HomeMy WebLinkAboutDEIR 1026 EL MORRO CONVERSION*NEW FILE*
DEIR 1026 EL MORRO
CONVERSION
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EL MORRO CONVERSION
TO CAMPGROUND AND
DAY USE
CRYSTAL COVE
STATE PARK
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT - SCH# 2001111088
May 6, 2002
California Department of Parks & Recreation
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DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
8885 Rio San Diego Drive Suite 270
San Diego, CA 92108
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
Environmental Impact Report
El Morro Conversion to Campground and Day Use
Crystal Cove State Park
The California Department of Parks and Recreation has prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) with the intent of adoption for the El Morro
Conversion to Campground and Day Use at Crystal Cove State Park between the cities
of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach in Orange County. The project is in conformance
with the Crystal Cove State Park General Plan, an approved Public Works Plan.
COPIES OF THE DEIR ARE AVAILABLE for review at the Southern Service Center of
the California Department of Parks and Recreation, 8885 Rio San Diego Drive Suite
270 San Diego, CA 92108 during business hours. Copies are also available for review
at the Orange Coast District Office, 3030 Avenida del Presidente San Clemente, CA
92672; Laguna Beach Public Library, 363 Glenneyre St. Laguna Beach, CA; the
Government Information Dept., Main Library, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA; or at the Newport
Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. Newport Beach, CA. If there are any
questions, please call Tina Robinson at 619.220.5300.
THE REVIEW PERIOD, during which the California Department of Parks and
Recreation will receive comments upon the proposed DEIR, commences on May 7,
2002. The deadline for receiving written comments regarding the adequacy of the DEIR
is June 21, 2002. Comments may be delivered to Tina Robinson at the Southern
Service Center or faxed to 619.220.5400. These comments must be postmarked by
June 21, 2002.
THIS NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED in the Orange County Register and the Orange Coast
Daily Pilot on May 8, 2002, and the Coastline News on May 10, 2002.
BEG DEp' TA�Fi'
PLANNIN ��„ � '• `'
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' EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of the proposed project is to provide public camping, picnicking, parking,
access to beach and upland areas from one location, educational and interpretive
facilities; to improve coastal views, water quality, stream processes, coastal processes,
and public safety; and to protect and enhance significant cultural and natural resources.
This is to be accomplished by converting the existing private El Morro Village
' Mobilehome Park leasehold to public camping and day uses as identified in the 1982
Crystal Cove State Park General Plan. This project is a priority project funded through
the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act
of 2000. The General Plan was approved after a series of five public workshops by the
State Parks and Recreation Commission on March 12,1982 and approved and certified as
a Public Works Plan by the California Coastal Commission on May 20, 1982.
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Crystal Cove State Park is located in Orange County north of the City of Laguna Beach
(Figures 1.1 and 1.2). Crystal Cove State Park is one of the last remaining natural open
space coastal properties in southern California. With almost 2,800 acres and over three
miles of ocean frontage, the park contains a diverse natural landscape and offers
recreational opportunities ranging from hiking in the uplands to snorkeling in the
underwater park. The Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and other established preserves
near the park encompass 12,000 acres of dedicated open space. When combined with the
offshore Marine Life Refuge, over 19,000 acres are preserved as primarily natural areas
as shown on Figure 1.4.
The Department began acquiring land from the Irvine Company in 1979. The park was
purchased with two existing leaseholds, the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park and the
Crystal Cove Historic District. The El Morro Village Mobilehome Park leasehold
precludes full use of the site by the public. This site is the only connecting point between
the major inland body of the park and the beach. The proposed project would provide
seven of the top ten outdoor activities identified in the 1997 California Outdoor
Recreation Plan. These activities, in order of demand are recreational walking, camping
in developed sites, trail hiking, attending outdoor cultural events, swimming, nature and
wildlife study, and beach activities. The leasehold also provides the only available site
within the park where a small public campground with developed sites for tents and
recreational vehicles may be.provided without significant impacts to undisturbed
resources. It is anticipated that the campground would be utilized by a broad range of
users from individual, family and retired vacationers to youth, nature, mountain biking,
and hiking groups. This location also offers the unique ability to provide a broad range of
educational opportunities in an outdoor classroom setting where the concepts can be
reinforced with "real" experiences.
The Department's mission includes the protection of natural and cultural resources.
Therefore, the most effective and appropriate combination of resource avoidance,
mitigation, and monitoring will be employed throughout the project design, construction,
and operations. Once residents have removed their mobile homes, the remaining
buildings and facilities would be demolished and/or removed, existing sewer/septic
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systems replaced with a municipal sewer connection, and existing utilities abandoned in
place or upgraded to support camping and day use. A new signalized intersection from
the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1'), with northbound right turn lane, would be
installed to serve the El Morro Elementary School, the Park Headquarters and Visitor
Center, and the proposed campground and day use area. The access road into the project
area would also be improved. Approximately 45 acres will be affected by the project
conversion, demolition, stream restoration, on -site revegetation and landscaping, and
construction of new campground and day use facilities. Please refer Section 2 for
additional detail and Figures 2.1 and 2.2a-d for the Project Site Map and Project Features.
Resource and operational data discovered during the preliminary planning and design of
the project were incorporated to develop the Preferred Alternative. Design elements
from each of the four project alternatives were combined and refined to create a project
that will provide the desired visitor services while avoiding or minimizing impacts to
park resources. Four Alternatives, including the Environmentally Superior Alternative
and the No Project Alternative are addressed in Section 2. The No Project Alternative
would allow the existing mobilehome park to stay in place. The existing mobilehome
park creates a visual intrusion onto the scenic Moro Beach, has existing water quality
problems, and creates unnatural coastal processes. The No Project Alternative also
prohibits full park use of this critical connection between the inland and coastal portions
of Crystal Cove State Park. All Alternatives, except the No Project Alternative, will
remove 287 mobilehomes, of which, up to 112 may be considered affordable to low and
moderate income people in Orange County. Affordable housing in Orange County is
rare. Please see Sections 3.3 and 4 for additional detail.
All of the alternatives, including the No Project Alternative, have the potential to
adversely effect unique significant archaeological resources. Both the Preferred
Alternative and the Environmentally Superior Alternative would mitigate these impacts
to a level below significance, thereby preserving the last remaining coastal village site in
Orange County. Potentially significant effects to archaeology, vegetation, wildlife,
stream and watershed resources (including wetlands), paleontology, coastal bluff and
erosion, and pedestrian access are mitigated below a level of significance in the Preferred
Alternative. Potential adverse impacts to public services, schools, traffic, aesthetics,
historic resources, air quality, noise, water quality and the release of hazardous
substances are insignificant but may incorporate measures to minimize impacts or meet
established treatment protocols. Cumulative impacts are not anticipated to cause
significant adverse environmental effects.
The proposed project will provide significant beneficial effects to public park use,
archaeological resources, natural resources, hydrology and water quality, and aesthetics.
Although the residential use of this area has been in place for many years, it is at odds
with the Department mission. Therefore, for planning purposes, it is considered a
temporary, short-term use that will be replaced by permanent long-term park use in
accordance with the Crystal Cove General Plan and Public Use Plan.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVESUMMARY............................................................................................................ i
TABLEOF CONTENTS............................................................................................................. iii
LISTOF FIGURES....................................................................................................................... v
LISTOF TABLES........................................................................................................................A
1 PURPOSE & NEED...............................................................................................................1
1.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................1
1.2 Project Background........................................................................................................2
1.3 Project Need.....................................................................................................................3
1.4 Identified Public Concerns.............................................................................................4
2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION...................................................................................................7
2.1 Preferred Alternative......................................................................................................7
2.1.1 Entrance Road Description........................................................................................ 8
2.1.2 Entrance Road Design Variations.............................................................................. 8
2.1.3 The Upper Terrace - Campground............................................................................. 9
2.1.4 Moro Creek Valley — Stream Restoration/Day-Use.................................................11
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2.1.5 Moro Beach —Day-Use/Public Safety.....................................................................
2.2 Construction Management...........................................................................................12
2.3 Alternative 1..................................................................................................................15
2.4 Alternative 2..................................................................................................................15
2.5 Alternative 3..................................................................................................................15
2.6 Alternative 4— Environmentally Superior Alternative .............................................16
2.7 No Project Alternative..................................................................................................16
3 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING.............................................................................I......:....17
3.1 Location and Description.............................................................................................17
3.2 Traffic.............................................................................................................................17
3.3 Community, Land Use and Planning..........................................................................18
3.4 Historic Background..................................................................................................... 21
3.5 Archaeology...................................................................................................................23
3.6 Aesthetic Resources......................................................................................................
3.7 Landform & Geology....................................................................................................24
3.8 Coastal Process..............................................................................................................25
3.9 Biological Resources..................................................................................................... 26
3.9.1 Plant Communities...................................................................................................27
3.9.2 Wildlife.....................................................................................................................28
3.9.3 Stream and Watershed Resources............................................................................ 29
3.10 Paleontology...................................................................................................................30
4 KNOWN CONTROVERSIES............................................................................................31
5 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS & MITIGATION..........................................................33
5.1 Potentially Significant Impacts & Proposed Mitigation............................................33
5.1.1 Archaeological Resources........................................................................................ 33
5.1.2 Vegetation................................................................................................................38
5.1.3 Wildlife....................................................................................................................41
5.1.4 Stream and Watershed Resources............................................................................ 44
5.1.5 Paleontology............................................................................................................ 45
5.1.6 Coastal Bluffs, Geology and Erosion...................................................................... 46
5.1.7 Pedestrian and Emergency Vehicle Access.............................................................47
5.2 Impacts that are Less than Significant ........................................................................48
5.2.1 Public Services/Schools...........................................................................................48
5.2.2 Traffic......................................................................................................................49
5.2.3 Aesthetics.......................................................................................................I.........50
5.2.4 Land Use & Planning............................................................................................... 50
5.2.5 Historic Resources.....................................................................................I............. 51
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5.2.6 Air Quality...............................................................................................................51
5.2.7 Noise.......................................................................................................................52
5.2.8 Hazardous Waste..................................................................................................... 53
5.2.9 Water Quality........................................................................................................ 53
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5.3 Effects with Little or No Impacts ......... ........... ............................. ............... ................. 56
5.4 Beneficial Effects ...........................................................................................................56
5.4.1 Public Park & Recreation......................................................................................... 56
5.4.2 Archaeological Resources........................................................................................56
5.4.3 Biological Resources...............................................................................................58
5A.4 Hydrology................................................................................................................58
5.4.5 Water Quality...........................................................................................................58
5A.6 Aesthetics...................................... . .........................................................................58
6 CEQA REQUIRED CONSIDERATIONS..............61
es.......................................................
6.1 Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes.......................................................61
6.2 Relationship of local Short -Term Uses and Maintenance and Enhancement of
Productivity
Long -Term ...................................................................1...........................61
6.3 Growth Inducing Impacts............................................................................................61
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6.4 CumulatIve Impacts...........................................................................................6...........61
7 REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................63
7.1 List of Preparers and Reviewers..................................................................................63
7.2 Literature Referenced
...................................................................................................65
8 COMMENTS AND COORDINATION.............................................................................66
APPENDICES.........................................................................................................0....................67
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ANotice of Preparation, Initial Study, & Responses.....................................................67
BNatural Resource Tables..............................................................................................68
CNCCP Joint EIMIS Excerpt......................................................................................71
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LIST OF FIGURES
Location Ma Figure 1.1
p.................................................................................................... Vicinity/Park Map............................................................................................. Figure 1.2
Project Area Map.............................................................................................. Figure 1.3
Reserve Area Map............................................................................................. Figure 1.4
Park Users.........................................................................................................Figures 1.5
Existing Mobilehome Park..............................................................................Figures 1.6
1995 Flood Photos.............................................................................................Figures 1.7
Site Ma Figure 2.1
Project Features Maps............................................................................... Figures 2.2a-d
Entrance Road Design Variations........................................................... Figures 2.3 a-b
Proposed Coastal Improvement...................................................................... Figure 2.4
Alternative 1 Site Map...................................................................................... Figure 2.5
Alternative 2 Site Map....................................................................................... Figure 2.6
Alternative 3 Site Map...................................................................................... Figure 2.7
Aerial Oblique Looking Offshore..................................................................... Figure 3.1
Aerial Oblique Looking Onshore.................................................................... Figure 3.2
Aerial Oblique Looking Downcoast................................................................ Figure 3.3
Historic Photo Looking Downcoast (Circa 1930)........................................... Figure 3.4
Historic Photo Looking Upcoast (Postwar) .................................................... Figure 3.5
Biological Environmentally Sensitive Areas ................................................... Figure 3.6
Sensitive Bird Species Map.............................................................................. Figure 3.7
Before/After Moro Beach Visual Simulation .................................................. Figure 5.1
Water Quality Cross-section — Moro Creek Valley ........................................ Figure 5.2
Water Quality Cross-section — Upper Terrace .............................................. Figure 5.3
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LIST OF TABLES
Alternatives Matrix ......... .......................... ................................................................. 13-14
Table 1- 2000 Average Daily Traffic.............................................................................18
Table 2 - Existing Trip Generation .......................... .................. ........................ I .... I ..... 18
Table 3 - 2000 Census Data.................................................................................A..........19
Table 4 - Mobilehomes In Nearby Communities..........................................................20
Table 5 - Proposed Trip Generation.............................................................................49
Table 6 - Comparative Sound Levels .......................... ......... ....... ........ 0....... ,............ I ..... 54
Table 7 - Construction Equipment Noise Ranges.........................................................55
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1 PURPOSE & NEED
' 1.1 Introduction
The purpose of the Environmental Impact Report is to describe and allow full public
review of the El Morro Conversion to Campground and Day Use project in accordance
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California Department of
Parks and Recreation (Department) is the Lead Agency for this project. This project is a
priority project funded through the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air
and Coastal Protection BondAct of 2000. The purpose of the proposed project is to
provide public camping, picnicking, parking, access to beach and upland areas from one
location, educational and interpretive facilities; to improve coastal views, water, quality,
stream processes, coastal processes, and public safety; and to protect and enhance
' significant cultural and natural resources. This is to be accomplished by converting the
existing private El Morro Village Mobilehome Park leasehold to public camping and day
uses as identified in the 1982 Crystal Cove State Park General Plan. The project is
consistent with the purpose statement for Crystal Cove State Park.
"The purpose of Crystal Cove State Park is to make available to the people for their
enjoyment the natural, cultural, and recreation values of a significant open space area on the
Orange County Coast.
Located amidst dense urban development along the coast, the park's relatively large size,
more that 3 miles of ocean beach, and some 2,800 acres with expansive marine views and
interior canyons have regional and statewide significance. Numerous archeological sites and
rare plants are also prime park resources of statewide significance.
The function of the Department of Parks and Recreation at Crystal Cove State Park is to
manage, protect, and, where necessary, to -restore its natural and cultural resources and
values effectively; and to provide facilities and services, consistent with the purpose of the
park, that are necessary for full enjoyment of the park."
Because the project proposes changes within the Coastal Zone and to Pacific Coast
Highway (Highway 1) the California Coastal Commission and the California Department
of Transportation are Responsible Agencies. Further, because several of the proposed
1 actions may either permanently or temporarily affect cultural resources, water quality,
wetlands, coastal processes, and species listed as threatened or endangered, additional
permits or approvals will be needed from the following agencies:
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United States Army Corp of Engineers
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
California Department of Fish and Game
State Office of Historic Preservation
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana and San Diego Regions
Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP) Non -Profit Corporation
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1.2 Project Background
Crystal Cove State Park is located in Orange County north of the City of Laguna Beach
(Figure 1.1). The Department began acquiring land from the Irvine Company in 1979.
