CEQA Scoping Meeting. West Desert Hot Springs Master Drainage Plan Program Environmental Impact Report

Transcription

1 CEQA Scoping Meeting West Desert Hot Springs Master Drainage Plan Program Environmental Impact Report CEQA Lead Agency: City of Desert Hot Springs January 8, 2014

2 Scoping Meeting Agenda 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Purpose of CEQA and a Scoping Meeting 3. CEQA Process for Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) 4. West Desert Hot Springs Master Drainage Plan (MDP) Overview 5. Next Steps

3 Introductions City of Desert Hot Springs Martin Magana, Rudy Acosta Riverside County Flood Control Stuart McKibbin, Mark Wills, Edwin Quinonez, Jason Swenson City of Palm Springs Carol Templeton BonTerra Consulting Kristin Keeling, Josephine Alido PACE Engineering, Inc. Bruce Phillips

4 Purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 1. Inform decision-makers and public about the potential significant environmental impacts of proposed projects; 2. Identify ways that environmental damage can be avoided or significantly reduced; 3. Prevent significant avoidable damage to the environment by requiring changes in the project through the use of alternatives and/or mitigation; and 4. Disclose to the public the reasons why an agency approved a project if significant impacts are involved.

5 Scoping Meeting Purpose To facilitate consultation between the Lead Agency and: responsible and trustee agencies adjacent cities/counties public agencies with jurisdiction over the project interested organizations or individuals to determine the scope and content of the environmental information to be analyzed in the EIR.

6 CEQA Environmental Topics Aesthetics Agriculture & Forestry Resources Air Quality Biological Resources Cultural Resources Geology & Soils Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hazards & Hazardous Materials Land Use and Planning Mineral Resources Noise Population & Housing Public Services Recreation Transportation & Traffic Utilities & Service Systems Hydrology & Water Quality

7 CEQA Process Initial Study & Notice of Preparation A preliminary analysis to determine potential significant impacts Issues can be scoped out Circulated December 18, 2013 for a 30-day review Scoping Meeting Gather input on scope and content of EIR Prepare Program EIR 45-Day Public Review for Program EIR Program EIR available for review and comment Anticipated July/August 2014

8 CEQA Process (continued ) Responses to Comments Responses to all comments sent to the City on the Program EIR are prepared and included in the Final EIR Findings/Statement of Overriding Considerations If significant impacts result, the Lead Agency must decide that either (1) the impacts were avoided or mitigated, or (2) specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other reasons make mitigation/alternatives infeasible. City Council Hearings Anticipated December 2014

9 MDP PLAN PROCESS & BACKGROUND

10 Project Study Area

11 WATERSHED PLANNING PROCESS Project Objectives Water Conservation Costs Sediment Transport Flood Control Water Quality Economic Benefits Environmental Recreation

12 Watershed Stakeholder Committee Process Local Watershed Stakeholder Input City Desert Hot Springs City Palm Springs Environmental County Landowners

13 Regional Watersheds

14 Existing Mapped Flood Hazards

15 Overall Recommended Plan

16 Regional Systems Recommended Regional Plan Levee Alignments for Hydraulics / Sediment Transport / CVMSHCP

17 Summary of MDP Plan Features Regional Flood Control Facilities 10.6 miles of concrete slope lined earthen levee systems for both Morongo Wash (8.5 miles) and Mission Creek (2.1 miles) Widening and slope lining channel improvements for 4.7 miles of Mission Creek Removal of 2,820 acres of existing mapped flood hazards

18 Summary of MDP Plan Features Regional Flood Control Facilities 2 new and 1 replacement allweather bridges (lifeline access) Floodplain management for Garnet Wash 1,400 acres (e.g. land use restrictions) 3 groundwater recharge basins total of 218 acres 4 urban water quality treatment basins

19 Summary of MDP Plan Features Local Drainage Facilities 37 different drainage systems Approximately 49.9 miles of local drainage facilities 9 detention basins totaling approximately 126 acres for the local watershed systems ranging in size from 7.4 acres to 51.5 acres

20 Project Status and Next Steps

21 Opportunities for Public Input 30-Day Initial Study and NOP Review Period (December 18th through January 20th) Scoping Meetings (2:00 PM and 6:00 PM on January 8, 2014) 45-Day Program EIR Review Period (Anticipated July/August 2014) City Council Hearings (Anticipated December 2014)

22 Providing Your Input Send written comments to: Mr. Martin Magana City of Desert Hot Springs Pierson Boulevard Desert Hot Springs, CA View Initial Study & NOP at: Desert Hot Springs Library & Palm Springs Library Riverside County Flood Control Office City of Desert Hot Springs City Hall City of Palm Springs

23 Comments and Questions

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