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6.5. Environmental Studies (Subaccount
05)
The environmental studies will include
a watershed inventory and mapping of remaining riparian habitat
along stream corridors, identification of species diversity,
a rating of habitat quality (high, degraded, etc...), an integration
of available surface and ground water quality information,
and formulation of restoration alternatives. The information
will be used in defining the baseline (existing and future
without project) environmental conditions used to evaluate
the effects of watershed management and ecosystem restoration
alternatives. The information will be documented in an Environmental
Appendix (including programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the PLAN).
05A. Defining Existing Conditions
05.A.1.
Riparian Habitat Assessment.
Baseline (present and future), without-project conditions
for riparian habitat, water quality, fish and wildlife,
endangered species, and other pertinent environmental
conditions will be surveyed, mapped, and adequately described
at a level appropriate to this study so that an incremental
analysis may be performed. This assessment will include
landscape-scale mapping and area inventory of all major
watershed tributary habitat types. Baseline riparian habitats
for major tributaries of the watershed shall be evaluated
using available information, aerial photographs, and a
comprehensive field survey. Baseline non-riparian habitat
shall be evaluated using available information, aerial
photographs and field spot checks as needed. A scientific
habitat evaluation method acceptable to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Orange County, the California Game
and Fish Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
local sponsors and stakeholders (including The Irvine
Company) will be used to assess habitat value. Invasive
plant species such as Around shall be identified and mapped.
05.A.2 Water Quality Assessment.
Environmental studies will
include evaluation of baseline (existing and future without-project)
water quality conditions for surface water and groundwater
within the Newport Bay watershed. Effects of projects
alternatives and surface and groundwater quality will
also be evaluated. The analysis will be based on the review
of existing water quality data collected by local and
state agencies. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity,
turbidity, depth, water movement criteria, sediment and
nutrient loading, groundwater pollutant types and concentrations,
and other components of water quality shall be collected
and evaluated. Limiting values (i.e. loads, concentrations,
etc.) that adversely affect recreational use, or wildlife
and aquatic species shall be established. Future without
project conditions must consider ongoing efforts in the
sediment and nutrient TMDL's, and the proposed TMDL's
for toxics and pathogens. Detailed tasks include:
05.A2.1
Analysis of surface water and groundwater quality, including
non-point urban runoff and point source runoff. Water
quality components include, but are not limited to:
sediment and nutrient loadings, trace constituents,
toxic substances, pathogens, recently mobilized DDT,
temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity,
urban and vegetative trash/debris, depth, and water
movement criteria. Quantify the spatial (tributary)
and temporal (seasonal) distributions of constituents
for use in siting proposed restoration alternatives.
Coordinate with hydraulics to determine if water quality
is affected by ponding of daily return flows behind
debris trapped on structures. The Rattlesnake and Central
Irvine channels have been identified by Orange County
as areas of potential concern for nutrients. The Lane,
Barranca, and Santa Ana Delhi Channels have been identified
as areas of potential concern for toxics and pathogens.
05.A2.2
Review and evaluate the water quality monitoring activities
ongoing in the watershed and provide recommendations
to improve or augment them from a watershed basis. Develop
protocol or process (where, when, how) for collection
of fluvial samples during the ascending phase, at the
peak discharge, and in the descending phase of flows
resulting from storms with greater than 0.5 inches of
rain. Coordinate with sediment monitoring (09.C.13).
05.A2.3
Determine the effects of project alternatives
on water quality. Coordinate with hydraulics to reduce
ponding of low flows at structures.
05.A2.4
Address if sediment, nutrient, toxics and pathogenic
TMDL's for the watershed and Bay are achievable objectives,
based on baseline condition analyses and potential benefits
resulting from the ecosystem restoration alternatives.
05.A.3. HTRW Evaluation.
A literature and data (website) search will be conducted
to identify known HTRW sites in the vicinity of the proposed
project alternatives listed under Plan Formulation (Subaccount
14, Section D) and for any other potential projects sites
identified during the study. The HTRW work will be documented
in a report that will be used in the EIS/EIR The known
sites will be summarized, and the an inventory of available
data (i.e., agency, location, website, etc.) will be produced
for use for future project feature siting and design purposes.
