Notice of Preparation
Draft Environmental Impact Report San Francisquito Creek Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation Project Upstream of Highway 101 This notice announces that a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared for the San Francisquito Creek Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation Project, Upstream of Highway 101 (Project) to identify, evaluate, and disclose possible environmental impacts, and to develop strategies to avoid, reduce, or compensate for any significant impacts. As the lead agency responsible for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (SFCJPA) has determined that the Project may have a significant impact on the physical environment, and has decided to prepare an EIR to provide opportunities for public disclosure and public participation in the planning and decision making process. The purpose of the Draft EIR process is to develop and assess a recommended plan, evaluate feasible alternatives for the Project, and propose measures that avoid or mitigate significant adverse effects on environmental resources. This document, which serves as the Notice of Preparation (NOP) required by CEQA and the state’s CEQA Guidelines (14 CCR 15082), contains a description of the Project, including the Project’s goals and objectives, possible environmental impacts, and the resulting need for an EIR. It also discusses the process that will be used to determine the scope of analysis in the EIR, describes opportunities for public review of the EIR, and lists contact information.
Background The San Francisquito Creek watershed encompasses the cities of East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park, among others. The SFCJPA, a regional government agency, was founded by these three cities, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), and San Mateo County Flood Control District (SMCFCD) in 1999 following a major flood the preceding year. The SFCJPA plans, designs and implements capital projects that are comprehensive in terms of geography and function by crossing jurisdictional boundaries and providing flood prevention and ecosystem and recreational enhancements. Flooding caused by San Francisquito Creek has been a common occurrence. The most recent flood occurred as a result of high creek flows on December 23, 2012, when the Creek overtopped its banks in several areas. The maximum instantaneous peak flow during the December 2012 event was 5,400 cubic feet per second (cfs). This was considered a 20-year event, which would have a 5% chance of occurring in any given year. In February 1998, a 7,200 cfs event (considered a 45-year event) impacted approximately 1,700 residential and commercial structures and caused $28 million in property damage. It is predicted that the 100-year flood event would damage over 5,500 properties. In November 2012, the EIR for the proposed project in the downstream-most reach of the creek (San Francisco Bay upstream to Highway 101) was certified. In 2012, the SFCJPA and its partner agencies made significant progress on project design and the securing of funds to construct improvements in this downstream reach east of Highway 101. The Project to be analyzed subject to this NOP continues the SFCJPA’s progress further upstream by increasing stream flow capacity west of Highway 101 in order to protect people and property from creek flows within the floodplain between Highway 101 and El Camino Real, and to enhance the ecosystem and recreational connectivity.
Goals and Objectives The Project’s goals are to improve flood protection, habitat, and recreational opportunities within the Study Area, with the following specific objectives: protect properties and infrastructure between Highway 101 and El Camino Real from floodwaters exiting San Francisquito Creek during a 100-year flood event; enhance habitat along the Project reach, particularly habitat for threatened and endangered species; enhance recreational uses and connectivity; and minimize operational and maintenance requirements.
Project Description Consistent with the requirements of CEQA and the state’s CEQA Guidelines, the SFCJPA is developing a range of approaches that would meet Project goals and objectives. Each of the approaches relies on a combination of several types of elements to better manage flood flows in the San Francisquito watershed. The SFCJPA and SCVWD have conducted a preliminary analysis to determine Page 22ÊUÊ >ÞÊÓ{]ÊÓä£ÎÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V
the most appropriate Project alternatives for the creek reach upstream of Highway 101 that can be completed locally, while preserving compliance with federal standards and the opportunity for future federal support for construction. When implemented, the baseline Project elements would provide protection against the 50-year flood event in the Project reach upstream of Highway 101. These baseline elements are a necessary foundation to implement an additional project alternatives that would provide 100-year flood protection to areas between Highway 101 and El Camino Real.
Possible Environmental Impacts and Need for EIR Because of the potential for significant impacts to the environment, the SFCJPA has decided to prepare an EIR. The purpose of an EIR is to inform decisionmakers and the general public of the environmental effects of a proposed project. The EIR process is intended to provide information sufficient to evaluate a proposed project and its potential to cause significant effects on the environment; examine methods of reducing adverse environmental impacts; and identify alternatives to the proposed project. Based on a preliminary review performed by the SFCJPA, the following environmental resources could be affected by construction of the Project: Aesthetics Air Quality Biological Resources and Jurisdictional Habitat Climate Change Geology, Soils, and Minerals Hazards and Hazardous Materials Hydrology and Water Quality Land Use and Planning Noise and Vibration Paleontological, Archaeological, and Historic Architectural Resources Recreation Traffic and Transportation Utilities and Public Services EIR Scoping Process The Draft EIR will analyze the topic areas identified above in detail, and any others for which potentially significant impacts are identified. The Draft EIR will propose measures to mitigate (avoid, reduce, or compensate) for any impacts evaluated as significant.
EIR Scoping Process This NOP initiates the CEQA scoping process through which the SFCJPA will refine the range of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the Draft EIR. The public is invited to comment on the proposal to prepare the EIR and on the scope of issues to be included in the EIR. A scoping meeting will be held on June 6, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the East Palo Alto Academy High School Library at 475 Pope Street in Menlo Park, CA. This meeting is part of the EIR scoping process during which the public and agencies can provide input on specific topics that they believe should be addressed in the environmental analysis. Written comments may also be sent to: Kevin Murray, Project Manager San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority 615 B Menlo Avenue Menlo Park, CA 94025 (650) 324-1972 Comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 8, 2013.
Public Participation in EIR Review All interested persons and organizations who wish to be notified when the Draft EIR is available for review should respond to this notice and provide a current address. The SFCJPA will compile a list of interested parties and will provide notice when the Draft EIR is available. When completed, the Draft EIR will undergo a 60-day public review and comment period. Information about availability of the Draft EIR will also be posted on the SFCJPA’s website http://sfcjpa.org.