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Public Notices

Under the Corps' Regulatory Program, a public notice is the primary method for advising all interested parties of a proposed activity for which a permit is sought. Soliciting comments and information necessary to evaluate the probable impacts on the public interest. Public notices are also published to inform the public about new or proposed regulations, policies, guidance or permit procedures.

Public Notices published by the Sacramento District under the Regulatory Program are posted on this page. Once a public notice is available on-line, an email notification is sent to individuals on the appropriate mailing list.

Comments are due by the expiration date of the public notice.  Only comments submitted by email or in hard copy format through a delivery service, such as the U.S. Postal Service, can be accepted.   Comments must be submitted to the address listed in the public notice.

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SPK-2006-00170, Elverta Sports Park Project, Elverta, Sacramento County, CA

Published June 8, 2018
Expiration date: 7/7/2018

Comments Period: June 8, 2018 – July 7, 2018

SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the Elverta Sports Park project, which would result in impacts to approximately 1.65 acres of waters of the United States, including wetlands. This notice is to inform interested parties of the proposed activity and to solicit comments.

AUTHORITY: This application is being evaluated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters of the United States.

APPLICANT: Elverta Sports Park, LLC, Attn: Mr. Brian Vail, 2410 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Suite 110, Sacramento, California 95825

LOCATION: The approximately 81-acre project site is located north of North Palladay Road, east of Palladay Road, west of 16th Street, and southwest of Kasser Road, Latitude 38.72717°, Longitude -121.43435°, Elverta, Sacramento County, California. The project site can be seen on the Rio Linda USGS Topographic California 7.5-minute Quadrangle.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant proposes a mixed-use development consisting of a regional sports park, a segment of “Loop Road” and a residential development (Figure 2). This project site is within the Elverta Specific Plan area in Sacramento County, California. Although the final configuration of proposed land uses is currently unknown, a preliminary, conceptual design for the project site is shown on (Figure 3).

The northwest portion of the project site is planned for residential development. The proposed “Loop Road” would bisect the project site into a northwestern development area of 33 acres which is currently designated for residential uses, and a southeastern area of 38 acres designated for a Regional Sports Park.
A total of 1.65 acres of jurisdictional aquatic resources have been mapped within the project site including 0.15 acre of depressional seasonal wetland, 1.15 acres of vernal pools, and 0.34 acre of riverine seasonal wetland (Figure 4).

Project development proposes to the fill approximately 1.65 acres of jurisdictional aquatic features, as summarized below in Table 1 and shown on (Figure 2).

Table 1 — Jurisdictional Aquatic Resources and Impacts by Proposed Land Use

Waters of the U.S.

Impact Acreages

Classification

Residential Impacts

Park Impacts

Road Impacts

Total

Depressional Seasonal Wetland

0.09

0.05

0.02

0.15

Vernal Pool

0.16

0.97

0.02

1.15

Riverine Seasonal Wetland

0.34

--

0.34

Total

0.25

1.36

0.04

1.65


Purpose and Need

Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to build a mix-used development involving a regional sports park and a residential development. The applicant believes there is a need to sustained population growth in Sacramento County where there is an increased demand for single and multi-family residential housing, and there is a need to prioritize construction within the existing Urban Services Boundary that provide a balance of employment, neighborhood services and different housing types.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

     Environmental Setting: There are approximately 0.15 acre of depressional seasonal wetland, 1.15 acres of vernal pools, and 0.34 acre of riverine seasonal wetland within the project area. The site is characterized by rolling hills and flatlands crossed by small drainages. The natural topography in the southwest portion of the project site has been altered in the past to facilitate agricultural production processes. Slopes throughout the site range from approximately seven percent to less than one percent. The site generally slopes down from the northern boundary and from both the east and west boundaries towards the center of the project site. The elevation on the site ranges from approximately 64 feet above mean sea level (MSL) along the south-central boundary to 76 feet above MSL in the northeast corner.

The project site is located in the Upper Steelhead Creek Watershed Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 12-180201110301. Waters are conveyed to the Natomas East Main Drainage Canal, which joins the Sacramento River at Discovery Park. The project site is designated on the FEMA Floodplain map as being outside the 100-year floodplain. The hydrologic regime on the majority of the project site is a result of seasonal storm water runoff and precipitation, primarily between November and March. Annual average precipitation is 18 to 51 inches. A number of features on the western half of the project site appear to be the result of altered, leveled topography due to past agricultural practices. A riverine seasonal wetland and associated vernal pools receive flow from a culvert under 16th Street on the eastern edge of the property and drain off site to the property to the south. During high water events this feature likely connects to Steelhead Creek.

The project site consists primarily of annual grasslands and is currently used as dry pasture. In the past the southwest portion of the project site has been terraced as part of agricultural production processes, but is not actively farmed at this time. Dominant plant species on the project site include the following: Italian ryegrass (Festuca perenne), spikeweed (Centromadia fitchii), soft brome (Bromus hordeaceus), foxtail barley (Hordeum murinum), hawkbit (Leontodon saxatilis), and narrow tarplant (Holocarpha virgate). Aquatic resources delineated within the project site include depressional seasonal wetland, vernal pool, and riverine seasonal wetland.

The project site is crossed by electrical transmission lines that run from north to south through the center of the site, and is surrounded by rural residential development on the southwest corner and open range land to the north and east.

     Alternatives. The applicant has not provided information concerning project alternatives. Additional information concerning project alternatives may be available from the applicant or their agent. Other alternatives may develop during the review process for this permit application. All reasonable project alternatives, in particular those which may be less damaging to the aquatic environment, will be considered.

    Mitigation. The Corps requires that applicants consider and use all reasonable and practical measures to avoid and minimize impacts to aquatic resources. If the applicant is unable to avoid or minimize all impacts, the Corps may require compensatory mitigation. As applicable, compensatory mitigation through the purchase of in-kind mitigation credits and/or the payment of in-lieu fees may be used to offset impacts. The applicant has proposed to purchase of in-kind mitigation credits from a Corps approved mitigation bank within the service area or the payment of in-lieu fees to offset impacts.

OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board is required for this project. The applicant has indicated they have applied for certification.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES: A Preliminary Cultural Resources Inventory Report has been provided to the Corps for the Proposed Action. The Corps will initiate consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as appropriate.

ENDANGERED SPECIES: The proposed activity may affect Federally-listed endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat. The Corps will initiate consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: The proposed project would not adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) as defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The above determinations are based on information provided by the applicant and our preliminary review.

EVALUATION FACTORS: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the described activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the described activity, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the described activity will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The activity's impact on the public interest will include application of the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 230).

The Corps is soliciting comments from the public, Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.

SUBMITTING COMMENTS: Written comments, referencing Public Notice SPK-2006-00170 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before July 7, 2018.

Peck Ha, Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
Email: peck.ha@usace.army.mil

The Corps is particularly interested in receiving comments related to the proposal's probable impacts on the affected aquatic environment and the secondary and cumulative effects. Anyone may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests shall specifically state, with particularity, the reason(s) for holding a public hearing. If the Corps determines that the information received in response to this notice is inadequate for thorough evaluation, a public hearing may be warranted. If a public hearing is warranted, interested parties will be notified of the time, date, and location. Please note that all comment letters received are subject to release to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. If you have questions or need additional information please contact the applicant or the Corps' project manager Peck Ha, (916) 557-6617, Peck.Ha@usace.army.mil.

Attachments:
Figure 1. Site and Vicinity
Figure 2. Proposed Project
Figure 3. Conceptual Design
Figure 4. Aquatic Resources Delineation

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