Central Amador Water Project (CAWP) Water Right Application Environmental Impact Report FINAL SCH #2016092008 Lead Agency: Amador Water Agency 12800 Ridge Road Sutter Creek, CA 95685 Contact: Gene Mancebo 209.223.3018 Prepared By: September 2017 Amador Water Agency CAWP Water Right Application Table of Contents Environmental Impact Report FINAL This page intentionally left blank. Amador Water Agency CAWP Water Right Application Table of Contents Environmental Impact Report FINAL Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................ ES-1 ES-1 Introduction .............................................................................................. ES-1 ES-2 Project Location ....................................................................................... ES-2 ES-3 Purpose and Need ................................................................................... ES-2 ES-4 CEQA Objectives ..................................................................................... ES-2 ES-5 Summary of Impacts ................................................................................ ES-2 Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Compliance with CEQA ............................................................................... 1-1 1.2.1 State Requirements .................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.2 CEQA EIR Process ..................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.3 Action on the Project ................................................................................... 1-4 1.2.4 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting ............................................................ 1-5 1.3 Organization of this EIR .............................................................................. 1-5 Chapter 2 Proposed Project ..................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Project Location .......................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Background ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.3.1 Water Rights ............................................................................................... 2-4 2.4 Project Description ...................................................................................... 2-5 2.4.1 Purpose and Need ...................................................................................... 2-5 2.4.2 Project Objectives ....................................................................................... 2-5 2.4.3 Project Desciption ....................................................................................... 2-5 2.4.4 Management Practices for CAWP Water Supply ........................................ 2-6 2.4.5 Existing Facilities and Operational Requirements ....................................... 2.8 2.4.6 Required Permit ........................................................................................ 2-98 2.5 References ................................................................................................ 2-98 Chapter 3 Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation ........................................................... 3.0-1 3.0 Introduction to Environmental Analysis .................................................... 3.0-1 3.0.1 Organization of Chapter 3 ........................................................................ 3.0-1 3.0.2 Organization of Discussion of Environmental Issue Areas ....................... 3.0-1 3.0.3 Approach to Analysis of Cumulative Impacts ........................................... 3.0-2 3.0.4 References ............................................................................................... 3.0-4 3.1 Hydrology ................................................................................................. 3.1-1 3.1.1 Environmental Setting .............................................................................. 3.1-1 3.1.2 Regulatory Framework ............................................................................. 3.1-1 3.1.3 Impact Analysis ........................................................................................ 3.1-2 3.1.4 References ............................................................................................... 3.1-7 September 2017 i Amador Water Agency CAWP Water Right Application Table of Contents Environmental Impact Report FINAL 3.2 Biological Resources ................................................................................ 3.2-1 3.2.1 Environmental Setting .............................................................................. 3.2-1 3.2.2 Regulatory Framework ............................................................................. 3.2-2 3.2.3 Impact Analysis ........................................................................................ 3.2-2 3.2.4 References ............................................................................................... 3.2-5 3.3 Growth Inducement .................................................................................. 3.3-1 3.3.1 Consideration of Growth Inducement under CEQA.................................. 3.3-1 3.3.2 Growth Inducement .................................................................................. 3.3-1 3.3.3 Constraints to Growth .............................................................................. 3.3-2 3.3.4 Projected Extent of Growth in CAWP Service Area ................................. 3.3-3 3.3.5 Indirect Impacts Associated with Growth ............................................... 3.3-65 3.3.4 References ........................................................................................... 3.3-110 Chapter 4 Other CEQA Considerations ................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Significant and Unavoidable Impacts .......................................................... 4-1 4.2 Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes .......................................... 4-1 4.3 Effects Not Found to be Significant ............................................................. 4-1 4.4 Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................................... 4-1 4.5 Alternatives Evaluation ................................................................................ 4-1 4.5.1 Methodology ............................................................................................... 4-1 4.5.2 Reduced Growth Alternative ....................................................................... 4-2 4.5.3 No Project Alternative ................................................................................. 4-3 4.5.4 Comparison of Alternatives ......................................................................... 4-3 4.5.5 Environmentally Superior Alternative .......................................................... 4-3 4.6 References .................................................................................................. 4-4 Chapter 5 Report Preparers ....................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Amador Water Agency ................................................................................ 5-1 5.2 RMC Water and Environment ..................................................................... 5-1 5.3 AD Consultants ........................................................................................... 5-1 5.4 Hanson Environmental, Inc. ........................................................................ 5-1 Chapter 6 Response to Comments ........................................................................... 6-1 6.0 Introduction ................................................................................................. 6-1 6.1 Comment Letter 1 – Caltrans District 10, Michele Demetras, Associate Transportation Planner ................................................................................ 6-2 6.2 Comment Letter 2 – United Auburn Indian Community, Gene Whitehouse, Chairman ...................................................................... 6-2 6.3 Comment Letter 3 – East Bay Municipal Utility District, Lena L. Tam, Manager Water Resources Planning .......................................................... 6-2 6.4 Comment Letter 4 – Foothill Conservancy, Thomas P. Infusino ................. 6-5 6.5 Comment Letter 5 – Ratepayer Protection Association, Ken Berry ........... 6-19 September 2017 ii Amador Water Agency CAWP Water Right Application Table of Contents Environmental Impact Report FINAL 6.6 Comment Letter 6 – State of California, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, State Clearinghouse and Planning Unit, Scott Morgan, Director ..................................................................................................... 6-23 Chapter 7 Comment Letters ....................................................................................... 7-1 List of Tables Table ES-1 Summary of Potential Project Impacts ...............................................