With subsequent acquisitions, the total acreage of the park is currently 2,791 acres. The
park was purchased with two existing leaseholds, the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park
and the Crystal Cove Historic District. Naming and classification of the park occurred
on April l 1, 1980. The General Plan was approved by the State Parks and Recreation
Commission on March 12,1982 and approved and certified as a Public Works Plan by
the California Coastal Commission on May 20,1982.
The park is one of the last remaining natural open space coastal properties in Southern
California. It consists of a 3.25-mile coastal section west of Pacific Coast Highway and
several inland areas (Figure 1.2). The immediate project area within Crystal Cove State
Park is shown on Figure 1.3. The park's outstanding visual and natural resource qualities
provide a dramatic contrast to the increasingly urban character of this coastal region.
Due to recent urban development, Crystal Cove State Park provides the only direct
connection between inland habitats and the coast in Orange County. The park consists of
a wide variety of landscape and scenic features. Some of these include underwater reefs,
rolling surf, sandy beaches, tidepools, cliffs, wide and narrow marine terraces, oak
woodlands, and natural coastal upland habitat. Offshore is a designated underwater park,
which is also a part of Crystal Cove State Park. Important cultural resource features of the
park include several significant archaeological sites and the Crystal Cove Historic
District, a National Register of Historic Places Property.
Further, the park is identified as a significant natural resource area that contributes to
regional and statewide preservation of significant habitats and species. The inland
portion of the Park is about 2,343 acres and includes nearly all the watershed of Moro
Canyon, located directly inland from the proposed project. Immediately adjacent to the
inland portion of the Park is the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. The Laguna Coast
Wilderness Park and other established preserves incorporate 12,000 acres of dedicated
open space outside of the park. When combined with the offshore Marine Life Refuge,
over 19,000 acres are preserved as primarily natural areas. Crystal Cove State Park and
these contiguous open space preserves are part of the Reserve System of Orange County
identified in the Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) & Habitat Conservation
Plan, County of Orange, Central Coastal Subregion. These areas are shown in Figure 1 A.
As part of the preparation of the 1982 Crystal Cove State Park General Plan, an
Environmental Impact Report was completed that addressed the need for a campground
and day -use area at the site of the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park. This process
included a series of five public workshops and two public hearings. The General Plan
indicated that the natural, cultural and scenic qualities of the park should be retained,
leaving the bulk of the property in its natural state. The General Plan further determined
that the existing use at El Morro Village Mobilehome Park should be converted to a
campground and day -use facility because it would concentrate needed visitor services at a
previously developed site and minimize new impacts to cultural and natural resources.
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The Studies and Preliminary Plan phase of the project was approved by the California
Legislature and the Governor as a Major Capital Outlay Project in the State Budget of
2000 with in-depth resource constraint studies and project design beginning in 2001.
Construction is anticipated to begin after the existing leases expire in December of 2004.
1.3 Project Need
The El Morro Village Mobilehome Park leasehold precludes full use of the site by the
public. This site is the only connecting point between the major inland body of the park
and the beach. Because of its location and disturbed natural state, this site provides the
only opportunity within the park to provide public facilities and continuous access to both
the recreational trails on the inland side and Moro Beach on the coastal side. Since the
Department implemented its Park Fee Reduction Program, overall state park attendance
has risen by 27% to a total of approximately 90,000,000 visitors. This indicates a strong
demand by the public for state park visitor services. The 1997 California Outdoor
Recreation Plan identifies public demand for a variety of outdoor activities. The
proposed project will provide seven of the top ten outdoor activities to the public. These
activities, in order of demand are recreational walking, camping in developed sites, trail
hiking, attending outdoor cultural events, swimming, nature and wildlife study, and beach
activities.
The leasehold also provides the only possible site for a small public campground with
developed sites for tents and recreational vehicles. It is anticipated that the campground
would be utilized by a broad range of users from individual, family and retired
vacationers to youth, nature, mountain biking, and hiking groups. It is estimated that over
14 million people will visit the Southern California State Beaches in the current fiscal
year, by far the most popular type of state park for public use. Public demand for coastal
campsites far exceeds the supply. The entire state park system has had a net gain of only
271 campsites in the last decade. There are current issues (a proposed toll road and
geologic instability) at San Onofre State Beach that could further reduce the net quantity
of coastal campsites and coastal access thereby creating additional unmet demand.
This location also offers the unique ability to provide a broad range of educational
opportunities in an outdoor classroom setting where the concepts can be reinforced with
"real" experiences. The interpretive program could utilize on -site resources to focus on
ancient marine village life, stream restoration, natural resources, and water quality issues.
Please refer to Figure 1.5 showing,park users. Because the location is highly visible from
areas within the park and when driving south along Pacific Coast Highway, removal of
the mobilehomes will substantially reduce the visual intrusion both on the beach and
inland sides that exists at the site now (Figure 1.6).
Although lifeguards patrol Moro Beach and respond to emergencies, the existing beach
has only one portable lifeguard tower in the summer and access to the beach is restricted
by the presence of the mobilehomes. This situation limits lifeguard presence and
effectiveness. Lifeguards must intervene within minutes to save lives. In order to
practice preventative lifesaving, lifeguards must be close to potential victims and have
their eyes on the water. The project would improve the effectiveness of emergency
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response and significantly reduce risks to the public by providing a permanent lifeguard
tower and multiple portable towers.
Further, except for the presence of the mobilehome park and Pacific Coast Highway, the
Moro Creek watershed is the only watershed in Orange County in which the creek
reaches the coast unobstructed by urban development. Moro Creek is confined to a
largely unstable channel within the mobilehome park as evidenced by the 1995 flood
damage shown in Figure 1.7. Although the stream has been stabilized by several grade
control structures since this event, the project would improve the creek's hydraulic
geometry, slope banks, and restore native vegetation. The channel would be improved to
follow a more natural course. The creek will still be constrained by the existing
bridge/tunnel under Pacific Coast Highway and therefore the need to protect that
approach has been addressed by incorporating channel protection in this segment.
However, restoration of the natural stream processes upstream will create a better
environment for wildlife and will be enjoyed by park visitors as well. Water quality
improvements are also anticipated with the creek restoration activities. Removal of most
of the existing armoring and mobile homes on the coastal side will help to restore natural
coastal processes.
It has also been determined that the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park onsite sewer
system is failing. Effluent from the inland portion of the mobilehome park is collected
in sewer lines and settled in septic tanks. The liquid effluent is then pumped into two
leach fields located. alongside Moro Creek up canyon from the mobilehome park. Water
quality tests conducted by the County of Orange and the Department indicate that
bacterial counts within the creek are at unacceptable levels. Additionally, five leach fields
are located under the Moro Beach road, less than 50 yards from the Pacific Ocean. While
offshore waters are still below State standards for bacteria levels, these sewage treatment
systems are outdated and inappropriate for a public recreation area. The project proposes
to connect to the municipal sewer system to eliminate all potential septic system
contamination. This project will abandon the existing tanks.
Additionally, storm runoff from the existing site does not meet the new guidelines set by
the State Regional Water Quality Board. Because of the extreme sensitivity of the
coastal environment in this location, the project proposes to improve storm water quality.
This will be accomplished by decreasing ran -off amounts and velocities through the
reduction of impervious surfaces and treating storm water using bioswales, retention
basins, native vegetation, and filter devices. Permanent irrigation will be removed from
the site and therefore nuisance flows into the creek will be eliminated. Exotic plant
species will be replaced by native vegetation eliminating the need for pesticide use that
may be impacting the coastal environment.
1.4 Identified Public Concerns
Through personal contact with Department personnel, correspondence, public meetings,
and the local media, a number of the current residents at the El Mono Village
Mobilehome Park have expressed concern over the project and the future termination of
their leases. This is addressed in greater detail in the section 4, Known Controversies. In
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contrast, other members of the public have expressed a concern that the area is a private
leasehold on public land and source of water quality contamination within.a State Park.
Additionally, representatives from the El Morro Elementary School have indicated
concerns about possible conflicts between campground users and elementary school
students. The Department has incorporated these concerns into the design of the project
as discussed in section 5.3.1. Representatives from the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians,
whose ancestors inhabited the area, have been in contact with Department archaeologists
and expressed interest in the preservation of cultural resources and future interpretation of
Native American history and life practices. The Department recognizes the need to
preserve cultural resources and has designed the project to avoid or minimize potential
impacts to cultural resources. The Department further intends to coordinate construction
monitoring and any future interpretive design on Native American history and lifeways
with the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians.
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FIGURE 1.1 LOCATION MAP
1 T LOSANGELE
BEACH
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4,�N 1101
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ITO
CRYSTAL COVE
STATE PARK
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oro, 94c,
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Legend
Trail
Paved Road
Park Bounqff 250 0 500 11000 11500
O —•••- Moro Creek meters
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Figure 1.4 Reserve Areas
IMME
NEMPM
CUASF
Project
LWNA
HILLS
Er
ALSO
VIE10
marl LAGUNA
®Laguna Coast The Irvine own
NildernasPtak Company Open
Space Reserve
Crystal Cove
state park Laguna beach
Open Space
Alien R Wood
Canyons It Marine Preserves
Hildemess P46 "
1 Adapted from Laguna Canyon Foundation website II
IFigure 1.5 Park Users
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IFigure 1.6 Existing Mobilehome Park
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m m No m i so 0" -U_ M we� -a m--A -on ro m an aw
Figure 1.7 1995 Flood Photo
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2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Department's mission includes the protection of natural and cultural resources,
therefore, the most effective and appropriate combination of resource avoidance,
mitigation, and monitoring will be employed throughout the project design, construction,
and operations. Approximately 45 acres will be affected by the project conversion,
demolition, stream restoration, on -site revegetation and landscaping, and construction of
new facilities. This would include the area up Moro Canyon where the leach fields are
located and a large portion of Moro Beach.
Resource and operational data discovered during the preliminary planning and design of
the project was incorporated to develop the Preferred Alternative. Design elements from
each of the four project alternatives were combined and refined to create a project design
that will provide the desired visitor services while avoiding or minimizing impacts to
park resources. The project description and environmental analysis for the Alternatives
is the same as for the Preferred Alternative except for those designs and issues identified
below under each alternative.
2.1 Preferred Alternative
The proposed project will convert the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park private
leasehold into a public park area as shown on the Project Site Map (Figure 2.1) and the
Project Features Maps (Figures 2.2 a-d). Because the existing residents own their
mobilehomes, the leases contain a clause that, upon expiration, the owners will relocate
their property. However, the project will provide for post mobilehome park cleanup,
removals, and demolitions of ancillary structures. Existing water and electrical utilities
will be replaced within the same trenches wherever possible or abandoned in place. The
existing on -site sewer/septic systems will be replaced with a new municipal sewer
connection. New utility installation will be minimized within those areas with
disturbed/redistributed cultural materials and avoided where there are intact cultural
deposits.
In order to control surface runoff generated from the parking lots, campsites, buildings,
roads, paths and other active use areas, various structural "best management practices"
(BMPs) have been developed. The runoff from these areas will be collected and treated
in a variety of ways including: 1) extended water quality control basins, 2) vegetative
swales, 3) shallow biofilter basins, and 4) Continuous Deflection Separator (CDS) units.
The drainage system is designed to allow natural surface runoff tributary with the
developed portions of the park to be intercepted and discharged directly to the creek,
without mixing with the runoff from the improved areas. The sizing of all structural
'
BMPs is designed to meet or exceed the minimum requirements identified by the State
Regional Water Quality Control Board.
'
the
The project site is divided into four topographic areas: the entrance road, upper
terrace, Moro Creek valley, and the Moro Beach areas. The following elements of the
project description will be addressed by these topographic areas (shown on Figure 1.3).
I
Entrance Road Description
The entrance road to the campground and day -use parking will be constructed along the
existing access to the Park Headquarters and Visitor Center, and then tam behind the El
Morro Elementary School to the inland side of the campground as shown on Figure 2.2d.
A new signalized intersection with Pacific Coast Highway will be constructed and will
serve the school, the Park Headquarters and Visitor Center, and the campground and day -
use area. The existing signal and entrance to the school will be moved to this location.
The entrance road will be widened 18 feet to accommodate the school traffic and
incorporate left and right turning lanes onto Pacific Coast Highway for approximately
500 feet east of Pacific Coast Highway. The road will be widened on the south side
(downcoast towards the school) to preserve the maximum width of the wildlife corridor
along Muddy Creek and maintain a buffer to human impacts. Existing overhead utilities
will be placed underground for this section of road in conformance with the General Plan
goal of placing all utilities underground. After the entrance road reduces to two lanes,
there will be minor modifications including the possible placement of a fence or guardrail
at the existing edge of pavement on the upcoast side, and minor widening on the
downcoast side of the road. Overhead utilities on this section of road will not be placed
underground at this time.
The road will also be widened as it turns downcoast towards the campground entrance
and a new 24-foot wide road with shoulders will be constructed into the campground.
The entrance kiosk, turnaround, and temporary parking area will be placed to provide a
direct line of sight along the boundary between the campground and the school.
A new gravity sewer line from the existing Park Headquarters/Visitor Center will be
placed within the new and existing roads. It will then connect with proposed sewer lines
within the campground.
To accommodate park and school traffic traveling northbound on PCH, a right turn lane
will be constructed. The lane will require that PCH be widened 12' to the inland side for
approximately 500 feet. The California Department of Transportation will need to
approve all changes to PCH through their PEER review and encroachment permit
Entrance Road Design Variations
The entrance road described in the Crystal Cove State Park General Plan was to provide
access to the campground and school from the undeveloped Sand Canyon Avenue located
on the other side of the Muddy Creek drainage. In the years subsequent to the General
Plan, it was determined that the Muddy Creek drainage provides the most viable wildlife
corridor between the coastal plateau and inland areas of the park. Recent urban
development has eliminated the presence of appropriate, connected native habitat
elsewhere along Pacific Coast Highway. Therefore, plans to construct Sand Canyon
Avenue across Muddy Creek have been abandoned.
During the development of this project, several additional entrance alternatives were
evaluated. These include a site near the existing mobilehome park access on PCH, the
I
proposed emergency vehicle access on PCH, and an entrance road from PCH along the
bluff in front of the school. Site limitations, visual impacts, vehicular conflicts, resource
issues, and park operational constraints limited the viability of these options. The
entrance road along the bluff in front of the school was eliminated due to the severe
topography and visual impacts that would have been associated with this entrance.
'
The entrance road design variation at the emergency access is shown in Figure 23a. This
alternative would have required a right turn lane for deceleration that would have
impacted the adjacent coastal bluff. It also would have required large vehicles to proceed
across the Moro Creek bridge then up a steep grade to reach the campground, with
possible stacking on the slope, creating poor vehicle circulation. This entrance road was
eliminated as infeasible.
The entrance road design variation at the existing mobilehome park is shown in Figure
2.3b. This entrance road would have been viable but was eliminated due to the following
factors: 1) This entrance road would have required large vehicles to proceed up a steep
grade to reach the campground, with possible stacking on the slope, creating poor vehicle
circulation. 2) This entrance road does not align across PCH with the emergency access
on the beach side. Therefore, beach users would have been required to walk along the
highway where traffic speed's often reach 55 mph, creating poor pedestrian circulation. 3)
This entrance road was considered for day -use only but would have required an
additional kiosk and staffing for a relatively small benefit. This entrance road was
eliminated for the above reasons.
2.1.3 The Upper Terrace - Campground
'
The project proposes to construct a new 60 unit campground which would serve either
tents or recreational vehicles in the upper terrace area of the existing mobilehome park.
Electrical utilities and water would be provided to each site. Two combination
restroom/shower buildings, one with a laundry room, will also be constructed. Each
building and up to 15 of the campsites will meet Americans With Disabilities Act
requirements.
