Coyote Creek Emergency Pilot Channel Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024070961
Public Agency
Ventura County Watershed Protection District
Document Title
Coyote Creek Emergency Pilot Channel Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/24/2024
Document Description
With federal assistance and funding from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, the Ventura County Public Works Agency-Watershed Protection (VCPWA-WP) is proposing to remove sediment and obstructing vegetation along Coyote Creek to restore the channel capacity and reduce flooding issues to the surrounding community. The current and reoccurring problem (2005, 2017, 2023, and 2024) is the flooding of Camp Chaffee Road and residential properties along the creek. The early 2023 storms produced heavy rainfall causing widespread damage and flooding throughout the County of Ventura, including Coyote Creek. The goal is to remove obstructing vegetation and sediment within 3,300 linear feet of creek channel to restore the drainage capacity. Additionally, VCPWA-WP and NRCS are working towards a property acquisition of one property that was damaged by flooding and sediment deposition in the floodway and floodplain. The property and accessory structures will be demolished and left as open space. The channel clearing and property buyout will reduce future flooding issues and restore habitat for aquatic wildlife.
Vegetation within the 45-foot-wide channel excavation work area will be removed. A new channel cross section will have 25 foot wide bottom width; with 2(H):1(H) banks on either side and will be excavated approximately five feet lower than the existing grade. On both sides of the new channel, in an additional adjacent work area, up to 10 feet wide vegetation will be cut to ground level for access. The total work impact area is estimated just under 6 acres and will remove approximately 22,000 cubic yards of sediment. The neighboring properties are in support of these efforts and partially funded the excavation work. Appropriate biological surveys will be performed, and a qualified biologist will be on site during work activities, per regulatory permits and VCPWA-WP standard best management practices. Annual fall season sediment and vegetation maintenance activities will occur on County (County funded) and private (landowner funded) parcels, as needed to maintain the function of the creek.
Contact Information
Name
Jill Jennings
Agency Name
Ventura County Public Works Agency-Watershed Protection
Job Title
Environmental Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Ventura
Regions
Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Casitas Vista Road and Camp Chaffee Road
Zip
93001
Total Acres
5
Jobs
15
Parcel #
060-0-290-015; 060-0-270-220; 060-0-260-050; 060-0-260-070; 060-0-260-030; 060-0-260-020; 060-0-
State Highways
33
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
N/A
Waterways
Coyote Crk, Ventura River, Lake Casitas, Red Mt.Crk, Coyote Crk tributary, Foster Park Crk
Township
T3N
Range
R24W
Section
N/A
Other Location Info
The project site is along Coyote Creek, a tributary to the Ventura River,, near the unincorporated areas of Casitas Springs, Ventura County. The project runs parallel to Casitas Vista Road starting approximately 500 feet upstream of Camp Chaffee Road and extending approximately 1,060 feet downstream of the Santa Ana Road bridge. The total length of the project is 3,300 linear feet. The project is within the floodway and 100-year floodplain.
Other Information
Coyote Creek is a Ventura County Public Works Agency-Watershed Protection jurisdictional channel (Ordinance WP-2) that traverses private property and County Parks (Foster Park) land. VCPWA-WP has no flood control facility, easement, or right-of-way over the channel, and therefore work in the area has only been performed under emergency conditions with assistance/funding from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15269 (a) and (c), Emergency Projects
Reasons for Exemption
Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency on January 4, 2023 and again June 16, 2023. President Biden declared a Major Disaster on January 15 2023 and April 3, 2023, and State of Emergency on March 10, 2023. This project consists of specific emergency actions that would repair flood control structures “damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster in a disaster stricken area in which a state of emergency has been proclaimed by the Governor” (Sec. 15269[a]), and would “mitigate an emergency” along the highly eroded areas damaged by flooding and erosion (Sec. 15269[c]). The proposed emergency actions are necessary to maintain public safety and protect developed properties and infrastructure. Additionally, the proposed project is funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for a situation requiring immediate action under its Emergency Watershed Protection Program (7 CFR part 624).
County Clerk
Ventura
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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