[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62112-62113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25351]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
San Juan Creek and Tributaries Flood Risk Management Study, Orange
County, CA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
will prepare an EIS to support the San Juan Creek, South Orange County,
Feasibility Study. The purpose of this feasibility study is to evaluate
flood risk management alternative measures along the lower portions of
San Juan, Trabuco, and Oso Creeks. The San Juan Creek Watershed
encompasses approximately 176 square miles of southern Orange County
and western Riverside County in southern California. The Orange County
Public Works Department is the local sponsor for this study.
The study area extends along approximately 10.5 miles of San Juan
Creek from the Pacific Ocean to the southern end of Ronald W. Casper's
Wilderness Park, at the confluence of Bell Canyon Creek; Trabuco Creek
from its confluence with San Juan Creek north approximately 9.5 miles
to its confluence with Tijeras Creek; and Oso Creek from its confluence
with Trabuco Creek northwest approximately 4.5 miles to just north of
Oso Parkway. The communities of San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo,
Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera
Ranch, and Las Flores are located within the study boundary.
[[Page 62113]]
DATES: A scoping meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2010, 6 p.m. to 9
p.m.
ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held at the San Juan Capistrano
Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, CA
92675.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Gail Campos, the Environmental
Coordinator at: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District,
CESPL-PD-RL, c/o Gail Campos, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-
2325. Phone and e-mail contacts are: Ms. Gail Campos at 213-452-3874
and [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Authorization. The proposed study is authorized by a resolution
of the Committee on Public Works; House of Representatives dated May 8,
1964, which reads as follows:
``Resolved by the Committee on Public Works of the House of
Representatives, United States, that the Board of Engineers for
Rivers and Harbors is hereby requested to review the reports on (a)
San Gabriel River and Tributaries, published as House Document No.
838, 76th Congress, 3d Session; (b) Santa Ana River and Tributaries,
published as House Document No. 135, 81st Congress, 1st Session; and
(c) the project authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1936 for the
protection of the metropolitan area in Orange County, with a view to
determining the advisability of modification of the authorized
projects in the interest of flood control and related purposes.''
2. Background. San Juan Creek is approximately 27 miles long, from
the Cleveland National Forest in the Santa Ana Mountains to the Pacific
Ocean at Doheny State Beach near Dana Point Harbor. The riverine
corridor ranges from channelized segments with highly impacted
environments with little vegetation, to segments in which there has
been little change from the natural ecosystem.
Trabuco Creek originates in the Santa Ana Mountains and flows for
about 25 miles before the confluence with San Juan Creek. The lower
several miles of Trabuco Creek have been channelized for flood risk
management and erosion control within the City of San Juan Capistrano.
The remainder of the Trabuco Creek channel remains in a relatively
natural condition.
Oso Creek originates in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains
and flows for a distance of 13.5 miles before the confluence with
Trabuco Creek. The lower 4.5 miles of Oso Creek include armored channel
reaches, culverts, grade controls and drop structures, bridge crossings
and detention basins.
In response to the study authority, an interim watershed
feasibility study was prepared in August 2002. This study will
incorporate the prior data related to applicable problems,
opportunities and evaluations for the downstream portions of the
watershed.
3. Objectives. The planning objectives for this study are:
To reduce the risk of flood damages in lower portions of
the watershed along San Juan, Oso and Trabuco Creeks.
To address stream bank erosion and channel instability in
the lower portions of San Juan, Trabuco and Oso Creeks.
To maintain habitat values in the study area to the extent
practicable.
An iterative plan formulation and evaluation process will be
documented in consideration of a range of potential flood risk
management and channel stabilization alternatives.
4. Scoping Process. Participation by affected federal, state and
local resource agencies, Native American groups and concerned interest
groups/individuals are encouraged to participate in the scoping
process. Public participation is critical in defining the scope of
analysis in the EIS, identifying significant environmental issues in
the EIS, providing useful information such as published and unpublished
data, personal knowledge of relevant issues and recommending mitigation
measures to offset potential impacts from proposed actions.
Additionally, the time and location of the public scoping meeting will
be advertised in letters, public announcements and news releases.
Potential impacts associated with the proposed action will be
evaluated. Resource categories that will be analyzed include: physical
environment, geology, biological resources, air quality, water quality,
recreational usage, aesthetics, cultural resources, transportation,
noise, hazardous waste, socioeconomics and safety.
Those interested in providing information or data relevant to the
study can furnish this information by writing to the points of contact
indicated above or by attending the public scoping meeting. A mailing
list will also be established so pertinent data may be distributed to
interested parties.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-25351 Filed 10-6-10; 8:45 am]
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