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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.

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SPK-2015-00183, Shed C Channel Improvement Project, Sacramento County, CA

Published March 26, 2018
Expiration date: 4/11/2018

Comments Period: 28 March 2018 – 11 April 2018

SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the Shed C Channel Improvement Project, which would result in impacts to approximately 12.89 acres of waters of the United States, including wetlands, in or adjacent to Shed C Channel. 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 into waters of the United States.

APPLICANT: Mr. John Griffin, City of Elk Grove, 8401 Laguna Palms Way, Elk Grove, California 95758, jgriffn@elkgrovecity.org 

LOCATION: The approximately 485.0-acre project site is located north of Kammerer Road between Bruceville Road and Lotz Parkway, in Sections 11-16, Township 6 North, Range 5 East, MDB&M, Latitude 38.37560°, Longitude -121.40433°, Elk Grove, Sacramento County, California, and can be seen on the Florin and Bruceville USGS Topographic Quadrangles.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to construct a flood control project with a wetland and recreational trail component for a portion of the Southeast Policy Area Strategic Plan (SEPA) for the City of Elk Grove. This project is designed to control stormwater, improve the quality of stormwater, provide wildlife and native plant habitat, a recreational trail corridor, and educational opportunities for the area. There are approximately 14,900.0 feet or 2.82 miles of existing drainages and ditches involved in the construction of the proposed project. The proposed new channel facility will be approximately 11,560 feet, or 2.19 miles in length with a longer sinuous low flow channel in the bottom of the flood control channel. The applicant proposes to create seven flood control detention basins along the flood control corridor to regulate stormwater run-off of the area. Additionally, the project proposes to construct five bridges or culvert crossings for cars and three pedestrian only crossings of the flood control channel to allow for people and traffic to pass over the channel. The proposed project proposes to impact 12.89 acres of waters of the United States with the construction of this project. The project design includes using 317.0 cubic yards of rock slope protection and 4,398 cubic yards of native material with the construction of this project.

 Table 1:  Cut and Fill Volumes of the Shed C Channel Project by Reach.

Reach

Fill (SF)

Cut (SF)

Total SF

Total Impact AC

 

 

 

 

 

West

75,400

44,200

119,600

2.75

Middle

47,600

19,600

67,200

1.54

East Ditch

32,800

198,800

231,600

5.32

East Marsh

70,800

71.800

142,600

3.27

Total

226,600

334,400

561,000

12.88

 

 

 

 

 

Acres

5.2020

7.6768

12.8788

 

 

Table 2:  Waters of the United States on-site.  All of these waters are proposed to be filled or excavated with the construction of the proposed project.

 

East Reach

West Reach

Middle Reach

Total in Acres

Intermittent Stream

4.92 AC

1.75 AC

1.54 AC

8.21

Freshwater Emergent Wetland

3.27 AC

 

 

3.27

Non-Tidal Seasonal Wetland

 

0.03 AC

 

0.03

Jurisdictional Ditches

0.41 AC

0.96 AC

 

1.38

Totals

8.60 AC

2.75 AC

1.54 AC

 

Project Total

 

 

 

12.89

    Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to control stormwater run-off for the developing SEPA. The applicant believes there is a need for this project. The attached drawings provide additional project details.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

     Environmental Setting. There are approximately 10.36 acres of irrigation/drainage ditches and intermittent channels, 3.27 acres of freshwater emergent marsh, and 0.14 acres of seasonal wetlands within the project area. The total amount of jurisdictional waters of the United States on the project site, including wetlands, is 13.77 acres. (See Figure 3.) The site is characterized by agricultural lands, rural residential, and wetlands. There are more recent residential developments near the project site. The topography of the project site is generally flat with a slight slope to the west with the elevation being 25-40 feet above sea level. The Shed C Channel drains into Stone Lake where the Stone Lake National Wildlife Refuge occurs.

     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. The applicant has proposed to mitigate on-site with the creation of 11.95 acres of new channel. In addition, the applicant is proposing to purchase 3.3 acres of mitigation credits from the Cosumnes Floodplain Mitigation Bank to help compensate for impacts to seasonal wetlands and freshwater marsh.

OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board is required for this project. Additionally, authorization is required from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for this project. The applicant has indicated they have applied for these authorizations.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES: Surveys have been done and cultural resource reports have been prepared for the proposed project. 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 and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as appropriate for all species of concern. The main species of concern under federal review for this project are the federally listed giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas), and vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi).

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-2015-00183 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before 11 April 2018.

Kathy Norton, Sr. Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
1325 J Street, Room 1350
Sacramento, California 95814-2922
Email: Kathy.Norton@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, the applicant’s consultant, Hunting Environmental, 530-387-7618 or jhunting@huntenv.com, or the Corps' project manager Ms. Kathy Norton, (916) 557-5260, Kathy.Norton@usace.army.mil.

Attachments: 13 drawings in 2 attachments