[Federal Register: August 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 156)]
[Notices]               
[Page 48344-48346]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au03-41]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

 
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) for a Permit Application for the 
River Road Treatment Wetlands Project in the Santa Ana River (SAR) 
Floodplain Upstream of the River Road Crossing, Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, 40 CFR 1508.22, and 33 CFR Parts 230 and 325, and in 
conjunction with the Orange County Water District (OCWD), the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (Corps) is announcing its intent to prepare a draft 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) 
for the River Road Treatment Wetlands Project (RRTWP), proposed to be 
located in the Santa Ana River (SAR) floodplain upstream of the River 
Road crossing, Riverside County, California. The project entails 
construction, operation, and periodic maintenance of treatment wetlands 
in the SAR floodplain. The SAR floodplain meets the Corps' criteria for 
``waters of the U.S.,'' and the project is subject to Corps 
jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The affected area also contains 
Corps-owned lands leased to the Riverside County Regional Park and Open 
Space District. The area has been designated critical habitat for three 
federal-listed species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); 
as such, the Corps will comply with the requirements of Section 7 of 
the Federal Endangered Species Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Swenson, Project Manager, at 
(213) 452-3414 (daniel.p.swenson@usace.army.mil) or Fari Tabatabai, 
Project Manager at (213) 452-3291, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los 
Angeles District, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    The treatment wetlands are necessary because of upstream sources of 
water pollution. The effect of the treatment wetlands would be to 
reduce downstream water pollution, thereby increasing groundwater 
potability, aquatic habitat function, and reducing potential human 
health threats.
    Treated wastewater and return flows from irrigated agriculture and 
dairies are major sources of nitrate loading into the SAR. Nitrate 
loads enter the river directly through waste discharges and indirectly 
through surface runoff and rising groundwater. High levels of nitrate 
are a potential human health threat that can have adverse effects on 
infants and pregnant women. In addition, formation of algae blooms can 
lower the dissolved oxygen in the water resulting in fish kills and can 
form a clogging layer on the bottom of OCWD's recharge basins resulting 
in a decrease in water recharge and an increase in maintenance 
requirements.
    The Proposed Project is based on the success of OCWD's Prado 
Wetlands, located immediately downstream of the proposed RRTWP, which 
has been successful in benefiting the OCWD

[[Page 48345]]

groundwater basin by improving groundwater quality and increasing 
recharge rates.
    The work would take place on both OCWD and on Corps-owned lands 
within the Prado Flood Control Basin. The OCWD is the sole project 
proponent and the applicant for the Section 404 permit. As such OCWD 
would be responsible for construction, operation, and maintenance of 
the proposed facilities as well as preservation of existing operational 
facilities in Prado Dam, which is operated by the Corps. The Corps land 
under OCWD consideration consists largely of wetlands now in 
undeveloped recreation lease held by Riverside County Regional Park and 
Open Space District. The proposed work on Corps land would replace 
Arundo donax-dominated wetlands with higher quality, native vegetated 
wetlands. Outdoor recreation amenities including interpretive trails 
are also proposed.
    Other environmental review considerations include compliance with 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

2. Project Purpose and Need

    The purpose of the River Road Treated Wetland Project (RRTWP) is to 
improve the water quality of the SAR supplies that recharge the OCWD 
groundwater basin. The need arises from high levels of nitrate 
concentrations that adversely affect water quality and percolation 
recharge to the OCWD groundwater basin.