The roadway along the school boundary will be removed and replaced with loop road
sections located farther away from the school as indicated in Figure 2.2c.. This will create
a buffer area between the school and the campsites. The buffer area will be planted with
vegetative screening. At the school's request, no access will be provided between the
school and campground. The school has an existing fence in this location. A trail will
also be constructed to provide access to the campground from the existing north -bound
public transportation bus stop in front of El Morro School. Again, the existing school
fence along Pacific Coast Highway will prevent access from the trail into the school.
An entry building with office space and a restroom, visitor parking and dump stations
will be constructed along the inland side of the campground. The entry building will
provide a direct line of sight between the campground and the school and also provide a
state park presence for this section of the park. Invasive exotic plant materials requiring
1
permanent irrigation will be removed. Native vegetation with a temporary irrigation
system will be established. New trails to connect to the beach and valley areas, a new
I
vista point, unpaved parking spurs, campsite furnishings, benches, interpretive exhibits, '
localized spot lighting, signs, fire hydrants, erosion control, and site drainage bioswales
are also proposed.
The sewer force main from the valley will cross the front of the terrace area, hook-up
with the dump station and combination building sewer lines, then cross school property
and connect to a sewer lift station. The sewer lift station will be constructed on the
school property by Laguna Beach Unified School District as part of their school
expansion project. Then the sewer, serving both the park and school, will connect with
the municipal sewer system via a force main pipeline up Pacific Coast Highway to Reef
Point. It is currently anticipated that the school will construct the sewer prior to the
construction of the Department's project, however, the Department will partner with the
school to share the cost of construction of shared sewer facilities.
Water quality controls in the upper terrace will rely primarily on shallow vegetative '
swales parallel to all park roads to intercept the runoff and provide natural filtration and
reduced velocities. In addition, the upper terrace would utilize a CDS unit on the final '
collection storm drain prior to joining the existing storm drain exiting the site to Moro
Creek. The CDS system is a pre -cast underground unit used to capture sediment and
debris by Creating a vortex that allows water to escape while contaminants are deflected
into a sump for removal. Most excess sheetflow will exit to Moro Creek with a portion to
Muddy Creek.
2.1.4 Moro Creek Valley— Stream Restoration/Day-Use
The project proposes to regrade a small portion of the valley area to create access and
parking for 196 vehicles. Up to 13 parking spaces will meet Americans With Disabilities
Act requirements. An amphitheater/ campfire center, three sheltered group picnic areas
and twenty family picnic areas with ramadas will be built primarily upcoast from Moro
Creek. Two restroom buildings will be constructed. One will serve primarily group
picnic and amphitheater users. The other will serve family picnic and beach users, have a
room for a small park store, and have an adjacent outdoor shower.
Overhead lighting will be installed at the intersection of the upper terrace and Moro
Creek valley roads. Low level lights will be placed along the path from the campground
to the amphitheater/campfire center. The amphitheater is designed to direct activity away
from sensitive species located in the slopes behind the existing mobilehome park
maintenance yard. A small maintenance storage facility will be attached to the rear of the '
amphitheater stage. Appropriate site amenities, such as pathways, vehicle barriers,
drinking fountains, interpretive facilities, utilities, two small below grade sewer lift
stations, and water quality control facilities will also be constructed in the valley.
A large area will be set aside for landscaping with native species and an interpretive
"outdoor classroom" on the downcoast side of Moro Creek. The final layout of this
interpretive area will not include paving or permanent structures and will be determined
after an interpretive plan is developed for the site. This layout will include native
plantings. Native shrubs will also be planted along the toe of the bluff slope to prevent
volunteer trails into the existing coastal sage habitat downcoast of the valley. On both
10 1
I
sides of the creek, a trailhead connection will be made from the valley to the existing trail
system up Moro Canyon. At the inland end of the valley, a one -lane Arizona
I
crossing/single-span bridge will be constructed at or near the existing trail crossing of
Moro Creek to eliminate erosion, sedimentation, and hydraulic issues associated with the
existing crossing for trail users and emergency vehicles.
The lower valley area will also rely on bioswales for water quality treatment with an
extended detention basin and shallow biofilter basins for additional control. The
detention basin adequate storage volume to treat the initial "first flush"
extended provides
runoff from a storm through creating longer detention or holding time for enhanced
filtering. The shallow vegetative biofilter basins will treat shallow sheet flow from road
lower for
and path areas allowing vegetative uptake for nutrient removal, velocities
sediment removal, breakdown of hydrocarbons by bacterial degradation, and filtering of
suspended solids.
Moro Creek will be restored to a more natural streambed. The creek will be widened
primarily on the upcoast side of the existing channel and replanted with native vegetation
exotic species are removed. Due to the constriction at the Pacific Coast
after plant
Highway undercrossing, a segment of the creek will need to be armored but the side
slopes will be planted with native vegetation for the majority of its reach. The vegetation
habitat. A
will improve creek function and process, and provide a natural appearance and
16-foot wide single -span bridge will be'constructed across Moro Creek to provide service
road access to a new traffic signal for emergency and all-weather pedestrian access across
Pacific Coast Highway to the beach. Additionally, access will be provided to the existing
tunnel under the highway along Moro Creek. The.tunnel frequently closes due to wave
action and is currently kept open by the mobilehome park management. The Department
will also maintain the tunnel opening as needed with a small tractor. State Park
Lifeguards and Rangers may patrol the tunnel area with vehicles.
2.1.5 Moro Beach —Day-Use/Public Safety
The proposed project will provide for site repairs and stabilization to the coastal bluffs
and processes along Moro Beach. These repairs entail removing debris left along the
beach slope after the mobilehomes have been removed, installing sub -surface erosion
protection as needed, and planting with appropriate native vegetation for erosion
protection. Existing armoring will be left in place, improved, modified or removed as
shown in Figures 2.2a and 2.4. The project will construct one building to house public
restrooms and a lifeguard tower/office at the toe of the existing bluff slope below the
elevation of the highway. This building will be protected from wave damage by either
quarry stone revetment or construction on piles. The building and surrounding area will
be designed to allow proper site drainage during extreme storm events.
Appropriate site amenities will include service and emergency access for the restrooms
and lifeguard tower, a small lift station and other underground utilities, portable lifeguard
stands on the beach and 20 portable picnic sites will be placed at the toe of the bluff on
the terrace above the beach. The existing south -bound public transportation bus stop
1
will be maintained as is.
1 11
2.2 Construction Management
The most effective and appropriate combination of resource avoidance and monitoring
will be employed by the Department during all phases of project construction and
dismantling of the existing mobilehome park. Construction timeframe windows will be
placed on the project to prevent disturbance of nesting birds and reduce potential impacts
to the El Morro Elementary School, beach users, and traffic on Pacific Coast Highway.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be used to protect the resources on site and
nearby for all phases of work activity, Environmentally Sensitive Areas will be fenced
and avoided except for those areas where 1) the existing mobilehome park site features
must be removed, 2) the entrance road and stream restoration require temporary impacts
to biological resources 3) paleontological resources must be recovered and 4) cultural
resources will be capped.
Sediment control during construction will be implemented through a variety of erosion
control features or construction BMPs identified as part of the comprehensive
Stomiwater Pollution Prevention Plan which will prevent or minimize the potential of
sediment leaving the construction site. The major principles that will be incorporated
into the erosion control and grading plans include:1) minimizing the extent of the
disturbed area and duration of exposure, 2) stabilizing and protecting the disturbed area
as soon as possible, 3) keeping runoff velocities low, 4) protecting disturbed areas from
contact with runoff, and 5) retaining sediment within the construction area. The
construction BMPs that will be applied to the project may include: 1) temporary desilting
basins, 2) silt fences, 3) gravel bag barriers, 4) temporary soil stabilization through
mattress or mulching, 5) temporary drainage inlet protection, and 6) diversion dikes and
interceptor swales.
The Stormwater and pollutants will be contained on site and/or evacuated offsite to an
appropriate, approved facility. No pollutants or sediment will be allowed to enter Moro
Creek, Muddy Creek or the ocean. Disposal of potential pollutants will be conducted
according to accepted protocols. Due to the sensitive nature of surrounding land uses
and natural and cultural resources, demolition and grading will be coordinated to reduce
impacts whenever possible.
Additionally, the final site grading/demolition plan must be approved by a qualified state
resource ecologist and state archaeologist prior to implementation.
Prior to and during demolition, the site will be assessed for hazardous waste potentially
associated with the maintenance facility and structures. All hazardous substances will be
either contained or disposed of using accepted protocol.
12
EL MORRO CONVERSION TO CAMPGROUND AND DAY -USE ALTERNATIVES MATRIX
PROPOSED USES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Preferred Alternative -Alternative 1 _ Alternative 2 Alternative 3
Alternative 4 No Project
Will remove exotics and
landscape with native plants &
Same as the Preferred
natural materials. Moro Creek
Same as Preferred Alternative
Same as Preferred Alternative
Alternative except that
Unnatural coastal
will be restored to a more
except: 1) provides enhaced
except: 1) vehicular bridge
Same as Preferred Alternative
Alternative 4 provides greater
processes/poor water
Natural Resources
natural streambed, particulary in
protection for Coastal Sage
Scrub (CSS) habitat downcoast
placed farther up the creek in an
except that there is less land
beneficial impacts for biological
resources because more land
quality/continued exotics in state
the upper reaches of the project.
from project with stream
area of greater natural resource
planted with native species in
would be planted with native
park and creek/no opportunity
Most potential impacts avoided
for impacts the
alignment 2) ampitheater is
sensitivity 2) less native
the interpretive area.
species and potentially available
for stream restoration and
except minor at
farther from CSS.
plantings in interpretive area.
as habitat if there were no
landscaping with native plants.
entrance road. Improved water
interpretive area.
quality.
The continued operation of the
leasehold will eventually
damage the intact resources.
Asphalt contains damaging
Most impacts avoided. Potential
Potential to severely impact
Potential to severely impact
Potential to severely impact
Same as the Preferred
leachates, and long-term
irrigation damages cultural
Cultural Resources
significant adverse effects
significant and unique
archaeological resources with
significant and unique
archaeological resources with
significant and unique
archaeological resources with
Alternative except that there
deposits. Utility lines will need
mitigated below a level of
significance.
stream restoration, parking,
stream restoration, parking,
stream restoration, parking,
would be no facilities located
excavation and repair,
restroom & picnic areas.
restroom & picnic areas.
restroom & picnic areas.
near the valley site.
mobilehomes may be moved or
f
replaced. Portions of several
archaeological sites have been
damaged by the construction
and continued operation of the
mobilehome park.
Provides for the removal of an
urban intrusion within Crystal
Cove State Park and on it's
Same as Preferred Alternative
Same as Preferred Alternative
Same as Preferred Alternative
Same as the Preferred
Alternativeexcept that the
Leaves the visual intrusion of
the mobilehome park in place on
Aesthetics
most visible beach. Creates the
except that the design is more
except that the design is more
except that the design is more
stream area would appear more
either side of PCH within Crystal
only natural appearing coastal
urban.
urban.
urban.
natural with no day-usq facilities.
Cove State Park.
stream in the area.
Proposes an amphitheater/
campfire center for educational,
The No Project Alternative
community, and special
Same as the Preferred
Same as the Preferred
Same as the Preferred
Preclusion of the
precludes interpretive facilities
programs. Provides a unique
Alternative except that it does
Alternative except that it does
Alternative except that it does
amphitheater/campfire center
including the amphitheater/
Interpretation
opportunity to set aside a large
"outdoor
not set aside an interpretive
not set aside an interpretive
not set aside an interpretive
and an interpretive area for use
campfire center and an
interpretive for an
area for use as an "outdoor
area for use as an "outdoor
area for use as an "outdoor
as an "outdoor classroom"
interpretive area for use as an
classroom" that will be
classroom"
classroom"
classroom".
"outdoor classroom".
landscaped with native species
and natural materials.
EL MORRO CONVERSION TO CAMPGROUND AND DAY -USE ALTERNATIVES MATRIX
PROPOSED USES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
t'reterreQ Altamafive A temative t ; ;;; -. A ten„bvs 2 ; ' A twmtir. s Afremaws 4
taco a�ojea�
Same as the Preferred
Same as the Preferred
Reduces unmet demand for
Alternative except 1) Restrooms
Alternative except: 1)
Crosswalk leads to
Same as the Preferred
Alternative 1)
The No Project Alternative fails
coastal campsites, picnic
not located centrally to
path on
p
except:
Same as Preferred Alternative
to meet latent public demand for
Campground &Day -Use
sites,restrooms,Alnd beach
campsites 2) Provides facilities
Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) 2)
Campground design superior 2)
-the
but fails to meet latent demand
camping, picnicing, parking,
Visitor Services
parking. Opens site to public use
closer to the creek 3) 4 more
Provides facilities, closer to the
Wider buffer between school
for, the day -use parking, picnic
public restrooms, and the trail to
and ties inland trails to the
parking spaces 4) Pathway
creek 3) 4 more parking spaces
and the pathway in the park 3).
and restroom facilities.
beach connection at Crystal
beach.
between the park and the
4) Pathway between the park
Provides facilities closer to the
Cove State Park.
school
and the school 5)' Valley
creek 4) 4 more parking spaces
restroom too far from parking.
Increased maintenance &
Same as Preferred Alternative
fineswill need excavation
operation costs due to park
Same as Preferred Alternative
except that it would have lower
and repair, mobilehomes may
and
a
uses, better visibility & patrol of
except 1) kept all the visitor/day
Same as the Preferred
Same as the Preferred
maintenance costs associated
be moved or replaced, asphalt
Maintenance & Operations
area to protect public & park
resources. Kiosk allows park
use together 2) no parking
adjacent -to Pacific Coast
Alternative except 1) the divided
Alternative except: 1) the divided
with the day use area but
contains damaging leachates,
visibility along fence between
Highway and the traffic circle
valley not quite as efficient 2)
urban nature of design.
valley not quite as efficient 2)
urban nature of design.
greater enforcement issues due
to the lack of access, trash
and long-term irrigation
damages cultural deposits.
campground and school.
was considered excessive 3)
receptacles and restroom
Maintain the tunnel opening as
M
Maintain the tunnel opening as
urban nature of design.
facilities.
needed with small tractor.
needed with small tractor.
Provides safety & point of
The No Project Alternative
contact for beach users.
precludes service -and utility
Provides abiilityto respond to
access -for the restrooms and
Lifeguard Operations
public lifeguard programs on-
Same -as Preferred Alternative
Same as Preferred Alternative
Same as Preferred Alternative
Same as No ProjectAlternative
lifeguard tower. a small lift
site. Provides restrooms, utility
station and other underground
access, permanent and portable
utilities, lifeguard tower/stands
lifeguard towers.
on the beach.
Removes 287 below market -rent
287 below market -rent units
units from the housing stock and
which includes 112 full-time
causes relocation of
Same as Preferred Alt. Except
residences will remain at Crystal
Community/Housing
approximately 112 full-time
Same as Preferred Alternative
Same as Preferred Alternative
Same as Preferred Alternative
that there are no day use
Cove State Park. Prohibits
residences. Provides unique
facilities.
unique camping and park
camping and park experiences
experiences for pubiic/locei
to the public/local community
community.
I
1 2.3 Alternative 1
Alternative 1 was designed to contain the same operational facilities as the Preferred
Alternative bui in a different configuration as shown in Figure 2.5. The campground area
is similar to the Preferred Alternative with limited grading. A path along the boundary
with the school was also included. Moro Creek was realigned to flow on the downcoast
side of the valley allowing all day -use activities to be placed on the upcoast side of the
creek. Several picnic facilities were located at the bluff edge of the campground. This
alternative was superior from a natural resource standpoint because the creek was directly
adjacent to coastal sage habitat downcoast of the valley. However, the extensive grading
for the creek and facility design had the potential to impact a significant archaeological
resource. Additionally, there were concerns that the hydraulic design was inferior at the
Pacific Coast Highway undercrossing for Moro Creek. From an operations standpoint,
more parking was desired in the area adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway and the traffic
circle was considered excessive given the limited space in the valley. Alternative 1 was
not chosen due to the potential cultural resource impacts and the urban nature of the
design.
