Little Butano Creek Flow Enhancement, Butano State Park Project
Summary
SCH Number
2022050566
Public Agency
San Mateo County Resource Conservation District
(SMCRCD)
Document Title
Little Butano Creek Flow Enhancement, Butano State Park Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/26/2022
Document Description
The San Mateo Resources Conservation District (RCD), in partnership with California State Parks (CSP), is proposing to fix and upgrade Butano State Park’s water system through a variety of actions that include: replacing failing distribution mainline, repairing leaks, installing water savings fixtures and constructing a 100,00 gallon water storage tank at Butano State Park. The RCD has applied for funding for this project through the Wildlife Conservation Board Proposition 1 Stream Flow Enhancement Program.
Currently, Butano State Park relies on surface water from Little Butano Creek to supply all water related infrastructure and user demand. This project would allow for increased water security, especially in years of drought, by adding an additional water storage.
The goals of the project are to improve instream flow conditions in Butano Creek and improve water security for Butano State Park located in upper Little Butano Creek Watershed, San Mateo County. The project goals will be accomplished by replacing the park’s leaking mainlines and relocating them to roadways along with various efficiency upgrades and a storage component to allow for reduced diversions in the dry season and water security in drought years. This project will help protect streamflow in 10.25 mi of Little Butano and Butano Creek especially during the summer months when stream flows are at their lowest levels. These efforts will protect habitat for native steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
Contact Information
Name
Stephanie MacDonald
Agency Name
San Mateo Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
Butano State Park
Parcel #
089-080-010
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical Exemption from Class 3 (15303) and Class 33 (15333)
Reasons for Exemption
The project will improve and expand an existing raw water storage tank and relocate approximately 5,000 ft. of pipeline. The permanent area of impact for the storage tank will be less than 1,500 sq ft. as the 100,000 gal tank is replacing a 5,000 gal tank.
The proposed project will not result in adverse impacts that are significant when viewed in connection with effects of past, current, and probable future projects. Construction-related impacts will be short-term and limited to the project site. As noted above, best management practices will be implemented to ensure construction-related impacts on sensitive resources are avoided or minimized. The project will not significantly adversely affect public services, geologic stability, soils, or health risk. In the near- and long-term, the project will improve late summer and early fall streamflow and provide for higher functioning aquatic and riparian habitat.
The proposed project is exempt under Class 33 as it restores streamflow in Little Butano Creek for aquatic habitat during the time that low flows are a principal limiting factor to the recovery of steelhead trout and coho salmon populations in the creek (Pescadero-Butano Watershed Assessment ESA 2004). By storing more water when streamflow is more abundant (winter and spring), the project will reduce and eliminate diversions when streamflow is dangerously low for aquatic species (late summer and early fall).
County Clerk
San Mateo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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