[Federal Register: August 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 156)]
[Notices]
[Page 48344-48346]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au03-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) for a Permit Application for the
River Road Treatment Wetlands Project in the Santa Ana River (SAR)
Floodplain Upstream of the River Road Crossing, Riverside County, CA
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI).
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, 40 CFR 1508.22, and 33 CFR Parts 230 and 325, and in
conjunction with the Orange County Water District (OCWD), the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (Corps) is announcing its intent to prepare a draft
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR)
for the River Road Treatment Wetlands Project (RRTWP), proposed to be
located in the Santa Ana River (SAR) floodplain upstream of the River
Road crossing, Riverside County, California. The project entails
construction, operation, and periodic maintenance of treatment wetlands
in the SAR floodplain. The SAR floodplain meets the Corps' criteria for
``waters of the U.S.,'' and the project is subject to Corps
jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The affected area also contains
Corps-owned lands leased to the Riverside County Regional Park and Open
Space District. The area has been designated critical habitat for three
federal-listed species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS);
as such, the Corps will comply with the requirements of Section 7 of
the Federal Endangered Species Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Swenson, Project Manager, at
(213) 452-3414 (daniel.p.swenson@usace.army.mil) or Fari Tabatabai,
Project Manager at (213) 452-3291, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los
Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
The treatment wetlands are necessary because of upstream sources of
water pollution. The effect of the treatment wetlands would be to
reduce downstream water pollution, thereby increasing groundwater
potability, aquatic habitat function, and reducing potential human
health threats.
Treated wastewater and return flows from irrigated agriculture and
dairies are major sources of nitrate loading into the SAR. Nitrate
loads enter the river directly through waste discharges and indirectly
through surface runoff and rising groundwater. High levels of nitrate
are a potential human health threat that can have adverse effects on
infants and pregnant women. In addition, formation of algae blooms can
lower the dissolved oxygen in the water resulting in fish kills and can
form a clogging layer on the bottom of OCWD's recharge basins resulting
in a decrease in water recharge and an increase in maintenance
requirements.
The Proposed Project is based on the success of OCWD's Prado
Wetlands, located immediately downstream of the proposed RRTWP, which
has been successful in benefiting the OCWD
[[Page 48345]]
groundwater basin by improving groundwater quality and increasing
recharge rates.
The work would take place on both OCWD and on Corps-owned lands
within the Prado Flood Control Basin. The OCWD is the sole project
proponent and the applicant for the Section 404 permit. As such OCWD
would be responsible for construction, operation, and maintenance of
the proposed facilities as well as preservation of existing operational
facilities in Prado Dam, which is operated by the Corps. The Corps land
under OCWD consideration consists largely of wetlands now in
undeveloped recreation lease held by Riverside County Regional Park and
Open Space District. The proposed work on Corps land would replace
Arundo donax-dominated wetlands with higher quality, native vegetated
wetlands. Outdoor recreation amenities including interpretive trails
are also proposed.
Other environmental review considerations include compliance with
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
2. Project Purpose and Need
The purpose of the River Road Treated Wetland Project (RRTWP) is to
improve the water quality of the SAR supplies that recharge the OCWD
groundwater basin. The need arises from high levels of nitrate
concentrations that adversely affect water quality and percolation
recharge to the OCWD groundwater basin.
3. Proposed Action
The OCWD proposes development of treatment wetlands in the SAR
floodplain as it enters the Prado Basin upstream of the River Road
crossing. The RRTWP would treat baseflow diverted from the SAR,
primarily for the removal of nitrate, and return the treated water to
the river at the point of the present diversion to the Prado Wetlands.
Maintenance objectives include: (1) Maintain hydraulic control
structures and appurtenances; (2) keep the distribution and collection
networks and hydraulic transfers free flowing and clear of
obstructions; (3) maintain berms; and (4) control habitat performance
by monitoring and taking appropriate steps to ensure that proposed
vegetation and habitat types are achieved.
