[House Document 105-145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-145


 
               NORCO BLUFFS, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

  THE ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY (CIVIL WORKS), THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 
                                  ARMY

                              transmitting

   A REPORT ON THE PROJECT FOR RIVER BANK EROSION CONTROL AND BLUFF 
 STABILIZATION AT NORCO BLUFFS, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, PURSUANT 
  TO SECTION 101(b)(4) OF THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1996





   October 6, 1997.--Referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure and ordered to be printed


                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
Letter of transmittal............................................   vii
Comments of the Office of Management and Budget..................    ix
Comments of the State of California..............................     x
Comments of the Department of the Interior.......................    xi
Comments of the Federal Emergency Management Agency..............   xii
Report of the Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army.........     1
Report of the District Engineer:
    Syllabus.....................................................     7

    I.                          Study Authority..................      9
                                    Authority....................      9
                                    Local Sponsorship............      9
    II.                         Study Purpose and Scope..........     10
    III.                        Prior Studies and Reports........     11
                                    Existing Water Projects......     12
    IV.                         Plan Formulation.................     13
                                    Location and Extent of Study      13
                                 Area.                                  
                                        Location of the Study         13
                                 Area.                                  
                                        Drainage Basin                13
                                 Description.                           
                                        Physical Setting.........     14
                                        Urban Setting............     15
                                    Problems and Opportunities...     15
                                        Problems.................     15
                                        Opportunities............     18
                                    Planning Objectives and           18
                                 Constraints.                           
                                        Planning Objectives......     18
                                        Planning Constraints.....     19
                                    Without-Project Conditions...     19
                                        Hydrology................     20
                                        Hydraulics...............     20
                                        Geotechnical.............     24
                                        Economics................     25
                                        Environmental............     28
                                        Recreation...............     34
                                    Formulation of Alternative        35
                                 Plans.                                 
                                    Evaluation of Alternative         42
                                 Plans.                                 
                                        Alternatives Carried          42
                                 Forward.                               
                                        With-Project Impact           44
                                 Evaluation.                            
                                    Plan Selection...............     51
                                        Benefits.................     52
                                        Costs....................     56
                                        Benefits/Cost Analysis...     58
                                        System of Accounts.......     59
                                        Additional Evaluation         65
                                 Criteria.                              
    V.                          Description of the Selected Plan.     66
                                    NED Plan.....................     66
                                        Downstream Impacts.......     68
                                        Real Estate and               69
                                 Construction Easements.                
                                        Operation and Maintenance     69
                                        Mitigation Plans.........     70
                                        Recreation Plans.........     71
                                    Locally Preferred Plan.......     71
                                        Downstream Impacts.......     72
                                        Real Estate and               73
                                 Construction Easements.                
                                        Operation and Maintenance     73
                                        Mitigation Plans.........     74
Report of the District Engineer--Continued                              
                                        Recreation Plans.........     75
                                    Plan Selection...............     76
    VI.                         Plan Implementation..............     77
                                    Study Recommendation.........     77
                                    Cost Allocation..............     77
                                    Institutional Requirements...     77
                                    Environmental Requirements...     78
                                    Views of the Non-Federal          78
                                 Sponsor.                               
    VII.                        Summary of Coordination, Public       79
                                 Views, and Comments.                   
    VIII.                       Conclusions and Recommendation...     81
                                    Conclusions..................     81
                                    Additional Study Needs.......     82
                                    Recommendation...............     82
    IX.                         References.......................     83
                                                                        
                                                                        

                              ----------                              
Exhibits:
     1. Regional Map.............................................    85
     2. Erosion Zones............................................    86
     3. Norco Bluffs and Santa Ana River Drainage................    87
     4. Urban Area...............................................    88
     5. Chronological Sequence of Bluff Retreat..................    89
     6. Alternative 1a: Buttress Fill (Imported).................    90
     7. Alternative 1b: Buttress Fill (Cut and Fill).............    91
     8. Alternative 1c: Hilfiker.................................    92
     9. Alternative 1d: Crib Wall/Earthlock......................    93
    10. Alternative 1h: Reinforced Earth.........................    94
    11. Alternative 1i: Concrete Retaining Wall..................    95
    12. Alternative 2b: Soil Cement..............................    96
    13. Alternative 2f: Groins...................................    97
    14. Alternative 5 (Combined 1A & 2B): Locally-Preferred Plan.    98
    15. Alternative 2b: Soil Cement Toe Protection Alternative, 
      Plan View..................................................    99
    16. GAlternative 5: Combination of Slope Stabilization and 
      Toe Protection Alternative, Plan View......................   100
                              ----------                              
Photos 1 Through 13 Follow Exhibits..............................   101
                              ----------                              
Environmental Impact Statement...................................   109
                              ----------                              

      APPENDICES ACCOMPANYING THE REPORT OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
                 (Only Appendices F and G are printed)

Appendix A Written Comments on NOI/NOP
Appendix B Habitat Evaluation Procedure Analysis
Appendix C Background Information on Noise Analysis
Appendix D Fish and Wildlife Reports and Documentation
Appendix E Endangered Species Act Coordination and Biological 
  Assessment
Appendix F 404b(1) Analysis......................................   240
Appendix G Finalizing Addendum...................................   245





                            
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