[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52360-52362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-21141]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Upper Truckee River Restoration and Golf Course Reconfiguration 
Project, El Dorado County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), and notice of public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and Article VII of the 
Tahoe Regional Planning Compact and Chapter 5 of the Tahoe Regional 
Planning Agency (TRPA) Code of Ordinances, the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation), California Department of Parks and Recreation (State 
Parks), and TRPA have made available for public review and comment the 
draft EIR/EIS for the Upper Truckee River Restoration and Golf Course 
Reconfiguration Project (Project). Depending on which alternative is 
selected, the proposed restoration project may include continuing 
existing golf course use, removal of the entire Lake Tahoe Golf Course, 
or reconfiguration of the golf course to allow for restoration of the 
river, to reduce the area of Stream Environment Zone occupied by the 
golf course, and to allow for establishment of a buffer area between 
the golf course and the river.

DATES: Submit written comments on the draft EIR/EIS on or before 
November 4, 2010.
    Two public hearings will be held on October 13 and October 27, 
2010, starting at 9:30 a.m. in Stateline, Nevada, to receive oral and 
written comments regarding the project's environmental effects.

ADDRESSES: Send any written comments on the Draft EIR/EIS to Cyndie 
Walck, State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Sierra 
District, P.O. Box 16, Tahoe City, CA 96145. Comments may be faxed to 
the State Parks office at 530-581-5849. Comments by e-mail are 
preferred for an electronic record. For comments provided via e-mail, 
please utilize the following format:
    E-mail to: [email protected].
    Subject Line: River-Golf Course EIR/EIS/EIS
    Directions:
    (1) Attach comments in an MS Word document.
    (2) Include commenter's U.S. Postal Service mailing address in MS 
Word.
    All comments will be distributed by State Parks to TRPA and Bureau 
of Reclamation.
    The public hearings will be held at 128 Market Street, Stateline, 
Nevada.
    The Draft EIR/EIS is accessible at the following Web sites: http://www.restoreuppertruckee.net/index.htm; http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=981 (click on El Dorado County); http://www.trpa.org; http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=5760.
    The draft EIR/EIS is available for review by the public during 
normal business hours at the following locations:
     State Parks' Administrative office at Sugarpine Point 
State Park, 7360 West Lake Boulevard, Tahoma, CA 96142.
     TRPA front desk, 128 Market Street, Stateline, NV 89449.
     Mid-Pacific Regional Library, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 
Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
     South Lake Tahoe Library front desk, 1000 Rufus Allen 
Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.
    Hard copies can be printed for purchase at Staples, 2061 Lake Tahoe 
Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.
    CDs are also available upon request from State Parks. Please submit 
request to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cyndie Walck, State Parks, at 530-581-
0925, or Mike Elam, TRPA, and Myrnie Mayville, Reclamation, at 775-588-
4547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the project is to improve 
geomorphic processes, ecological functions, and habitat values of the 
Upper Truckee River within the study area, helping to reduce the 
river's discharge of nutrients and sediment that diminish Lake Tahoe's 
clarity while providing access to public recreation opportunities in 
Washoe Meadows State Park (SP) and Lake Valley State Recreation Area 
(SRA).
    The 520-acre study area is just north of Meyers and south of the 
City of South Lake Tahoe, within El Dorado County, California. It 
includes the southern portion of Washoe Meadows SP, Lake Valley SRA, 
and small portions of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and California Tahoe 
Conservancy (Conservancy) lands, as well as a 1.5-mile reach of the 
Upper Truckee River.
    The four action alternatives (Alternatives 2-5), and the No-
Project/No-Action Alternative (Alternative 1) are analyzed in the draft 
EIR/EIS. For the No Project/No-Action Alternative, Alternative 1, the 
river restoration and changes to the golf course would not be 
implemented. This alternative represents a projection of reasonably 
foreseeable future conditions that could occur if no project actions 
were implemented. Alternative 2 would involve restoration of the Upper 
Truckee River with a reconfigured 18-hole regulation golf course. 
Alternative 3 would involve river restoration, providing a reduced-play 
golf course. Alternative 4 would use a combination of hard and soft 
stabilization to keep the river in its present configuration and 
includes only minor changes to the existing golf course. Alternative 5 
would involve decommissioning and removing the 18-hole regulation golf 
course to restore all or a portion of the golf course landscape to 
meadow and riparian habitat.

[[Page 52361]]

