Appendix G: Soils and Hydrology Specialist...
Transcript of Appendix G: Soils and Hydrology Specialist...
Fouts Springs Decommissioning/Restoration Project Environmental Assessment
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Appendix G: Soils and Hydrology Specialist Report
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www.FirstCarbonSolutions.com
Hydrology and Soils Specialist’s Report Fouts Springs Decommissioning/Restoration Project
Colusa County, California
Prepared for:
USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Grindstone Ranger District Mendocino National Forest Colusa County, California
on behalf of
Solano County Department of General Services Division of Architectural Services
675 Texas Street, Suite 2500 Fairfield, CA 95433
Contact: Orlie Coronel‐Mangune
Prepared by:
FirstCarbon Solutions 2000 “O” Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95811 916.447.1100
Contact: Jason Brandman, Project Director Christine Donoghue, Project Manager
Report Date: June 12, 2015
Revised based on USFS comments: July 15, 2015
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USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Fouts Springs Decommissioning/Restoration Project Hydrology and Soils Specialist’s Report Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Section 1: Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 ‐ Overview of Issues Addressed ........................................................................................... 1
Section 2: Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 3 2.1 ‐ Fouts Springs Action Area ................................................................................................. 3 2.2 ‐ Geology ............................................................................................................................. 4 2.3 ‐ Soils ................................................................................................................................... 4 2.4 ‐ Hydrologic Resources ........................................................................................................ 5 2.5 ‐ Management Requirements and NEPA ............................................................................. 6
2.5.1 ‐ Mendocino National Forest Goals, Guidelines and Standards ............................... 6 2.5.2 ‐ Existing Laws, Executive Orders ........................................................................... 14
Section 3: Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................... 17 3.1 ‐ Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis .......................................................... 17 3.2 ‐ Alternative 1 – No Action ................................................................................................ 17 3.3 ‐ Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ...................................................................................... 18
3.3.1 ‐ Summary of Proposed Action .............................................................................. 18 3.3.2 ‐ Project Design Features ........................................................................................ 19 3.3.3 ‐ Direct Effects ........................................................................................................ 21 3.3.4 ‐ Indirect Effects ...................................................................................................... 22 3.3.5 ‐ Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................ 22 3.3.6 ‐ Compliance with Forest Plan and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations,
Policies, and Plans .............................................................................................. 26
Section 4: Monitoring Recommendations and Conclusions .......................................................... 27
Section 5: Contributors ................................................................................................................ 29
Section 6: References ................................................................................................................... 31
Appendix A: Forest Plan Consistency Checklist
List of Tables
Table 1: Soil Map Units within Fouts Springs Action Area ...................................................................... 5
Table 2: Fouts Springs Watersheds ......................................................................................................... 6
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1: Area Soils Map ........................................................................................................................ 7
Exhibit 2: Watershed/Regional Drainage Map ....................................................................................... 9
Exhibit 3: Local Hydrology .................................................................................................................... 11
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USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Fouts Springs Decommissioning/Restoration Project Hydrology and Soils Specialist’s Report Introduction
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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
This report describes an assessment of the current condition of the proposed project area and the
potential effects to soil and water resources from the decommissioning of the now defunct Fouts
Spring Youth Facility. Decommissioning consists of: (1) the abatement of hazardous materials,
including but not limited to the potential presence of lead based paint, asbestos, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), and contaminated soil; (2) the demolition of the existing facilities, including but not
limited to buildings, utilities, pavement, and site improvements; and (3) full site restoration to a
natural state.
The analysis herein will concentrate on the potential impacts from the above decomissioning and
subsequent restoration activities to soil quality, stream stability, and water quality.
The proposed action area is within the Mendocino National Forest and Colusa County, 1 mile east of the
Snow Mountain Wilderness, with the nearest town of Stonyford approximately 9 miles to the east.
1.1 ‐ Overview of Issues Addressed
The primary issues surrounding soil and water resources are related to impacts from soil
(compaction) from the proposed decommissioning and subsequent restoration activities, and
sediment delivery to nearby stream channels. The primary concerns are that the proposed activities
will and create erosion and sediment delivery, affecting water quality.
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SECTION 2: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
2.1 ‐ Fouts Springs Action Area
The action area is a contiguous 74‐acre site adjacent to South Fork Stony Creek. The site is currently
unoccupied. The area surrounding the action area consists primarily of undeveloped land.
Northeast of the action area are Forest Service developed campgrounds, off highway vehicle staging
areas and trails, and trailheads for hiking.
Existing unused structures within the action area include facilities and infrastructure that was used
to operate and sustain the Fouts Springs Youth Facility. The facilities include:
Dormitory facilities, including the California Youth Authority dormitory (Grable Dormitory or
Hall), the former Snow Mountain Academy group/classrooms, the new Snow Mountain
Academy dormitory [Nystrom Dormitory], and County dormitory,
Maintenance building,
Recreation hall
Classroom facilities (including modular classrooms),
Storage building,
Shop building,
Kitchen/dining room, offices,
Multi‐function building,
Fire department building,
Commander’s residence,
Staff trailers and residences,
Historical swimming pool,
Swimming pool, and
Basketball court
The infrastructure within the action area includes:
Finished steel water tanks (x2) Redwood water storage tank Water treatment facility
Trout Creek water diversion structure Fuel tank Roads
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The geology, soils, and hydrologic conditions (including geomorphology) existing within and
surrounding the action area are described in detail in the following subsections.
2.2 ‐ Geology
The action area is located in a region of sheared and folded rocks that represent a Mesozoic sea floor.