2.4 Alternative 2
tAlternative
2 was designed to contain the same operational facilities as the Preferred
Alternative but in a different configuration as shown in Figure 2.6. As in Alternative 1,
the campground area is similar to the Preferred Alternative with limited grading. A path
along the boundary with the school was also included. The stream was widened in its
existing channel and day -use activities were located on either side. This alternative also
had potential to impact a significant archaeology site with both the creek restoration and
the valley facilities. In addition, it placed the vehicular bridge farther up the creek in an
area of greater natural resource sensitivity. The operational concerns were similar to
Alternative 1 except that the divided valley was not quite as efficient. Alternative 2 was
not chosen due to the potential natural and cultural resource impacts, and the urban nature
of the design.
2.5 Alternative 3
Alternative 3 created a more aesthetically pleasing design than either Alternative 1 or
Alternative 2 as shown on Figure 2.7. The aesthetics and picnic areas in the campground
were superior in design to the Preferred Alternative. However, due to the presence of
redeposited and dispersed cultural resources, it was determined that any excavations
should be limited in scope. Construction of the campground in this configuration would
have required a large amount of fill to be imported. Importation of the fill would have
increased costs significantly and noise and traffic impacts adjacent to the El Morro
Elementary School. Alternative 3 provided a wider'landscaped buffer between the
school and a path alongside the buffer. Although more aesthetically pleasing in the lower
valley than Alternatives 1 and 2, Alternative 3 still had substantial potential impacts to a
significant archaeological resource with the stream restoration and facility design.
The Preferred Alternative was developed and refined from Alternative 3 to avoid and
minimize the potential impacts to cultural resources. Although a wider buffer was
15
I
preferable for the school, design options were limited by the need to reduce potential
grading impacts to cultural resources.
2.6 Alternative 4 —Environmentally Superior Alternative
Alternative 4 would have provided a campground on the upper terrace and no day -use in
the valley area other than access from the campground to the beach. This alternative
would provide superior beneficial effects for biological resources because more land
would be included as future habitat. It would have fewer construction impacts to
paleontological resources because fewer cuts into the valley's varied topography would
be required. It would also preserve the intact cultural resources in the valley area.
However, it would preclude the opportunity to provide needed day use visitor services
and an interpretive area connecting the inland trail system to the coast. There would be
no parking, picnicking, restrooms or lifeguard facilities near the beach. It would also
preclude the development of the amphitheater/campfire center and other interpretive
facilities.
The construction impacts would be very similar to the Preferred Alternative because the
existing mobilehome park still must be removed, the valley slopes would need to be
recontoured, grading would be required for the creek restoration, and a new entrance road
for the campground would be needed. Alternative 4 was not chosen because the
Preferred Alternative protects cultural resources equally well and the day -use and
interpretive facilities will provide a unique park experience for the public. It would also
further limit the Department's ability to meet user demand for convenient day -use
parking and beach access. It is important to note that the primary environmental
difference between Alternative 4 and the Preferred Alternative is the loss of opportunity
to more fully restore biological resources, not actual impacts associated with the project
construction.
2.7 No Project Alternative
The No Project Alternative would leave the El Mono Village Mobilehome Park in place
as a private leasehold within Crystal Cove State Park. Continuing private residential use
is not consistent with the goals of the Crystal Cove General Plan nor is it consistent with
the Department's mission and policies. Recent urban development along the coast
adjacent to Crystal Cove State Park has further increased the need to provide more public
recreation opportunities and create a more natural environment at this key portion of the
park. The original construction of the mobilehome park damaged portions of an
important archaeological resource before Crystal Cove State Park was acquired by the
Department. However, other archaeological resources remain intact, despite the
previous construction. The continued operation of the leasehold will eventually damage
these intact resources because utility lines will need excavation and repair, mobilehomes
may be moved or replaced, asphalt contains damaging leachates, and long-term irrigation
damages cultural deposits. As previously discussed in section 1.3, Project Need, the
existing mobilehome park creates a visual intrusion on the scenic Moro Beach and PCH
highway corridor, has existing water quality problems, and creates unnatural coastal
processes. The No Project Alternative also precludes full park use of this critical
connection between the inland and coastal portions of Crystal Cove State Park.
I
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P A C I F I C O C E A N
DEAN F. UNDER AIA
INC. C
R Y S T A L
C O V E S T A T E P A R K, E L M O R R O C
O N V E R S I O N
THE HLA GROUP
LAN�SCAFE ARCHITECTS
b PLANNERS
STATE OF OALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
RBF CONSULTlNC3
LAG3UNA BEACH. CALIFORNIA
NOVEMBER 200,
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3 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
3.1 Location and Description
The project site is located within Crystal Cove State Park. The park is located within the
Unincorporated Area of Orange County on the coast between the Cities of Newport
Beach and Laguna Beach and near Corona Del Mar. The rapidly developing community
of Newport Coast is located nearby. Downtown Los Angeles is approximately 50 miles
to the north and San Diego is approximately 70 miles to the south. The climate is
Mediterranean -type within the maritime fringe with average temperatures ranging from
50 degrees (F) to 72 degrees (F). Rainfall averages about 12 inches annually but varies
from as little as 4 inches to as much as 30 inches. In fall and winter, strong, dry winds
from the desert occasionally occur that can spread large wildfires as in the Laguna Beach
Fire of October 27, 1993.
Pacific Coast Highway, the parallel Bikecentennial Bike'Trail, and public transportation
provide access to the park. The highway and bike trail divide the park into two.parts: the
coastal strip of about 448 acres and the inland area of about 2,343 acres. The coastal strip
consists of the coastal terrace, bluffs, strand and pocket beaches, facilities at Pelican Point
and Reef Point, and the Crystal Cove Historic District. The inland area consists of the
parking area at Los Trancos, the park headquarters and visitor center, the lower reaches
of the Muddy Creek drainage, and most of the Moro Creek watershed. As previously
discussed in the Purpose and Need section, the project site provides a focal point
connecting the beach and upland portions of the park.
The project site is bisected by Pacific Coast Highway. In addition to the California
Laguna
Department of Transportation's highway, the Laguna Beach Water District,
Beach Unified School District, and various utilities operate facilities as in -holdings
within the park. The El Mono Elementary School, with approximately 515 students, is
'
located directly adjacent to the project site as shown on Figures 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2. The
Laguna Beach Water District has two 5-million gallon municipal reservoirs located
behind the park headquarters and shares an easement on the headquarters entrance road.
This road is proposed as the new entrance road to the project site.
3.2 Traffic
Existing traffic on Pacific Coast Highway is shown on Table 1 below. Additionally,
traffic engineers for the proposed project conducted traffic counts at the proposed site on
Saturday, March 2, 2002 and.Sunday, March 3, 2002 to estimate the weekend traffic.
These counts were 33,800 vehicles and 32,000 vehicles respectively. Because this section
of Pacific Coast Highway is relatively undeveloped, traffic travels at speeds approaching
'
the conventional highway speed limit of 55 mile per hour, only slowing for the existing
traffic signals farther north, at the school entrance, or for the ingress and egress of slow
moving vehicles at the El Mono Village Mobilehome Park. During the peak hours on
weekends, a vehicle passes the existing mobilehome park entrance an average of every
2.4 seconds. The Level of Service (LOS) is an estimate of traffic flow with LOS A being
the highest rate of flow and LOS F the slowest. LOS capacity on Pacific Coast Highway
currently ranges from LOS E in Newport Beach to LOS B at Newport Coast Drive and
17
the project area, to LOS C in Laguna Beach. The long-range circulation system, which
assumes full build out of the County of Orange Master Plan of Arterial Highways,
projects average daily traffic counts of 40,000 on Pacific Coast Highway.
Table 1
Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1)
Existina 2000 Average Daliv Traffic
Route
Segment
ADT
Route 1
North of -PM 11.5
36,000
Route 1
South of PM 16.25
48,000
Source: Caltrans - 2000
Traffic Volumes on the California Stale Highway System.
'The proposed project Is located between post miles 11.9 and 12.4
The following table addresses estimated traffic at the existing El Morro Village
Mobilehome Park. This traffic currently has ingress and egress onto Pacific Coast
Highway without a signal. There is a left turn pocket in each direction of travel.
Table 2
Frle4inn Mnhile Home Park Trio Generation
Land Use
ADT
A.M. Peak our
P.M. Peak Hour
In
Out
Total
In
Out
Total
Existing Mobile Home
Park - North 214 units
1,029
18
66
84
73
45
118
Existing Mobile Home
Park - South 73 units
351
6
24
30
26
16
42
Total
1,380
24
90
114
99
61
160
Source: ITE, Trip Generation r Ediflon.
3.3 Community, Land Use and Planning
The project is located in a pocket ofunincorporated county between the cities of Newport
Beach, which extends to Muddy Creek on the northwest, and Laguna Beach to the south.
Orange County has the second highest population in California, trailing only Los Angeles
County. It has the sixth highest population in the nation. It ranks 5th in terms of numeric
population growth between 1990 and 2000, adding over 435,000 people. The population
of Orange County is projected to rise to 3.3 million by 2020. It is one of the most
densely populated areas in the United States. It covers 798 square miles of land and
includes 42 miles of coastline. Employment projections are expected to outpace housing
construction. The median price of a home in Orange County was $361,379 in September
2001 and Fair Market Rents averaged from $845 for a one bedroom unit to $1,455 for a
three bedroom unit. The 2002 Orange County Community Indicators Booklet indicates
that "Orange County's rental affordability, as measured by Housing Wage, is similar to
the California state average and economic peers. However, none of the rents in these
18
regions would be considered affordable to a large percentage of renters." Nearly 91,000
housing units are expected to be constructed in the next ten years.
The Newport Coast development is located immediately adjacent to Crystal Cove State
Park. As of December 3_1, 2001, there were 1086 single family homes, 477 multi -family
homes, and 3.8 acres of commercial resort. At buildout, there will be 2093 single family
homes, 507 multi -family homes, 10 acres of commercial, 353 acres of golf course, and
201 acres of commercial resort. The urban portion of the property will be a minimum of
2,433 acres.
Because the unincorporated portion of the county includes geographic areas a long
' distance from the project site, cities identified within the project area census tract (CT
636.04) are included in the following analysis of the 2000 Census data. Although,
income levels are not yet available, if the race and age characteristics are stable, the
income levels are likely to be comparable to the previous census.
F
L
'I
I
Table 3
2000 Census Po ulat'on & Housing Data
AREA
Population
White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Number
Households
Vacancy
Rate
Orange
2,846,289
64.8%
1.7%
13.6%
30.8%
935,287
3.0%
County
Laguna
23,727
92.0%
0.8%
2.1%
6.6%
11,511
4.5%
Beach
Newport
70,032
92.2%
0.5%
4.0%
4.7%
33,071
8.0%
Beach
Irvine
143,072
61.1%
1.4%
29.8%
7A%
51,199
3.5%
CT
4,151
93.4%
0.4%
1.8%
6.1%
1,906
3.9%
626.04
CT
3,396
89.7%
0.7%
2.0%
10.5%
1,936
3.1%
626.05
CT
3,369
81.2%
0.2%
15.1%
4.0%
1,295
13.6%
626.43
The population characteristics data indicates that the project area is far higher than the
Orange County average for the percentage of white residents. Since this is similar to the
previous census, it would follow that the income levels are also far higher than the county
average, as reported in the 1990 Census. Vacancy rates are generally low in the county
but are high in nearby Newport Beach and Census Tract 626.43. The high vacancy rates
may be reflective of second home ownership or vacation rentals. Orange County has
' 31,803 mobile homes. Due to the high variability in population characteristics between
mmun coities in Orange County, the following table indicates the number of mobile
homes in primarily coastal cities within Orange County.
1
19
Table 4
Mobilehomes in Nearby Communities
Laguna
Beach
Newport
Beach
Irvine
Dana
Point
Huntington
Beach
Laguna
Hills
San
Clemente
San Juan
Capistrano
451
947
1,000
271
3,200
224
423
1213
Source: Department of Finance County/State Population and Housing Estimates, January 1, 2000
The El Morro Village Mobilehome Park is listed as a 294-unit site. However, the
Department's rental records indicate that there are 214 existing units on the inland
portion of the park and 73 on the coastal side, for a total of 287 units. Many of the units
are used as second homes with multiple owners listed on the leases indicating a high
transient housing level. 112 of the leases list El Morro Village Mobilehome Parkas the
primary address for the owner or long-term sub -lessee. Of these primary residents, 25
were listed as lessees when the first long-term lease was negotiated in 1981. Therefore,
only about 10% of the mobilehomes are used as a primary residence by those that lived in
the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park at the time of park acquisition.
Rents at the mobilehome park are below market rate due to the nature of the long-term
leases and the state's restriction to only raise rates at the consumer price index adjustment
for inflation. Most mobilehome parks bring the rental rate up to market rate whenever a
mobilehome unit changes ownership. Rents range from a low of $269,00 per month for a
tenant on assisted housing to a high of $1,029 per month. Rents average $552 per month
on the inland portion of the park and $703 per month on the beach. Because the
mobilehomes are owned by the tenants, there are additional costs associated with
purchasing and maintaining the mobilehome. Recent sales of the mobilehomes vary from
a low of $20,000 to a high of $495,000 and an average of $148,925. Forty-one (14% of
the total) mobilehomes have changed ownership in the last three years. The high
secondary ownership/transient rate, high turnover, and high sales price indicate that the
mobilehome park community is not characteristic of other mobilehome park communities
in Southern California.
The Crystal Cove General Plan is the Public Works Plan, as certified by the Coastal
Commission in 1982, that provides the Department's guidance for issues that pertain to
the Coastal Act within Crystal Cove State Park. Since the project site is not within a city
boundary and conforms to an adopted Public Works Plan, adjacent Local Coastal Plans
do not apply to the site. The project is within unincorporated county but the County of
Orange General Plan guidelines would not apply to the project site due to state ownership
and the Coastal Commission is directly responsible for coastal permitting.
Additionally, in December of 1999, the Department issued Departmental Notice No. 99-
18 for Coastal Erosion, which directs that structural protection and re -protection of
developments shall be allowed only when the cost of protection is commensurate with the
value (physical and intrinsic) of the development to be protected, and when it can be
shown that the protection will not negatively affect the beach or the near -shore
environment. These planning tools, along with Departmental guidance for the protection
of natural and cultural resources and provisions for safe recreation, guide the placement
and type of improvements within the project area.
20
1 3.4 Historic Background
European occupation of present-day Orange County began in 1776 when Spanish
missionaries founded the Mission San Juan Capistrano. The El Morro and Crystal Cove
area were part of the Spanish Colonial lands assigned to this mission. After Mexico
received its independence from Spain the Mexican Government secularized the
California missions and began to grant former mission lands to private individuals. The
first grant of the land on which Crystal Cove is located, was awarded to Jose Andres
Sepulveda in 1837. After considerable protests from the missionaries of San Juan
Capistrano, Sepulveda acquired a second grant that, combined with the first, became a
unit known as Rancho San Joaquin. An adjoining tract, Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana,
was in the possession of the Yorba and Peralta families.
Following the Mexican -American War in 1848, California became a territory of the
United States. The resultant changes in legal, social, and political institutions made it
difficult for many of the Mexican ranchero families to retain their land holdings. By the
1860s these three Mexican era land grants had come under the control of San Francisco
merchant James Irvine, and his sheep ranching partners Benjamin and Thomas Flint and
Llewellyn Bixby.
