Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, Sep 10, 2002
This General Plan for Sonoma Coast State Park (Sonoma Coast SP), with all its sections, constitut... more This General Plan for Sonoma Coast State Park (Sonoma Coast SP), with all its sections, constitutes an environmental impact report (EIR), as required by Public Resources Code (PRC) § §5002.2 and 21000 et seq. The General Plan is subject to approval, and the EIR is subject to certification by the California Park and Recreation Commission (Commission). The Commission has sole authority for the plan's approval and adoption. Following certification of the EIR and approval of the General Plan by the Commission, the Department will prepare management plans and area development plans as staff and funding become available. Future projects, within Sonoma Coast SP, may be subject to permitting requirements and approval by other agencies, such as the Caltrans, Department of Fish and Game, and the California Coastal Commission. 4.1.2 FOCUS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT The Notice of Preparation for this General Plan was circulated to the appropriate federal, state, and local planning agencies. Based on comments received during the planning process, this General Plan and EIR was prepared to address environmental impacts that may result from the implementation of the management goals and guidelines. Emphasis is given to significant environmental impacts that may result from all future development and uses within Sonoma Coast SP that are consistent with these goals and guidelines. 4.1.3 SUBSEQUENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS This Environmental Analysis Section and other sections of this document constitute the first tier Environmental Impact Report (EIR) as defined by §15166 of the CEQA Guidelines. It should be recognized that the level of detail addressed by this EIR is comparable in detail provided in the land use proposals of the General Plan. As subsequent management plans and site specific projects are proposed, they will be subject to further environmental review. The proposed Sonoma Coast SP General Plan includes land use designations, the incorporation of goals and guidelines for protection of natural and cultural resources, and the development of appropriate recreational, interpretive, and operational facilities. The General Plan proposes to: Environmental Analysis Sonoma Coast State Park 4-2 Final General Plan and Environmental Impact Report Reclassify the park unit from a State Beach to a State Park to appropriately reflect the present size, characteristics, and resource values more closely associated with park units classified as State Parks. This will provide a more appropriate and higher level of management and protection for an expansive diversity of natural and cultural resources as well as recreation opportunities. Establish management goals and guidelines and management zones for resource management, facility operations, and accessible interpretive and recreational programs for the public within Sonoma Coast SP. In addition, the General Plan proposes that several focused management plans, including a roadway management plan and trails management plan be prepared subsequent to adoption of the General Plan. Development, maintenance facility use and recreational activities allowed by the General Plan have the potential to cause short-term and long-term impacts to the environment. These impacts could include soil disturbance, erosion, lowered water quality and quantity, degradation of cultural resources, degradation of aesthetic resources, and degradation of sensitive plant and animal populations or their habitats. As a program level (first tier) EIR (see CEQA Guidelines §15166, §15168), the General Plan identifies broad, park-wide environmental impacts and mitigation measures. Future management plans, activities, and projects will be subject to additional environmental review in order to identify specific impacts and appropriate mitigation and monitoring plans. All potentially new adverse impacts will be avoided, minimized, or mitigated to a level below significance. Throughout the General Plan process, plan possibilities were considered. The preferred plan allows for existing coastal recreation to continue while providing protection for sensitive park resources. Expansion of inland watershed areas with the Upper Willow Creek addition also commensurately expands inland recreation opportunities, the size and diversity of park resources, and the character of the park itself. The plan allows for appropriate visitor access and recreation opportunities to the expanded inland area while providing protection of sensitive park resources and resource rehabilitation of park areas. 4.1.4 CONTENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT The enclosed program EIR includes the following sections: Sonoma Coast State Park Environmental Analysis Final General Plan and Environmental Impact Report 4-3 Project Description: This section provides an overview of the proposed General Plan, which is the focus of the program EIR. Environmental Setting: This section notes the fact that the existing (baseline) conditions for environmental issues or resources that may be potentially affected by implementation of the General Plan are addressed in Chapter 2, Existing Conditions, which represents the environmental setting for this EIR. Environmental Effects Eliminated from Further Analysis: This section describes those environmental topics that did not warrant detailed environmental analysis and the supporting rationale. Environmental Impacts: This section analyzes potential environmental impacts associated with implementation of the proposed General Plan. Other CEQA Considerations: This section contains information on other CEQA-mandated topics, including significant and unavoidable impacts, significant irreversible environmental changes, growth-inducing impacts, and cumulative impacts. Alternatives to the Proposed Project: The alternatives analysis describes the various alternatives to the proposed General Plan (including the No Project Alternative) that are considered in this EIR and the associated environmental effects of these alternatives relative to the proposed project. 4.2 SUMMARY 4.2.1 SUMMARY OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION Implementation of the General Plan is not expected to result in significant impacts on the environment. Implementation of the Goals and Guidelines contained in Section 3 along with compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, as stated in those guidelines, avoids potential significant effects or maintains them at a less-than-significant level. Additional mitigation measures are, therefore, not necessary. 4.2.2 SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED Four alternatives were considered in this EIR, including the Proposed Project Alternative (the proposed General Plan), the Fewer Potential Development Areas Alternative, the No Potential Development Area Alternative, and the No Project Alternative. The Proposed Project Alternative is the environmentally superior alternative among the alternatives considered. Descriptions of the alternatives are provided in Section 4.8. 4.2.3 AREAS OF CONTROVERSY AND ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED Areas of controversy associated with implementation of the General Plan may include compatibility of recreational uses with natural and cultural resources in Sonoma Coast SP as well as with surrounding land uses. Final selection of a management approach for preserving Environmental Analysis Sonoma Coast State Park 4-4 Final General Plan and Environmental Impact Report unique cultural resources located in popular recreational areas would be made in management plans, which would be subject to further environmental analysis. Protection of species of concern and restoration and preservation of sensitive habitats in popular recreational areas and in potential development areas constitute other areas of potential controversy. The public has also expressed concern regarding the appropriateness of certain recreational activities (e.g., biking and horseback riding on trails, hang gliding, mountain biking, night-time beach gatherings) with other recreational activities and with geologic and hydrologic conditions (e.g., trail erosion, creek sedimentation). While recreational activities have an effect on all of these resources, consideration of existing human uses is crucial in achieving success in any management approach. Environmental compatibility of facility expansion, improvement, and development is another area of controversy. Some of the existing facilities are inadequate to serve the needs of Sonoma Coast SP, particularly as the number of visitors increases with regional and statewide population growth. Specific concerns regarding new and existing facilities include effects on adjacent sensitive resources (e.g., wetlands), hazards associated with the sites (e.g., traffic safety, flooding, erosion), effects on viewshed, and adequacy and compatibility of domestic water, wastewater, and other utilities systems with site soils and other conditions. 4.3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Chapter 3 of this General Plan represents the project description and establishes the overall long-range purpose and vision for Sonoma Coast SP. Management goals and supporting guidelines in Chapter 3 are designed to address the currently identified critical planning issues and to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of uses that would be permitted in Sonoma Coast SP. In accordance with the goals and guidelines, site selection criteria would be used to avoid adverse environmental impacts resulting from future developments and improvements, to the extent feasible within the boundaries of Sonoma Coast SP. 4.4 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Existing conditions that characterize Sonoma Coast SP, including descriptions of the important resource values within Sonoma Coast SP and the regional planning context, are described in Chapter 2 of the General Plan. 4.5 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER ANALYSIS The following topics were eliminated for future analysis in the EIR because there is no potential for significant environmental...
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