A. Road Maintenance Activities, Temporary Haul Roads and Borrow Sites. Within the boundaries of the HCP area, incidental take of SKR during the course of otherwise lawful activities may occur in connection with a member agency's performance of maintenance activities necessary to provide safe travel on public roadways, the construction of temporary haul roads, and the creation of temporary borrow sites without obtaining further approval or authorization from the RCHCA, USFWS and CDFG. Such incidental take of the SKR may occur whether the subject property is inside or outside the boundaries of a core reserve. For purpose of this HCP, the term "road maintenance activities" shall include, but not be limited to, the following activities: 1. Signage. The installation and maintenance of signs to control traffic speed, stops, or to clearly identify potentially hazardous conditions such as curves, narrow roads, etc. 2. Traffic Control Devices. The installation and maintenance of traffic control devices including, but not limited to, signing, street lights, striping, pavement markings, flashing beacons, and traffic signals in order to control, regulate, and provide guidance to traffic movements and to clearly identify potentially hazardous conditions. 3. Guardrails and Fences. The installation, replacement and maintenance of guardrails and fences solely for vehicle and pedestrian safety. 4. Pavement Repairs. Pothole repair, chipseal, skin patching, slurry sealing, and resurfacing of roadways performed for the purpose of reducing roadway hazards. 5. Tree Trimming. Routine tree and shrub trimming within road rights-of-way to improve sight distance and eliminate potential roadway blockage, fixed hazards, or hazards resulting from limited sight distance. 6. Natural Disaster Damage/Restoration of Emergency Access. Clearance of debris, rocks, and other natural material from roadways that results from natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes, and fire. Such actions shall be necessary for public safety, especially in providing vehicular movement during emergency operations. 7. Storm Damage. Clearance of mud and debris accumulated on the roadway due to a storm event. Road crews will complete these projects as soon as possible following the end of a storm event, and may use the excess mud on the roadway as fill for the shoulders. 8. Weed Control. Control of vegetation within road rights-of-way (including graded shoulder areas and open or closed channels) by means of mowing, discing, hand labor, or herbicide application in order to control weed populations and eliminate sight distance problems, roadway hazards, prevent fires, and provide proper drainage. This includes the control of weeds and grasses in revegetated mitigation areas and landscaped areas in order to allow plant establishment by the methods outlined above.
9. Grading Shoulders. Shoulder grading up to 12 feet from the edge of paved or unpaved roadways in order to reduce accident potential and improve safety. Additional fill material may be needed to restore the original grade at the edge of the pavement; such material may consist of dirt, gravel, decomposed granite, or rip rap. 10. Grading Existing Dirt Roadways. Grading of existing County-maintained dirt roadways in order to reduce accident potential and improve safety. 11. Dust Stabilization. The placement of dust stabilizers on the soil including, but not limited to, magnesium chloride, permazion, penetration and gravel, in order to prevent erosion, provide dust control and improve sight distance when traffic visibility is reduced due to dust clouds. 12. Culverts/Drop Structures. Construction, replacement, and cleaning out of culverts/drop structures in areas where flooding hazards may arise. This includes the clearing of brush, sand, sediment, debris, and other obstructions to flow. 13. Curbs/Gutters/Sidewalks. Construction, replacement, and repair of curbs, gutters and sidewalks as necessary in order to reduce vehicular and pedestrian accident potential, improve safety and prevent storm damage. 14. Roadway Widening. Minor widening consisting of 2 to 4 feet or less than a lane width (12 feet) of an existing roadway which is necessary for safety reasons. 15. Rolled Berms. Construction of rolled berms as part of a resurfacing project to control drainage. 16. Roadway Resurfacing. Grinding the pavement surface, relaying the pavement, and grading of dirt shoulders. 17. Ditch Clearing. Clearing of ditches and stabilization of the banks of drainage courses along roadways. 18. Landscape Maintenance. Maintenance and repair of irrigation systems, landscape plantings, and associated landscape facilities. 19. Bridge Maintenance. Removal of vegetation, debris, sand, silt, sediment, and other obstructions to flow. The term "temporary haul roads" includes those roads necessary to construct a permanent public road facility and which is only used during the construction of the public road facility. The term "temporary borrow site" includes any site temporarily used as a source of fill material for a project at another location. Within core reserves RCHCA member agencies will mitigate impacts to the SKR for the construction of temporary haul roads and the creation of temporary borrow sites by restoring haul roads and temporary borrow sites to a condition allowing recolonization by SKR. Site