I
By 1864, Irvine and his partners' Rancho San Joaquin, on which present day Crystal
Cove is located, was an active ranching operation. In 1867-68, 30,000 head of sheep
grazed on the hills where cattle had previously fed. Irvine bought out his three partners
in 1876 and continued to enlarge his land holdings and ranching operations. The Irvine
Ranch in the latter 19`h Century focused most of its activity on its inland agricultural and
grazing lands adjacent to the newly built Santa Fe railroad and historic road routes that
turned inland at San Juan Capistrano and traveled north to the new towns of Santa Ana,
Anaheim and Orange. These vital transportation routes bypassed the Irvine Company's
coastal properties between the Newport Bay and wharf at the mouth of the Santa Ana
River and Laguna Beach. Therefore with no developed access, this area remained open
land used only for occasional grazing into the early 20`h Century. As such in 1907, the
Irvine Ranch Company's management considered selling "a mile" of its coastal property
between Newport and Laguna for as little as $200 an acre.
The value of the Irvine's coastal property grew with the burgeoning development of
Southern California in the 1920s. The key element to opening the area was the growth of
automobile use and development of the state highway system. Funded by a bond act in
1919, the southern California section of the coast highway from Oxnard to San Juan
Capistrano provided public access to large sections of the previously remote California
coast. In 1924 the Irvine Company deeded a right-of-way through their lands from
Corona Del Mar to Laguna Beach and by summer 1925 the new, paved highway was
completed.
The previously remote coast now became a popular recreational destination for the
growing number of suburbanites from the Los Angeles basin. With the mass production
and sales of automobiles, many Americans, and Angelenos especially, became a mobile
society and could now enjoy day trips to experience the ocean views, sandy beaches, and
quiet solitude of the previously remote Orange County Coast.
' 21
FI
W
The Irvine family had especially enjoyed the beaches at the mouth of Los Trancos Creek.
In the 1920s they even encouraged their employees and friends to build small shelters and
cottages there. The small group of shelters and cottages became a popular tent camping
area and took on the name of Crystal Cove. It also became popular during this time as a
location for motion picture filming with its funky, semi -tropical d6cor and landscape. In
the 1930s these simple structures would be improved and a more formal lease
arrangement made with the Irvine Company. This area stayed relatively intact over the
decades and in 1979 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an excellent
example of an early Southern California recreational beach community.
The highway also opened the Irvine's coast property to other uses. By the 1920s the
Irvine company was leasing land along the coastal bluffs in this area to Japanese truck
farmers who established a small settlement on the hills behind the Cove. The coast area
proved good for raising peas, corn, tomatoes, and strawberries. Photographs of the area
during the 1920s and 1930s show many farm fields etched into the landscape. These
photographs show that most of the current project area on the terraces surrounding and
adjacent to Moro Creek was being used for agriculture during this time.
The development of the highway and its subsequent recreational and tourist industry also
brought additional uses to the El Moro area (Figure 3.4). In the 1930s a roadside tent
cabin camp (Tyrone's Camp) was established on the inland side of the highway near the
current trailer park entrance. Tents were also apparently available for beach camping as
well. This camp was closed for World War 11 when the military used the area for coastal
defense patrols and surveillance.
After the War, Southern California and the Irvine Coast continued to develop. The state
highway was widened and the communities of Newport, Corona Del Mar and Laguna
Beach continued to grow. In the early 1960s the El Moro Elementary School was built
on land just north of the project area to meet the surrounding communities needs.
The coast area continued to be a popular Post War recreational destination for both
tourists and visitors. Recreational demand increased during this period, as did the
j
number and types of recreational vehicles used by vacationers. In the late 1940s a small
trailer camp opened at the mouth of Moro Creek on the site of the earlier tent cabin camp.
In the mid-1950s the trailer camp expanded along the banks of the creek and onto the
beach (Figure 3.5). Over the years many of the trailers were expanded, remodeled,
and/or replaced with more modern style mobile homes as long-term leases were given to
individual trailer owners. The El Moro Village Mobilehome Park's location made it a
popular beach resort and an additional loop was added in the 1970s on the terrace above
the inland loop which more than doubled the capacity.
'
In 1979 the Irvine Company sold the property to the State of California for the
establishment of a State Park. The El Moro area was included in the newly created
Crystal Cove State Park. The 1982 Crystal Cove State Park general plan calls for the
removal of the El Moro Village mobile homes and the creation of a public day use and
campground facility. The current leases for the tenants at El Moro Village Mobilehome
Park expire in December, 2004.
22 1
I
3.5 Archaeology
The Juaneno and Gabrielino Indians occupied the coastal region that includes present-day
Crystal Cove State Park and the Moro Creek area. The respective tribal group names
reflect the Spanish Mission names that they were associated with in the late 1700's.
'
Juaneno is derived from the name of the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Gabrieleno
reflects the name of Mission San Gabriel.
Prior to contact with Europeans and the process of missionization, Native Americans had
occupied both the mainland and offshore islands (Catalina and San Clemente) for more
than 9,000 years. Nearby the project area, archaeological site CA-ORA-264 has been
radiocarbon dated at more than 8,000 years before present (bp). These early occupants of
what is now Orange County had developed a mastery of both maritime and terrestrial
subsistence skills.
Naturally occurring resources were hunted and gathered from the mainland coast, the
ocean intertidal zone, the shallow subtidal zone and the offshore pelagic zone. Fish,
shellfish and other invertebrates were collected, processed and utilizedforboth food and
other utilitarian purposes. The rich rocky intertidal zone was often used to procure
abalone, mussel, tegula, kelp crabs, lobster, sea urchins and many more food source
items. Rocky interdidal zones are one of the richest habitats in the world. Fish, shellfish
and other invertebrates were collected, processed and utilized for both food and utilitarian
purposes. It is thought that many different species of marine algae were harvested for
food from the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones. Surfgrass was collected to use for
fishing line, basketry and more. In the later periods abalone and mussel shell was used to
construct circular and "j" shaped fishooks.
As fishing technology improved, exploitation of fishery resources increased. Native
American populations harvested animals from sandy beach environments and open
pelagic waters. The Native Americans living at the sites located within what is now
Crystal Cove State Park probably targeted the deep, but relatively close to shore waters of
Newport submarine Canyon (which lies approximately 4 miles north of Moro Creek) for
additional food sources. Cross -channel trade with Catalina Island peoples for island
steatite material was conducted. It is suspected that San Clemente Island volcanic bowls
may have been traded to the mainland coast via Catalina. In turn, mainland coastal
peoples are thought to have traded resources found in relative abundance - such as lithic
material and vegetal products to the island communities.
Four previously known and recorded prehistoric archaeological sites are located in/near
the APE. They are CA-ORA-280, CA-ORA-281, CA-ORA-324 and CA-ORA-1482.
Radiocarbon testing of shell midden material from these sites range from 560 to 7,500
years before present. Previous and current archaeological work at these sites indicate
extensive intact cultural deposits to be present although recent land use such as farming
and the mobile home park have impacted the upper portions of several sites.
Nonetheless, the relatively broad temporal range and level of integrity contained in these
prehistoric coastal sites make them unique in the region.
1 23
'
Additional archaeological sites are located outside the APE but are adjacent or nearby the
project area. For example, the upper Moro Canyon area contains several sites exhibiting
shell rich cultural deposits. Also located in the canyon are several temporary occupation
sites exhibiting smaller cultural deposits including a number of rock shelter areas and
possibly a lithic processing area (DPR Cultural Heritage Planning Section, 1980).
Archaeological research has recognized the significance of these cultural resources.
Department staff is preparing a National Register of Historic Places District Nomination
for the prehistoric cultural sites noted above. This nomination recognizes the significant
informational and cultural values of these sites. These sites represent one of the last
intact complexes of significant coastal sites that encompass a significant variety of
cultural materials covering a broad temporal range.
'
3.6 Aesthetic Resources '
The dominant visual feature in the coastal portion of Crystal Cove State Park is the ocean
and its shoreline. From the rim of the bluffs extended views are available down the coast
to Abalone Point and upcoast and inland to the urban areas in Corona Del Mar and
around Newport Bay. During favorable weather the Santa Catalina and San Clemente
Islands can be seen off the coast. The ocean can be viewed at nearly all points along
Pacific Coast Highway. Except for the southern portion of Moro Beach, the beach is not
visible from the highway although offshore rocks can occasionally be seen. The beach
zone is attractive with its contrasting colors of white beach and surf, blue ocean, and a
buff -colored bluffs with occasional mats of green vegetation. This section of coastline is
unique in Orange County because it is the only location where the coastal side of the
highway is primarily undeveloped. The existing El Morro Village Mobilehome Park I
creates a negative urban visual intrusion into this otherwise exceptional vista.
The valley at Moro Creek widens from a naturally vegetated narrow v-shaped canyon
that extends to the ridgelines. Moro Creek is unattractive within the mobilehome park
because of eroded channel banks and overhanging improvements such as decks and
utility lines.
3.7 Landform & Geology
The project site is within the Peninsular Ranges Geomorphic Province and is located at
the base of the coastal flank of the San Joaquin Hills. This small range of hills reaches
1,164 feet in elevation and is bounded on the east by Salt Creek, on the north by the Los
Angeles Basin and Newport Bay and on the west and southwest by the Pacific Ocean.
The project is located where Moro Creek reaches the ocean and extends along the
adjacent wide sandy beach, within Moro Creek valley, and up to the adjacent coastal
bluffs and inland terrace. Inland from the project site, the extensive Moro Canyon area
begins with gently sloping hills and terminates in the upper canyon with steep high walls.
The highest point of land at the end of the canyon is 980 feet in elevation. Upper Moro
Canyon branches into several steep tributary canyons separated by steep ridges. A
narrow valley follows the length of the canyon. The rounded hills in lower Moro Canyon
range between 25 and 50 percent while most of the upper canyon has slopes greater than
50 percent.
24 ,
1
The predominant rock types in the project area are marine sedimentary rocks of Tertiary
age. The sedimentary assemblage is locally intruded by Miocene dikes and sills of
andesite and diabase. Quaternary slope -wash deposits, slope -failure deposits, terrace
deposits, and beach sands form a relatively thin cover over the older units. Faulting
occurs in the lower and middle reaches of Moro Canyon. Slope failure and earthquake
'
damage are probably the most significant potential geological hazards in the project area.
Slope failure, including landslides, earthflows, creep, rockfalls, and rilling and ravelling,
may be the most critical geologic problem on the Irvine Coast. Past landslides have
occurred in Moro Canyon, inland from the project site. Preliminary assessment of the
potential for landslide within the project limits indicates that no existing landslides are
mapped within or potentially affecting the perimeter of the El Morro Village Mobilehome
�.
Park.
'
The project site lies within a seismically active region. The fault zones in the region most
likely to damaging earthquakes are: the San Andreas (52 miles to the northeast),
generate
the San Jacinto (45 miles to the northeast), the Whittier -Elsinore (35 miles to the
northeast), and the offshore Newport -Inglewood (1 mile to the west). Recently a blind -
thrust fault was discovered under the nearby San Joaquin Hills that may have been
responsible for a 7.3 quake in the late 1700's.
The existing topography reflects the building of Pacific Coast Highway in the 1920s that
permanently blocked the natural stream channels of the park's three primary creeks: Los
Trancos Creek, Muddy Creek and Moro Creek. Doubling the lanes in the 1990s has
added to the change. Within the project site, construction of the mobilehome park and
elementary school severely altered the natural topography by creating artificial slopes on
cut and fill. There is no geomorphic evidence to suggest that significant landslides are
present at the site of the mobilehome park or underlying the immediately adjacent slopes
prior to the initial development in 1953 or after the site development.
3.8 Coastal Process
The Corona Del Mar/Laguna Beach coastline is characterized by rocky bluffs with small
"pocket
to moderately large size pocket beaches. Moro Beach is one of the largest
beaches" near Laguna Beach. At the eastern end of the beach is a large rocky point
named Abalone Point. The southern half of the back shore area of the beach is occupied
by the coastal portion of the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park. The mobilehomes have
several forms of shore protection including: quarry stone, concrete rubble, timber
bulkheads, concrete seawalls, and other non -engineered forms of shore protection. The
existing shore protection is a mix of dumped quarry stone, cast in place seawalls, and
gunite covered slopes. This potpourri of existing shoreline protection does provide some
protection from extreme events, but it doesn't provide full protection. The northern
portion of the back shore is characterized by a relatively wide beach backed by large
quarry stone protecting the base of the fill slope below Pacific Coast Highway.
A 1988 study of coastal processes indicated that the shoreline at Moro Beach is relatively
stable. The beach area, based on the historical aerial photographs, does not show any
significant signs of long term shoreline retreat. This is due to the fact that the littoral
transport is from north to south and the small rocky headland, Abalone Point, acts like a
25
littoral barrier and traps the beach sands as they move down the coast. However, the site
is subject to extreme waves and short-term shoreline retreat. This retreat has severely
impacted the existing trailers in the past even though they all have some forth of
shoreline protection.
The frequency and extent of episodic marine erosion is site specific and is directly related
to weather/climate patterns, especially those originating in the south (Shepard and Kuhn,
1983), to which the site is particularly susceptible. The frequency of these storms from
the south (called "southeasters") is not well known, however, they entered the southern
California Bight with great regularity until 1863, and ceased approximately in 1895.
Only one tropical event entered the region in this century, in September of 1939. It must
also be pointed out that the period between 1947 and 1977 was the most benign,
quiescent period since the 1500's (Kuhn and Shepard,1984), and coincided with the
development boom following World War 11. We appear to entering a period of acute
storm climate from the south which began in 1978 (Kuhn and Shepard,1984). Mean,
retreat rates in the historic past in nearby areas may be on the order of 0.2 per year (City
of Laguna Beach,1988). Because of the unique site geological conditions, the bluff
retreat rate at the site may exceed those rates under extreme meteorological events.
3.9 Biological Resources
Crystal Cove State Park (CCSP) contains some of the last remaining undeveloped coastal
property in Southern California and features approximately three miles of Pacific
coastline, wooded canyons, brush -covered bluffs, and offshore waters designated as an
underwater park.
The Park is located within the Reserve System identified in the Natural Community
Conservation Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan, County of Orange, Central Coastal
Subregion (NCCP/HCP). The purpose of NCCP/HCP is to provide long-term regional
protection and perpetuation of natural vegetation and wildlife diversity, while allowing
compatible and appropriate development and growth. NCCP/HCP requires that
construction -related minimization measures be integrated to minimize impacts to
gnatcatchers and other NCCP/HCP "Identified" coastal sage scrub (CSS) species (Table
B.3). New facilities in accordance with the adopted 1982 General Plan are authorized
within the Reserve System. NCCP/HCP requires that any impacts to habitats within the
Reserve System that occur in accordance with the adopted CCSP General Plan be
evaluated by the regulatory agencies and appropriate mitigation be determined.
Moro Beach marine and shore habitat is classified as the Irvine Coast Marine Life Refuge
by the Department of Fish and Game; an Area of Special Biological Significance by the
State Water Resources Control Board; and as an Underwater Park by the State Parks and
Recreation Commission. Many species of marine and shore birds, as well as other
marine life are frequently seen utilizing the beach.
The El Morro project area of CCSP is located at the mouth of the Moro Canyon
watershed. Visitors can access this area of the park from the lower end of Muddy
Canyon. The area is currently occupied by the 287-unit El Morro Village Mobilehome
Park leasehold and the El Morro Elementary School in -holding. Access to the
26
backcountry is from the visitor center area where a dirt hike/bike trail begins and passes
just inland of the mobile home park. Moro Beach lies west of Pacific Coast Highway
(PCH). Leasehold dwellings on both sides of PCH are primarily landscaped with non-
native ornamental vegetation. Moro Creek bisects the inland portion of the mobile home
park, and a single -lane bridge provides access across the creek. Past channelization
combined with non-native landscaping of the creek and unengineered improvements has
resulted in a degraded riparian habitat and unstable stream banks.