3. Proposed Action

    The OCWD proposes development of treatment wetlands in the SAR 
floodplain as it enters the Prado Basin upstream of the River Road 
crossing. The RRTWP would treat baseflow diverted from the SAR, 
primarily for the removal of nitrate, and return the treated water to 
the river at the point of the present diversion to the Prado Wetlands. 
Maintenance objectives include: (1) Maintain hydraulic control 
structures and appurtenances; (2) keep the distribution and collection 
networks and hydraulic transfers free flowing and clear of 
obstructions; (3) maintain berms; and (4) control habitat performance 
by monitoring and taking appropriate steps to ensure that proposed 
vegetation and habitat types are achieved.
    The RRTWP footprint would encompass 430 acres on the flood plain 
south of the SAR channel immediately upstream from the River Road 
crossing. All 430 acres meet the Corps' criteria for ``waters of the 
U.S.'', and the project would be subject to Corps jurisdiction under 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The proposed project site contains 
Corps-owned lands leased to the Riverside County Department of Parks 
and Recreation. The area has been designated critical habitat for three 
federal-listed species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); 
as such, the Corps will comply with the requirements of Section 7 of 
the Federal Endangered Species Act. The 430-acre area would be 
comprised of the following: (1) Approximately 190 acres of treatment 
wetlands surface area; (2) 40 acres of unvegetated laterals and 
transfer berms; (3) 100 acres of riparian woodland berms that could be 
affected by construction; and (4) 100 acres of existing high quality 
habitat that would be avoided, preserved, and enhanced. Of the above, 
existing moderate and low quality habitat degraded by Arundo donax 
would be enhanced to high quality habitat. Also, of the above acreages, 
approximately 52,400 linear feet (about 10 miles) of riparian forest/
water edge habitat would be created or enhanced, including habitat for 
the southwestern willow flycatcher and least Bell's vireo. In addition, 
selected access trails totaling about 4.6 miles that transverse the 
RRTWP would be opened to the public for passive recreation.
    The RRTWP would treat up to 150 cfs. The concentration of nitrate 
in the SAR currently averages about 8 mg/L. At flow rates less than 80 
cfs, the RRTWP would be expected to reduce nitrate levels to 2 mg/L or 
less during the summer baseflow period.
    The proposed design plan places the RRTWP on the floodplain south 
of the SAR channel. This is intended to minimize disturbance to the 
channel and floodplain by avoiding work on the north side of the 
channel, construction of multiple diversions, or passing water back and 
forth across the river.
    The proposed RRTWP would consist of five operating units within the 
430-acre project area: diversion facility, distribution network, 
treatment wetlands, collection network, and a fifth operating unit. The 
fifth operating unit, the integrated River Road Treated Wetland outlet-
Prado Wetlands diversion facility, would be a modification to the 
existing diversion located west of the River Road Bridge that would 
divert water from the SAR. The distribution network would deliver the 
water to the treatment wetlands. The collection network would collect 
the treated water and deliver it to the outlet. The outlet would be 
integrated with the diversion to the Prado Treatment Wetlands. The 
integrated River Road Treated Wetland outlet-Prado Wetlands diversion 
would allow for coordinated discharge and diversion in a manner that 
would allow for coordinated discharge and diversion in a manner that 
would not degrade hydraulic conductivity or harm existing aquatic 
species, and that would retain passage of the Santa Ana sucker through 
the channel.
    Design and construction of the principal treatment facilities, 
including the diversion, treatment wetlands, conveyances and hydraulic 
structures, would be expected to take about 24 months until operations 
could begin.

4. Alternatives Considered

    The feasibility of several alternatives is being considered and 
will be addressed in the DEIS/EIR. Those considered feasible will be 
analyzed in equal detail to the Proposed Action. The purpose of the 
RRTWP is to improve the water quality of the SAR supplies that recharge 
the OCWD groundwater basin. The No Action Alternative would have no 
improvements, and thus would neither improve the water quality of the 
SAR, nor improve water recharge into the OCWD groundwater basin. No 
water quality benefits from nitrate removal would occur and no habitat 
restoration actions would take place.
    Other alternatives that may be considered include: (1) Designing 
larger wetlands similar to the existing Prado treatment wetlands with 
less habitat enhancement; (2) designing a smaller or larger wetlands 
complex; (3) conventional chemical treatment by pumping water through a 
treatment facility; (4) requiring dischargers along the SAR to 
denitrify first at existing treatment plants before discharging to the 
SAR; (5) use of another portion of the SAR; and (6) use of upland 
agricultural habitat next to the SAR with mechanical pumping.

5. Scoping Process

    The Corps' scoping process for the DEIS/EIR will involve soliciting 
written comments and a public meeting. Potential significant issues to 
be addressed in the DEIS/EIR include surface water quality, threatened 
and endangered species, and effects from potential flooding. Comments 
are invited from the public and affected agencies, including, but not 
limited to, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USFWS, 
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), Riverside County 
Regional Park and Open Space District, and others.
    Public Meeting: A public scoping meeting to receive input on the 
scope of the DEIS/EIR will be conducted on August 26th at 7 p.m. at the 
Norco Board Room/Council Chambers at 2820

[[Page 48346]]

Clark Avenue, Norco, California. If you have any questions regarding 
the meeting, please contact Rick Mendoza, Project Manager for OCWD, at 
the above address or by calling 714-378-3329, or via e-mail: 
rmendoza@ocwd.com.    Schedule: The estimated date the DEIS/EIR will be made available to 
the public is November 1, 2003.

John V. Guenther,
LTC, EN, Acting Commander.
[FR Doc. 03-20646 Filed 8-12-03; 8:45 am]

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