Significant or Adverse Environmental Effects Anticipated

    Implementing Alternative 1, the No-Project/No-Action Alternative, 
would not result in any changes within the study area and, therefore, 
not result in any significant unavoidable impacts. Project-related and 
cumulative effects on modifications in Upper Truckee River coarse 
sediment transport and delivery downstream under Alternative 1 were 
found to be too speculative for meaningful significance conclusions.
    Implementation of Alternative 2 would require relocation of a 
portion of the Lake Tahoe Golf Course to allow for geomorphic 
restoration of the river, to reduce the area of the Stream Environment 
Zone occupied by the golf course, and to allow for establishment of a 
riparian habitat zone and buffer area between the golf course and the 
river. Implementing Alternative 2 would result in the following 
significant and unavoidable project-related and cumulative impacts: 
Short-term risk of surface water or groundwater degradation during 
construction and short-term risk of surface water or groundwater 
degradation following construction. In addition, the cumulative effects 
of Alternative 2 on modifications in Upper Truckee River coarse 
sediment transport and delivery downstream and operations-related green 
house gas (GHG) emissions were found to be too speculative for 
meaningful significance conclusions.
    Alternative 3 would include full geomorphic and ecosystem 
restoration of the Upper Truckee River and provision of a reduced-play 
golf course. This alternative would result in the same significant and 
unavoidable project-related and cumulative impacts discussed above for 
Alternative 2 and the same cumulative effects would be too speculative 
for meaningful significance conclusions. In addition, Alternative 3 
would have a significant unavoidable impact related to a reduction in 
recreation opportunities, uses, and golf- related experiences due to 
the reduced-play golf course. Although golfing opportunities would 
still exist under Alternative 3, the existing golf experience at the 
Lake Tahoe Golf Course would be substantially reduced. Alternative 3 
would also result in an adverse economic impact on both the community 
of South Lake Tahoe and State Parks. This impact would not contribute 
to a cumulative effect on golf recreation.
    Alternative 4 would use a combination of hard and soft 
stabilization to keep the river in its present configuration and 
includes only minor changes to the existing golf course. This 
alternative would result in the same significant and unavoidable 
project-related and cumulative impacts and cumulative effects that 
would be too speculative for meaningful consideration discussed above 
for Alternative 2.
    Alternative 5 would involve decommissioning and removing the 18-
hole regulation golf course to restore all or a portion of the golf 
course footprint to meadow and riparian habitat. This alternative would 
result in the same significant and unavoidable project-related and 
cumulative impacts discussed above for Alternative 3. Alternative 5 
would also result in cumulative effects on modifications in Upper 
Truckee River coarse sediment transport and delivery downstream and 
operation-related GHG emissions that were found to be too speculative 
for meaningful consideration.

Beneficial Effects

    Implementation of Alternative 1 (No-Project/No-Action) would not 
result in any changes within the study area; therefore, this 
alternative would not result in any project-related beneficial effects.
    Implementing Alternative 2 would result in project-related 
beneficial effects on long-term increase in peak flows generated or 
released downstream, long-term increase in overbanking during small to 
moderate flood events, long-term modification of groundwater levels and 
flow patterns, long-term increased surface/soil erosion within the 
study area, fine sediment and nutrient retention within the study area, 
long-term changes to fish and aquatic habitat, long-term effects on 
sensitive habitats and special-status plant species, effects on 
potential wildlife movement corridors, and land coverage changes. 
Alternative 2 would also result in the following cumulative beneficial 
effects: Long-term modified groundwater levels and flow patterns, long-
term stream channel erosion, long-term fine sediment and nutrient 
retention, long-term effects on fisheries and aquatic resources, 
effects on special-status plants and sensitive habitats, effects on 
common or special-status wildlife resources. Implementing Alternative 2 
would assist in the long-term productivity of the Lake Tahoe Golf 
Course while restoring the river and reducing sediment delivery to the 
lake, which would help to sustain and support the social and economic 
health of the South Lake Tahoe area by providing an improved 18-hole 
regulation golf course. The golf course would support seasonal tourism 
in the South Lake Tahoe area, which would provide an economic benefit 
to the Lake Tahoe business community and foster employee retention.
    Alternative 3 would result in the same project-related and 
cumulative beneficial effects as discussed above for Alternative 2 
except for long-term increased surface/soil erosion within the study 
area. In addition, Alternative 3 would result in a beneficial effect on 
long-term increase in stormwater runoff volumes, long-term reduction of 
irrigation water demand, and long-term effects on special-status and 
common wildlife species and habitats. Alternative 3 would not include 
the same social and economic benefits found under Alternative 2.
    Implementation of Alternative 4 would result in project-related and 
cumulative beneficial effects on long-term changes to fish and aquatic 
habitat, long-term effects on sensitive habitats and special-status 
plant species, long-term effects on special-status and common wildlife 
species and habitats, and potential wildlife movement corridors.
    Alternative 5 would result in the same project-related and 
cumulative beneficial effects as discussed above for Alternative 3.
    The draft EIR/EIS is being distributed to interested agencies, 
stakeholder organizations, and individuals. This distribution ensures 
that interested parties have an opportunity to express their views 
regarding the environmental effects of the project, and to ensure that 
information pertinent to permits and approvals is provided to decision 
makers for the lead agencies, CEQA, NEPA, and TRPA responsible 
agencies.

Hearing Process and Distribution Information

    A public hearing on the draft EIR/EIS will be conducted by State 
Parks, Reclamation, and TRPA. It is not necessary to provide testimony 
during the public hearing; comments on the draft EIR/EIS will be 
accepted throughout the meeting and will be recorded at the public 
comment table. Comments may also be submitted throughout the comment 
period as described above. Once all comments have been assembled and 
reviewed, responses will be prepared to address significant 
environmental issues that have been raised in the comments.

Special Assistance for the Public Hearing

    If special assistance is required to participate in the public 
hearing, please contact Myrnie Mayville at 775-589-

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5240, TDD 916-978-5608, or via e-mail at [email protected]. Please 
notify Ms. Mayville as far in advance as possible to enable Reclamation 
to secure the needed services. If a request cannot be honored, the 
requestor will be notified. A telephone device for the hearing impaired 
(TDD) is available at 916-978-5608.

Public Disclosure

    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in any correspondence, you 
should be aware that your entire correspondence--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you may ask us in your correspondence to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: July 14, 2010.
Pablo R. Arroyave,
Deputy Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-21141 Filed 8-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P