[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 219 (Monday, November 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61859-61861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29731]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report 
for the Santa Rosa Ecosystem Restoration Project, City of Santa Rosa, 
Sonoma County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Santa Rosa Creek watershed encompasses approximately 78.6 
square miles in Sonoma County, California, and includes most of the 
City of Santa Rosa. The area of interest includes the approximately 6.5 
miles of the Creek from Railroad Street to Laguna de Santa Rosa, which 
is proposed for restoration. The project also includes construction of 
a fish passageway along a 1,400-foot portion of Matanzas Creek in 
downtown Santa Rosa. The Corps has determined that the proposed action 
may have significant effect on the quality of the human environment. To 
comply with the requirements of Section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and Environmental Quality 
regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), the California Environmental 
Quality Act (CEQA). The Corps of Engineers (Corps) is required to 
prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact 
Report (EIS/EIR) with the City of Santa Rosa, County of Sonoma, and 
with Sonoma County Water Agency. The Corps will also prepare a 
Feasibility Study report.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the 
project and the alternatives, contact Ms. Elizabeth Dyer of the Plan 
Formulation Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco 
District, 333 Market Street, 717H, CESPN-ET-PF, San Francisco, CA 
94105-2197. Phone number (415) 977-8676, Fax: 415-977-8695, Email: 
[email protected]. Written comments and questions regarding the 
scoping process or preparation of the EIS/EIR may be directed to Roger 
Fernwood, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District, 333 
Market Street, 717V, CESPN-ET-PP, San Francisco, CA 94105-2197, (415) 
977-8544, Fax: 415-977-8695, Email: [email protected]. Mr. 
Roger Golden is the Project Manager, and can be contacted at U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District, 333 Market Street, 822D, 
CESPN-PM, San Francisco, CA 9405-2197, (415) 977-8703, Fax: 415-977-
8431, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authority

    Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Corps, City of Santa Rosa, County 
of Sonoma, and the Sonoma County Water Agency hereby give notice of 
intent to prepare a joint (EIS/EIR) for the Santa Rosa Creek Ecosystem 
Restoration Project, Santa Rosa California.

2. Comments/Scoping Meeting

    Interested parties are requested to express their views concerning 
the proposed activity. The public is encouraged to provide written 
comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the scoping 
meeting. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly describe 
specific environmental topics or issues that the commentator believes 
the document should address. Oral and written comments receive equal 
consideration. Please address all correspondence, including requests 
for additional information, to the District Engineer, USAED San 
Francisco, 333 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105-2197. A 
scoping meeting will be held Wednesday, December 8, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. 
for all interested parties. The meeting will be held in Elsie Allen 
High School Performing Arts Center, aka The Theater, 599 Bellevue Road, 
Santa Rosa, California.

3. Availability of EIS/EIR

    The EIS/EIR should be available for public review in the winter of 
2002.

[[Page 61860]]

4. Agencies Supporting Project

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, City of Santa Rosa, County of 
Sonoma, and the Sonoma County Water Agency will be the lead agencies in 
preparing the combined EIS/EIR. The EIS/EIR will provide an analysis 
supporting both requirements of NEPA and CEQA in addressing impacts 
that may result from implementation of the channel widening measures.

5. Purpose and Need for Action

    The focus will be on restoring Santa Rosa Creek by returning the 
channelized creek reaches to more natural geomorphic and ecological 
form and function and improving water quality, while maintaining 
existing levels of flood protection. The restoration may benefit 
steelhead, a listed threatened species, and other aquatic life. The 
project will be consistent with the Santa Rosa Creek Master Plan which 
on September 21, 1993 by the City of Santa Rosa, the County of Sonoma, 
and the Sonoma County Water Agency.

6. Study Area Description

    In the City of Santa Rosa Master Plan, the 12.8 mile-long project 
has been divided into seven reaches, distinguished by vegetation, 
hydrology, adjacent land use, ownership, channel morphology, and 
access. Reaches A and B, which are between Highway 12 near Los Alamos 
Road and E Street, are characterized as natural channel. The vegetation 
represents a mature, native riparian community. This area is in private 
property ownership with limited access. Commercial, residential, and 
undeveloped land uses are located adjacent to the creek. Reaches C, D 
and E, are between E Street and Piner Creek west of Fulton Road. They 
are characterized by a relatively steep; trapezoidal shaped channel 
with grouted rock in Reach C and riprap in Reaches D and E. There is 
very little riparian vegetation. The Sonoma County Water Agency owns 
the two maintenance roads on either side. Adjacent land use is 
commercial, residential, and industrial. The Rural Reaches F and G are 
between Piner Creek and Laguna de Santa Rosa. A wider and shallower 
channel with more sediment bars characterizes them, less rip rap (none 
in Reach G) and some riparian vegetation. There are levees in Reach F 
and maintenance roads along both sides of the creek in both reaches. 
The adjacent land use is agriculture and floodplain. The boundaries of 
the proposed restoration project include part of Reach C (Pierson 
Street to Dutten Street) and all of Reach D through Reach G. No action 
is proposed for Reaches A or B except a proposed fish passageway 
enhancement project, which would be located on Matanzas Creek in the 
area generally located between Reach B and Reach C.