These rocks consist of sandstone, shale, and volcanic rocks that were faulted and folded to form the
Coast Ranges approximately 30 million years ago by the collision of the Pacific and North American
plates. Local geology includes Pleistocene to recent age terrace deposits in the stream terrace areas to
deformed and sheared Franciscan formation volcanic and metavolcanic rocks in the mountainous terrain
to the west (USGS 1964). The stream terrace deposits consist of semi‐consolidated pebble to cobble
gravel with lenses of silt and sand (USFS, 2000). While ultramafic rocks containing naturally occurring
asbestos (NOA) are known to occur in every county of California, and have been found in the watershed
surrounding the action area, they have not been found in the soil studies conducted for the action area.
Soil types and their composition are discussed in Section 2.3, below.
The bulk of the action area is located on a gently sloping stream terrace located on the south side of
the South Fork of Stony Creek (Exhibit 3). The stream terrace has 0‐2% percent slopes to the
northeast (approximately 2 feet per 100 feet). The South Fork of Stony Creek is a perennial stream
with its headwaters approximately six miles to the southwest of the action area. The creek is
entrenched approximately 40 to 80 feet along the northern side of the stream terrace. The elevation
of the action area ranges from 1,660 feet to 1,673 feet above sea level.
2.3 ‐ Soils
The four major soil units, as classified by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service within the
action area are described in detail below. Serpentine soils from ultramifac rocks containing NOA are
not known to occur in the soil types existing on the site. Exhibit 1 includes the area soils map. Table
1 describes the acres and percent total of each soil unit found within the action area. The acreages
presented in Table 1 are not representative of the acres of soil that would be disturbed by the
decommissioning and subsequent restoration actions of the project.
185 Riverwash
This unit forms within 0‐2 percent slopes and is found along the northern margin of the project
adjacent along and including the South Fork of Stony Creek. This unit is made up of loose materials
within or adjacent to the active floodplain, and are subject to frequent fluvial processes.
190 Arand very gravelly loam
This unit forms 0‐2 percent slopes and is found on the gently sloping stream terrace on the south
side of the South Fork of Stony Creek. The existing onsite facilities are located on this unit. This is a
very deep, somewhat excessively drained soil developed on alluvium weathered from mixed rock
sources. The soil is regionally formed on floodplains and alluvial fans at elevations from 1,520 to
1,720 feet mean sea level (msl). The surface layer is typically brown to light yellowish brown,
extremely gravelling loam, and about 32 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown, extremely
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gravelly loamy sand. Permeability is rapid and surface runoff is negligible to very low. The erosion
hazard is slight, although stream bank erosion may be severe. Major management factors for this
soil are low water holding capability and excess rock fragments.
526 Etsel‐Maymen‐Marpa Association
This soil forms 30‐50 percent slopes and is found on the slopes to the southwest, south, and west of
the facility, and portions of the slopes to the north. The existing steel treated water storage tanks
are located on this soil south of the former staff trailers. This soil is a shallow, somewhat excessively
drained soil developed on residuum weathered from sandstone and shale. Regionally the soil is
formed on steep, brush‐covered mountain slopes at elevations from approximately 1,700 to 3,050
feet msl. The surface layer in the typical profile is 3 inches thick, and consists of a brown sandy
loam, underlain by pink gravelly sandy loam form a depth of 3 to 16 inches, which in turn is
underlain by highly fractured sandstone and shale. Permeability is moderately rapid and surface
runoff is medium. The erosion hazard for this soil type is severe, which could create mass wasting
processes, although the soil surveys conducted for the site do not indicate that mass wasting has
been known to occur on the site for this soil type. Major management factors include steep slopes,
erosion hazard, slow permeability, and shallow soil depth.
520 Stonyford‐Guenoc Complex
This soil forms 15‐30 percent slopes and makes up a portion of the ridge adjacent to and southwest
of the facility. This soil is shallow, well drained, and developed on residuum weathered from basalt.
The soil is formed regionally on mountain side slopes at elevations from 1,450 to 2,500 feet msl. In
the typical profile, the surface layer is approximately 3 inches thick and is a brown gravelly loam.
The subsoil is dark reddish brown gravelly clay loam over highly fractured, partially weathered
metamorphosed basalt at a depth of 14 inches.
Table 1: Soil Map Units within Fouts Springs Action Area
Soil Unit Acres of Soil Unit in
Action Area
185 Riverwash 4.5
190 Arand very gravelly loam 83.6
526 Etsel‐Maymen‐Marpa Association 6.0
520 Stonyford‐Guenoc Complex 7.3
Soils in the project area have previously been compacted or disturbed as a result of the installation
of the existing features, and through a history regular pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the site.
2.4 ‐ Hydrologic Resources
The action area is located within the Coastal Mountain Range in a valley floor surrounded by steep
slopes and mountain ridges. The action area is located in the Upper Stony Creek Basin,
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encompassing 740 square miles, and within the 8th field Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) watersheds of
Lower South Fork Stony Creek and Miner Creek. The average annual precipitation in the Upper Stony
Creek Basin is 34.75 inches with lesser amounts falling at lower elevations, and higher amounts falling at
higher elevations. Table 2 for the acreage of each watershed, see Exhibit 2 for an overview of these
watersheds, and see Exhibit 3 for an aerial view the local hydrology of the action area.
The South Fork of Stony Creek flows near the northern border of the site. Almost immediately to the
west of the action area, Trout Creek joins the South Fork of Stony Creek (see Exhibit 3). Mill Creek is
located approximately 1,600 feet east of the action area, and is also a tributary the South Fork of
Stony Creek (see Exhibit 3). Stony Creek eventually flows into the Stony Gorge Reservoir in western
Glenn County. Discharge from the Stony Gorge Reservoir is tributary to the Sacramento River.
