Willits Bypass Project in Mendocino County (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit (ITP) No. 2091-2010-007-01 Minor Amendment No. 1

SCH Number: 1990030006
Lead Agency: Caltrans, Planning (California Department of Transportation, Headquarters)
Document Title: Willits Bypass Project in Mendocino County (California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit (ITP) No. 2091-2010-007-01 Minor Amendment No. 1
Document Type: NOD - Notice of Determination
Received: 4/1/2014

Document Description: The project involves construction of an approximate 5.8 mile-long four-lane freeway bypass around the City of Willits between PMs R43.1 and R49.0 on U.S. Highway 101, and built in two phases. The Project will include 12-foot-wide lanes with a 45.3-foot median separating the northbound and southbound lanes. At the crossing over Center Valley Road, the roadway embankment will be replaced by a floodway viaduct spanning approximately 6,000 feet long until it crosses Mill Creek. The project includes excavation and placement of fill; construction of permanent bridge and viaduct piers and stream crossings; construction of temporary access roads, haul roads and stream crossings; removal of culverts and reconstructing stream reaches for fish passage; installation of wick drains; erosion control and revegetation of disturbed areas; and an optional borrow site at Oil Well Hill on the east side of U.S. 101 approximately 0.85 mile north of the intersection of Reynolds Highway and U.S. 101. The project also includes compensatory restoration, enhancement, preservation, enhancement, preservation and management activities on a minimum of 1795 acres of off-site mitigation lands, and design and implementation of a fish passage project on Ryan Creek.

Contact Information: JoAnn Dunn
Department of Fish and Wildlife
601 Locust Street
Redding, CA 96001
707-447-2076

Approving Agency: CDFW
Approving Agency Role: Responsible Agency
Approved On: 3/11/2014
Final EIR Available Location: CDFW Office 601 Locust Street, Redding, CA 96001.

(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment: No
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA: Yes
(2b) A Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA: No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project: Yes
(4) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project: No
(5) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA: Yes