Sonoma Aqueduct Creek Crossings Vegetation Management Project (Project)
Summary
SCH Number
2019088049
Public Agency
Sonoma County Water Agency
Document Title
Sonoma Aqueduct Creek Crossings Vegetation Management Project (Project)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/15/2019
Document Description
The Sonoma Aqueduct (Aqueduct) is the primary source of drinking water for customers of the Valley of the Moon Water District and City of Sonoma. Sonoma Water maintains a facility easement along the approximately 16-mile long Aqueduct pipeline. Though mostly underground, the Aqueduct includes aboveground sections at the three channel crossing sites (described above) that are susceptible to damage by falling trees. Failure of the Aqueduct would be of critical public health and safety concern. This project would manage existing trees within the easement that could potentially damage the Aqueduct due to their proximity, size and flammability. The project would include the removal and pruning of up to 20 native trees (alder, ash, bay, box eIder, oak, willow) ranging in size from approximately 4- to 30-inch diameter at breast height (DBH) and 5 non-native eucalyptus trees ranging in size from approximately 30- to 60-inch DBH. Follow-up vegetation management, as well as the removal of downed wooy material, would be conducted as needed to maintain access and clearance. No heavy equipment would would enter the active channel. Tree stumps and root structures would be left in place to avoid ground disturbance. Cut stumps may be treated with herbicide approved for use near water to prevent regrowth. Cut material would be mulched onsite or hauled offsite.
Contact Information
Name
Candace Messner
Agency Name
Sonoma County Water Agency
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Sonoma County Water Agency
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Kenwood and Eldridge
Counties
Sonoma
Other Location Info
Sonoma County Water Agency's (Sonoma Water's) Sonoma Aqueduct channel crossings at three sites: 1) over Sonoma Creek in Kenwood near Turtle Creek Drive (Latitude/Longitude 38.4183991 - 122.561337): 2) over Sonoma Creek in Eldridge near Madrone Road (38.338162, -122.50498); and 3) over an unnamed seasonal creek in Eldridge near Loma Vista Drive (38.33022, -122.505138). Please see attached Figure 1.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301, Class 1 (b): Existing Facilities.
Reasons for Exemption
The project would consist of pruning and removing trees that present a hazard to the Aqueduct and involves no expansion of use. The project would involve the pruning and removal of select vegetation for the purpose of protecting and maintaining the Aqueduct pipeline to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to the people and businesses within Sonoma Water's Valley of the Moon Water District and City of Sonoma service areas. The vegetation pruning and removal would be limited to three isolated narrow lengths of channel and would not cause significant impacts to shade over the channel or to the surrounding riparian corridor. Removal would reduce the volume of flammable non-native vegetation in the project area, and is anticipated to help promote native tree recruitment and establishment onsite. No work would be conducted in the water and the project would not cause ground disturbance. This maintenance project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines, Section· 153011 Class 1 (b): Existing Facilities because the Aqueduct is public facility and the proposed project involves no expansion of use.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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