Table 2: Fouts Springs Watersheds
8th Field HUC Watershed Area in Acres
Miners Creek 7,055
Lower South Fork Stoney Creek 9,889
Source: FCS 2015.
The 74‐acre site is not known to have seeps, springs, or wet areas, and were not observed during
project site visits. Furthermore, the site is somewhat excessively drained with rapid permeability
and low surface runoff due to medium dense sand, gravel and silt mixture soils classified according
to Unified Soil Classification System as silty sand with gravel (SM). In 2000, Solano County
implemented a field exploration to profile soils in the action area and found that soil profiles were
relatively uniform across the site, that the lower soil horizons contained less than 5 percent fines,
and the depth to groundwater is about 38 feet. The soil profile in the action area is not conducive to
artesian conditions, which refers to situations where water is confined under pressure below layers
of relatively impermeable rock, such as clay or shale, creating seeps and springs on site (USGS,
2015).
2.5 ‐ Management Requirements and NEPA
2.5.1 ‐ Mendocino National Forest Goals, Guidelines and Standards
The primary plan associated with the proposed decommissioning of the facility is the Mendocino
National Forest LRMP (USDA, 1995) because the facility is located entirely within the Forest.
Consistency of the proposed action is based on a review of Forest Goals, Guidelines and Standards
from the LRMP. Preparation of the LRMP is required under the National Forest Management Act
(NFMA) (Title 36, CFR 219).
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Goals
Goals relevant to the proposed decommissioning of the Fouts Springs Youth Facility are listed below.
Soils and Geology
Maintain or improve long‐term soil productivity and slope stability.
Watershed
Maintain and improve watershed conditions to maintain stream channel function and stability, and
to provide water of sufficient quality and quantity to meet or exceed expected beneficial use
requirements. As a minimum, existing levels will be protected.
Standards
Standards relevant to the proposed decommissioning of the Fouts Springs Youth Facility are listed
below.
Riparian and Aquatic Ecosystems
Maintain and restore the distribution, diversity, and complexity of watershed and landscape‐
scale features to ensure protection of the aquatic systems to which species, populations and
communities are uniquely adapted.
Maintain and restore spatial and temporal connectivity within and between watersheds.
Lateral, longitudinal, and drainage network connections include floodplains, wetlands,
upslope areas, headwater tributaries, and intact refugia. These network connections must
provide chemically and physically unobstructed routes to areas critical for fulfilling life history
requirements of aquatic and riparian‐dependent species.
Maintain and restore the physical integrity of the aquatic system, including shorelines, banks,
and bottom configurations.
Maintain and restore water quality necessary to support healthy riparian, aquatic, and
wetland ecosystems. Water quality must remain within the range that maintains the
biological, physical, and chemical integrity of the system and benefits survival, growth,
reproduction, and migration of individuals composing aquatic and riparian communities.
Maintain and restore in‐stream flows sufficient to create and sustain riparian, aquatic, and
wetland habitats and to retain patterns of sediment, nutrient, and wood routing. The timing,
magnitude, duration, and spatial distribution of peak, high, and low flows must be protected.
Maintain and restore the timing, variability, and duration of floodplain inundation and water
table elevation in meadows and wetlands.
Maintain and restore the species composition and structural diversity of plant communities in
riparian areas and wetlands to provide adequate summer and winter thermal regulation,
nutrient filtering, appropriate rates of surface erosion, bank erosion, and channel migration
and to supply amounts and distributions of coarse woody debris sufficient to sustain physical
complexity and stability.
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Maintain and restore habitat to support well‐distributed populations of native plant,
invertebrate, and vertebrate riparian‐dependent species.
Soils and Geology
Develop specific soil evaluation and mitigation measures for each project that has the
potential to impact the soil resource.
Identify and evaluate area of known or suspected instability as part of project planning. Protect areas with a high probability of mass wasting from ground disturbing activities. In the
action area, areas of known or suspected instability include cuts along Stony Creek.
Protect long‐term soil productivity in controlled burn prescriptions through the use of
“Mendocino National Forest Guidelines for Prescribed Burning of Chamise/Chaparral,” and by
meeting aquatic conservation strategy objectives.
Protect long‐term soil productivity in controlled burn prescriptions through the use of
“Mendocino National Forest Guidelines for Prescribed Burning of Chamise/Chaparral,” and by
meeting aquatic conservation strategy objectives.
Watershed and Water Quality
Identify depleted watershed areas during the project environmental assessment process.
Incorporate improvement activities as a part of the project.
Analyze projects that propose land disturbing activities for their effects on the appropriate level of watershed (normally second to fourth order watersheds) in order to prevent excessive
cumulative watershed effects on stream channel condition and water quality. Cumulative
watershed effects (CWE) analysis will be used to gauge impacts of past, present, and proposed
management activities on a watershed.
Implement Best Management Practices (BMP) to meet water quality objectives and maintain
and improve the quality of surface water on the Forest. Identify methods and techniques for
applying the BMPs during project level environmental analysis and incorporate them into the
associated project plan and implementation documents. During implementation of the
project, utilize additional BMPs as necessary to protect water quality even though the BMPs
may not be specifically identified in the project plans.
2.5.2 ‐ Existing Laws, Executive Orders
Clean Water Act of 1977
The objective of the Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of
the Nation’s waters (Section 101(a)). It also regulates discharge of dredged or fill material into
navigable waters (waters of the U.S.) (Section 404). The Forest Service abides by the Clean Water
Act through the implementation of BMPs (and other actions) otherwise known as Soil and Water
Conservation Practices within the Forest Service. A BMP is a practice, or a combination of practices,
that is determined by the state or designated area‐wide planning agency to be the most effective,
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practicable means of preventing, or reducing the amount of pollution generated by non‐point
sources to a level compatible with water quality goals. BMPs are certified by the California State
Water Resource Control Board and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, in compliance
with Section 208 of the Clean Water Act.
