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 • Land Use and Planning • Agriculture & Forestry • Mineral Resources Resources • Noise • Air Quality • Population & Housing • Biological Resources • Public Services • Cultural Resources • Recreation • Geology & Soils • Transportation & Traffic • Greenhouse Gas Emissions • Utilities & Service Systems • Hazards & Hazardous Materials • Hydrology & Water Quality

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…