3.9.1 Plant Communities
There are thirteen sensitive plants identified by the California Department of Fish and
Game's Natural Diversity Database (Rarefind 2000) that may occur in the Laguna Beach
U.S.G.S 7.5' topographic quadrangle map. Several rare plants are known to occur within
Crystal Cove State Park including, many-stemed dudleya (Dudeeya multicaulis) and
Turkish ragging (Corizanthe staticoides spp. chrysacantha) (Table B.2). During
investigations no sensitive plants were observed within the El Morro project area. Habitat
types surrounding El Morro Village Mobilehome Park include Diegan coastal sage scrub,
disturbed southern foredune, non-native annual grassland, and southern willow scrub.
The coastal sage scrub community for Crystal Cove corresponds to the description of
CSS in the NCCP/HCP as a more or less open community composed of low, drought
deciduous shrubs, with a sparse understory of annual and perennial grasses and forbs.
"Scrub" as defined by NCCP/HCP roughly corresponds to Holland's (1986) descriptions
of DieganlVenturan sage scrub. Coastal sage scrub is a native plant community
composed of a variety of soft, low, aromatic shrubs, characteristically dominated by
drought -deciduous species such as California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), flat -top
buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), and sages (Salvia spp.), with scattered evergreen
shrubs, including lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), laurel sumac (Malosma laurina),
and toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). It typically develops on south -facing slopes and
other xeric situations. The understory is variable, and frequently includes annual and
perennial grasses and annual wildflowers. There are approximately 22 acres of CSS
located within the 97-acre study area (Figure 3.6).
A disturbed coastal dune habitat area is located west of PCH. Coastal dune communities
may have sparse to dense vegetation growing in wind-blown sand deposits, primarily
along the coast. There is very little native dune vegetation at Moro Beach. Beach dune
species at CCSP include sand verbena (Abronia spp.), coastal saltgrass (Distichlis
spicata), and beach primrose (Camissonia cheiranthiforia). The bank west of PCH is
dominated by non-native plants, sea fig (Carpobrotus spp.), and other planted
ornamentals.
The introduced annual grassland within CCSP is dominated by European annual grass
species (Avena spp., Bromus spp., Lolium spp.) and forbs. It is the most common
grassland type in Orange County, due to historically intensive grazing. It occurs on
coastal terraces and along gentler slopes in the lower portion of Moro and Muddy
Canyons. There is approximately 20 acres of grassland within the study area.
27
The willow riparian community includes winter -deciduous, broadleafed willows (Salix
spp), shrubs, and herbs growing along watercourses and water bodies. Approximately 8
acres of willow riparian habitat occurs within the study area,1.5 acres of which is
dominated by exotic plants within the mobilehome park. Currently, much of the
vegetation along this stretch of riparian corridor consist of non-native exotic plants
including giant reed (Arundo donax), Cape ivy (Delairea odorata), English ivy (Hedera
helix), periwinkle (Vinca major), castor -bean (Ricinus conununis), nasturtium
(Tropaeoluin majus), and a variety of garden ornamentals.
State Parks defines vegetation communities based on CNPS 1995 Sawyer Keeler -Wolf
classification system. These vegetation types are listed in the vegetation crosswalk and
referenced to Holland (1986).
Ve etation Crosswalk
HOLLAND
CLAPS
Die an coastal sage scrub
California sagebrush series
Southern willow scrub
Arroyo willow series
Non-native grassland
California annual grassland
Disturbed southern foredune
Disturbed sand verbena -beach bursa e
3.9.2 Wildlife
The area provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species. The project area currently
supports the Federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica
californica), and the State and Federally listed endangered least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii
pusilius).
The federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher is an inhabitant of coastal sage
scrub. Gnatcatchers are non -migratory, territorial songbirds that are generally considered
an obligate resident of coastal sage scrub. This species is threatened with extinction due
primarily to the loss and fragmentation of habitat and the continued threat of habitat
destruction and fragmentation. Sage scrub in the project area is patchy with some mosaic
distribution pattern. Gnatcatcher breeding areas have been documented throughout the
Muddy Creek drainage area on both sides of PCH, where they have been observed
crossing the highway. It is important that the Muddy Creek linkage be preserved to
provide access between source areas and other fragments of potential gnatcatcher habitat.
Dispersal of juveniles generally requires a corridor of native vegetation to link larger
patches of sage scrub. However, the gnatcatcher, while dependent on coastal sage scrub
(CSS) within its range, may use non-CSS habitats for dispersal. Juvenile dispersal is the
primary means by which genetic diversity and interpopulation movements are maintained
in non -migratory, territorial birds, especially those occupying a highly fragmented
landscape. Muddy Canyon may be a significant biocotridor or linkage between the
coastal and inland gnatcatcher populations of Crystal Cove, and may be critical during
certain times of the year for dispersal. Furthermore, the viability of the corridor
continues to be threatened as new development encroaches this area.
28
Least Bell's vireo, a State and Federally listed endangered species, are migratory,
wintering in Mexico and nesting in riparian habitat in southern California. As a result of
human encroachment, large amounts of least Bell's vireo breeding habitat were inundated
or removed. Declines in vireo populations have been exacerbated by parasitism by the
brown -headed cowbird (Fish and Wildlife Service 1998). Cowbirds, native to eastern
U.S., have increased in range and have achieved particularly high concentrations near
vireo breeding sites as a result of land -use practices. Until recently, least Bell's vireo had
not been documented in the project area of Crystal Cove State Park and none were
observed within the project area in Moro Creek. Least Bell's vireo, however, were found
to have successfully nested and fledged at least 4 offspring in the Muddy Creek drainage
area just inland of PCH (Figure 3.7) during the spring of 2001.
Another federally threatened bird, the western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus
nivouis), is a small pale colored shorebird that has been found during the winter, or non -
breeding months (from August to February), on the up coast portion of Moro Beach. The
Pacific coast population extends from Washington State to Baja California, Mexico, with
the majority of breeding birds found in California. They winter primarily in coastal
Pacific
California and Mexico. The decline and loss of western snowy plovers along the
coast have been attributed to habitat loss throughout their range and disturbance caused
by urbanization.
Other sensitive birds detected in the project area include Yellow -breasted chat (Icteria
virens) and yellow warbler (Dendroica petichia brewsteri), which utilized the riparian
area, and grasshopper sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), which have been observed
in the grassland area adjacent to El Morro (Figure 3.7). Additional wildlife observed
included cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus audubonii), southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus
viridis helleri), western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), and alligator lizard
(Elganiam multicarinatus). Sensitive reptiles known to occur within CCSP include
orange -throated whiptail (Cnemidophorus hyperythrus beldingi), Northern red -diamond
rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber rubber), and San Diego horned lizard (Phrynosoma
coronatum blainvillet) (Table B.1).
3.9.3 Stream and Watershed Resources
There are two creeks within the project area. Moro Creek bisects the southern valley area
of the existing El Morro Village Mobilehome Park. Most of the Moro Creek watershed
lies within Crystal Cove. Because of the sensitivity of natural and cultural resources in
Moro Canyon, as well as the steep terrain, visitor access is limited to trail use only in the
backcountry. Moro Creek is crossed at two locations within the project area. The first
crossing is a single -lane bridge near PCH and provides some residents access to their
homes. Most of the vegetation along the creek banks within the mobile home
development is non-native, some of which are invasive. In addition, the on -site sewage
treatment system (leach fields) located alongside Moro Creek is failing, and bacteria
within the creek are at unacceptable levels. Normally, Moro Creek is intermittent and
'
some portions may have no surface flow during part of the year. The failing septic
system may be increasing the amount of water flowing into the creek and disrupting
'
normal creek function and process.
1 29
Moro Creek culvert crossing is located just inland of the mobilehome park where a dirt
trail provides access to the backcountry by hikers, equestrians, and mountain bicyclists.
Riparian vegetation is unusually dense in this area, probably due to the unnatural increase
in water runoff from the leach fields. The steep bare dirt trail on either side of the
culvert is eroding into the creek. Giant reed is also present in the creek. This invasive
exotic species is particularly threatening because of its rapid rate of growth and
establishment, and its ability to be dispersed widely throughout drainages during
flooding. It alters riparian habitat by displacing native species and provides no benefit to
nesting birds and native invertebrates.
Muddy Creek drainage is located up coast from the mobilehome park. A road located
between El Morro School and Muddy Creek provides access to the visitor center. Habitat
'
in the drainage area also provides a vegetative corridor between the coastal and inland
coastal sage scrub areas. Up coast of the creek, however, new urban development is
dramatically altering the landscape and narrowing the width of the habitat available for
,
wildlife movement across Pacific Coast Highway. Several acres of coastal sage scrub
have been removed or altered. The landscape includes a mosaic of annual grassland,
coastal sage scrub, and riparian scrub habitat with patches of non-native ornamental
plants along the banks of the confluence of an unnamed tributary and Muddy Creek.
Riparian habitat in the Muddy Creek area is not well developed, but is valuable to
wildlife because of its very limited extent in the region and its importance to a large
number of animal species including the endangered least Bell's vireo.
3.10 Paleontology
Fossil sites occur in several locations within the area and include mollusk, echinoids, and
foraminifera. These fossils are not rare but have scientific and interpretive values.
Concretions, a geologic feature sometimes associated with paleontological resources,
have been observed within the project site.
1
I
I
L_1
1
30 1
M M" m m .A M Mao tip i M r M on M m m m
Existing Entrance
W
Trail Crossing
Leach Field
Pacific Coas
Hiehway
-
1
El Morro Elementary
t School
Rigure 3.1 Aerial -Oblique of Existing Site Looldng Offshore
Mobile Home Park
Maintenance Area
Upper Terrace
Units
n
Laguna Beach Water
District Reservoirs
Grading for Urban
Development
7.., gz`:.
State Park-
Upper Terrace
4-
f+-
Headquarters &
Mobile Homes
Lower Terrace
Visitor Center
+..� � .
,
-
- Mobile Homes
E1 Morro
Elementary School.;
- - -
•ylw
.mot
Pacific Coast
:x ".`"". - •. — .
4 y '
w -- » •
Hiehwav
Existing Entrance
. .',�
-
a•a«.
Moro Creek Tunnel
Figure 3.2 Aerial Oblique of Existing Site Looldng Onshore
� w an M so M M go a- M -W-- M [M-on go I= -- an on M - M- I
Pacific Coast
Highwav I;t4
V-44
w
Mobile Homes with Decks
& Protective Armoring
Private
Access Road
Figure 3.3 Aerial Oblique of Beach Units Looldng Down Coast
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Figure 3.4 Historic Photo Looking Downcoast
m an= m m m we NM it m m^ W it t• m A� to
Figure 3.5 Historic Photo Looldng Upcoast (Postwar)
Aw�-
'Vol` Crystal Cove State Park
t ''•' "'„b a gr'F n 3 1 %. r i ��Y�I t $II "`i` .. ' ��
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Q Yellow -breasted Chat
Q Coastal California Gnatcatcher
Q Grasshopper Sparrow
Q Least Bell's Vireo
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Crystal stal Cove State Park
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4 KNOWN CONTROVERSIES
The primary point of controversy is over the termination of the existing tenants' leases in
December, 2004. When the Department acquired the property in 1979 from the Irvine
' Company, the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park was an existing tenant on that
property. The residents own their own mobilehomes and lease the property on which the
.units are located from the Department. A private management company manages the
' mobilehome park. Iii lieu of relocation benefits, which pay a rental differential to
qualifying tenants for 42 months, the Department issued long-term leases for 20 years
and the tenants signed a waiver of relocation benefits. These leases were extended
' another 5 years to allow'the tenants the ability to live in the park while funding, planning
and design of the project proceeded. As discussed in section 1.2, five public workshops
and two public hearings were held during the development of the Crystal Cove State Park
General Plan. The project is consistent with the General Plan. Continued private
residential use is not consistent with the goals of the General Plan or the Department's
mission and policies.
' Eighty of the 287 units were owned by the current lessee at the time of the 1981 long-
term lease and the remainder have been sold and the leases reassigned. Currently, 112 of
' the existing tenants list the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park as their primary
residence: The remainder of the mobilehomes appear to be used as secondary homes or
transient•(vacatiori) housing among friends and families. About 25 units of these units, or
' 10% of the existing mobilehome park units, were owned by current residents at the time
the first long-term lease was signed. Five of these residents are elderly widows receiving
rental adjustments (in accordance with the original lease) to decrease their rents to
between $269.00 to $314.00 monthly. These tenants have low incomes and will likely
' need financial assistance for housing after relocation because they will no longer receive
a rental reduction from the. Department. This type of assistance is available to the general
public but, typically, has a waiting list of qualified applicants. Since the terms of the lease
dictate the amount that the rent can rise only with the Consumer Price Index, rental rates
are below market rate for the nearby area and Orange County as a whole.
'
Given the medianhousing costs in Orange County, those using the mobilehome units as
primary residences will have difficulty finding housing at a comparable rate nearby.
They may.need to relocate either out of the county, to a less attractive portion of the
county, or to a form of housing other than a mobilehome. These residents account for
about 1.4% of the mobilehome residents in coastal Orange County. Additionally, it will
be difficult for the residents to relocate their mobilehomes due to the age and condition of
to entry to a used
many of the units and the tendency of other mobilehome parks refuse
unit. However, the residents have ample notice and time to make arrangements for
alternative housing and, if they qualify, to apply for financial assistance under currently
'
available programs such as Section 8 housing or through the County of Orange Area
Agency on Aging.
'
It is not -anticipated that the project will cause disproportionate impacts to a low income
or minority community although certainly some individuals have low incomes or may
'
belong to an ethnic minority. The project complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,
Executive Order 12898 for Environmental Justice, and California Government Code
31
65040.12 (e). However, residential areas in Southern California coastal areas, and
Orange County in particular, are limited by space and market demand. The private
residential use of this area will be replaced by public and park land uses. Private
residential use is inconsistent with the Department mission and policies and the Crystal
Cove General Plan, the public works plan that governs the land.
Determination of the exact number of units within the El Morro Village Mobilehome
Park that would be considered affordable to low and moderate incomes is difficult due to
the diverse nature of the units and the time of tenancy by the occupants. Tenants that
,
have lived in the mobilehome park for more than ten years are not likely to have
mortgages on their units and therefore, pay only property taxes and the rental rate for
housing. This would make up to 112 units affordable to current tenants due to the below
,
market rental rates, should they have low to moderate incomes.
However, when considered as part of the housing stock, sales price of the mobilehomes
must also be considered because the tenants own the mobilehomes. The units vary in
price and quality from affordable to unaffordable to those with low to moderate incomes.
If sold, some of these units would be considered affordable but most would not. As
,
discussed in section 3.3, sales price varies from $20,000 to $495,000, with an average
sales price of $148,925. Rental rates and mortgage payments must be combined to
'
determine the monthly housing payment and whether or not it meets the affordability
criteria. Therefore, only those units with the lowest values, and corresponding poorest
condition, would be considered affordable. These would be the older units located in
Moro Creek valley. Nonetheless, affordable housing in Orange County is rare, especially
'
in the coastal areas.
"communities
,
Mobilehome parks often consist of tightly knit within a community".
However, in the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park, only 39% of the tenants use their
mobilehomes as a primary residence and the mobilehomes have a high turnover in sales.
'
Certainly some of the residents have long-term relationships with other neighbors and the
residents organize community events such as volleyball tournaments and barbecues that
include secondary residents, if they are present. Community cohesion, however, is
,
determined by a number of factors including ethnicity, longevity of residence, presence
of extended family, and interrelationships among neighbors. The community cohesion of
residential
this mobilehome park, when compared to most mobilehome parks and other
communities, is not high due to the secondary/transient use of the majority of the units
and the high turnover in units.
'
Primary mobilehome park residents interrelate with nearby Laguna Beach and the local
schools. Seven children from the mobilehome park attend the adjacent El Morro
Elementary School. Additionally, people living or staying at the mobilehome park shop
,
and attend school or events in the greater community. Removal of housing at this
location will remove this aspect of community interaction.
