IID Managed Marsh Complex: Final Site Selection and CEQA Compliance

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Jennifer Crawford
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1 IID Managed Marsh Complex: Final Site Selection and CEQA Compliance June 17, 2008 Tina Shields, P.E. Ellen Spellman, Esq.

2 What is the Managed Marsh Complex? Constructed and managed aquatic habitat intended to mitigate IID Drain O&M impacts to HCP-covered species. HCP, EIR/EIS, State Board Order, CDFG 2081 permit. Mitigation commitment is up to 959 acres ~ 618 ac open-water/fresh emergent marsh ~ 341 ac riparian woodland/scrub Intended to benefit many of 96 proposed covered species. IID-owned land transferred to Calif. Dept Fish and Game for management over 75-year permit term. Primary benefit of the managed marsh is a secure long-term assurance in a changing regulatory environment.

3 What is the Managed Marsh Complex? Yuma Clapper Rail Prefer cattail dominated marshes Shallow water depths Maintain constant water depth, especially during breeding and nesting season Flowing water Areas of vegetated drier high ground immediately adjacent to wetter marsh areas for rearing of young Shallow inundated (ponded) areas used for foraging

4 Managed Marsh Process & Schedule Managed Marsh Public Meetings and Reports Various meetings and discussions with Farm Bureau, WCAB, QSA JPA,, and interested parties January 9, 2007 IID Board of Directors meeting MM status report January 16, 2007 IID Board of Directors Special Meeting MM Workshop February 6, 2007 IID Board of Directors MM status report March 29, 2007 Managed Marsh public workshop January 15, 2008 IID Board of Directors meeting MM status report Supplement to EIR for Managed Marsh (MM SEIR) Notice of Preparation (NOP) for MM SEIR issued December 10, 2007; ; 30-day comment period Notice of Availability (NOA) and Draft MM SEIR released January 30, 2008; 45-day comment period Final MM SEIR released June 10, 2008 MM information agenda - IID Board of Directors meeting June 17, 2008 MM action agenda - IID Board of Directors meeting June 24, 2008 Project website

5 Managed Marsh Implementation Construction Schedule Late 2008: complete engineered design and begin earthwork Early 2009: complete earthwork and infrastructure improvements Mid-2009: marsh plants installed Permit Requirements November 2009: 1/3 complete ~ acres marsh habitat November 2014: 2/3 complete ~640 acres marsh habitat November 2019: finish MM; complete ~959 acres composed of 618 acres marsh habitat (open water/emergent vegetation) and 341 acres tree/shrub habitat

6 SEIR Evaluates 4 Site Alternatives

Proposed Site English Road Site Pros Large block of contiguous ground Site preferred by the Farm Bureau Highest percentage (61%) of land currently idle/majority of remaining leases due to expire

7 Proposed Site English Road Site Pros Large block of contiguous ground Site preferred by the Farm Bureau Highest percentage (61%) of land currently idle/majority of remaining leases due to expire 6/2008 Proximity to water reuse opportunities Site Cons Proximity to geothermal resources Primary SSIP route intersection Smallest percentage mineral/geothermal rights held by IID Lowest historical water use

8 Alternative 1 Railroad Site Site Pros 50% of land currently idle Majority of mineral/geothermal rights held by IID Built-in buffers (from railroad) Site Cons Adjacent to geothermal resources Adjacent to railroad (commercial transportation access) Alternate SSIP route intersection Smallest site, additional lands may be needed to buffer adequately Contiguity

Alternative 2 East Highline Site Site Pros Large block of contiguous land Majority of mineral/geothermal rights held by IID 55% of land currently idle Outside all potential

9 Alternative 2 East Highline Site Site Pros Large block of contiguous land Majority of mineral/geothermal rights held by IID 55% of land currently idle Outside all potential geothermal resource areas Proximity to water supply Highest historical water usage Site Cons Primary SSIP route intersection Site previously opposed by agricultural community

10 Alternative 3 Wiest Road Site Site Pros Large block of contiguous land Outside all potential geothermal resource areas No proposed Energy projects identified Higher historical water usage Site Cons Currently the most actively farmed (but the majority of leases due to expire by 6/2009)

11 Adjacent Mineral Resources

12 Salton Sea Interconnection Project (SSIP) Transmission Line Routes

13 Energy Queue Project List

14 Managed Marsh CEQA Compliance 1. Discretionary actions by Board Select location Authorize construction Approve conveyance 2. Prior environmental assessment Conservation measure in 2002 Draft HCP Assessed in Transfer Project EIR/EIS (up to 652 acres) Adopted as mitigation measure by IID Board (10/3/03) Included as condition in existing permits: ESA take permit CESA take permit State Board Order

15 Managed Marsh CEQA Compliance 3. Supplemental assessment Required if: New (or substantially more severe) significant impacts New information shows new (or substantially more severe) significant impacts Draft Supplement: circulated for public review Final Supplement: responds to comments; no substantial changes

16 Managed Marsh CEQA Compliance Supplemental Assessment Shows: 1 new significant Air Quality impact: emissions (Nox) from construction vehicles, based on new ICAPCD daily threshold All feasible mitigation measures/bmps already adopted or recommended Impact remains potentially significant and unmitigable Affects Proposed Site and Alternative Sites 1 more severe Agriculture impact: increase in amount of converted agricultural land No feasible mitigation measure Impact remains significant and unmitigable Affects Proposed Site and Alternative Sites No new significant information, but includes assessment of global climate change Impact too speculative to assess impact, make significance determination, or identify mitigation measures

17 Managed Marsh CEQA Compliance 4. CEQA Findings Incorporates findings required by CEQA Sufficiency of Supplement Significance of impacts Feasibility of mitigation measures, alternatives Includes proposed Statement of Overriding Considerations Must be adopted by Board where impacts are significant, unavoidable Considerations: Satisfies existing IID commitments, permit requirements Mitigated to the extent feasible Mitigates for, helps achieve benefits of, Transfer Project (e.g., long-term protection of IID's water rights and viability of ag) Mitigates for IID's ongoing O&M Supports issuance of long-term compliance under proposed HCP/NCCP Provides beneficial habitat

18 Managed Marsh CEQA Compliance 5. Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Updated version of MMRP adopted for Transfer Project in 10/2003 Includes all mitigation measures recommended in Supplement

19 Additional Information

Imperial Irrigation District Water Conservation and Transfer Project Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Program

Imperial Irrigation District Water Conservation and Transfer Project Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Program Imperial Irrigation District September 2003 Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Program