7. Project Alternatives

    Alternatives associated with the Santa Rosa Creek Ecosystem 
Restoration Project are No-Action and several Action Alternatives. The 
selected alternatives will be implemented in the project area. It is 
assumed that the City of Santa Rosa will continue to participate in the 
National Flood Insurance Program. It is expected that flooding will 
continue at the same frequency and intensity as it has in the past in 
areas around Santa Rosa Creek. Habitat values would remain the same.
    The Action alternatives are to restore habitat and to improve water 
quality by implementing one or more of the following measures in the 
various reaches of the Creek.
    Measure 1: Enlarge channel capacity by removing existing grouted 
riprap, replacing the southern bank with a steeper engineered wall 
system which will allow for vegetative growth, and by stepping the 
north bank with a series of retaining walls which will allow for 
multiple use, pedestrian and maintenance paths. A soft naturalized 
creek bottom will be vegetated with native riparian grasses, sedges and 
shrubs. This restoration measure is proposed for sections of creek 
between Santa Rosa Avenue and Pierson Street.
    Measure 2: Enlarge the channel capacity by removing the existing 
rip rap, laying back the southern bank to a more stable angle, and 
terracing the northern bank to allow for path installation. The newly 
constructed channel will be vegetated using native riparian species. 
The creek bottom will provide a soft meandering low flow channel, which 
will be shaded and will feature rocks and anchored logs for fish 
habitat. This restoration measure is proposed for sections of creek 
between Pierson Street and Piner Creek.
    Measure 3: Enlarge channel capacity and expand the existing cross 
sectional area of the creek by removing existing rip rap, laying back 
one bank, and excavating the other bank to create vegetated terraces on 
which paths would be placed. The entire creek channel will be 
revegetated with native riparian plant materials. This restoration 
measure is proposed for limited sections of creek between Stony Point 
Road and Piner Creek.
    Measure 4: Increase the channel width by relocating one or both 
levees away from the creek a total of not more than 100 feet. The creek 
channel would be re-contoured to create a naturalized meander pattern 
with riparian plantings throughout. This restoration measure is 
proposed for sections of creek between Piner Creek and Willowside Road.
    Measure 5: The area of riparian vegetation would be expanded by 100 
feet or less between Willowside Road and Laguna de Santa Rosa to 
enhance the riparian vegetation and to allow the development of a 
meandering low flow channel.
    In Measures 1 through 5 above, rocks would be placed in the creek 
to create pools, riffles, runs and define low flow channel. In 
addition, anchored logs with root wad exposed to the creek will be 
installed. These features will enhance the structural diversity of the 
channel bottom and improve fish habitat.
    Measure 6: Restore salmonid spawning access to Matanzas Creek by 
raising water levels and decreasing velocities throughout the 1,400 
linear-foot Matanzas Creek flood control project. The proposed fish way 
consists of installing inflatable bladders across the bottom of the 
culvert to create a series of small dams inside the culvert. A trench 
will be excavated into the splash apron on the downstream side of the 
culvert to allow access to the fish way. Fish will pass the inflated 
bladders by swimming or leaping over them and then continue upstream 
out of the culvert and into Matanzas Creek.

8. Study Process

    The Feasibility Study will identify and evaluate measures to 
restore the creek ecosystem as follows:

Define Existing Conditions and Formulate Alternatives

    The future without-project conditions in the study area will be 
projected. Input will be sought from resource agencies.

Alternative Development

    Preliminary alternatives will be developed using hydraulic 
modeling, economics, and cost analysis.

Detailed Evaluation

    Preliminary alternatives will be screened to final alternatives for 
impact analysis. A draft Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report 
including a Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) will be prepared to help 
provide the basis for identifying the most cost-effective alternative 
acceptable to the agencies and community.

Draft Report Preparation

    The draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement/
Report

[[Page 61861]]

(DEIS/R) will analyze all reasonable impacts and mitigation, as well as 
alternatives, and evaluate compliance with federal and state 
environmental requirements. A formal public review and comment period 
will be started.

Final Report Preparation

    The last phase of the study includes preparing the final 
Feasibility Report recommending a preferred alternative and completing 
the final EIS/R, which will respond to all comments on the draft EIS/R

9. Other Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements

    The focus of the DEIS/R will be on the restoration of the natural 
conditions and the construction of a fish passageway. The local 
sponsors will use the DEIS/R to meet their responsibilities under the 
California Environmental Quality Act. It may also be used by the North 
Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board to meet its source of Clean 
Water Act Section 404 (b) 1 guidelines and responsibilities under the 
Porter-Cologn Act. Other reviews which the DEIS/R will be used for an 
information source include the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and 
Endangered Species Act Consultation.

10. DEIS/R Availability

    The DEIS/R will be available to the public in summer 2001.
Peter T. Grass,
LTC, EN Commanding.
[FR Doc. 99-29731 Filed 11-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-09-U