BMP implementation and effectiveness are assessed through both Regional and National monitoring
programs. The Mendocino National Forest annually reports on the monitoring program to the State
Regional Water Quality Control Boards and the Forest Service Regional Office. BMPs used on this
project will be reviewed for implementation success and effectiveness one to five winters after
project completion.
National Forest Management Act 1976
The objectives of the act ensure that forest planning and management services provide for the
conservation and sustained yield of soil (site productivity) and water resources.
Executive Order 11990, 1977; Wetlands Management
E.O. 11990 requires federal agencies to follow avoidance, mitigation, and preservation procedures
with public input before proposing new construction in wetlands. To comply with E.O. 11990, the
federal agency would coordinate with ACOE, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and mitigate
for impacts to wetland habitats.
Executive Order 11998, 1977; Floodplain Management
E.O. 11998 requires all federal agencies to take actions to reduce the risk of flood loss, restore and
preserve the natural and beneficial values in flood plains, and minimize the impacts of floods on
human safety, health, and welfare.
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SECTION 3: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
This report will examine impacts to hydrologic and soil resources and beneficial values associated
with the alternatives.
3.1 ‐ Spatial and Temporal Context for Effects Analysis
Direct effects are caused by the action and occur at the same time and place (40 CFR § 1508.8).
Indirect effects are caused by the action and are later in time or farther removed in distance, but are
still reasonably foreseeable. Indirect effects may include growth ‐inducing effects and other effects
related to induced changes in the pattern of land use, population density or growth rate, and related
effects on air and water and other natural systems, including ecosystems (40 CFR § 1508.8). The
analysis for direct and indirect effects for the proposed action is considered at the site specific
activity area scale.
Cumulative effects are those impacts on the environment, which may result from the incremental
impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions
regardless of what agency (Federal or non‐Federal) or person undertakes such other actions.
Cumulative effects can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place
over a period of time (40 CFR § 1508.7). Cumulative impacts for the proposed action are assessed at
the scale of the 8th field Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) watersheds of Lower South Fork Stony Creek
and Miner Creek. The northern portion of the action area is located in the Lower South Fork Stony
Creek watershed, and the southern portion is located in the Miner Creek watershed. These
watersheds are located within the Upper Stony Creek Basin, as described above.
For the purpose of this analysis, short‐term effects are considered to be those occurring within 18
months. Medium term effects are considered to be those which occur between 18 months and 20
years. Effects of longer‐duration than 20 years are considered to be long‐term effects.
3.2 ‐ Alternative 1 – No Action
The No Action Alternative provides a point of reference from which to evaluate the action alternative.
Under the No Action alternative, the site would not be restored and there would be no use or tenant for
the Fouts Springs Youth Facility. All of the facilities and structures associated with the site would remain,
and no specific actions would be taken to restore the site. Limited actions may be taken to secure
utilities. In addition, structures could be fenced to discourage vandalism, trespassing, or injury.
This alternative would allow continuation of the existing condition, which is inconsistent with the
desired conditions for this area. The No Action Alternative would result in no direct or indirect
resource impacts, due to the limited action taken. The trend of the current conditions would
continue, and the site would not benefit from full restoration, including surface restoration or
replanting. The long‐term effect of no action would be to move this area further away from desired
conditions as defined in the LRMP.
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3.3 ‐ Alternative 2 – Proposed Action
The proposed action is the decommissioning of the now defunct Fouts Spring Youth Facility.
Decommissioning consists of: (1) the abatement of hazardous materials, including but not limited to
the potential presence of lead based paint, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and
contaminated soil; (2) the demolition of the existing facilities, including but not limited to buildings,
utilities, pavement, and site improvements; and (3) full site restoration to a natural state.
3.3.1 ‐ Summary of Proposed Action
The following facilities and infrastructure within the action area would be decommissioned (i.e.,
demolished and removed) as follows:
Removal of all permanent and temporary buildings
Removal of concrete slabs, foundations, parking lot, walkways, curbs, basketball court, planter
boxes, swimming pools, and walls
Removal of facility improvements, including (and limited to) the perimeter fence (except for
along county road), archway entrance, signs, flag poles, football goal posts, obstacle course,
baseball backstop, and basketball poles
Removal of utility infrastructure, including (and limited to) power poles and associated power
lines, transformers, and switch gear; sewer and water systems; and propane and steel water
tanks
Removal of underground fuels tanks (if applicable)
Disconnection and capping of all below‐grade utilities at one foot below surface
Abandonment of septic tanks in place, consistent with Forest Service permit decommissioning
requirements and Colusa County septic tank abandonment requirements.
Site restoration activities within the former area of use would include the removal of exotic
and non‐native plants, including oleander and tree‐of‐heaven
Decommissioning of access road to the water tanks, requiring ripping, seeding, water barring,
and mulching with weed‐free straw
Restoration of man‐made depressions in the earth and earthen mounds to natural grade
Removal of apple orchard from the permitted area
Filling the historic pool with native material
Mulching of all disturbed soils with weed‐free straw
All below‐grade utilities, except septic tanks, would be disconnected and capped one foot below the
surface. Septic tanks would be abandoned in place according to proper procedure, as has been
determined by Colusa County.