restoration may include the preparation and implementation of a revegetation plan in consultation with USFWS and CDFG. Outside of core reserves, construction of temporary haul roads or creation of temporary borrow sites is covered under the discussion of public facility operations and maintenance activities presented in Chapter 5(C) of this HCP. B. Water and Flood Control Operations and Maintenance Activities As generally described in Chapter 5, this HCP is intended to allow for incidental take of SKR occurring in conjunction with all operational and maintenance activities conducted by MWD and other water districts in the plan area. Such activities are essential to the continued provision of adequate water supplies for present and future residents of western Riverside County. Within the boundaries of the HCP area, incidental take of the SKR during the course of otherwise lawful activities may occur in connection with the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation Districts' performance of maintenance activities necessary to ensure that flood control facilities continue to provide the design level of flood protection to which the facilities were constructed, to protect the public's investment, to prevent loss of life and property and to comply with local ordinances and regulations, the regulations pertaining to the National Flood Insurance Program and other federally mandated programs without obtaining further approval or authorization from the RCHCA, USFWS and CDPG. Such incidental take of the SKR may occur whether the subject property is inside or outside the boundaries of a core reserve. For purposes of this HCP, the following terms are hereby defined: 1. Bridges. Structures greater than 20 feet in length which span depressions or obstacles, usually drainage courses or channels. 2. Closed Channel. Underground storm sewers designed to collect and convey storm water runoff. 3. Culverts. Closed conduits, other than a bridge, which allow water to pass under a road. Culverts have a span of less than 20 feet; if multispan, individual spans are each 20 feet or less. 4. Improved Channel. A waterway in which significant man-made alteration has occurred to improve the passage of flood flows, including straightening and containing the flows within constructed banks (including levees) and concretelined, riprap or earth trapezoidal channels with engineered banks. 5. Improved Basin. A facility which has been designed and constructed to temporarily impound flood waters and/or debris during times of flood flows. An improved basin is typically located along a natural watercourse and has flood waters and/or debris delivered to it via the watercourse or an improved basin may be located apart from a natural watercourse and have flood waters and/or debris delivered to it via an improved channel or underground storm drain system.
6. Maintenance. The removal of sand, silt, sediment, debris, rubbish, woody and herbaceous vegetation and other obstructions to flow, the control of weeds, grasses and emergent vegetation and the repair and/or replacement, cleaning and clearing of constructed channel or basin improvements all as necessary to maintain the structural integrity and capacity of the improved channel(s) or basin(s). 7. Open Channels. Open channels include flood control channels (both lined and unlined), drainage swales, roadside drainage ditches, flow lines, and natural drainange courses. The term "flood control facilities/maintenance activities" shall include but shall not be limited to the following activities: 1. 1. Control of weeds and grasses on maintenance roads and on the areas between the top of banks (improved channel and improved basin) and adjacent property to comply with local fire regulations and to provide a safe travel way to conduct facility inspection and maintenance activities by mowing, discing, hand labor or herbicide application. 2. 2. Control of weeds and grasses, and emergent aquatic vegetation on earthen channel bottoms and banks to maintain channel design capacity, or to comply with local fire regulations, or to conduct facility inspection. Vegetation control will be accomplished by mowing, hand labor or herbicide application. 3. 3. Control of weeds and grasses on the basin banks to comply with local fire regulations or to conduct facility inspection by mowing, hand labor or herbicide application. 4. 4. Control of weeds and grasses in revegetated mitigation areas and landscaped areas to allow plant establishment by mowing, discing, hand labor or herbicide application. 5. 