First Slough Fish Passage, Floodplain Restoration, and Coastal Habitat Connectivity Project
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2023030786
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Administration Division
(CDFW)
Document Title
First Slough Fish Passage, Floodplain Restoration, and Coastal Habitat Connectivity Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/26/2023
Document Description
On May 25, 2023, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) awarded a $4,969,566 grant with Drought for Salmon Protection and Wildlife Corridors funds to the City for the Project. The Project is designed to benefit coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and other native fish species, including northern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus) and coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii), and increase habitat quality and extent in the First Slough watershed. The Project will address undersized urban culverts that are barriers to fish passage to improve habitat connectivity to First Slough brackish habitat and the Eureka Slough estuary. The Project also includes habitat enhancements that will involve placement of large wood structures, channel realignment, and the creation of alcoves.
Contact Information
Name
John Downs
Agency Name
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist)
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Eureka
Counties
Humboldt
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
The Project is located within the urban boundaries of the City of Eureka
(City) and along First Slough. First Slough is more broadly located in the Eureka Plain watershed, which encompasses all tributaries to Humboldt Bay. The Project spans 7.9 acres and occurs in four locations:
Location 1: Cooper’s Gulch reach habitat improvements (40.79900, -124.153499)
Location 2: 14th Street Barrier removal & culvert replacement (40.79615, -124.15314)
Location 3: N Street Right of Way barrier removal & channel daylight (40.79446, -124.15521)
Location 4: M Street Right of Way barrier removal & culvert replacement (40.79448, -124.15653
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Public Resources Code section 21080.56
Reasons for Exemption
The Project meets all of the eligibility criteria of Section 21080.56: (1) the Project is exclusively to conserve, restore, protect, or enhance, and assist in the recovery of California native fish and wildlife, and the habitat upon which they depend; or is exclusively to restore or provide habitat for California native fish and wildlife; (2) the Project may have incidental public benefits; (3) the Project will result in long-term net benefits to climate resiliency, biodiversity, and sensitive species recovery; and includes procedures and ongoing management for the protection of the environment; and (4) Project construction activities are solely related to habitat restoration. On February 1, 2023, pursuant to Section 21080.56, subdivision (e), the Director of CDFW received a request from the City to concur with the City’s determination as lead agency (see attached) that the Project meets the qualifying criteria set forth in Section 21080.56, subdivisions (a) through (d), inclusive. On March 30, 2023, the Director of CDFW concurred with that determination (that CDFW concurrence is available at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Notices/CEQA). On March 30, 2023, the City filed a notice of exemption on CEQAnet for its determination that the Project is exempt pursuant to Section 21080.56: State Clearinghouse Number 2023030786.
County Clerk
Humboldt
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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