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The Forest Service would retain the following systems within the former area of use:
Trout Creek Diversion Dam, pump house, and waterline from the pump house to the redwood
storage tank,
Power poles, power lines, and transformer necessary to maintain power to the pump house,
Perimeter fencing along County Road M10, and
Entry road accessing the permit area.
All decommissioning and subsequent restoration work for the proposed action would be performed
in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances as well as Forest
Service policy.
3.3.2 ‐ Project Design Features
The project design features are a combination of use permit requirements, and USFS recommended
conditions/practices, including BMPs in order to comply with the Forest Plan, and other laws and
regulations. The Forest Service BMPs for the project are based on the Forest Service Handbook,
Southwest Region (Region 5), handbooks R5 FSH 2509.22‐Soil and Water Conservation Handbook and
Chapter 10‐Water Quality Management Handbook (Effective Date December 5, 2011) (USFS, 2011). The
following measures are highlighted below due to their specific applicability to the topic of this report.
The full list of project design features is listed in Appendix A of the Environmental Assessment.
Erosion Control and Water Quality Protection Measures
Appropriate preventative measures shall be implemented to control drainage and erosion associated
with construction, repairs, and/or replacement of systems or stormwater runoff. These measures
include:
A Forest Service‐approved Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan shall be implemented
during the decommissioning/demolition project. This plan shall define actions and
responsibilities for the prevention of erosion during storm events throughout the construction
period when there is a high likelihood of areas of exposed native soil.
During demolition the use of water for any purpose will be undertaken in such a way as to
preclude runoff and erosion from the construction site to South Fork Stony or Mill creeks. For
example if vehicles are washed for invasive species control, this washing must take place in a
location where run off to the streams cannot occur through either natural (hill, porous soil) or
constructed (berms, sand bags) means.
Equipment and vehicles shall not travel through, nor do any work outside of the action area
nor encroach upon the northern side of South Fork Stony Creek beyond the northern
boundary of the action area where instable soil and steep slopes exist. The project boundary
area shall be well marked and staff shall be well informed to avoid use of the area on the
northern side of South Fork Stony Creek.
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All demolition and restoration activities shall follow Forest Service BMPs to minimize the area
affected. These include, but are not limited to the following:
‐ 2.7 Road Decommissioning: Stabilize, restore, and vegetate unneeded roads to a more
natural state to protect and enhance NFS lands, resources, and water quality. The end result
is that the decommissioned road will not represent a significant impact to water quality.
‐ 2.11 Equipment Refueling and Servicing: Prevent fuels, lubricants, cleaners, and other
harmful materials from discharging into nearby surface waters or infiltrating through soils to
contaminate groundwater resources.
‐ 2.13 Erosion Control Plans (roads and other activities): Effectively limit and mitigate erosion
and sedimentation from any ground‐disturbing activities, through planning prior to
commencement of project activity, and through project management and administration
during project implementation.
‐ 5.1 Soil‐Disturbing Treatments on the Contour: Decrease sediment production and stream
turbidity, while mechanically treating slopes.
‐ 5.4 Revegetation of Surface‐disturbed Areas: Protect water quality by minimizing soil
erosion through the stabilizing influence of vegetation foliage and root network.
‐ 5.6 Soil Moisture Limitations for Mechanical Equipment Operations: Prevent compaction,
rutting, and gullying, with resultant sediment production and turbidity.
‐ 7.4 Forest Hazardous Substance Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan:
Prevent contamination of waters from accidental spills.
The County shall take reasonable precautions to prevent pollution or deterioration of lands or waters, which may result from the demolition/restoration project. No waste or byproduct shall
be discharged into water. Storage facilities for materials capable of causing water pollution, if
accidentally discharged, shall be located to prevent any spillage into waters or channels leading
into water that would result in harm to fish and wildlife or to human water supplies. Materials
and supplies for spill mitigation and containment will be kept on site at all times during
construction.
The County shall be responsible for prevention and control of soil erosion and gullying within the area of use and lands adjacent thereto, resulting from construction, operation,
maintenance, and termination of the authorized use. The County shall so construct permitted
improvements to avoid the accumulation of excessive heads of water and to avoid
encroachment on streams.
Revegetation of Ground Cover and Surface Restoration
Planting plans would be reviewed and approved by a Forest Service FS landscape architect and botanist prior to site restoration and planting.
The County shall revegetate or otherwise stabilize all ground where the soil has been exposed as a result of the County’s construction, maintenance, operation, or termination of the
authorized use and shall construct and maintain necessary preventative measures to
supplement the vegetation.
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Revegetation shall be completed using native plant species and with specific avoidance of
noxious or invasive weed species.
The County shall hydroseed the sites using water trucks with plant species selected by the County and in conjunction with Forest Service representatives. To prevent the seed from drying up or
being blown away, a watering schedule based on the seed selected will be utilized.
3.3.3 ‐ Direct Effects
Soils
Past use of the action area disturbed and compacted much of the soil on site. The proposed action
would disturb, compact, and displace soil in the process of decommissioning the youth facility. The
beneficial and adverse direct effects on soils are described below.
The proposed action would directly disturb and expose soils in the course of removing the existing
features associated with the former Youth Facility on the majority of the 74‐acre site. Depending on
the decommissioning action, the depth of soil disturbance would vary anywhere from the surface
level, to deeper depths for the removal of orchard trees and underground tanks/utilities. Soil would
also be moved in the process of removing mounds and pits existing on the site. The proposed action
would include the contouring and resurfacing of areas to return conditions to a more natural state.
Effects from soil disturbance are anticipated to be avoided or reduced in the near term through the
use of BMPs, and permanently decreased over time as revegetation efforts are established.