However, after the proposed project is constructed and opened to the public, it will create
a unique park and educational resource that is available to the local community, all
regional residents, and vacation travelers. These members of the public have expressed
,
concern that the private leasehold within a state park is denying full park use of the site.
32
,
' 5 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS & MITIGATION
This section describes the probable impacts of the Preferred Alternative. The
environmental impact analysis and the proposed mitigation measures are based on
preliminary project design and current information and circumstances. Technical reports
and analyses were prepared as part of the environmental studies for the proposed action.
These -reports analyze existing conditions and identify potential impacts for the -Preferred
' Alternative. This section summarizes the findings of these reports and analyses and
incorporates information that maybe more current that the information contained in the
technical' studies. The following studies were conducted for this EIR: wave runup
' analysis, biology report and natural resources constraints analysis, cultural resources
constraints analysis, hydraulic study, traffic analysis, and preliminary geotechnical
studies.
5.1 Potentially Significant Impacts & Proposed Mitigation
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5.1.1 Archaeological Resources
Overall, every effort has been made to avoid impacting or effecting intact cultural
resource deposits. Cultural resource -specialist staff has worked closely with project
design staff to eliminate impacts through project re -design. However, demolition of
existing facilities and structures will occur over or near intact deposits, and other planned
activities and improvements are located close to known deposits. Therefore the.potential
to have an affect or adversely affect known and unknown buried resources may still exist.
In order to assess any such potential impacts to archaeological resources, Department
cultural staff has undertaken an investigation of previous records, site reconnaissance
work, and minimally intrusive testing to better understand -the limits and integrity of
existing resources. It is the position of Department archaeologists that no direct impacts
to intact deposits will occur with the project as designed. All proposed project
improvements are located in already developed or disturbed areas. ' Study and testing of
these areas indicate that proposed project improvements will avoid intact cultural
deposits. This is accomplished through avoidance and by placing improvements in areas
to which deposits are deeply buried and are below project -related ground disturbance.
In addition, -the Department will be undertaking additional study and testing to confirm
site -specific work as defined by final construction plans, and formally determine National
Register eligibility of existing cultural resources. Department cultural staff is preparing
an appropriate archaeological treatment plan for testing and treating intact cultural
deposits for this project as part of the National Historic Preservation Act's (NHPA)
Section 106 review process. The treatment plan and subsequent research design will be
reviewed and approved by the State Office of Historic Preservation as required under
Section 106 of the NHPA.
Therefore recommendations for archaeological treatments and mitigations at specific
project activity locations range from avoidance to pre -testing and recovery to
construction monitoring (not a mitigation, see below). Pre -project testing will be
33
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undertaken prior to final design in order to reduce adverse impacts to intact and
significant cultural resources as required.
Additionally, due to the sensitive nature of the archaeological resources, qualified
archaeologists will monitor all ground -disturbance during construction. This will be done
to assure the project does not impact unknown buried deposits. Monitoring is not a
mitigation treatment in itself, but is necessary to avoid impacts to unknown and/or
isolated cultural deposits. If intact cultural deposits are found during monitoring, work
will cease at that location and project alternatives implemented to avoid impacts. Project
monitors will include a qualified state archaeologist and a qualified Native American
representative.
Individual treatments and mitigation for various project areas are discussed below.
Entrance Road
Impact: All surface and subsurface project -related activities have the potential to cause
significant adverse impacts to cultural resources. Within the culturally rich project area,
numerous documented or suspected buried, prehistoric cultural resources exist in, or near
subsections of the APE. In the Entrance Road section of the APE, potential for impacts
to significant cultural resources is highest after the proposed road turns south-southeast
towards the proposed new kiosk location. The major concern for cultural resource
impacts being the utility line's proximity to site CA-ORA-280.
Discussion: In this subsection of the APE, proposed road construction activities and
proposed underground utility line emplacement have the potential to adversely impact
significant cultural resources. Archaeological site CA-ORA4482 is adjacent to the
proposed entrance road route on the up coast side. Project activity will not impact CA-
ORA-1482 as shown by pre -project testing. As the proposed road turns south/southeast
it travels past the recorded boundary of CA-ORA-280. Pre -project testing in this route
indicated no cultural deposits to a depth of 4.5 feet. This is likely due to capping, filling,
and other previous ground disturbance from historic fanning activities and the
construction of the current road, utility building, and adjacent school.
Mitigation: The northeastern portion of the proposed entrance road and the sewage line
corridor in this area were designed to avoid areas proximal to the known southern extent
of site CA-ORA-280. Although archaeological pre -project testing proved negative in the
project corridor, previous archaeological work nearby in 1984 demonstrated resource
presence. As such additional testing of the new kiosk location and the sewerage line will
be undertaken to confirm initial findings and complete documentation for the Section 106
process. Appropriate mitigation and treatment measures will be followed if future
testing yields positive results as directed in the approved archaeological treatment plan.
Shovel Test Probes (STP's) are planned at the new kiosk location and mechanized trench -
testing will be employed to determine the presence or absence of any buried
archaeological resources along the proposed route of the new sewage line. This testing
will be conducted prior to final design of the sewage line route. If archaeological
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resources are encountered, their cultural significance will be evaluated and appropriate
measures undertaken to avoid impacts.
' Archaeological and Native•American monitoring will also be undertaken for all project -
related ground -disturbing activities in this area. If resources are detected and recorded
' during monitoring activities, work will be redirected from that specific site until
reevaluation by a qualified archaeologist is completed and necessary recommendations,
' documentation, and treatment can be completed.
Finding: Potential significant adverse effects to intact cultural resources will be
eliminated through avoidance, on -site evaluation and testing, and mitigation measures
such as data recovery identified in approved treatment plans that will reduce effects to a
level below significance.
' Upper Terrace
' m' act: Grading and other project -related ground disturbing activities have the potential
to impact possible re -deposited, out -of -context prehistoric but culturally sensitive
materials that may be located in this portion of the APE. There is also a remote chance
' that a relatively small remnant, intact portion of prehistoric cultural midden deposit or
culturally sensitive materials could remain undetected somewhere within the parameters
of the upper terrace area. If the latter cultural remains exist, they could be damaged by
any grading activity. The potential to impact isolated, rare, or. important prehistoric
cultural materials exists because a small portion of this subsection of the APE was once
an intact prehistoric site.
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Discussion: The proposed project includes the removal of the upper terrace area of the
mobilehome park and the construction of a new campground facility. Archaeological
subsurface mechanical and hand testing of this area demonstrated a lack of any intact
prehistoric cultural deposit. Archaeological testing by Department archaeologists in 2000
and 2001 indicated approximately six feet of imported sand and sediment fill throughout
much of the upper terrace area. This artificial fill was apparently introduced as a means
to facilitate an improved construction base for the mobilehome park loop in the 1970s.
Dispersed surface scatters of re -deposited, mixed and redistributed midden materials
were noted and recorded in several disparate locations in the upper terrace area. At the
southern (offshore/downslope) grassy open area nearest Pacific Coast Highway,
extensive mechanical subsurface testing demonstrated a highly mixed cultural/fill re-
-deposit that varied from culturally sterile to a mix of mottled/mixed re -deposited midden
soils and imported fill material. Because this small area was not used as mobilehome
support base, it is suspected that during grading and construction of the mobilehome park
some cultural deposits were graded/ dumped in this zone to level it.
iti ation: All upper terrace campground facilities and roads are designed to the south
of the intact CA-ORA-280 site boundaries. This project design allows for avoiding
impacts to site CA-ORA-280 as the recommended mitigation. Pre -testing indicates this
area as a highly disturbed portion of the APE with low potential for intact resource
deposits. In order to mitigate against potential impacts to any residual pockets of
35
undetected resources, existing utility corridors will be re -used and new construction
limited to within 24 inches or less of the exist ground surface.
Archaeological and Native American monitoring will also be undertaken for all project -
related ground disturbing activities in this area. If resources are detected and recorded
during monitoring activities, work will be redirected from that specific site until
reevaluation by a qualified archaeologist is completed and recommendations for
necessary documentation and treatment can be made. Monitoring is important within this
subsection of the APE because of the possibility of encountering important out -of -context
artifacts/eoofacts/and culturally sensitive materials that may have once been part.of the
southern extent of CA ORA-280.
Finding: Potential significant adverse effects to intact cultural resources will be
eliminated through avoidance, on -site evaluation and testing, and mitigation measures
identified in approved treatment plans that will reduce effects to a level below
significance.
Moro Creek Valley - Stream Restoration
m act: Excavation, grading and ground disturbance for the proposed stream restoration,
emplacement of creek armoring devices, removal of exotic vegetation, and replanting of
native vegetation in areas adjacent to culturally sensitive areas by there nature have the
potential to impact highly significant and buried prehistoric archaeological resources.
These include a previously unrecorded buried archaeological site along Moro Creek and
possibly re -deposited material from adjacent sites.
Discussion: The proposed project calls for stream restoration work and a possible
Arizona crossing or bridge at the upper end of the current mobilehome park. At the
proposed Arizona /bridge crossing just east of the rnobilehome park boundary fence - on
the current bike trail, some redistributed, scattered midden materials can be observed in
the roadbed. These cultural materials may be re -deposited from CA-ORA 324 as grading
of the roadway and natural erosional forces have placed these materials in their current
disturbed contexts. Minor subsurface testing will be required to determine if any
resources are present outside the roadway, but within the APE of the proposed bridge
footprint.
The project also calls for the movement of materials in the streambed during restoration.
The work includes emplacement of creek armoring devices, removal of exotic vegetation,
and replanting of native vegetation. As currently designed, these project activities will
not have any direct impact to intact deposits. The newly recorded buried archaeological
site along Moro Creek (possibly associated with adjacent sites) will not be directly
affected. All ground disturbance and construction has been designed to avoid known
deposits.
Mitigation: The project will avoid placing new development in a large portion of the
Moro Creek valley and flood plain due to intact cultural resource deposits documented
there. Avoidance of these non-renewable, unique resources during project -related
demolition, vegetation removal, and construction/development activities is consistent
36
Iwith State Park resource management policies and eliminates potential impacts. At the
proposed Arizona/bridge creek crossing, subsurface testing will be carried out to
determine if intact cultural resources are present. If so, project design will be altered to
avoid impacts or an appropriate treatment program developed as part of the Section 106
'
process.
Moro Creek
The following summary identifies project undertakings in the valley portion
of the APE that do not appear to have direct impacts to cultural resources but still require
'
monitoring due to nearby or deeply buried deposits. Exotic vegetation removal and
native plant re -vegetation along/within the creek will require such monitoring. An
archaeologist and a Native American observer will monitor due to the potential for this
'
procedure to impact buried or undiscovered cultural resources. The re -planting of native
vegetation near areas of buried cultural deposits will be mitigated through the planting of
shallow -rooted coastal sage scrub species from an approved plant palette. If resources
are detected and recorded during monitoring activities, work will be redirected from that
specific site until reevaluation by a qualified archaeologist is completed and .
recommendations for necessary documentation and treatment can be made.
'
Monitoring shall also be conducted at the new Arizona crossing/bridge location
immediately east of the mobilehome park boundary if deemed necessary during pre -
'
project testing.
' Finding: Potential significant adverse effects to intact cultural resources will be
eliminated through avoidance, on -site evaluation and testing, and mitigation measures
identified in approved treatmentplans that will reduce effects to a.level below
' significance.
Moro Valley - Site Demolition, Grading, Facility Construction and Revegetation
' Impact: Grading for new facilities, removal of mobilehome park creekside loops, exotic
vegetation removal, native vegetation re -planting, interpretive trail construction and
installation of utilities and structures for day -use facilities have the potential to impact
significant and unique archaeological resources including newly recorded deposits that
may be associated with adjacent sites. The major concern within this portion of the APE
is on the newly recorded site on the down coast side of the creek where the mobile home
park will be removed and a small day -use area and interpretive trail will be constructed
near the boundaries of filenewlyrecorded site.
'
Discussion: The project in this area of the APE calls for the removal of the creekside
mobilehome park loops and construction of day -use areas on both sides of the creek.
Archaeological resources are present on the down coast side of the creek. The project
will avoid impacting this newly recorded archaeological deposit by not placing new
facilities or paved surfaces at this location. Additionally, pre -project testing indicates that
this deposit is buried approximately 70cm to 1 meter throughout most of the down coast
portion of the deposit. This will provide a buffer to demolition activities and re -
vegetation activities.
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A small, shallower portion of the newly recorded deposit is located on the up coast side
of the creek. Avoidance of new development of this portion of the site is also
incorporated into the project design. Pre -project testing defined the archaeological site
boundaries here to a limited area. Historical research confirmed that grading and earth
removal associated with the mobile home park construction and creek flood events had
removed additional cultural materials. As such, construction of new day use facilities
outside the site boundaries will not impact cultural resources on the up coast creek side.
As such all mobilehome park structures, asphalt, utilities, and other physical remnants of
the facilities will be removed to prevent future unintentional damage to the buried
resource from leaking pipes, urban residues, etc. Elimination of automobiles from this
area also prevents oil and other toxic substance percolation into the archaeological
deposit.
After removal of exotic plants, shallow -rooted native coastal sage scrub plantings, from
approved plant palettes, will be used to landscape the archaeological site areas in order to
avoid damage to the buried deposit from roots, root balls, and artificial watering effects.
Additional protection for archaeological deposits on the up coast side will include
additional soil prior to re -vegetation. As designed, all such demolition and planting
activities should not impact the buried archaeological remains within these areas.
Mitigation: The project will avoid placing new facilities or paved surfaces in areas of
known archaeological resources. Project design for avoidance of these non-renewable,
unique resources during project -related demolition, vegetation removal, and construction/
development activities is consistent with Department resource management policies to
eliminate potential impacts.
As additional protection, archaeological and Native American monitoring will also be
undertaken for all project -related ground disturbing activities in this area of the APE such
as mobilehome park demolition and plant removal and re -vegetation. If resources are
detected and recorded during monitoring activities, work will be redirected from that
specific site until re-evaluation by a qualified archaeologist is completed and
recommendations for necessary documentation and treatment can be made.
Fmdine: Potential significant adverse effects to intact cultural resources will be
eliminated through avoidance, on -site evaluation and testing, and mitigation measures
identified in approved treatment plans that will reduce effects to a level below
significance.
5.1.2 Vegetation
Entrance Road
a t: Actions involving the manipulation of vegetation with construction activities
including widening and signalization of the entrance road, in or adjacent to
Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) A, B, and C (Figure 3.6), have the potential to
and special status CSS habitat.
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Discussion: Grading and disturbance associated with the construction, expansion and
widening of the entrance road and other construction activities involving the
manipulation of vegetation, has the potential to reduce the amount of CSS habitat that
supports threatened wildlife species. NCCP/HCP focuses on the protection of CSS
habitat and adjacent habitats to address long-term biological protection and management
of multiple species, including habitat for the federally threatened coastal California
gnatcatcher. Nine natural resource environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) have been
identified as areas that will be 1) avoided or 2) incorporate measures to minimize impacts
to target species (Table 3) and their habitats (Figure 3.6). ESA -A, B & C are identified as
sensitive resource areas adjacent to the entrance road. Widening the road at the turn
intersection around ESA-B will require removal of 0.5 acre or less of CSS habitat and/or
0.5 acres or less of mixed riparian/exotic plant vegetation. Placement of fill in ESA-B
will only be used if there is no less environmentally damaging method of design. Every
effort will be made to use fill material that does not contain exotic seed and will be able
to support native vegetation. The filled area will then be replanted with appropriate
native plant species.
Sensitive plants are known tb occur in Crystal Cove State Park (Table B.2). During field
investigations, however, no sensitive plant species were observed within the project study
area. Therefore no impacts to sensitive plants are expected to occur.