The RRTWP footprint would encompass 430 acres on the flood plain
south of the SAR channel immediately upstream from the River Road
crossing. All 430 acres meet the Corps' criteria for ``waters of the
U.S.'', and the project would be subject to Corps jurisdiction under
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The proposed project site contains
Corps-owned lands leased to the Riverside County Department of Parks
and Recreation. The area has been designated critical habitat for three
federal-listed species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS);
as such, the Corps will comply with the requirements of Section 7 of
the Federal Endangered Species Act. The 430-acre area would be
comprised of the following: (1) Approximately 190 acres of treatment
wetlands surface area; (2) 40 acres of unvegetated laterals and
transfer berms; (3) 100 acres of riparian woodland berms that could be
affected by construction; and (4) 100 acres of existing high quality
habitat that would be avoided, preserved, and enhanced. Of the above,
existing moderate and low quality habitat degraded by Arundo donax
would be enhanced to high quality habitat. Also, of the above acreages,
approximately 52,400 linear feet (about 10 miles) of riparian forest/
water edge habitat would be created or enhanced, including habitat for
the southwestern willow flycatcher and least Bell's vireo. In addition,
selected access trails totaling about 4.6 miles that transverse the
RRTWP would be opened to the public for passive recreation.
The RRTWP would treat up to 150 cfs. The concentration of nitrate
in the SAR currently averages about 8 mg/L. At flow rates less than 80
cfs, the RRTWP would be expected to reduce nitrate levels to 2 mg/L or
less during the summer baseflow period.
The proposed design plan places the RRTWP on the floodplain south
of the SAR channel. This is intended to minimize disturbance to the
channel and floodplain by avoiding work on the north side of the
channel, construction of multiple diversions, or passing water back and
forth across the river.
The proposed RRTWP would consist of five operating units within the
430-acre project area: diversion facility, distribution network,
treatment wetlands, collection network, and a fifth operating unit. The
fifth operating unit, the integrated River Road Treated Wetland outlet-
Prado Wetlands diversion facility, would be a modification to the
existing diversion located west of the River Road Bridge that would
divert water from the SAR. The distribution network would deliver the
water to the treatment wetlands. The collection network would collect
the treated water and deliver it to the outlet. The outlet would be
integrated with the diversion to the Prado Treatment Wetlands. The
integrated River Road Treated Wetland outlet-Prado Wetlands diversion
would allow for coordinated discharge and diversion in a manner that
would allow for coordinated discharge and diversion in a manner that
would not degrade hydraulic conductivity or harm existing aquatic
species, and that would retain passage of the Santa Ana sucker through
the channel.
Design and construction of the principal treatment facilities,
including the diversion, treatment wetlands, conveyances and hydraulic
structures, would be expected to take about 24 months until operations
could begin.
4. Alternatives Considered
The feasibility of several alternatives is being considered and
will be addressed in the DEIS/EIR. Those considered feasible will be
analyzed in equal detail to the Proposed Action. The purpose of the
RRTWP is to improve the water quality of the SAR supplies that recharge
the OCWD groundwater basin. The No Action Alternative would have no
improvements, and thus would neither improve the water quality of the
SAR, nor improve water recharge into the OCWD groundwater basin. No
water quality benefits from nitrate removal would occur and no habitat
restoration actions would take place.
Other alternatives that may be considered include: (1) Designing
larger wetlands similar to the existing Prado treatment wetlands with
less habitat enhancement; (2) designing a smaller or larger wetlands
complex; (3) conventional chemical treatment by pumping water through a
treatment facility; (4) requiring dischargers along the SAR to
denitrify first at existing treatment plants before discharging to the
SAR; (5) use of another portion of the SAR; and (6) use of upland
agricultural habitat next to the SAR with mechanical pumping.
5. Scoping Process
The Corps' scoping process for the DEIS/EIR will involve soliciting
written comments and a public meeting. Potential significant issues to
be addressed in the DEIS/EIR include surface water quality, threatened
and endangered species, and effects from potential flooding. Comments
are invited from the public and affected agencies, including, but not
limited to, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USFWS,
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), Riverside County
Regional Park and Open Space District, and others.
Public Meeting: A public scoping meeting to receive input on the
scope of the DEIS/EIR will be conducted on August 26th at 7 p.m. at the
Norco Board Room/Council Chambers at 2820
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Clark Avenue, Norco, California. If you have any questions regarding
the meeting, please contact Rick Mendoza, Project Manager for OCWD, at
the above address or by calling 714-378-3329, or via e-mail:
rmendoza@ocwd.com. Schedule: The estimated date the DEIS/EIR will be made available to
the public is November 1, 2003.
John V. Guenther,
LTC, EN, Acting Commander.
[FR Doc. 03-20646 Filed 8-12-03; 8:45 am]
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