Comments Period: June 19, 2018 – July 5, 2018
SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the Mountain Gate Meadows project, which would result in impacts to approximately 10.54 acres of waters of the United States, including wetlands, in or adjacent to Rancheria Creek. 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: Mountain Gate Meadows, LLC,
Attn: Mr. Ron Alvarado,
5241 Arnold Avenue,
McClellan, California 95652,
(916) 565-3645
LOCATION: The approximately 600-acre project site is located on or near Rancheria Creek, Latitude 40.706944°, Longitude -122.346111°, Shasta Lake, Shasta County, California, and can be seen on the Project City USGS 7.5 minute Topographic Quadrangle.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to construct a mixed-use residential and commercial development that includes approximately 1,460 total units. Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to construct a medium sized, mixed-use, master-planned development with associated infrastructure in Shasta County. The applicant believes there is a need for this project to meet current and future housing demand in Shasta County due to a critical shortage of housing inventory. The attached drawings provide additional project details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Environmental Setting. There are a total of approximately 57.54-acres of waters of the United States within the project area, including 46.88-acres of seasonal wetland, 1.58-acres of wetland swale, 8.37-acres of intermittent stream, and 0.71-acre of ephemeral stream. The site is currently undeveloped and is characterized by oak woodland and open meadow, with some scattered Foothill Pines. The site’s hydrology drains south into Rancheria and Moody Creeks, and then into Stillwater Creek, and eventually the Sacramento River.
Alternatives. The applicant has provided information concerning project alternatives. The proposed alternative is alternative 5, the applicant’s preferred alternative. Currently there are ten alternatives are being evaluated, which are listed in the table below. 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. The Corps can only authorize the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States for the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative that is available and capable of being done, taking into account cost, logistics, and technology in light of the overall project purpose.
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ALTERNATIVE
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IMPACT TO WATERS OF US (ACRES)
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NUMBER OF HOUSING EQUIVALENT UNITS
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Alternative 1
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0
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1,054
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Alternative 2
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2.348
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1,167
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|
Alternative 3
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4.829
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1,272
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Alternative 4
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7.143
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1,330
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Alternative 5
(preferred alternative)
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10.544
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1,460
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Alternative 6
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0.438
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1,044
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Alternative 7
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6.696
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1,285
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Alternative 8
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6.018
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1,226
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Alternative 9
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6.778
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1,107
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Alternative 10
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7.248
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1,330
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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 purchase compensatory mitigation credits at Stillwater Plains Mitigation Bank.
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Regional Water Quality Control Board is required for this project. The applicant has not indicated they have applied for certification.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES: Based on the available information (including applicant's November 2017, report titled, Archaeological Inventory Survey, Mountain Gate Meadows Development Project, City of Shasta Lake, Shasta Lake California), Potentially eligible cultural resources may be affected by 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. The Corps will initiate consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as appropriate.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: The proposed project may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat. The Corps will initiate consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, pursuant to Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as appropriate.
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-2005-00827 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before July 9, 2018.
Matthew Kelley, Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
310 Hemsted Drive, Suite 310
Redding, California 96002
Email: Matthew.P.Kelley@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 Matthew Kelley, (530) 223-9534, Matthew.P.Kelley@usace.army.mil.
Attachments: 3 drawings