Palomar Accessibility Trail Improvements
Summary
SCH Number
2021030102
Public Agency
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Document Title
Palomar Accessibility Trail Improvements
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/3/2021
Document Description
This project involves accessibility improvements to the existing Doane Pond & Thunder Springs Trails at Palomar Mountain State Park. Accessibility improvements are designed to bring the trails in compliance with California State Parks accessibility guidelines and associated legal mandates. Project implementation will meet accessibility requirements and guidelines as stated in “California State Parks Accessibility Guidelines” and the federal access board’s outdoor recreation guidelines, and will assist in meeting the legal accessibility requirements as stated in the (Tucker v. California Department of Parks and Recreation) consent decree. As a designated Level 3 park for accessibility, it is the Department of Parks and Recreations (DPR) responsibility to address providing at least 0.5 miles of accessible trails within the park unit. Once implemented this project would create approximately 0.73 additional miles of accessible trails. The existing Doane Pond Trail is an approximately 0.3 mile trail that originates at the Doane Pond Day-Use parking lot and loops around the pond. The accessibility improvements will reconstruct the existing trail and one adjacent picnic/shade ramada area. Small section of the existing trail along the southeast side of the pond will be shifted a couple of feet away from the pond edge. On the northeast side of the pond a vehicle fish unloading area & overlook area will be constructed to provide a location for Department of Fish & Wildlife to restock the pond. The existing Thunder Springs trail is an approximately 0.43 mile trail that originates on the Doane Pond Trail and ends at the juncture of the Chimney Flats and Upper Doane Valley Trails. Only the portion of the trail from Doane Pond Trail to near the Thunder Springs will be improved to accessibility guidelines. Of the existing trail that is going to be improved, 80% of the trail will be relocated up the slope away from the Doane Creek edge. Relocation of the trail will include the removal and restoration of the existing Thunder Springs trail. The type of improvements on one or both trails will include accessible parking, signage, wall-less turnpikes, wood turnpikes, drain lenses, rock causeways, retaining walls, boardwalks, armored drain crossings, puncheon, and 4 bridges. Three accessible parking spaces will be reconstructed at the Doane Pond Day-Use parking lot.
Contact Information
Name
Michael Yengling
Agency Name
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301: Existing Facilities; 15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures; 15304: Minor Alterations to Land
Reasons for Exemption
No potential for significant impact to the environment is anticipated in compliance with CEQA §15300.2. If the project is implemented as indicated within the project description including comments provided by CDPR specialists, then it is exempt under CEQA
§15301 – Existing Facilities;
§15303 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, and
§15304 – Minor Alterations to Land. The action falls under the Departmental List of Exempt activities according to CEQA §15300.4 as:
• “Trail or road repairs” (Class 1, Section 15301);
• “Construction or installation of park facilities“ (Class 3, Section 15303); and
• “Trail construction or realignment”, “Grading on land with a slope of less than 10%”, and “Minor trenching and backfilling where the surface is restored” (Class 4, Section 15304)
The project does not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees (Class 4).
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.