SOAP LAKE FLOODPLAIN PRESERVATION PROJECT

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1 SOAP LAKE FLOODPLAIN PRESERVATION PROJECT Draft Initial Study and Negative Declaration Prepared for: Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority A joint powers authority with representation from: - County of Monterey - County of San Benito - County of Santa Clara - County of Santa Cruz - Monterey County Water Resources Agency - San Benito County Water District - Santa Clara Valley Water District - Santa Cruz County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7 September 2004 Raines, Melton and Carella, Inc N. Main Street, Suite N. First Street, Suite Geary Street, Suite Data Drive, Suite 350 Walnut Creek, CA San Jose, CA San Francisco, CA Sacramento, CA (925) (408) (415) (916)

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ES-1 1. INTRODUCTION Background 1-1 Legal Authority 1-1 Watershed Setting Project Objectives Pajaro River Watershed Study 1-5 Phase 1 Stream Flow Modeling 1-5 Phase 2 Development of Flood Protection Alternatives 1-8 Phase 3 Selection of Projects and CEQA Analysis 1-8 Phase 4 Preliminary Design of Projects CEQA Process 1-9 Public Outreach and Consensus Building Other Related Projects PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND ALTERNATIVES Preliminary Screening of Alternatives Floodplain Management County Policies Flood Protection Other Benefits Methods for Preserving Soap Lake Alternatives Considered But Eliminated ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM Aesthetics Agriculture Resources Air Quality Biological Resources 3.5 Cultural Resources Geology and Soils Hazards and Hazardous Materials Hydrology and Water Quality Land Use and Planning Mineral Resources Noise Population and Housing Public Services Recreation Transportation/Traffic Utilities and Service Systems Mandatory Findings of Significance REPORT PREPARATION References Consultation and Coordination List of Reviewers and Preparers 4-6 September 2004 Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority ii

4 5. DISTRIBUTION LIST 5-1 APPENDIX A PHOTOGRAPHS APPENDIX B COUNTY GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATIONS APPENDIX B-1 APPENDIX B-2 SAN BENITO COUNTY GENERAL PLAN SANTA CLARA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN APPENDIX C CITY OF GILROY AGRICULTURAL MITIGATION POLICY APPENDIX D CALIFORNIA NATURAL DIVERSITY DATABASE RESULTS APPENDIX E CULTURAL RESOURCES RECORDS SEARCH APPENDIX F ARMY CORPS PUBLIC NOTICE WILDLANDS INC. September 2004 Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority iii

5 FIGURES Figure Figure 1-1 Project Location Figure 1-2 Pajaro River Watershed County Boundaries Figure 1-3 Pajaro River Watershed Topographic Features Figure Year Flood Peak Design Flows on the Lower Pajaro River Figure 2-1 Soap Lake Floodplain Figure 2-2 Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements Obtained within the Soap Lake Floodplain Figure 3-1 Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance Figure 3-2 Williamson Act Lands Figure 3-3 Figure 3-4 Threatened and Endangered Species within the Soap Lake Floodplain Trail Routes within the Soap Lake Floodplain Figure 3-5 Major Pipelines within the Soap Lake Floodplain PHOTOGRAPHS Photo Photo 1-1 Soap Lake Floodplain TABLES Table Table 1-1 Hydraulic Model Peak Flows Based on General Plan Buildout Conditions Table 3-1 Farmland Classifcations Table 3-2 Special Status Species within the Soap Lake Floodplain Table 3-3 Recorded Cultural Resource Sites within the 100-year Floodplain Table 3-4 Facilities Located within the 100-year Floodplain September 2004 Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority iv

6 LIST OF ACRONYMS Acronym Full Phrase APE ARM Authority BAAQMD CDMG CEQA CFCP CHP CNPS Corps CRS ESA ESU Farmland FEIS FEMA HAP HCP LPRCD MRZs NCCP NED NFIP NMFS NRCS PTE PVWMA Reclamation SMARA TPY USFWS VTA Area of Potential Effect Archaeological Resources Management Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority Bay Area Air Quality Management District California Division of Mines and Geology California Environmental Quality Act California Farmland Conservancy Program California Highway Patrol California Native Plant Society Army Corps of Engineers Community Rating System Endangered Species Act Evolutionarily Significant Unit Farmland of Statewide Importance Final Environmental Impact Statement Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazardous Air Pollutant Habitat Conservation Plans Loma Prieta Resource Conservation District Mineral Resource Zones Natural Communities Conservation Plans National Economic Development National Flood Insurance Program National Marine Fisheries Service Natural Resource Conservation Service potential to emit Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency The Bureau of Reclamation Surface Mining and Reclamation Act ton per year US Fish and Wildlife Service Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority September 2004 Pajaro River Watershed Flood Prevention Authority v