ARCHIVED REPORTS_1993_1 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

III. Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigations F. Vegetation and Wildlife Project plans indicate this feature would measure 4.3 acres in areal extent. This feature would be fenced to restrict access. Collectively, approximately 11.3 acres(7.0 acres of realigned creek and 4.3 acres of detention basin)of surface water features would be constructed as part of the proposed project. The existing on-site portion of the North Branch of the South Fork of Little Johns Creek has been extensively modified and degraded by historic and on-going site operations. With the exception of the valley oaks discussed below,this feature neither supports developed natural plant communities nor provides habitat for special status plant and animal species due to historic and on-going disturbance and maintenance,as well as possible poor water quality. Based on observations made during ESA's biological site investigations,this feature is not frequently used by local wildlife species(i.e.,few wildlife species were observed within this waterway). However,the project would impact greater than 1.0 acre of area potentially under jurisdiction of the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Projects that fill more than 1.0 acre of wetland or other"waters of the U.S." require predischarge notification of the regulatory section of the Corps,and must subsequently obtain a nationwide or individual permit from the Corps3. Additionally, as the fill would exceed 2.0 acres,the RWQCB would require a mitigation plan, a public hearing,and approval of the water quality certification by the State Water Resources Control Board prior to formal issuance of Section 401 water quality certification. Section 401 water quality certification is necessary prior to final issuance of the Section 404 individual or nationwide permit. Execution of a Section 1603 Streambed Alteration Agreement with the CDFG may also be required for relocation of this drainage prior to initiation of any on-site modification. The project 3 Currently,the mean annual flow of the portion of Little Johns Creek on the site is not known,as the stream is not gauged. The peak flow at the downstream property boundary has been estimated at 134 cfs(see Section K). If the impacted portion of the Creek has a mean annual flow of 5 cubic feet per second(cfs)or more,or a flow of greater than five cfs more than 50 percent of the time,the Creek would be considered"below the headwaters"and an individual permit from the Corps'would be required for channel filling and relocation(see Appendix A for a discussion of the regulatory process involved in obtaining Corps and Regional Water Quality Control Board [RWQCB]permits). As part of the individual permit application process,the proponent would also be required to complete a Section 404(b)(1)alternatives analysis to demonstrate that there are no environmentally superior project alternatives that would reduce or eliminate identified impacts to jurisdictional features. If the mean annual flow is less than 5 cfs,and other conditions of the nationwide permit program and met,a Nationwide Permit#26 would suffice(Kavanaugh, 1993). The project proponent should calculate the mean annual flow of the portion of the Little Johns Creek proposed for impact prior to initiating consultation with the Corps. HI.F.22