Invasive Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Removal for Juvenile Chinook Salmon Predation Research Project
Summary
SCH Number
2021120415
Public Agency
University of California Santa Cruz
Document Title
Invasive Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Removal for Juvenile Chinook Salmon Predation Research Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/17/2021
Document Description
The Invasive Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Removal for Juvenile Chinook Salmon Predation Research Project (project) includes the removal of approximately 656 linear feet of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) from the eastern shoreline of Bacon Island for a research project led by the University of California Santa Cruz. Bacon Island is located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in unincorporated San Joaquin County and Contra Costa County and is owned by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The research will assess the impacts of SAV on the predation risk of juvenile Chinook salmon and predator densities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and contribute to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) Decision Support Model (DSM) to assist in the prioritization of restoration activities. Research activities will utilize SCUBA divers, boats, and pickup trucks.
Equipment proposed to remove the SAV will include a combination of SCUBA divers and hand tools and the SAV which will be disposed of at authorized spoil sites to decompose. The bank of the channel would be protected from erosion by physically removing the SAV and stockpiling it before it is moved to the landside of the levee. The SAV collected shall be drained and temporarily stored in yard waste bags on the land side of the levee and then spoiled at an authorized location within 24 hours.
The University has entered into a license agreement for the project with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and will submit a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA) to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the research activities.
Contact Information
Name
Erika Carpenter
Agency Name
University of California Santa Cruz
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Unincorporated area
Counties
Contra Costa, San Joaquin
Regions
Unincorporated
Waterways
Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Other Location Info
Eastern shoreline of Bacon Island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15304, Class 4: Minor Alterations to Land and Section 15306, Class 6: Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA under Class 4 (Minor Alterations of Land) and Class 6 (Information Collection) as it would result in the removal of invasive submerged vegetation for research purposes. The project would not be constructed on a hazardous waste site and would not affect historic resources. The project will obtain the appropriate approvals from CDFW and will incorporate any applicable conditions during project activities. Therefore, the project would not have an adverse effect on biological resources. In addition, due to the nature of the project, it would not result in significant cumulative impacts. Therefore, none of the exceptions to this exemption apply. The project site is not located within a planning area of an established LRDP.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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