Program Environmental Impact Report CEQA Lead Agency: City of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

CEQA Scoping Meeting West Desert Hot Springs Master Drainage Plan Program Environmental Impact Report

CEQA Lead Agency: City of Desert Hot Springs January 8, 2014

Scoping Meeting Agenda

• 1. Welcome and Introductions
• 2. Purpose of CEQA and a Scoping Meeting
• 3. CEQA Process for Environmental Impact

Reports (EIR)

• 4. West Desert Hot Springs Master Drainage

Plan (MDP) Overview

• 5. Next Steps

Introductions

• City of Desert Hot Springs

– Martin Magana, Rudy Acosta

• Riverside County Flood Control

– Stuart McKibbin, Mark Wills, Edwin Quinonez, Jason Swenson

• City of Palm Springs

– Carol Templeton

• BonTerra Consulting

– Kristin Keeling, Josephine Alido

• PACE Engineering, Inc.

– Bruce Phillips

Purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

1. Inform decision-makers and public about the potential significant environmental impacts of proposed projects; 2. Identify ways that environmental damage can be avoided or significantly reduced; 3. Prevent significant avoidable damage to the environment by requiring changes in the project through the use of alternatives and/or mitigation; and 4. Disclose to the public the reasons why an agency approved a project if significant impacts are involved.

Scoping Meeting Purpose

To facilitate consultation between the Lead Agency and:

• responsible and trustee agencies
• adjacent cities/counties
• public agencies with jurisdiction over the project
• interested organizations or individuals

to determine the scope and content of the environmental information to be analyzed in the EIR.

CEQA Environmental Topics

• Aesthetics
• Agriculture & Forestry

Resources

• Air Quality
• Biological Resources
• Cultural Resources
• Geology & Soils
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Hazards & Hazardous

Materials

• Hydrology & Water Quality
• Land Use and Planning
• Mineral Resources
• Noise
• Population & Housing
• Public Services
• Recreation
• Transportation & Traffic
• Utilities & Service Systems

CEQA Process…

• Initial Study & Notice of Preparation

– A preliminary analysis to determine potential significant impacts – Issues can be “scoped out”… – Circulated December 18, 2013 for a 30-day review

• Scoping Meeting

– Gather input on scope and content of EIR

• Prepare Program EIR
• 45-Day Public Review for Program EIR

– Program EIR available for review and comment – Anticipated July/August 2014

CEQA Process (continued…)

• Responses to Comments

– Responses to all comments sent to the City on the Program EIR are prepared and included in the Final EIR

• Findings/Statement of Overriding

Considerations

– If significant impacts result, the Lead Agency must decide that either (1) the impacts were avoided or mitigated, or (2) specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other reasons make mitigation/alternatives infeasible.

• City Council Hearings

– Anticipated December 2014

MDP PLAN PROCESS & BACKGROUND

Project Study Area

WATERSHED PLANNING PROCESS

Project Objectives

• Water

Conservation

• Costs
• Sediment

Transport

• Flood Control
• Water Quality
• Economic

Benefits

• Environmental
• Recreation

Watershed Stakeholder Committee Process

Local Watershed Stakeholder Input

• City Desert Hot Springs
• City Palm Springs
• Environmental
• County
• Landowners

Regional Watersheds

Existing Mapped Flood Hazards

Overall Recommended Plan

Regional Systems

Recommended Regional Plan – Levee Alignments for Hydraulics / Sediment Transport / CVMSHCP

Summary of MDP Plan Features

Regional Flood Control Facilities

• 10.6 miles of concrete slope

lined earthen levee systems for both Morongo Wash (8.5 miles) and Mission Creek (2.1 miles)

• Widening and slope lining

channel improvements for 4.7 miles of Mission Creek

• Removal of 2,820 acres of

existing mapped flood hazards

Summary of MDP Plan Features

Regional Flood Control Facilities

• 2 new and 1 replacement all-

weather bridges (lifeline access)

• Floodplain management for

Garnet Wash 1,400 acres (e.g. land use restrictions)

• 3 groundwater recharge basins

total of 218 acres

• 4 urban water quality treatment

basins

Summary of MDP Plan Features

Local Drainage Facilities

• 37 different drainage “systems”
• Approximately 49.9 miles of

local drainage facilities

• 9 detention basins totaling

approximately 126 acres for the local watershed systems ranging in size from 7.4 acres to 51.5 acres

Project Status and Next Steps

Opportunities for Public Input

30-Day Initial Study and NOP Review Period (December 18th through January 20th) Scoping Meetings (2:00 PM and 6:00 PM on January 8, 2014) 45-Day Program EIR Review Period (Anticipated July/August 2014) City Council Hearings (Anticipated December 2014)

Providing Your Input…

• Send written comments to:
• Mr. Martin Magana

City of Desert Hot Springs 65-950 Pierson Boulevard Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 mmagana@cityofdhs.org

• View Initial Study & NOP at:

– www.cityofdhs.org/Public_Notices – Desert Hot Springs Library & Palm Springs Library – Riverside County Flood Control Office http://www.rcflood.org – City of Desert Hot Springs City Hall http://www.cityofdhs.org/ – City of Palm Springs http://www.palmsprings-ca.gov/

Comments and Questions…