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4.13 FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES <br /> This section describes the fisheries and aquatic resources in the vicinity of the project and in the greater <br /> Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta(Delta) and provides an assessment of the potential water quality-related effects of <br /> implementation of the proposed project on these resources for parameters not fully addressed in Section 4.9, <br /> "Hydrology and Water Quality."Please refer to Section 4.9 for assessments of potential contaminant-related <br /> effects of the project on fisheries and aquatic resources. This evaluation uses existing information from previously <br /> completed documents that address fisheries and aquatic resources in the project vicinity, including the following: <br /> ► Thermal Plan Exception Analysis Final Report(LWA 2006); <br /> ► Near and Far Field Dilution Analysis of the Manteca Wastewater Discharge(RMA 2006); and <br /> ► Antidegradation Analysis for proposed Wastewater Quality Control Facility Discharge Modification (LWA <br /> 2007). <br /> The results and information from these reports and others are summarized in this section. Copies of these reports <br /> are available for review at the City of Manteca Pubic Works Department during normal business hours(i.e., 8 <br /> a.m. to 5 p.m.). In addition,the Near and Far Field Dilution Analysis of the Manteca Wastewater Discharge <br /> (RMA 2006)and Antidegradation Analysis for proposed Wastewater Quality Control Facility Discharge <br /> Modification(LWA 2007)reports are included as Appendices F and C of this Draft EIR respectively. Sufficient <br /> detail is provided in this section to analyze issues related to fisheries and aquatic resources at a project level of <br /> detail for both the first phase (Phase IV) (capacity increase from 9.87 to 17.5 million gallons per day(mgd) <br /> average dry weather flow [ADWF]) and second phase(Phase V) (capacity increase from 17.5 to 27 mgd ADWF) <br /> of the proposed project. <br /> 4.13.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING <br /> This section contains a summary of the aquatic habitats, fish populations, and benthic macroinvertebrates in the <br /> San Joaquin River and Delta in the vicinity of the proposed project. <br /> AQUATIC HABITATS <br /> The principal surface water bodies in the project vicinity include the San Joaquin River and the Delta. The legal <br /> boundary of the Delta extends upstream, in the San Joaquin River,to Vernalis. The City of Manteca Wastewater <br /> Quality Control Facility(WQCF)discharges treated effluent into the San Joaquin River immediately upstream of <br /> the Western Pacific Railroad bridge. The water bodies potentially affected by effluent discharges from the WQCF <br /> are those within the legal boundary of the Delta, including the San Joaquin River in the vicinity of the point of <br /> discharge and the downstream portions of the Delta. <br /> The San Joaquin River in the vicinity of the WQCF is characterized by a wide (approximately 300 feet)channel <br /> with little canopy or overhead vegetation and minimal bank cover.Aquatic habitat in the San Joaquin River is <br /> characterized primarily by slow moving glides and pools, is depositional in nature, and has limited water clarity <br /> and habitat diversity. Many of the fish species utilizing the San Joaquin River in the vicinity of Manteca use this <br /> lower segment of the river to some degree, even if only as a migratory pathway to and from upstream spawning <br /> and rearing areas. The lower river also is used by certain fish species(e.g., delta smelt)that make little to no use <br /> of areas in the upper segment of the river. <br /> FISH POPULATIONS <br /> The Delta and San Francisco Bay comprise the largest estuary on the west coast. More than 200 species of marine <br /> and freshwater fish rely on its unique habitat characteristics for one or more of their life stages (CALFED 2000). <br /> Manteca WQCF and Collection System Master Plans EIR EDAW <br /> City of Manteca 4.13-1 Fisheries and Aquatic Resources <br />