To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Ken Tam, (707) 565-3348
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor Segment
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor segment (Fifth District)
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Executive Summary:
Regional Parks has prepared an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor segment. The Trail is approximately 0.60 miles long and will connect to the existing Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal Prairie segment to north in Bodega Bay. The Trail starts near the Children’s Bell Tower and ends on Eastshore Road. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared for the project. During the public comment review period, comments were received and minor modifications were made to the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. None of the information provided in the comments or the responses affects the conclusion of the proposed Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. The Board can approve the resolution adopting Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor project and approving the project.
Discussion:
The Bodega Bay Trail is part of the California Coastal Trail alignment. For budgeting, planning purposes, and to help identify the four geographic locations of the Bodega Bay Trail, the County has used four different project names as follows: Coastal Prairie, Coastal North Harbor, Coastal Harbor, and Smith Brothers Road. The focus of the Initial Study is the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor segment.
The Bodega Bay Trail is identified as a project in the “Bodega Bay Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails Study (September 2005)”. The feasibility study was initiated in 2004 as a result from the community expressing a need to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling within and through Bodega Bay. The primary objective of the study was to find the best route for a separated paved trail. Several public meetings were hosted to solicit community input on the study. The completed study recommended completing the Bodega Bay Trail in phases as financial resources become available. The Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal Prairie Trail was completed and opened to the public in August 2016. The next priority is completing the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor Trail segment.
The Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor (Trail) segment will be located on three contiguous properties owned by California State Parks and County of Sonoma between the Children’s Bell Tower and Eastshore Road. Regional Parks is partnering with California State Parks on this project. The Trail project will develop a multi-use pathway for bicyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians that provides a safe separated travel away from the highway. The stretch of Highway 1 from Bay Hill Road to Bay Flat Road has very narrow to no road shoulders for walking or bicycling. The development of the Trail will improve travel between existing residential, recreational, and commercial areas in Bodega Bay.
The Trail will be approximately 0.60 miles (3,168 linear feet) in length and 8 to 10 feet wide. The Trail starts by connecting the existing Coastal Prairie Trail segment to the north on County property, continuing south and meandering through the State Parks Bodega Dunes Campground area to the intersection of Bay Flat Road and Eastshore Road, and paralleling Eastshore Road for 258 linear feet to the terminus point. The proposed Trail will comprise of the following construction materials: 1,825 linear feet of 8-foot wide resin-stabilized aggregate, approximately 1,100 linear feet of boardwalk, 170 linear feet of wood puncheon and drainage lenses, wood retaining walls, and 258 linear feet of asphalt pavement along Eastshore Road.
Initial Study/Negative Declaration
Regional Parks has prepared the Initial Study to determine whether the Trail could have a significant effect on the environment, which is described as substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse changes in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the project, including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, objects of prehistoric, historic, or aesthetic significance, and the built environment as it affects human safety and quality of life. The Initial Study determined that all potentially significant environmental impacts related to the Trail development could be reduced to a less-than-significant level with proposed mitigation measures and that a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) should be prepared.
Wetland Impacts:
The Trail alignment will impact approximately 0.4 acres of wetlands which is subject to review and approval by the California Coastal Commission and the US Army Corps of Engineers. As a mitigation measure, a boardwalk will be constructed over the wetlands. Permit applications will be submitted to Coastal Commission and US Army Corps of Engineers for review and approval.
Wildlife Impacts:
On February 17, 2017, Regional Parks met with the Bodega Bay Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizens Advisory Committee (BBTBPCAC) to review and discuss the Trail project scope. The BBTBPCAC raised concerns with potential impacts to wildlife species including the Monarch Butterfly and American Badger. In addition to the completed Biological Resources Assessment, supplemental research and consultation with Xerces Society were conducted. Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization focused on the protection and conservation of invertebrates including butterflies and their habitats.
The proposed Trail alignment is not located within the existing Monarch Butterfly overwintering site. The proposed Trail alignment was evaluated on site with a biologist and a volunteer recommended by Xerces Society. It was determined that the Trail was not located within an area that contained suitable habitat for an overwintering site. As a mitigation measure to avoid potential environmental impacts to special-status species and habitats, most of the construction work will occur between September 1 and November 1 to avoid bird nesting season and the overwintering period of Monarch Butterflies. Pre-construction surveys will also be conducted to assure that special status species are absent prior to starting construction. Regional Parks will request formal consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Cultural Impacts:
On April 12, 2019, Tom Origer and Associates completed a cultural resources study for the proposed Trail. The study included archival research at the Northwest Information Center, Sonoma State University, examination of the library and files of Tom Origer and Associates, Native American contact, and field inspection of the study area. No cultural resources were found within the study area. Only two tribal responses were received. The two responses did not indicate any cultural resources and did not request consultation for the Trail project.
Vegetation Impacts:
Dead, declining and hazardous Monterey cypress trees adjacent to the trail will be removed as part of the project. Limbs of lower branches will be removed as needed to provide vertical clearance for the Trail. Other non-native and invasive species of plants in the Trail vicinity such as ice plant, pampas grass, and ivy will be removed. The Trail vicinity will be replanted with a mix of native species appropriate for the site.
The Initial Study was presented to the Sonoma County Environmental Review Committee (ERC) on January 7, 2020. The ERC provided comments and recommendations which were addressed in the Initial Study. With the inclusion of mitigation measures, ERC concurred that a Mitigated Negative Declaration was the appropriate determination for the project.
The Notice of Intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor Trail project was posted near the project site. The State Clearinghouse, which is responsible for coordinating the state-level review of environmental documents, received and posted the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration on February 5, 2020. On February 21, 2020, the Initial Study was presented to Bodega Bay Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizens Advisory Committee. In addition, post cards were mailed to property owners within 1000 feet of the project site. The required 30-day comment period for the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration ended on March 5, 2020.
During the public comment review period, comments were received and minor modifications were made to the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. None of the information provided in the comments or the responses affects the conclusion of the proposed Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. Staff requests the Board to approve the resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor project and approving the project. The adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration allows the Project to be eligible for construction funding which is the next phase.
Prior Board Actions:
February 4, 2020 (Agenda Item No. 14), by Resolution No. 20-0035 approved the application for grant funds from the Recreational Trails Program for the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor segment.
March 29, 2016 (Agenda Item No. 16), by Resolution No. 16-0110 approved the acceptance of $100,000 grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy to prepare preliminary design plans and the environmental document for the Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor segment.
March 17, 2015 received the County of Sonoma Capital Project Plan 2015-2020, including Bodega Bay Trail - Coastal North Harbor.
August 24, 2010, by Resolution No. 10-0636, adopted the 2010 Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The cost to prepare the preliminary design plans and the environmental document was previously budgeted in the FY 2015-16 Capital Budget. There is no additional cost associated with this action item. There will be future development costs when the County secures funding to construct the trail.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Project Location Map
Attachment 2 - Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Onfile 1 - Notice of Intent to Adopt an Initial Study - Mitigated Negative Declaration
Onfile 2 - Notice of Completion
Onfile 3 - Initial Study - Mitigated Negative Declaration