5. Removal of vegetation, sand, silt, sediment and debris and other obstructions to flow within the immediate vicinity (not to exceed 100 feet) of the following structures: (1) stream flow measuring stations; (2) culverts and bridges; (3) storm drain outfall structures; (4) drop structures (energy dissipaters), and (5) basin inlet and outlet structures, to maintain the structures design function. Surface flowing water, if any, will be diverted, if possible, from the work area when using equipment in the improved channel or improved basin. 6. 6. Control and/or removal of woody and herbaceous vegetation with large tractorpulled rotary mowers or equivalent and/or hand labor and tools on channel bottoms and channel banks to maintain channel design capacity. 7. 7. Control and/or removal of woody and herbaceous vegetation, weeds and grasses with large tractor-pulled rotary mowers or equivalent and/or hand labor tools on basin bottoms to comply with local fire regulations or to minimize the potential for obstructing the basin outlet structure. 8. 8. Removal of trees or branches that are in imminent danger of falling, fallen trees and associated debris to maintain the channel or basin outlet structure design capacity. 9. 9. Removal of accumulated sand, silt, sediment, woody and herbaceous vegetation, debris, rubbish and other obstructions from concrete-lined or rocklined channels or transition sections to maintain design capacity. 10. 10. Removal of accumulated sand, silt, sediment, debris, rubbish and other obstructions or accumulations in improved channels with unlined channel bottoms to maintain channel or basin design capacity. 11. 11. Removal of accumulated sand, silt, sediment, debris, rubbish and other obstructions or accumulations in improved channels with unlined channel bottoms to maintain low flow
channel design capacity or, when necessary, to provide fish passage or habitat identified in District environmental documents. 12. 12. Repair of failed sections of rock, gabion, masonry block, rail and wire, concrete-lined, gunite, grouted concrete riprap or other bank protections to maintain bank stabilization measures or drop structures to provide invert stabilization measures. Surface flowing water, if any, will be diverted from the work area, if possible, when using equipment in the improved channel. Maintenance activities shall be confined to the section affected by the failure. Upon maintenance activity completion, disturbed portions of the channel bottom shall be scarified from the work site to the equipment entrance where equipment traffic has caused compaction of the streambed soil materials. 13. 13. Restoration of eroded earth levees or channel and basin banks previously installed and/or maintained for public health and safety. Surface flowing water, if any, will be diverted from the work area, if possible, when using equipment in the improved channel or improved basin. 14. 14. Scarify bottom of improved channel(s) or improved basin(s) by discing, ripping or bulldozing for the purpose of increasing the percolation rate related to the promotion of groundwater recharge. 15. 15. Control of borrowing rodents in channel, basin (including dam embankment) or levee banks with application of rodenticides. 16. 16. Removal of accumulated sand, silt, sediment, woody and herbaceous vegetation, debris, rubbish and other obstructions from basin bottoms including low flow "wet" areas by mowing, discing, bulldozing, hand labor or herbicide application. C. Landfill and Other Waste Management Facilities Operation and Maintenance Activities, Temporary Haul Roads and Borrow Sites. Within the boundaries of the HCP area, incidental take of SKR during the course of otherwise lawful activities may occur in connection with the Riverside County Waste Resources Management District's or assignee's performance of operational and maintenance activities necessary to provide for the safe operation, closure and post-closure maintenance activities of landfills and other waste management facilities, the construction of temporary haul roads, and the creation of temporary borrow sites without obtaining further approval or authorization from the RCHCA, USFWS and CDFG. Such incidental take of the SKR may occur whether the subject property is inside or outside the boundaries of a core reserve. For purposes of this HCP, the term "landfill and other waste management facilities operational and maintenance activities" shall include but shall not be limited to the following activities: 1. Signage. The installation and maintenance of signs to control traffic speed, stops, or to clearly identify potentially hazardous conditions such as cross traffic, curves, narrow roads, etc. 2. Guardrails and Fences. The installation, replacement and maintenance of guardrails and fences for vehicle and pedestrian safety, litter control, etc. 3. Pavement Repairs. Pothole repair, chipseal, skin patching and resurfacing of roadways in order to reduce roadway hazards.