A portion of the former facility’s water supply system was drawn from the South Fork of Stony
Creek. Infrastructure used to obtain this water supply included a water transmission pipeline and a
22,000‐gallon tank, located on the north side of the stream where the terrain slopes very steeply
southeast toward the creek (USFS, 2000). The riverwash soils in this area of steep terrain are made
up of loose materials within or adjacent to the active floodplain, and are subject to frequent fluvial
processes. Effects from mass wasting such as landsliding and the displacement of wet soil in this
area will be avoided entirely by retaining those systems within the former area of use, and
prohibiting activity on the north side of South Fork Stony Creek.
Areas with disturbed soils would be planted with native vegetation, with the intent of returning the site
to a more natural soil condition over the medium to long‐term. It is anticipated that revegetation of
disturbed soils will occur on the bulk of the 74‐acre site. The site would be hydroseeded via water
trucks. A prospective watering schedule for the site would be based on the species of seed selected for
the site. The native plant species to be used by the County to revegetate the bulk of the site would be
approved by the Forest Service through the use of a replanting plan before planting.
Hydrologic Resources
As discussed above, the proposed action would directly disturb and expose soils in the course of
removing the existing features associated with the former Youth Facility, as well as during ground
contouring and resurfacing. Resurfacing will make the disturbed areas more receptive to native
plantings and revegetation, but will also make soils susceptible to erosion in the short‐term until
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plantings begin to stabilize the soil. Erosion potential will be reduced and minimized through the
implementation of BMPs for erosion control during decommissioning and restoration (see Project
Design Features above), and thereby reduce the potential for short‐term impacts related to erosion
and soil runoff into nearby streams. With implementation of BMPs and the Erosion Control and
Water Protection Measures described above, no direct effects to hydrologic resources are
anticipated. In the medium to long‐term, the area will be seeded with native plants, which would
establish a cover to aid in natural erosion control.
Soil types are generally pervious and generate low to moderate rates of runoff. Local drainage
patterns at the site are generally overland with concentrated flow through swales and ditches.
Existing culverts convey drainage water from one side of the roadway to the next. However, past
activity with buildings on site created minor shallow gullying on the developed portion of the facility
due to concentrations of sheet flow drainage around structures (USFS, 2000). Additionally, many of
the unpaved areas were subject to heavy foot traffic, such as along pathways, the parade grounds, or
other areas where marching drills were practiced resulting in compacted soils, and thereby
decreases in permeability and increases in rate and volume of runoff. The removal of structures and
impervious surfaces, and restoration of the site to a natural state would reduce sheet flow, gullying,
and impacts resulting from impervious surface and soil conditions in the action area.
3.3.4 ‐ Indirect Effects
Soils
The effects to soil resources would occur solely in location and time as a direct effect. It is not
expected that there would be any delayed indirect effects to the soil resource.
Hydrologic Resources
Indirect effects to water resources are those which occur off‐site and do not immediately affect water
quality, riparian health, or stream channels, such as the local creeks. The effects usually occur at a later
time or place as a result of precipitation and runoff. The proposed action will stabilize, and vegetate all
areas of ground disturbance to control erosion over the short‐, medium‐, and long‐term, as described
above for direct effects, so that off‐site effects to hydrologic resources are not anticipated.
3.3.5 ‐ Cumulative Effects
As discussed above, cumulative effects are those impacts on the environment, which result from the
incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable
future actions regardless of which entity undertakes such other actions. Cumulative effects for the
decommissioning project are assessed at the scale of the of the 8th field HUC watersheds of Lower
South Fork Stony Creek (11 square miles) and Miner Creek (15 square miles). The northern portion
of the action area is located in the Lower South Fork Stony Creek watershed, and the southern
portion is located in the Miner Creek watershed. Both watersheds are located within the larger
Upper Stony Creek watershed.
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Past Actions
In order to understand the contribution of past actions to the cumulative effects of the proposed
action and alternatives, this analysis relies on current conditions as the most useful and relevant
information regarding the impacts of past actions. This is because existing conditions reflect the
aggregate impact of all prior human actions and natural events that have affected the environment
and might contribute to cumulative effects. Also, the Council on Environmental Quality issued an
interpretive memorandum on June 24, 2005 regarding analysis of past actions. It acknowledges the
above‐stated principles, in that, “agencies can conduct an adequate cumulative effects analysis by
focusing on the current aggregate effects of past actions without delving into the historical details of
individual past actions.”
The Mill Fire started on Saturday July 7, 2012 within the Upper Stony Creek watershed. The fire
quickly burned toward the town of Stonyford. The fire was contained before reaching Stonyford but
burned almost 30,000 acres. The fire burned through part of the Blue Slides Late‐Successional
Reserve (LSR), a reserve set aside to preserve old growth forest and species like the Northern
Spotted Owl, and through 122 miles (52%) of the 236 miles of off‐highway vehicle (OHV) trails and
roads open to OHV use in the Stonyford Off‐Highway Vehicle Area. The fire increased the cumulative
hydrological and soil disturbance within the watersheds and subwatersheds where it occurred
through soil heating, loss of organic matter and soil cover, and increased erosion.
Ongoing, Concurrent, and Reasonably Foreseeable (Future) Actions
Geology
Local landslides and mass wasting events are prevalent in the watersheds within and near the action
area, particularly within the inner gorges of streams, including along the South Fork of Stony Creek
to the north of the action area. Landsliding and mass wasting have detrimental impacts to water
quality due to soil eroding into stream systems, and has been exacerbated in the past by human
activity.
