Little Mill Creek (Navarro River) Groundwater Recharge Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024100263
Public Agency
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
Little Mill Creek (Navarro River) Groundwater Recharge Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/7/2024
Document Description
The purpose and primary goal of the proposed project is to improve groundwater recharge to augment dry season streamflow in the Little Mill Creek watershed. Little Mill Creek, a tributary of Mill Creek and thence the Navarro River, plays a critical role in providing streamflow to support valuable habitat for both coho salmon and steelhead trout within Mill Creek. Due to legacy impacts from land management practices and ongoing water diversions, the streams of the Navarro watershed are impaired and often do not provide sufficient habitat for these populations. The project proposes to enhance coho salmon juvenile rearing habitat by increasing dry-season streamflow via restoration of a deeply incised gully that lowers the local water table. Installation of log and rock grade control structures, raising the elevation of the channel bed, and increasing floodplain connectivity would enhance groundwater recharge and retention times to increase dry season streamflow. The total disturbed area includes approximately 610 linear feet along an unnamed tributary to Little Mill Creek. To accomplish project goals, construction activities would include heavy equipment work in the degraded channel to install log and rock grade control structures. The project strives to achieve a cut and fill balance to reduce the need to haul soil to and from the site.
Contact Information
Name
Joseph D. Scriven
Agency Name
Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Assistant Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Philo
Counties
Mendocino
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
N/A
Zip
95466
Total Acres
5
Parcel #
02623522, 02623507
State Highways
N/A
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
N/A
Waterways
Little Mill Creek
Township
15N
Range
15W
Section
23
Base
Diablo
Other Location Info
14000 and 14100 Moore Homestead Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15333: Small Habitat Restoration Projects
Reasons for Exemption
The MCRCD has reviewed the project along with its environmental setting and has determined it to be categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under the following section(s) of the California Administrative Code: Section §15333: Small Habitat Restoration Projects. The proposed project provides stream restoration to increase dry season streamflow and restore critical aquatic habitat. Improving groundwater recharge is expected to result in the net beneficial effects to Coho Salmon and Steelhead Trout habitats. The total area would not exceed 5 acres and implementation would not affect scenic resources, historical buildings, rock outcroppings, scenic highways, or result in a significant effect to the environment due to unusual circumstances. It does not exhibit potential for cumulative impacts and does not include work impacting culturally or historically significant resources.
County Clerk
Mendocino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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