05.B. Ecosystem Restoration
Goals and Objectives.
Ecosystem restoration goals and objectives for the study
area will be defined. Overall goals and objectives may be
set in terms of ecosystem restoration of habitats and communities
for a range of species within the watershed and Bay. Objectives
must eventually be quantified in terms of habitat units,
functions, and values as defined by the habitat evaluation
method adopted for use in the study. The objectives should
be coordinated with those in the Natural Community Conservation
Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan, the proposed amended
NCCP/HCP process, the proposed SAMP, and should also consider
beneficial uses of San Diego Creek and the Bay. Ecosystem
restoration opportunities will be compatible with economic
development, flood control, groundwater recharge, wastewater
re-use, and recreation objectives of the watershed management
plan. This task will require close coordination and input
from the Corps Regulatory Branch and other agencies (EPA,
USFWS, etc.) to ensure opportunities for Section 404 compliance
and mitigation banking are identified.
05.C Environmental Opportunities.
05.C.1 Restoration Alternatives.
Assist in the development of watershed management alternatives
that integrate ecosystem restoration with flood control,
groundwater recharge, polishing of wastewater effluent,
and recreation. Emphasis will be given to measures or
groups of measures that will restore a corridor or green
way of interconnected habitat as opposed to isolated measures
with limited habitat output. Strategies shall be developed
for eradication of invasive species with replacement by
native vegetation. Opportunities and alternatives for
with-project water quality improvement shall be developed
for surface water flows, local water supply for domestic
use, water used for recreational purposes, and groundwater.
These water quality issues may be interrelated. Improvements
to be investigated shall include wetland and riparian
vegetation development, best management practices, public
awareness programs, modification of stream topography
and gradient, dilution of surface and ground waters, optimum
usage of reclaimed wastewater, and other opportunities
identified in the plan formulation process.
05.C.2.
Maintenance of Channels and Basins.
In conjunction with hydraulic team members and local sponsors,
channel maintenance needs and appropriate maintenance
methods will be identified and impacts documented as part
of the programmatic EIS/EIR that accompanies the PLAN.
05.C.3. Recreation Needs
and Opportunities.
Develop a comprehensive, realistic vision of the river
recreation system along the major tributaries of the watershed,
and within the Bay. Develop and evaluate recreation alternatives
in conjunction with ecosystem restoration and flood control
opportunities. This will include, but not be limited to:
- Develop concept plans at a reconnaissance
level showing the nature and location of alternative
recreational facilities.
- Identify and evaluate opportunities
for development of river parks trails and other appropriate
recreational uses along the creek system.
- Coordinate with other planning
efforts by Orange County and local cities.
05.D. Environmental Benefits.
05.D.1 Environmental
Outputs.
Environmental outputs shall be measured in terms of habitat
units using an approved habitat evaluation method established
for the baseline conditions. Outputs of plan increments
will be displayed in a format similar to that shown in
EC 1105-2-185, which allows for an incremental cost analysis
of the measures under consideration.
05.D.2
Recreation Outputs.
Recreation outputs will be quantified in coordination
with the Economic Section of the Corps and include a breakdown
of water contact (public health) related benefits as well
as user days for trails, hiking, etc.
05.E.
Environmental Appendix Including NEPA/CEQA Documentation.
The Environmental Studies Task will include preparation
of an Environmental Appendix (including programmatic EIS/EIR
for the PLAN).
05.E.1
F3 Report.
The F3 report will include a complete discussion of the
results of tasks 05.A.1, 05.A.2.1, 05.A.2.2, and 05.A.3.
Portions of tasks 04, 05.B, 05.A.2.3, 05A.2.4, 05.C, and
05.D will be completed prior to the F3 conference and
will be included in the report. The Fish and Wildlife
Service survey participation and Planning Aid Report (PAR,
task 06.B) will be incorporated into the F3 documentation.
05.E.2
F4 Report.
T14 F4 report will include revisions and completion of
the tasks described in 05.E.1. The draft and final Coordination
Act Report (CAR, task 06.C) will be included in the report
documentation.
