Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Response to Comments

More documents

Recommendations

Info

IX. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The climate of the Lake Tahoe region is generally Mediterranean, but is modified by topography and geography. It is characterized by relatively warm, dry summers interrupted by occasional lightning storms, and cold wet winters with variable precipitation mostly falling as snow. About 95% of the precipitation falls between October and May. An average of more than 80 inches of precipitation falls on the west side of the Lake Tahoe Basin, mostly as snow (Boughton et al. 1997). The annual mean temperature is 45 degrees. The coldest month is February, with an average temperature of 28 degrees. Average summer temperatures range from 60 to 80 degrees during the day, and from 35 to 40 degrees at night. Snow accounts for 75% to 80% of the total precipitation, with an average snowfall of 200 to 325 inches. The normal average precipitation in the basin is 34 inches. Infrequent large, warm winter storms can potentially produce extreme streamflows and flooding resulting from high rainfall and melting of existing snowpack. The seasonal snowmelt process results in peak streamflows between May and June. Minimum streamflows occur during late summer and fall. Lake Tahoe is recognized as an Outstanding National Resource Water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Quality Standards Program and the Clean Water Act. Under this designation, Lake Tahoe is afforded the highest protection from degradation (TRPA 2002). The Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (LRWQCB 1994 Chapter 5: Water Quality Standards and Control Measures for the Lake Tahoe Basin) has designated beneficial uses for the surface waters of the Lake Tahoe Hydrologic Unit, such as Cold Freshwater Habitat. The Cold Freshwater Habitat (COLD) definition is “beneficial uses of waters that support cold water ecosystems including, but not limited to, preservation and enhancement of aquatic habitats, vegetation, fish, and wildlife…” For all waters designated COLD, the temperature shall not be altered. Other Beneficial Uses such as municipal water supply and recreational uses are discussed under other sections of this document. Lake Tahoe is considered to be an oligotrophic lake, with low concentrations of nutrients, low algal productivity, and high oxygen content. These factors lead to its exceptional clarity. There has been a significant decline in water clarity since 1968 (UC Davis 2010). Current concerns are attributed in part to the increased algal growth caused by nutrient inputs from development of the Lake Tahoe watershed. Control of nutrient inputs to the lake has thus become one of the priorities of regulatory agency action in the basin. Asian Clam Control Project IS/MND Emerald Bay State Park California Department of Parks and Recreation 52
WOULD THE PROJECT: a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements? b) Substantially deplete groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge, such that there would be a net deficit in aquifer volume or a lowering of the local groundwater table level (e.g., the production rate of pre-existing nearby wells would drop to a level that would not support existing land uses or planned uses for which permits have been granted)? c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through alteration of the course of a stream or river, in a manner which would result in substantial on- or off-site erosion or siltation? d) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through alteration of the course of a stream or river, or substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in on- or off-site flooding? e) Create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff? f) Substantially degrade water quality? g) Place housing within a 100-year flood hazard area, as mapped on a federal Flood Hazard Boundary or Flood Insurance Rate Map, or other flood hazard delineation map? h) Place structures that would impede or redirect flood flows within a 100-year flood hazard area? i) Expose people or structures to a significant risk of loss, injury, or death from flooding, including flooding resulting from the failure of a levee or dam? j) Result in inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow? LESS THAN POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT WITH SIGNIFICANT NO IMPACT MITIGATION IMPACT IMPACT DISCUSSION a) The proposed project may cause a temporary increase in turbidity during removal of benthic barriers or suction removal. The barriers can have fine sediment deposited on them during the period of deployment, and this fine sediment, along with dead clam material, can cause turbidity as the barriers are removed. Previous bottom barrier water quality monitoring results indicate that turbidity is localized and temporary in nature. A pilot Asian Clam Control Project IS/MND Emerald Bay State Park California Department of Parks and Recreation 53
Page 1 and 2:
FINAL MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIO
Page 3 and 4:
2009. Initial surveys estimated thi
Page 5 and 6:
Emerald Bay will require traffic co
Page 7 and 8:
7 Asian Clam Control Project Final
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
LAHONTAN REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CON
Page 13 and 14:
the infestation is 600 feet. The ba
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
More detail on the range of lake bo
Page 23 and 24:
The MND states that there will be n
Page 25 and 26:
arriers have not been secured with
Page 27 and 28: INITIAL STUDY MITIGATED NEGATIVE DE
Page 29 and 30: Pursuant to Section 21082.1 of the
Page 31 and 32: CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUC
Page 33 and 34: This chapter provides a list of tho
Page 35 and 36: The invasion and establishment of A
Page 37 and 38: the edges of the rubber sheets for
Page 39 and 40: 2.10 DISCRETIONARY APPROVALS DPR re
Page 41 and 42: 1. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALL
Page 43 and 44: and receives approval from the Cali
Page 45 and 46: DISCUSSION a-e) As noted in the Env
Page 47 and 48: for six criteria pollutants after t
Page 49 and 50: IV. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. ENVIRONME
Page 51 and 52: Water Plant Community are not expec
Page 53 and 54: (Helisoma newberryi) creeks. Lake T
Page 55 and 56: mouth of Emerald Bay. Creating nois
Page 57 and 58: ecosystems as wetlands, meadows, an
Page 59 and 60: V. CULTURAL RESOURCES. ENVIRONMENTA
Page 61 and 62: and prolonged droughts (Lindström
Page 63 and 64: Roads expanded and upgraded the roa
Page 65 and 66: CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AC
Page 67 and 68: esources in consultation with the O
Page 69 and 70: Liquefaction and Landslide Hazards
Page 71 and 72: would not increase as a result of t
Page 73 and 74: • Carbon Dioxide - The natural pr
Page 75 and 76: VIII. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIA
Page 77: emergencies and activities would al
Page 81 and 82: Mitigation Measure Hydro-1: Water Q
Page 83 and 84: DISCUSSION a) The proposed project
Page 85 and 86: XII. NOISE. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING T
Page 87 and 88: DISCUSSION a) Project activities re
Page 89 and 90: DISCUSSION a-c) The project does no
Page 91 and 92: WOULD THE PROJECT: a) Result in sig
Page 93 and 94: implemented to inform the public, s
Page 95 and 96: D E F convenience decreasing as den
Page 97 and 98: c) This project will not will not i
Page 99 and 100: significant environmental effects?
Page 101 and 102: d) Most project-related environment
Page 103 and 104: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS No project
Page 105 and 106: CHAPTER 6 REFERENCES Chapter 2 Univ
Page 107 and 108: Cultural Resources Barrett, S. A.,
Page 109 and 110: Murphy and C.M. Knopp. Report prepa
Page 111 and 112: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRP
Page 113 and 114: Report Preparation CALIFORNIA DEPAR
Page 115 and 116: APPENDIX B SENSITIVE SPECIES LIST _
Page 117 and 118: Martes pennanti o fisher (C) Plants
Page 119 and 120: If a Federal agency is involved wit
Page 121 and 122: APPENDIX C ACRONYMS _______________
show all

Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Response to Comments

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?