Lower Andrus Island Habitat Conservation Bank Project
Summary
SCH Number
2020090470
Public Agency
Brannan-Andrus Levee Maintenance District
(BALMD)
Document Title
Lower Andrus Island Habitat Conservation Bank Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/22/2020
Document Description
The Project includes the estabIishment of a habitat conservation bank designed to offset or compensate for habitat losses resulting from ongoing operations and maintenance of the Brannan-Andrus Levee Maintenance District's (District) levee system. The Project proposes to convert the 40-acre s ite to a mosaic of freshwater marsh, riparian forest, and scrub shrub habitat. Once these habitats are established, a conservation easement will be placed on the property to preserve/manage the lands in perpetuity for conservation purposes. The Project requires minor grading including agricultural disking for site preparation and land grading to lower the land surface to accommodate the proposed freshwater marsh habitat. A combination of mowing and herbicide application will be needed to accommodate the removal of extensive stands of invasive plants present across the property. These invasive plant species include pepper weed (Lepidium latifolium), Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis), Lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album), black mustard (Brassica nigra), bristly oxtongue (Picris echioides), wild radish (Raphanus sativus) and various thistle species (yellowstar thistle, Italian thistle, sow thistle and milk thistle). Planting with appropriate species for the three habitat types will occur following the invasive plant removal activities. The District will maintain the site for three years, after which it will be transferred to a conservation entity for long-term management.
Contact Information
Name
Gilbert Labrie
Agency Name
Brannan-Andrus Levee Maintenance District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Isleton
Counties
Sacramento
Cross Streets
West Brannan Island Road
Other Location Info
The 40-acre Project s ite is located landside of the levee along West Brannan Island Road in the lower southeast corner of Andrus Island approximately 2.75 miles south of the City of Isleton in Sacramento County, California.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
State CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Pursuant to Section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land, of the State CEQA Guidelines, projects that consist of minor public alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation, which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees, are Categorically Exempt from environmental review. Section 15304(a) allows for grading on land with a slope of less than 10 percent, except that grading shall not be exempt in a waterway, in any wetland, in an officially designated (by federal, state, or local government action) scenic area, or in officially mapped areas of severe geologic hazard such as an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone or within an official Seismic Hazard Zone, as delineated by the State Geologist. The project does not include the removal of any healthy, mature scenic trees and is located on relatively flat land. Although some grading will be necessary to accommodate the creation of freshwater marsh habitat, no grading will occur on land with slopes of greater than 10 percent. In addition, although the project site includes drainage canals associated with the site's historic agricultural uses, the project does not include any grading in a waterway or in any wetlands (Buck and Associates Consultants 2020). See NOE for full details.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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