05.E.3 Public Draft Report.
The public draft report will include revisions based on
the F4 meeting, and additional tasks completed to address
the PLAN.
6.6. Fish
and Wildlife Studies (Subaccount 06)
06A Habitat Field Surveys.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will work with
Corps regulatory and environmental planning personnel
to conduct field spot surveys of habitat mapping within
portions of the watershed. The USFWS will use aerial photos
and GIS maps developed from the aerial surveys to verify
the habitat types that have been mapped. Field surveys
may include up to 32 kilometers of channels. Some of the
habitat areas are within the NCCP/HCP lands, and may be
studied under the amended NCCP/HCP process (see below).
The USFWS will coordinate work efforts with other resource
agencies. A technical team which, at a minimum, consists
of the Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), the California Fish and Game Department
and representatives appointed by the local sponsors will
assist the study team in historical research, data collection,
species identification, habitat modeling, and ecosystem
mapping to arrive at the baseline conditions.
At the present time the U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the California Department
of Fish and Game (CDFG), the County of Orange and other
participants in the approved Natural Community Conservation
Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) for the Coastal
and Central Subregion of the County of Orange, are considering
preparing an amendment to the approved NCCP/HCP to specifically
address and provide for protection and management of riparian
and other aquatic resources. It is expected that this
plan amendment would then serve as the vehicle for preparing
work products that will be incorporated into the fully
negotiated regulatory actions and other implementation
vehicles summarized in Section 05.C. Habitat Evaluation
Procedures (HEP) or a similar scientific (i.e. Hydro-Geomorphic
Method or HGM) method will be pre-approved for use by
all parties engaged in this study and other studies within
the watershed. This will help facilitate "buy-in"
to the results. The technical team will assist in the
development of project alternatives and analyze project-induced
environmental effects/benefits.
06.B
Planning Aid Report.
The USFWS will provide a Planning Aid Report (PAR) to
the Corps prior to the F3 milestone. The report will describe
baseline conditions, habitat evaluation methodology, and
initial restoration measures.
06.C
Coordination Act Report.
The USFWS will provide a draft and final Coordination
Act Report (CAR) by the F4 milestone that defines the
environmental effects of selected restoration alternatives.
The CAR will incorporate the findings of the technical
team and any comments from interested parties.
06.D
Meetings and Coordination.
The USFWS will meet with the Corps once a month to review
study progress of assigned study tasks, update schedules,
and for general coordination purposes.
6.7. Economic
Studies (Subaccount 07)
Economic data will be used to define
the benefits and costs of potential restoration projects.
Benefits include the reduction of flood and erosion damages,
the increase in habitat and recreational value, and the
savings in sediment maintenance and water quality related
costs in comparison to the baseline condition. The baseline
is defined as the expected flood and erosion damages, or
the value of habitat and recreation for the current condition,
and for the future without-project condition. Costs include
those for construction, operation, and maintenance of proposed
project alternatives.
The economic data prepared during
previous studies will be used to its full extent when such
data is consistent with feasibility report requirements.
Studies will be conducted pursuant to Chapter 6 "Economic
Considerations," of ER 1105-2-100. The base conditions
from which economic development occurs must be well documented
and readily understood. The feasibility analysis will also
require the development of project area specific baseline
information. To develop this baseline condition, the following
tasks must be accomplished:
07A.
Inventory of Erosion Damages.
Conduct a. general inventory of the following facilities
susceptible to being damaged by erosion within the study
area: bridges, flood control channels, pipelines (gas, water,
and sewage). Field investigations win be based upon hydrology,
hydraulics and sediment transport investigations that identify
channel areas subject to erosion, and by contacting the
public or private establishments charged with the operation
of affected facilities.
07.B.
Inventory of Sediment Related Maintenance Costs.
Complete a financial inventory of the historical costs
associated with sediment control and maintenance. This
will include the cost of construction for in-channel basins,
foothill basins, in-Bay basins, and the, long-term maintenance
requirements. Inventory the costs for individual stakeholders
to meet sediment and water quality goals versus a regional
approach.
