................................... 84 VI. Geology and Soils ...................................................................... 92 VII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...................................................... 99 VIII. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ......................................... 106 IX. Hydrology and Water Quality .................................................... 111 X. Land Use and Planning ............................................................. 118 XI. Mineral Resources ................................................................... 121 XII. Noise ....................................................................................... 122 California Department of Parks and Recreation i Piedras Blancas Cabin and Camping Project & Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Portions of the California Coastal Trail & Vault Toilets XIII. Population, and Housing ........................................................ 127 XIV. Public Services ...................................................................... 128 XV. Recreation .............................................................................. 130 XVI. Transportation/Traffic ............................................................. 131 XVII. Utilities and Service Systems ................................................ 134 4. Mandatory Findings Of Significance .................................................................... 139 5. Summary of Mitigation Measures ........................................................................ 141 6. References .......................................................................................................... 143 7. Report Preparation .............................................................................................. 147 8. Acronyms ............................................................................................................. 148 California Department of Parks and Recreation ii Piedras Blancas Cabin and Camping Project & Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Portions of the California Coastal Trail & Vault Toilets Figures Figure 1 – Regional Location .......................................................................................... 8 Figure 2 – General Location ............................................................................................ 9 Figure 3 -- PBCCP Proposed Site Plan and Existing Utilities ........................................ 17 Figure 4 -- Typical Campsite Layout.............................................................................. 18 Figure 5 -- PBCCP Cabin Representations ................................................................... 17 Figure 6 -- Proposed CCT North Segment A ................................................................. 25 Figure 7 -- Proposed CCT North Segment B ................................................................. 26 Figure 8 -- Proposed CCT North Segment C ................................................................ 27 Figure 9 -- Proposed CCT Trail South Segment --No Coastal Permit yet ..................... 28 Figure 10 -- Examples of Proposed Vault Toilet Visuals Design Plans for a Vault Toilet ...................................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 11 -- Example Design Plans for Vault Toilet………………………………………..31 Figure 12 – Area Included In 2008 San Luis Obispo Coast District North Coast Acquisitions Natural Resource Inventory ....................................................................... 60 California Department of Parks and Recreation iii Piedras Blancas Cabin and Camping Project & Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration Portions of the California Coastal Trail & Vault Toilets Tables