The decommissioning and subsequent restoration of the 74‐acre site would not likely have a
discernable effect on landsliding or mass wasting potential on the majority of the site. This is due to
the site’ minimal slope aspect (0‐2%) existing on the south side of Stony Creek, and the nature of the
project, which includes mechanical disturbances to soil for infrastructure removal, and restoration of
the site to a natural state. The recontouring of the site, and return of the site to a vegetated natural
state could temporarily reroute surface waters, but implementation of the project would increase
evapotranspiration and root support, eventually decreasing landslide and mass wasting potential in
the middle, and long‐term (10‐20 years). Additionally, activity on the steep slopes on the northern
side of Stony Creek would be avoided to prevent any landslide potential. The proposed action’s
effects on landsliding in this area would be further reduced with the application of geologic resource
protection measures, hydrologic protection measures, and soils protection measures.
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Soils
Cumulative impacts to soils (disturbance, compaction, and displacement) are minimal for past Forest
projects and activities as very few projects have occurred in this area in recent decades including
minor prescribed burns and timber thinning projects, with the exception of the Mill Fire. The Mill
fire was by far the largest impact upon soils in the area in recent times. Past activity on the project
site included soil compaction and soil disturbance through regular use, and would be reduced by
limiting heavy equipment use to minimize soil compaction and disturbance, and the addition of
vegetated ground cover following decommissioning activities. These actions would minimize
cumulative soils impacts in the Lower Stony Creek and Mill Creek watersheds, and would prevent
significant impacts on soils from occurring on the site in the long term.
Hydrology
The proposed action would disturb soil within a portion of the two 8th field HUC watersheds in the
project area. This could include the magnitude and duration of detectable increases in peak flows,
proximity of disturbance to stream channels, and stream channel characteristics within and
downstream of the affected watersheds in the short‐term. However, it is anticipated that very little
disturbance to the watershed due to the proposed action’s low connectivity to the stream system
through avoidance of unstable conditions existing in local riparian areas and the implementation of
BMPs. Furthermore, the removal of structures and revegetation of the site would result in overall
reduced rates and volume of runoff due to decreased impervious surface area, which would create a
beneficial impact for the watersheds.
Project design standards would control additional site runoff around improved areas. Site grading
would be designed to provide positive drainage away from receiving waterbodies. The BMPs would,
to the maximum extent practicable, utilize vegetated ditches and swales designed to slow the flow of
runoff from the site. This would promote infiltration and would tend to reduce any increase in the
rate of runoff from the site. BMPs for the proposed action also include the minimization of soil
disturbance and the preservation of soil cover. The drainage improvements would be implemented
inclusive of BMPs in order to maintain the sediment regime of the Lower South Fork Stony Creek and
Miner Creek watersheds, resulting in improved overall hydrological conditions.
As described above in Direct Impacts, although site soils are highly permeable and generate low to
moderate levels of runoff, past activity with buildings on site created minor shallow gullying on the
developed portion of the facility due to concentrations of sheet flow drainage around structures.
Removal of structures would remove these sources of sheet flow and gullying. Additionally, the
removal of buildings, pavement, and other impervious surfaces would result in reduced rates and
volume of runoff due to decreased impervious surface area, which would create a beneficial
hydrological impact for the watersheds.
Recreation
Most of the recreation activity within the vicinity of the action area involves dispersed use
associated with camping, hunting, fishing, off highway vehicle (OHV) use and hiking. The Stonyford
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OHV riding area is a system of OHV trails and Forest Service roads open to OHV use. In addition, a
number of dispersed OHV and recreation facilities are located near the action area and receive light
to moderate use in the summer months, and increased use in the fall. The use of these recreation
facilities is expected to continue into the future. While the proposed action is not anticipated to
have cumulative effects on recreation and OHV use in the area, the combined effect of short‐term
soil disturbance resulting from the action in combination with soil erosion caused by OHV use could
lead to an overall short‐term increase in soil movement within the watersheds. These impacts
would be temporary (several years), lasting in the short and medium‐term only as vegetation
regrowth occurs following site restoration.
Roads
Road maintenance, which includes grading, spot surfacing, cleaning or replacement of culverts,
hazard tree removal, bridge repair, low water crossing maintenance, etc. has been on‐going for
decades within the Forest, and will continue into the future. Hydrologic effects are controlled and
limited because very little roadwork is expected in the near future and all maintenance includes
implementation of forest standard and guidelines and BMPs.
Forest Management/Timber Harvest
There is no reasonably foreseeable timber harvest on Mendocino National Forest lands anticipated
within the watersheds affected by the Fouts Springs decommission. While there is no timber harvest on
private land scheduled, there are 320 acres of salvage removal harvest that are currently on‐going. It is
unknown what management will occur on smaller personal inholdings, however, it is likely that some
small, scattered timber harvest will occur. Hydrologic effects are controlled by implementation of forest
standards and guidelines and project specific BMPs on Forest lands and by State planning requirements
on private land.
Fire Suppression/Wildfire/Fire Management
Based on recent fire activity, it is likely that some small and large wildfires will continue to occur
within or adjacent to the action area and effects will vary depending on the fire size, timing, and
intensity. Fire reduces ground cover, and results in a short‐term increase in the volume and rate of
runoff, contributing to erosion, sediment loading, turbidity, and other hydrologic effects. These
effects decrease over time as vegetation recovers.
Cumulative Effects of the Proposed Action
The proposed action could result in short‐term detrimental effects to the Lower South Fork Stony
Creek and Mill Creek watersheds due to soil disturbance, compaction, and displacement, as well as
the potential for subsequent detrimental effects to hydrological resources should soils be
transported to waterbodies. These effects will be avoided or reduced through the implementation
of project design features, including BMPs. The removal of buildings, structures, and other
impervious surfaces and the return of the site to a natural state will have positive cumulative
impacts for both watersheds due to reduced soil disturbance, sheet flow, and increased water
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infiltration into the system through vegetated, permeable surfaces. The net effect of short and long‐
term cumulative impacts resulting from the proposed action would be negligible.