07.C.
TMDL Implementation Costs.
In coordination with 05.A2.4, evaluate compliance costs
to meet the partial or total objectives of the sediment,
nutrient, toxics and pathogenic TMDL's.
07.D.
Recreation.
An inventory and description of existing recreation resources
will be completed and will include the following:
- Estimate recreation resource
(similar recreation provided in the study area). This
involves gathering information from the local sponsor(s)
and/or local experts to estimate the inventory of recreation
resources in the market area.
- Forecast potential recreation
use in study area. Gather information from the local
sponsor(s) and local experts to determine potential
recreation use.
07.E.
Development Growth.
Based on a review of existing data, the rate of future
growth of development in the watershed will be documented.
This review will include documentation of the available
information listed below.
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a.
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Current forecasts for the project/surrounding
area |
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b.
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Census tract population/demographic
items count for the area |
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c.
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Household formation rates for the area |
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d.
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Project area vacancy rates |
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e.
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Land zoning |
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f.
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Zoning densities |
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g.
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Public land demands |
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h.
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Commercial land demands |
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i.
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Development pattern |
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Parcel size development |
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Ratio of parcel size development. |
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j.
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Socio-economic characteristics of future
population. |
07.F. Erosion Damage
Assessment.
Determine the future without-project damages from erosion
within the watershed, by conducting a general survey of
damages along the major watercourses, with more detailed
economic studies at project alternative sites. Forecast
of damages will be supported by hydraulic studies and
historic documentation.
07.G. Incremental Cost
Analysis.
An incremental cost analysis will be performed in cooperation
with Environmental Branch to determine the most efficient
and cost-effective alternatives for ecosystem restoration.
This effort includes the following tasks:
- Display environmental outputs (Habitat units) and
cost estimates of the management measures
- Analyze management measures to separate those that
can and can not be implemented together.
- Identify combinations of managements measures and
calculate each combination output (habitat units) and
cost.
- Eliminate economically inefficient solutions (e.g.
those solutions which have a higher cost and produce
less output).
- Calculate average cost of each level of output.
- Recalculate average costs for additional output.
- Calculate incremental costs.
- Compare successive outputs and incremental costs.
07.H. Compute Annual Cost.
Annual costs will also be calculated for each alternative,
including construction costs, interest during construction,
real estate, operation and maintenance, etc. Costs will
be converted to annual figures using the appropriate discount
rate.
07.I. Habitat Benefits.
Habitat values will be displayed for each alternative
in terms of habitat units (from the HEP analysis) or other
appropriate methodology identified in a literature search
to be conducted into the quantification of environmental
restoration outputs. Habitat values for the various alternatives
will be compared to costs in the selection of recommended
management alternatives.
07.J. Tradeoff Analysis.
A trade-off analysis between monetary and non-monetary
benefits shall be completed for the structural and non-structural
elements of the PLAN. Selection criteria derived at the
beginning of the study will be applied to a decision-framework
that is acceptable to all members of the study team (Federal
and non-Federal).
07.K. Prepare Economic
Appendix.
All data collected and/or developed to support the alternatives
will be collected and displayed in an economics appendix
to the final feasibility report.
07.K.1 Prepare
F3 report draft economics appendix describing the results
of tasks 07.A-F. Portions of the tasks described in
07.G-J may be initiated prior to the F3. Interim results
of these tasks will be reported in this report.
07.K.2 Prepare
F4 report to include the tasks described in 07.G-J.
07.K.3 Prepare
F5 public draft report based on comments received during
the F4 conference and additional studies completed that
address the PLAN.
6.8. Surveying and
Mapping (Subaccount 08)
08.A
Collection of Existing Mapping and Aerial Photography.
This task will include the collection of existing aerial
photographs, topographic, and Geographical Information
System (GIS) mapping and Land Information System. (LIS)
mapping for use by the study team to define the baseline
condition. Existing mapping will be reviewed to determine
additional aerial photography and mapping needs for the
modeling and environmental efforts (Sections 6.9 and 6.5,
respectively). Known resources include, but are not limited
to:
- Digital USGS contours are available
from the Orange County GIS. Can be used to generate
Digital terrain Models (DTM) for use in watershed delineations
under Subaccount 9A - Hydrology.
