[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 554-555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-182]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers


Intent to Prepare a Joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for South Sacramento County 
Streams Investigation, California

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), lead agency under the 
National Environmental Policy Act, and the Sacramento Area Flood 
Control Agency (SAFCA), lead agency under the California Environmental 
Quality Act, intend to prepare a joint document to evaluate the 
environmental effects of proposed flood protection for the southern 
part of the City and County of Sacramento. The Corps and SAFCA are 
working with the City and County of Sacramento to jointly provide this 
protection.

SUMMARY: This investigation will identify and evaluate potential 
measures to provide additional flood protection for the 180-square mile 
study area, which includes Morrison and Laguna Creeks and their 
tributaries, and the flood prone areas associated with the Beach-Stone 
Lakes system. Measures will include channel improvements, levee 
raising, and levee reconstruction and extension at various locations 
within the study area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions concerning the proposed action and EIR/EIS should be directed 
to Ms. Jane Rinck, Environmental Resources Branch, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814-2922, telephone 
(916) 557-6715. All persons interested in receiving the draft document 
should contact Ms. Trina Farris, telephone (916) 557-6777.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Project Location:

    The project area is located in south Sacramento County, California, 
and includes a populated area in the southern portion of the City and 
County of Sacramento. The study area encompasses a 180-square mile 
drainage basin. The upper part of the basin is sloped and is drained by 
Morrison and Laguna Creeks and their tributaries. Morrison Creek then 
flows into the lower basin, called the Beach-Stone Lakes area. Streams 
with 10-year flows great enough to qualify for Corps involvement are 
Morrison, Elder, Unionhouse, and Laguna Creeks.

2. Proposed Action and Alternatives:

    The Corps and SAFCA, the non-Federal sponsor, are conducting a 
feasibility investigation to identify and evaluate alternative measures 
to provide additional flood protection to the southern part of the City 
and County of Sacramento.
    The feasibility report and EIS/EIR will include the alternatives 
analyzed in the 1994 reconnaissance report and carried forward for 
analysis in the feasibility phase along with any feasible alternatives 
resulting from public scoping and coordination. These alternatives 
include the no-action alternative and the following flood control 
plans: (1) Nonstructural measures; (2) channel improvements on 
Morrison, Elder, Unionhouse, and Laguna Creeks; and (3) levee raising 
and reconstruction on Morrison, Elder, Unionhouse, and Laguna Creeks. 
The 

[[Page 555]]
reconnaissance report also considered upstream detention basins but it 
was determined that detention was not an economically effective means 
of flood control. The EIS/EIR will also address environmental 
mitigation and evaluate potential restoration and enhancement 
opportunities.

3. Environmental Consequences:

    The lead agencies have identified potential environmental effects 
of the proposed action in the following areas:
 Aquatic, wetland, and riparian habitats.
 Fish and wildlife populations.
 Esthetics, recreation opportunity and use.
 Construction-related traffic, air quality, and noise.
 Water quality.
 Cultural resources.
 Threatened and endangered species.
    The EIS/EIR will evaluate the effects on these areas and any other 
potentially significant effects identified in the scoping process. The 
no-action alternative (no Federal action to improve flood protection) 
will be the baseline for evaluating effects of the proposed action and 
other alternatives.
    4. Schedule: The draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be distributed for 
public review and comment in 1997.
John N. Reese,
Col, EN, Commanding.
[FR Doc. 96-182 Filed 1-5-96; 8:45 am]
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