3.3.6 ‐ Compliance with Forest Plan and Other Relevant Laws, Regulations, Policies, and Plans
Project consistency with the Forest Plan is documented in Appendix B. Forest‐wide directives for project
standards are to implement BMPs that meet state and federal guidelines in water quality protection and
appropriate standards in Forest Service manuals and handbooks.
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SECTION 4: MONITORING RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Forest‐wide standards and guidelines require monitoring of the implementation and effectiveness of
BMPs and mitigation to achieve water quality goals. Guidance for BMP use and effectiveness
evaluation is provided in USFS National Sampling and Monitoring Protocols and Best Management
Practice Evaluation, Draft V.1.0, March 2013.
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SECTION 5: CONTRIBUTORS
FirstCarbon Solutions
Project Director .............................................................................................................. Jason Brandman
Project Manager/Geologist .......................................................................... Christine Jacobs‐Donoghue
Project Manager/Water Specialist ................................................................................... Vanessa Welsch
GIS Specialist ................................................................................................................ Karlee McKracken
Word Processor .............................................................................................................. Ericka Rodriguez
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SECTION 6: REFERENCES
U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service). 1995. Land and Resource Management Plan, Mendocino National Forest.
U.S. Geological Survey. 2015. Artesian water and artesian wells. Website: http://water.usgs.gov/edu/gwartesian.html. Accessed July 2015.
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. 2015. Soil Survey.
USFS. 2000. Fouts Springs Youth Facility Environmental Assessment, Mendocino National Forest. Prepared by Dames and Moore. March.
USFS. 2007. Investigating Water Quality in the Pacific Southwest Region, Best Management Practices Evaluation Program: A User’s Guide. Pacific Southwest Region.
USFS. 2011. Forest Service Handbook, Southwest Region (Region 5), R5 FSH 2509.22‐Soil and Water Conservation Handbook and Chapter 10‐Water Quality Management Handbook. December 5, 2011.
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Appendix A: Forest Plan Consistency Checklist
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FOREST PLAN CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST
Forest‐wide Standards and Guidelines
Management Direction Consistency
Riparian and Aquatic Ecosystems
1c. Maintain and restore the physical integrity of the aquatic system, including shorelines, banks, and bottom configurations.
Proposed Action Complies: Implementation of project design features, including BMPs will protect these features from significant direct, indirect, or cumulative effects. In addition, the proposed action would return the site to a more naturalistic condition, consistent with this management direction. Project area does not include aquatic system components such as banks and stream bottoms. Runoff will be contained onsite during construction to keep the site hydrologically disconnected from nearby streams.
1d. Maintain and restore water quality necessary to support healthy riparian, aquatic, and wetland ecosystems. Water quality must remain within the range that maintains the biological, physical, and chemical integrity of the system and benefits survival, growth, reproduction, and migration of individuals composing aquatic and riparian communities.
Proposed Action Complies: With implementation of project design features, including BMPs, no adverse effects to aquatic and riparian communities are anticipated. In addition, the proposed action would return the site to a more naturalistic condition, consistent with this management direction. No water, aquatic sediments nor stream features are found within the project area. Runoff will be contained onsite during construction to keep the site hydrologically disconnected from nearby streams.
1e. Maintain and restore the sediment regime under which aquatic ecosystems evolved. Elements of the sediment regime include the timing, volume, rate, and character of sediment input, storage, and transport.
Proposed Action Complies: Implementation of project design features, including BMPs will prevent significant direct or indirect effects on sediment protection rates or on sediment routing. In addition, over the long‐term the project site would be returned to a more naturalistic condition. No water, aquatic sediments nor stream features are found within the project area. Runoff will be contained onsite during construction to keep the site hydrologically disconnected from nearby streams.
1h. Maintain and restore the species composition and structural diversity of plant communities in riparian areas and wetlands to provide adequate summer and winter thermal regulation, nutrient filtering, appropriate rates of surface erosion, bank erosion, and channel migration and to supply amounts and distributions of course woody debris sufficient to sustain physical complexity and stability.
Proposed Action Complies: Given the developed state of the site, localized plant community diversity is lacking. The proposed action will return the site to a more naturalistic state in terms of surface restoration and native planting, positively contributing to this management direction. No water, aquatic sediments, riparian or aquatic plants or species nor stream features are found within the project area. Runoff will be contained onsite during construction to keep the site hydrologically disconnected from nearby streams.
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Forest‐wide Standards and Guidelines (cont.)
Management Direction Consistency
Watershed and Water Quality
1c. Within all watersheds, analyze projects that propose land disturbing activities for their effects on the appropriate level of watershed (normally second to fourth order watersheds) in order to prevent excessive cumulative watershed effects on stream channel condition and water quality. Cumulative watershed effects analysis will be used to gauge impacts of past, present, and proposed management activities on a watershed.
Proposed Action Complies: Implementation of project design features, including BMPs will prevent significant direct or indirect effects on watersheds.
1d. Within all watersheds, implement best management practices to meet water quality objectives and maintain and improve the quality of surface water on the Forest. Identify methods and techniques for applying the BMPs during project level environmental analysis and incorporate them into the associated project plan and implementation documents.
Proposed Action Complies: Specific BMPs have been incorporated in the proposed action as project design features, and are specifically intended to control erosion and runoff, and protect water quality.
NRCS 2015; FCS 2015.