- 1997 digital aerial photos can
be purchased from Orange County. These can be used as
a backdrop for GIS information.
- 1995 digital aerial photos that
correspond to the Thomas Guide maps area available from
Aerial Photo Bank in Irvine, California. They include
street names, but are not geo-referenced.
- Orange County drainage base mapping.
- Orange County's NCCP study mapping
(GIS).
- Orange County's aerial photography
and contour mapping of the El Toro Marine Corps Air
Station, including the golf course.
- City of Lake Forest photography
and contour mapping for approximately 5.5 kilometers
from Bake Parkway, through the Serrano Creek Community
Park, to the Foothill Transportation Corridor.
- Marshburn channel data from the
Marshburn retarding basin to San Diego Creek (5.5 kilometers)
can be obtained from the Flood Control Master Plan for
San Diego Creek.
- Recent as-builts for the re-aligned
Peter's Canyon Wash adjacent to the Eastern Transportation
Corridor (approximately 6
kilometers).
- Annual channel cross-section
surveys by Orange County along portions of San Diego
Creek.
08.B New Aerial Photography
and Contour Mapping.
New aerial photography will be used for habitat mapping.
Aerial photography and contour mapping will be used for
the hydrologic, hydraulic, and sediment transport modeling
and for the conceptual design of the alternatives described
under Subaccount 14 - Plan Formulation. Areas have been
selected to fill in gaps in existing information. The
aerial photographs will be ortho-corrected to ensure that
they correspond with topographic mapping and can be easily
added to the GIS. The photography will comply with recent
OCPFRD mapping requirements. Where plotted, the existing
500-year FEMA floodplain is suggested as a minimum photography
and mapping width. At a minimum, the 100-year floodplain
will be mapped. Exact photography and mapping requirements
shall be coordinated with the study manager and the hydraulic,
environmental and economic technical team members prior
to initiation of this task. To avoid duplication, mapping
efforts will be coordinated with those underway in the
current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded watershed
work efforts. A survey crew will verify exact routes and
distances for aerial photography, contour mapping and
cross-sectional surveys using a hand-held Global Positioning
System (GPS) unit.
For habitat mapping purposes, it
is recommended that photography be taken at a scale to
allow for photographs to be printed at a scale of 1"=
400'. The photography will also be used for mapping one-meter
contours in portion of channels to compliment existing
information. All the following bullets identify areas
to be photographed, with approximate distances. Contour
mapping will not be required for all of the reaches being
photographed. Specific mapping requirements for designated
reaches are described below.
- San Diego Creek from Upper Newport
Bay to the confluence of Peters Canyon Wash (7 kilometers).
Because of the extremely low slope of the watercourse
where it meets the estuary, a smaller contour interval
may be recommended for this section, but contour mapping
is assumed to remain at one-meter intervals at this
time. Mapping should also cover the entire San Joaquin
Freshwater Marsh at the lower end of San Diego Creek.
- San Diego Creek from the Peters
Canyon Wash confluence to the Interstate-5 crossing
in the City of Irvine (11 kilometers). One-meter contour
mapping will be prepared for this area.
- Lower Santa Ana Delhi Channel
from Newport Bay to the Paularino Channel confluence
(4 kilometers). One-meter contour mapping will be prepared
for the lower 2.5 kilometers of channel, from the Bay
to Irvine Avenue, along the Newport Beach Golf Course.
- Peters Canyon Wash from Irvine
Boulevard through the Tustin Ranch Golf course, to the
southern border of Peter's Canyon Regional Park (4 kilometers).
Some additional aerial photography may be done on the
eastern half of the Tustin Marine Corp Air Station between
Edinger and Warner Avenue. No contour mapping will be
prepared for this area. Instead, channel cross-sections
will be taken at appropriate intervals for the H&H
modeling.