4. Tree Trimming. Routine tree and shrub trimming to improve sight distance and eliminate potential roadway blockage. 5. Natural Disaster Damage/Restoration of Emergency Access. Clearance of debris, rocks, and other natural material from on site roadways that results from natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes, and fire. 6. Storm Drains. Construction and repair of storm drains and clearance of mud and debris accumulated on the roadway due to a storm event. Work crews shall complete these projects immediately following the end of a storm event and may use the excess mud on the roadways as fill for the shoulders. 7. Weed Spraying/Mowing. Spraying and mowing of weeds and vegetation within graded shoulder areas in order to control hazards, and prevent fires. 8. Grading Shoulders. Shoulder grading up to 50 feet from the edge of the landfill roadways in order to reduce accident potential and improve safety. Additional fill material may be needed to restore the original grade at the edge of the pavement. 9. Grading Existing Fire Breaks. Grading of existing County-maintained fire breaks, mowing or discing combustible vegetation. 10. Drainage Control Structures. Construction of, or improvement to, drainage control structures; such as, watercourses, downdrains, berms, debris and sediment retention basins, grade stabilizers, energy dissipators, runoff flow meters, inlet or outlet works. 11. Curbs/Gutter/Sidewalks. Construction or replacement of curbs, gutters and sidewalks as necessary in order to reduce vehicular and pedestrian accident potential, improve safety and prevent storm damage. 12. Roadway Widening. Minor widening of an existing roadway which is necessary for safety reasons. 13. Rolled Berms. Construction of rolled berms as part of a resurfacing project to control drainage. 14. Roadway Resurfacing. Grinding the pavement surface, relaying the pavement, and grading of dirt shoulders. 15. Ditch Cleaning. Clearing of ditches and stabilization of the banks of drainage courses along roadways. 16. Dust Control. Mechanical application of soil stabilizers to control dust from landfill operations. Soil stabilizers include, but are not limited to, the application of hydroseed, chemical stabilizers, or water in compliance with Rule 403 control measures as approved by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).
17. Litter Control. Activities associated with the collection, transport and disposal of on-site litter. 18. Drop Off Programs. Establishment of areas within the landfill for the collection and temporary storage of recyclables such as white goods and scrap metals. 19. Environmental Monitoring Facilities. Construction, maintenance and operation of ground water wells, landfill gas migration probes, wind recording devices, rain gauges, leachate or landfill gas migration barriers, treatment facilities or collection facilities, landfill gas condensate collection and removal facilities and installation, repair and operation of seismic monitoring devices and landfill gas flare stations. 20. Landfill Cover. Placement of and repair to landfill cover, including movement of heavy equipment adjacent to the landfill area. 21. Haul Roads. Construction and maintenance of access and haul roads required for landfill operations or for public access to the landfill operations. 22. Bird Control. Placement of mitigation devices such as construction supports for overhead wires to effect seagull and other bird species control. 23. Surveys. Access for engineering, biological, or other environmental surveys. 24. Expansion. Construction related to landfill footprint expansion. 25. NPDES Structures. Construction and maintenance of federally required monitoring stations for control of surface waters in compliance with the Nation Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System. 26. Maintenance Materials. Stockpiling of materials such as soils, gravel, etc. for the placement and repair of landfill cover. 27. Miscellaneous. Installation of security fencing and placement of land survey monuments and control points. In addition, the term "temporary haul roads" shall include those roads necessary to construct a permanent landfill cell, life or phase or provide access to a monitoring site, and which is only used during the construction of same and the term "temporary borrow site" shall include any site temporarily used as a source of fill material for a waste management facility at another location. The member agency shall mitigate impacts to the SKR for the construction of temporary haul roads or creation of temporary borrow sites within core reserves by restoring the temporary haul road or temporary borrow site to a condition that allows recolonization by the SKR which may include the preparation and implementation of a revegetation plan, as required by the USFWS and CDFG on a case by case basis. No mitigation shall be required for the construction of temporary haul roads or creation of temporary borrow sites outside the core reserves.
D. Other Public Facility Maintenance Activities, Temporary Haul Roads and Borrow Sites. Within the boundaries of the HCP area, incidental take of the SKR during the course of otherwise lawful activities may occur in connection with a public agency's performance of public facility maintenance activities necessary to protect the structural integrity of the facility and continue operation of the facility, the construction of temporary haul roads, and the creation of temporary borrow sites without obtaining further approval or authorization from the RCHCA, USFWS and CDFG. For purposes of this HCP, the term "temporary haul road" shall include those roads necessary to construct a permanent public facility and which is only used during the construction of the public facility. In addition, the term "temporary borrow site" shall include any site temporarily used as a source of fill material for a project at another location. The public agency shall mitigate impacts to the SKR for the construction of temporary haul roads and the creation of temporary borrow sites within core reserves by restoring the temporary haul road and temporary borrow site to a condition that allows recolonization by the SKR which may include the preparation and implementation of a revegetation plan, as required by the USFWS and CDFG on a case by case basis. No mitigation shall be required for the construction of temporary haul roads or creation of temporary borrow sites outside of the core reserves.