Montgomery Field Localizer and Habitat Mitigation Plan

Montgomery Field Localizer and Habitat Mitigation Plan

City Council approval of a site development permit to allow for implementation of a habitat mitigation plan to compensate for direct impacts to an existing vernal pool resulting from emergency repairs to the Instrument Landing System and localizer antenna at John J. Montgomery Field Airport. The ILS is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides guidance to aircraft approaching and landing on Runway 28R. The ILS uses a combination of radio signals and approach lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), such as low ceilings or reduced visibility due to fog, rain, or night landings. The localizer antenna which is part of the ILS system is the most critical component of the navigation system at MYF, emitting a radio signal to provide all weather guidance to aircraft approaching the runway during Instrument Flight Rules conditions. The localizer antenna is approximately 1,000 ft west of the departure end of Runway 28R where the soil has low permeability causing water to pool for extended periods. Pooling water in this critical area can deflect the localizers signal and provide erroneous navigation information to inbound aircraft creating an unsafe situation during IFR operations. During the heavy winter rains of 2009, the Federal Aviation Admin declared an emergency at the airport in order to protect the function of the localizer antenna from ponding water which would disrupt the ILS guidance for aircraft landing during limited visibility conditions. As a result, a temporary structure was installed over the pond adjacent to the localizer to insulate its signal from the water; however, due to the heavy rains in 2010, the temporary solution proved inadequate to prevent signal deflection and the localizer signal was deactivated. A permanent antenna was ultimately constructed in January 2011 to meet FAA safety criteria by grading and placing fill in the localizer critical area, east of the facility which resulted in unavoidable impacts to the existing vernal pool. As such, mitigation was required. Consultation with the USFWS regarding a mitigation site within the MYF began in 2012 and commenced in 2015. This project will implement the habitat mitigation plan that was reviewed and approved in consultation with federal agencies during the section 7 consultation process.

San Diego

San Diego

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 11 (DOT), California Highway Patrol, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region 9 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Caltrans, Division of Aeronautics, Department of Water Resources, Office of Emergency Services, California, Resources Agency, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights

Other (vernal pool habitat mitigation plan), Transportation:Local Road (connection/bridge)

city council approval

Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Public Services, Wetland/Riparian, Wildlife