- Hicks Canyon from the intersection
of Jeffrey Road and Portola Parkway to the Eastern Transportation
Corridor (1.5 kilometers). No contour mapping will be
done in this area but channel cross-sections will be
taken at appropriate intervals.
- Bee Canyon Wash from the Foothill
Transportation Corridor to the border of Limestone Canyon
Regional Park (3 kilometers). No contour mapping will
be done in this area, but some channel cross-sections
may be taken for the H&H modeling.
- Round Canyon Wash from the Foothill
Transportation Corridor to the round canyon retarding
basin, near the border of Limestone Canyon Regional
Park (1.5 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done
in this area, but some channel cross-sections may be
taken for the H&H modeling.
- Agua Chinon Wash from the El
Toro MCAS to the Agua Chinon retarding basin (3 kilometers).
No contour mapping will be done in this area, but some
channel cross-sections may be taken for the H&H
modeling.
- Borrego Canyon Wash, from the
El Toro MCAS to the Limestone Canyon Regional Park/Whiting
Ranch Wilderness Park (4 kilometers). No contour mapping
will be done in this area, but some channel cross-sections
may be taken for the H&H modeling.
- Serrano Creek, from the Foothill
Transportation Corridor to the Whiting Ranch Wilderness
Park (1 kilometer). No contour mapping will be done
in this area. Several channel cross-sections will be
taken along a 0.5 kilometer portion of channel parallel
to Bake Parkway, between Toledo Way and Jeronimo Road,
if no existing information is available on this stretch
of channel. The information will be used for the H&H
modeling.
- Canada Channel next to the San
Diego Creek mainstem between Bake Parkway and Avenida
de la Carlota (2 kilometers), and an unnamed channel
from the mainstem to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
(2 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done in this
area, but some channel cross-sections may be taken for
the H&H modeling.
- Sand Canyon Wash from the confluence
with San Diego Creek, through the William R. Mason Regional
Park, to the Sand Canyon Reservoir (4.5 kilometers).
No contour mapping will be done in this area, but some
channel cross-sections may be taken for the H&H
modeling.
- Bonita Creek from San Diego
Creek to the San Joaquin Reservoir (3.5 kilometers).
The mapping shall show culture,
including buildings, bridges, fences, walls, trees, shrubbery,
labeled streets and access roads (including curb, gutter
and sidewalks), railroads, drainage features, and exposed
utility features. The mapping shall be supplemented by
ground survey with field notes indicating: dimensions,
and elevations of the invert, low chord, and top of road
or railing for each bridge or utility crossing the channel;
dimensions and elevations of pipes, culverts, headwalls,
chutes, or drainage ways entering the channel; dimensions
and elevations of any other culture found along the study
reaches, and along the major tributaries within 200 feet
of their confluence with one of the study reaches.
Mapping is required to be compiled
in the 1983 North American Datum (NAD 1983) for horizontal
control, and the 1988 North American Vertical Datum (NAVD
88) for vertical control, and must meet the U.S. Bureau
of the Budget's "United States National Map Accuracy-Standards"
and comply with: Federal Geodetic Control Networks and
the following Corps Engineering Memorandums:
- EM 1110-1-1002, "Survey
Markers and Monumentation,"
- EM 1110-1-1003 14 June 1991,
"NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Surveying"
- EM 1110-1-1807, Parts 1 to 4
30 July 1990, "Standards Manual for U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers Computer Aided Design and Drafting
Systems".
Original topographic maps and aerial
ortho-photographs shall be supplied to the hydrologic/hydraulic,
environmental and economics sections of the Corps. Original
field notes shall be provided to the hydrologic/hydraulics
section. Digital files shall be provided to the engineering
division.
08.C GIS/LIS.
Incorporate existing GIS/LIS data and new spatial data
(discharges, floodplains, habitat areas, project alternatives,
etc.) generated by the study into a project GIS (see list
at Task 14A). The new aerial photographs should be geo-referenced
to serve as a backdrop. The GIS will serve as a central
repository for project spatial data, and can be made available
to public and private agencies during and after the study.
Study generated data can be accessible through the project
website.
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Upper
Newport Bay / San Diego Creek Watershed Planning Initiative