Natomas Levee Improvement Program (NLIP) Landside Improvements Project-Phase 3 Project

Natomas Levee Improvement Program (NLIP) Landside Improvements Project-Phase 3 Project

The project comprises construction of Phase 3 of the 4-phased Natomas Levee Improvement Program, including levee improvements along 4.5 miles of the Sacramento River east levee from the southern limits of the Phase 2 improvements to just south of Interstate 5 (Reaches 5A-9B), the construction of a new canal between Elkhorn Reservoir and the West Drainage Canal designed to provide drainage, irrigation, and associated giant garter snake habitat, relocating the portion of the west drainage canal north of Interstate 5, relocating the Elkhorn Canal downstream of the Elkhorn Reservoir, removal of the western segment of the Central main Flume, modification of the existing Reclamation District (RD) 1000 Pumping Plants No. 2 and 4, as well as the Elkhorn and Prichard pimp plants, infrastructure, and adjacent land. The project is expected to result in permanent impacts to 22.73 acres of Swainson's hawk nesting habitat, 45.23 acres of rice crop that may be utilized by giant garter snake, 13.16 acres of giant garter snake aquatic habitat, and 5.93 acres of giant garter snake upland habitat. In addition, the project is expected to result in temporary impacts to giant garter snake upland and aquatic habitat, and temporary impacts to Swainson's hawk nesting and foraging habitat. Project-related impacts are expected to result in the take of Swainson's hawk (Buteo Swainsoni) and giant garter snake (Thamnophis couchi gigas), species protected by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). DFG is issuing the CESA incidental take permit referenced above as a responsible agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Sacramento

Sacramento, Sutter