Comments Period: December 12, 2018 – January 11, 2019
SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application to construct the Mesa Boulevard Storm Drain Improvements project, which would result in impacts to approximately 0.68 acre of waters of the United States adjacent to Interstate 15 (I-15) in Mesquite, Nevada, to improve existing storm drainage facilities. 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: City of Mesquite, Mr. Travis Anderson, 10 East Mesquite Boulevard, Mesquite, Nevada 89027
LOCATION: The approximately 6.3-acre project site is located on Town Wash and an unnamed tributary adjacent to the I-15 ramps at Pioneer Boulevard, Latitude 36.8139°, Longitude -114.0652°, Mesquite, Clark County, Nevada, and can be seen on the Mesquite USGS Topographic Quadrangle.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to improve the storm drain infrastructure in northeast Mesquite, as needed to safely convey the 100-year storm flows. The project would construct storm drain facilities that would collect and reroute storm water that currently sheet flows down Mesa Boulevard into collection grates at Pioneer Boulevard, and through pipes that discharge into an unnamed ephemeral channel located approximately 490 feet directly south, adjacent to Pioneer Boulevard. Due to rapid development in the area during recent years and the associated increase in impervious surfaces in the basin, the collection grates near the intersection of Mesa Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard are often overwhelmed with storm water flow and deposited sediments, resulting in major flooding near the intersection. In addition, the unnamed ephemeral channel is undergoing severe erosion as a result of the excessively high flows that are currently conveyed into the channel from the existing collection grates.
The proposed project would include several activities. Drop inlet structures would be installed near the intersection of Mesa Boulevard and El Dorado Road to collect storm water, and pipes would be installed under the existing truck stop parking area to direct the water southwest into the unnamed ephemeral channel. The segment of the unnamed ephemeral channel that is located upstream of Pioneer Boulevard would be replaced with a straight 12-foot by 7.5-foot concrete channel, and the segment of the unnamed ephemeral channel located downstream of Pioneer Boulevard would be replaced with a straight 12-foot by 7-foot concrete channel. At the crossing of Pioneer Boulevard, a 17-foot by 4-foot reinforced concrete box culvert would be installed in the unnamed ephemeral channel. Collectively, this work would result in permanent impacts to 2,150 linear feet (0.59 acre) of the unnamed ephemeral channel.
The unnamed ephemeral channel flows southwest into Town Wash, a perennial stream, which is also proposed to be modified as part of the project. The existing channel of Town Wash, from its confluence with the unnamed ephemeral channel to a point approximately 250 feet upstream, would be replaced with a straight, 20-foot by 7-foot concrete channel which would connect an existing reinforced concrete box located at the northern end of the project to an existing concrete lined channel at the southern end of the project. This work would result in permanent impacts to 252 linear feet (0.09 acre) of perennial channel.
Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to safely convey the 100-year flood event in northeast Mesquite. The applicant believes there is a need to improve flood control facilities to prevent flooding at the intersection of Pioneer Boulevard and Mesa Boulevard and to prevent erosion that could compromise the I-15 ramps. The attached drawings provide additional project details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Environmental Setting. There are approximately 2,150 linear feet (0.59 acre) of ephemeral channel, 252 linear feet (0.09 acre) of perennial channel, and no wetlands within the project area. The gently sloping site is located in an arid/desert environment with low vegetative ground cover and is bordered by I-15 and commercial developments. The site is located at an elevation of 1,640 feet above sea level and typically receives approximately 9 inches of annual rainfall. Dominant native vegetation within the project area include four-wing saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), white bursage (Ambrosia dumosa), and cresosote bush (Larrea tridentate). Invasive species, such as salt cedar (Tamarix ramosissima), are located within or near the channels. The soils within the project area are primarily moderately to well-sorted gravel, silt and clay formed from stream and floodplain deposition. The site experiences disturbances typically found in an urban setting and the channels have been heavily impacted and/or relocated by human activities that have occurred since settlement of the area.
Alternatives. The applicant has provided information concerning project alternatives. Additional information concerning project alternatives may be available from the applicant or its 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 applicant has proposed 6 alternatives, including the no action alternative and the proposed alternative (Alternative 1). Alternative 2 would involve the installation of a rip-rap or gabion lining along the entire width and length of the above ground portions of unnamed ephemeral channel and along the unlined portion of Town Wash. Alternative 3 would involve collecting storm water near El Dorado Road and conveying the drainage through an underground concrete box culvert beneath its current flow path down Mesa Boulevard, and tying in to the unnamed wash at the Pioneer Boulevard crossing, leaving the segment of the unnamed ephemeral channel located upstream of Pioneer Boulevard in its current condition. Alternative 4 would involve collecting storm water flows near El Dorado Road and routing the drainage into a new underground concrete box culvert, just outside the public (Nevada Department of Transportation) right-of-way, that would roughly parallel the entire length of the unnamed ephemeral channel and would tie into the unlined portion of Town Wash. Alternative 5 would involve the construction of a hybrid artificial channel, with an unlined (earthen) channel bottom and concrete-lined banks, along the entire width and length of the above ground portions of unnamed ephemeral channel and the unlined portion of Town Wash. Alternative 6 would involve the installation of a bioengineered artificial channel, composed of earthen material and lined with grass and/or herbaceous vegetation, along the entire width and length of the above ground portions of unnamed ephemeral channel and along the unlined portion of Town Wash.
These alternatives are shown on the attached “Figure 1. Build Alternatives” drawing and the impacts are outlined in the table below.
Comparison of Estimated Channel Impacts
|
|
Fill Quantity
(Cubic Yards)
|
Impact Area (Acres)
|
Impact Linear Feet
|
|
No-Build Alternative
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Alternative 1
|
6,001.7
|
0.68
|
2,402
|
|
Alternative 2
|
2,761.8
|
0.68
|
2,402
|
|
Alternative 3
|
2,643.9
|
0.55
|
1,435
|
|
Alternative 4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Alternative 5
|
2,761.8
|
0.68
|
2,402
|
|
Alternative 6
|
2,761.8
|
0.68
|
2,402
|
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 make a financial contribution (in-lieu fee arrangement) to the Clark County Desert Conservation Program (DCP) to restore and preserve 2.72 acres in the Virgin River Restoration-Reserve Unit 1.
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is required for this project. The applicant has indicated they have applied for certification.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES: Based on the available information (including applicant's report titled “Cultural Resources and Paleontological Resources Assessments for the Mesa Boulevard Town Wash to El Dorado- Storm Drain Project”), no cultural resources were identified within the project's area of potential effect. 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 project would not affect any Federally-listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat that are protected by the Endangered Species Act. 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.
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-2018-00480 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before January 11, 2019.
Michael Pectol, Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
Bountiful Regulatory Office
533 West 2600 South, Suite 150
Bountiful, Utah 84010
Email: Michael.A.Pectol@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 Michael Pectol, (801) 295-8380, ext. 8315, or email Michael.A.Pectol@usace.army.mil.
Attachments: 4 drawings