Miti ag tion: To the maximum extent practicable, project design will avoid or minimize
impacts to CSS. All grading proposed in this area will be monitored by a qualified
biologist as required by the NCCP/HCP construction guidelines in Appendix C. Staging
and/or stockpile areas will be confined to designated disturbed areas outside of sensitive
resource areas. Crystal Cove State Park currently has mitigation credit in the amount of
18 acres, a portion of which will be used to offset impacts to CSS. Temporarily disturbed
areas will be revegetated in accordance with NCCP/HCP reserve standards. Fill in ESA-
B will only be used if there is no less environmentally damaging method of design.
Findin : The project has the potential to impact special status CSS habitat but through
avoidance and mitigation these impacts are reduced below a level of significance.
Moro Creek Valley-Amphitheater/Campfire Center
Impact: Actions involving facilities development and the removal of manmade intrusions
(including structures, fences, and debris) have the potential to affect special status habitat.
There is also potential for disturbance to native vegetation by the public creating shortcut
trails.
Discussion: An amphitheater/campfire center will be built adjacent to ESA-F (Figure
3.6). The new facility will be located in an area that is currently used as a corporation
yard. Removal of manmade intrusions (including the maintenance building, fences, and
debris) and the development of the amphitheater/campfire center has the potential to
affect CSS habitat. In addition, there is potential for visitors to trample native vegetation
from off trail use.
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t' of : To avoid potential impacts to sensitive CSS habitat, grading plans for the
amphitheater/campfire center area will provide an adequate buffer between ESA-F and
proposed improvements. The new facility shall be placed within the current footprint of
the existing maintenance facility and not extend beyond the maintenance building
towards ESA-F. Areas of CSS habitat will be fenced prior to grading or may be
monitored by a qualified State Park Resource Ecologist/Biologist during grading. Staging
and stockpile areas will be confined to designated areas outside of the
amphitheater/campfire center area during all phases of construction. To minimize
potential visitor impacts to vegetation, trails will be designed to direct people to desired
destinations without promoting off trail use, and a vegetative barrier will be created
between the facility and the ESA to prevent public access.
Finding: The project has the potential to impact special status CSS habitat but through
avoidance and mitigation these impacts arereduced below a level of significance.
Moro Creek Valley Moro Creek
ac • Actions involving the manipulation of vegetation within Moro Creek riparian
area will affect riparian vegetation. Grading for stream reconfiguration and bridge
construction across Moro Creek will impact approximately 2 acres of riparian vegetation.
Discussion: Activities associated with exotic plant removal, reconfiguration of Moro
Creek, and construction of a bridge and Arizona crossing/bridge could create temporary
adverse impacts to native riparian vegetation. Improving creek function and process to a
more natural system will involve decommissioning the sewer/septic leach field system,
reconfiguration of the channel, and eradication of exotic plants and revegetating with
native species. Restoration of native riparian vegetation will require removal of exotic
plants, especially the invasive giant reed and cape ivy species. Approximately 2 acres of
riparian vegetation will be impacted when grading for stream reconfiguration and bridge
construction across Moro Creek. There will be approximately 0.5 acres of loss in native
riparian vegetation for construction of the Arizona crossing/bridge, however, restoration
activities, including exotic plant removal and revegetating with native species, will result
in a net increase of more than 1 acre of native riparian vegetation along Moro Creek.
Mitigation: To prevent spreading invasive exotic plants and promote successful
restoration of native plants along Moro Creek, an aggressive eradication/removal of all
invasive exotic plants will be implemented before construction. To facilitate habitat
restoration, native soil and plant material will be salvaged and utilized. Planting methods
in order of preference will be: native plants salvaged from excavation of the creek; plants
propagated from seed and cuttings collected on site; and seeding onsite with native seed
collected locally. All activities will be subject to conditions/measures set forth in the
Coastal Commission, Fish and Game, and Army Corp. of Engineers permits and the
NCCP/HCP agreement.
Finding: The project will affect approximately 2 acres of riparian habitat but through
project design and habitat restoration efforts, this impact is reduced below a level of
significance.
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5.1.3 Wildlife
Entrance Road
Impact: Actions involving the manipulation of vegetation, soils, utilities, and facilities
for the proposed expansion and widening of the entrance road have the potential to affect
endangered, threatened, or rare wildlife species, their habitats, or wildlife movement in
the Muddy Creek drainage area.
Discussion: Several sensitive birds have been identified throughout the project area,
including the NCCP/HCP protected and federally threatened coastal California
gnatcatcher and the State and federally endangered least Bell's vireo (Tablel) (Figure
3.7). Both the California gnatcatcher and the least Bell's vireo are known to nest in the
Muddy Creek drainage area adjacent to the entrance road. In addition, gnatcatchers have
been observed crossing PCH in this area, therefore, movement of California gnatcatchers
inhabiting CSS habitat on the coast side of PCH may also be affected.
' Data collected from field surveys and the California Department of Fish and Game
Natural Diversity Database identifies additional sensitive wildlife species that may also
' be affected (Table 1). This data was used to determine Environmentally Sensitive Areas
(ESA). These identified ESA localities provide an indication of potential use areas by
sensitive wildlife species within the project study area. This information has been used to
' determine natural resource constraints and will guide appropriate avoidance, mitigation
measures, and monitoring by qualified biologists during construction.
F,
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iti ation: Direct and indirect effects to sensitive wildlife species will be minimized
through preservation of habitat and thoughtful design of the facilities. To minimize
impacts to sensitive species, their habitat, and movements, the road will be widened
towards the school to allow for maximum width of the wildlife corridor along Muddy
Creek and maintain a buffer to human impacts. To the extent feasible, the design of the
road will be the minimum feasible width to accommodate the proposed use and minimize
disturbance and impacts to sensitive resources in accordance with NCCP/HCP reserve
standards. Removal of CSS vegetation for the entrance road will occur during the non -
breeding season (September 1-February 14) to avoid direct impacts to known breeding
pairs of gnatcatchers. A qualified monitoring biologist will be onsite during any clearing
of CSS in accordance with NCCP/HCP construction guidelines (Appendix Q. To the
maximum extent practicable, minimization measures outlined in the NCCP/HCP
construction guidelines will be adhered to.
In addition, construction activities producing noise levels in excess of 60 decibels within
300 feet of ESAs A, B & C, will be scheduled to take place during the non breeding
season, to the maximum extent practicable. A qualified biologist will monitor during the
nesting season (February 15 — August 31), as appropriate, to assure avoidance of indirect
impacts to nesting birds. If the biologist determines that project activities are disrupting
nesting behavior of California gnatcatchers or least Bell's vireos in ESAs A, B, & C, the
impacting -activities will be redirected, rescheduled or modified to avoid impacts.
Staging/stockpile areas will be confined to designated disturbed areas outside of ESA
areas during all phases of construction.
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Finding: The project has the potential to impact endangered, threatened, or rare species,
but through avoidance, minimization, and mitigation these impacts are reduced below a
level of significance.
Moro Creek Yalley Amphitheater/Campfire Center
IMpAd: Actions involving loud noise and other disturbance activities associated with
demolition/construction, including the removal of structures, debris, and other manmade
intrusions, in or adjacent to ESA-F have the potential to affect endangered, threatened, or
rare wildlife species. Potential impacts from amphitheater/campfire center activities.
Discussion: The proposed amphitheater is inclose proximity to ESA-F. There is
potential for indirect impacts (lighting, noise, etc.) to California gnatcatchers and other
sensitive wildlife (Table 1) using ESA-F habitat during demolition/construction and
during amphitheater/campfire center use. This area is presently used as a
maintenance/corporation yard. Temporary increases in noise intensity and duration are
expected during construction. Noise levels and lighting for daytime amphitheatre use is
not expected to be greater than current levels. There are, however, potential affects to
gnatcatchers during nighttime operation of the new amphitheater/campfire center. Also,
there are potential affects to gnatcatchers occupying CSS within ESA-F from visitors
leaving designated trails.
mitigation: operation of mechanical and heavy equipment during demolition/
construction will be limited to the non -breeding season (September 1-February 14) or
monitored by a qualified biologist, to avoid impacts, including noise impacts, to nesting
gnatcatchers. To the maximum extent practicable, minimization measures outlined in
NCCP/HCP construction guidelines will be adhered to (Appendix Q. The new facility
shall be located and designed to minimize impacts to sensitive birds. The new facility
shall be located where the existing building is and will be designed so that no light or
noise is projected toward any ESA. In addition, a vegetative barrier will be created
between the facility and the ESA to prevent public access and minimize noise and light
spill over.
Finding: The project has the potential to impact endangered, threatened, or rare species
but through avoidance and mitigation these impacts arereduced below a level of
significance.
Moro Creek Yallgy Moro Creek
impact-, Actions involving the manipulation of soils and vegetation with
demolition/construction activities including stream reconfiguration and bridge
construction in Moro Creek, have the potential to affect endangered, threatened, or rare
wildlife species.
Discussion: Survey results for the federally threatened least Bell's vireo and other
sensitive birds detected within the Moro Creek area have been mapped (Fig 3.7). It is
important to note that the number of sensitive species localities is not static due to
42
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dispersal patterns and local population fluctuations. The currently identified localities
provide an indication of potential use areas by sensitive birds within the project area. This
information is used to help determine appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures.
Activities associated with exotic plant removal, reconfiguration of Moro Creek, and
construction of a bridge and Arizona crossing/bridge could create temporary adverse
impacts to sensitive animals (Table B.1) in the riparian corridor. Sensitive species were
observed in ESA H (Figures 3.6 & 3.7) at the inland portion of the mobilehome park and
upstream. Improving creek function and process to a more natural system will involve
decommissioning the sewer/septic leach field system, reconfiguration of the channel, and
eradication of exotic plants and revegetating with native plant species. Potential impacts
to nesting birds could occur should they relocate into the degraded riparian habitat within
the mobilehome park.
Mitigation: To the maximum extent practicable, all project related construction activities
within 300 feet of ESA-H, and 100 feet of other portions of Moro Creek, will be limited
to the non -breeding bird season, (September 1— February 28). This is necessary to avoid
disrupting normal nesting behavior of migratory and sensitive birds. If project activities
cannot avoid the breeding season, the Department will arrange for weekly surveys by a
qualified biologist to detect and protect native birds in habitat within 300 feet of the work
area. If known sensitive species (Table B.1) are discovered nesting within the area of
potential impact, surveys will continue through the nesting period during construction. If
the biologist determines that project activities are disrupting nesting behavior of a
sensitive species, the impacting -activities will be rescheduled or modified to avoid
significant impacts. Following completion of construction, any areas with disturbed soils
will be replanted with native species. To facilitate habitat restoration, native soil and
plant materials will be salvaged and utilized. All activities will be subject to conditions
and measures set forth in the Coastal Commission, Fish and Game and Army Corp. of
Engineers perni is and the NCCP/HCP agreement.
Finding: The project has the potential to impact endangered, threatened, or rare species
but through avoidance and mitigation these impacts are reduced below a level of
significance.
Moro Beach
Impact: Actions involving the manipulation of soils and vegetation with demolition/
construction activities at Moro Beach, have the potential to affect endangered, threatened,
or rare wildlife species. Recreational use by visitors could create adverse impacts to
sensitive wildlife.
Discussion: The federally threatened western snowy plover has been observed on the up -
coast portion of Moro Beach during the winter (non -breeding) season. There is very little
native vegetation in Moro Beach.and the available nesting habitat for the snowy plover is
of low quality, however, there is a potential for plovers to nest at Moro Beach. Currently,
the beach is open to public recreation, and conversion of the existing 287-unit mobile
home park to a 60-unit campground and day use facility is not expected to increase the
number of visitors to Moro Beach. Nevertheless, if the plovers are found nesting on the
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beach in the future, there is potential for demolition and construction activities, as well as ,
human use (via dispersed recreation) to adversely affect plovers. The new facilities,
however, will be constructed where the current mobile homes are located, and away from
previously sighted wintering western snowy plovers.
Mitigation: State Parks will conduct surveys prior to construction. If nesting plovers are '
detected adjacent to the project area, project activities will be scheduled to avoid the
nesting season.
Pindine: The project has the potential to impact endangered, threatened, or rare species
but through avoidance these impacts are reduced below a level of significance. ,
5.1.4 Stream and Watershed Resources
JMpLct: Potential impacts to wetlands and other stream and watershed resources,
,
including both the Muddy Creek and Moro Creek watersheds, related to activities
associated with road construction, stream alterations, and other demolition/construction
activities, may include project related soil erosion and runoff. Adverse impacts are
'
temporary. Beneficial effects, addressed in section 5.5, are permanent.
Discussion: There are potential short-term impacts that may cause soil erosion during
,
removal of structures and debris, mechanical removal of exotic vegetation, stream
reconfiguration, and construction of new facilities, bridges, and trails. Activities
associated with stream reconfiguration and enhancement will temporarily affect Moro
Creek wetlands, including hydrophytic vegetation, wetland hydrology and wetland soils.
Moro Creek, however, is heavily disturbed and invaded by numerous invasive plant
species including, giant reed (Arundo donax), Cape ivy (Detairea odorata), English ivy
,
(Hedera helix), periwinkle (Vinca major), castor -bean ($icinus communis), and
nasturtium (Topaeolum majus). Giant reed is capable of creating literally miles of
monotypic stands, promoting fragmentation of native vegetation stands. 'These invasive
species disrupt natural creek function and process by displacing native species.
,
Moro Creek flows into the Pacific Ocean via a tunnel that runs under PCH. The public
currently uses the tunnel to access Moro Beach. Normally, Moro Creek is intermittent,
however, the current failing septic system is increasing the amount of water flowing into
,
the creek and disrupting normal creek function. Sediment buildup continually threatens
to block the tunnel. Currently the mobile home park management maintains the opening
of the tunnel. Decommissioning the septic system is expected to decrease the amount of
water currently flowing in Moro Creek. State Parks, however, proposes to maintain the
tunnel opening as needed with a small tractor. Native plant restoration combined with
septic system improvements and reconfiguration of the channel to a more natural
'
condition will improve creek function and process, and provide a more natural
appearance.
,
In order to control surface runoff generated from the parking lots, campsites, buildings,
roads, paths, and other active use areas, various structural Best Management Practices
be
have been developed. Runoff collected from the developed portion of the park will
'
collected and treated in a variety of ways, as described in Section 2.1.
44 1
Overall, the effects of converting from residential use to campground and public day use
should, in the long-term, reduce negative impacts to water quality.
' Mitigation: Only native wetland plants will be used for replanting disturbed areas of the
creek. All soil disturbing activities, including grading and excavating, associated with
road construction, stream enhancements, and other construction activities, will be subject
to restrictions and requirements set for in permits. To ensure that the project would not
result in adverse effects to water quality due to storm runoff, activities"are subject to the
requirements of the Clean Water Act and National Pollution Discharge Elimination
' System (NPDES). State Parks will use Best Management Practices throughout
construction to avoid and minimize indirect impacts associated with the proposed project.
Findin : The project will impact wetlands and sensitive riparian vegetation but will
create significant beneficial effects that will reduce temporary adverse effects below a
level of significance.
' 5.1.5 Paleontology
Impact: Grading and excavation for utility installation for the proposed project,
particularly in Moro Creek valley and near the coastal bluffs, may affect paleontological
resources present in the project area.
Discussion: Paleontological resources may be present on the project site in areas where
cut grading or sewer and utility excavation are proposed. In order to avoid significant
' archaeological resources, developed portions of the day -use area are designed to hug the
upcoast side of Moro Valley. The existing mobilehome park is terraced in this area and
will need to be regraded for the new design. The terraced area incorporates sections that
are undisturbed and may contain paleontological resources since geological concretions
that are often associated with paleontological resources are present. Minor grading for
trails and paths and excavations for the sewer and utility lines may also impact
paleontological resources, particularly near coastal bluffs. These resources are important
for their scientific and educational values and should be salvaged and/or protected for
study and display.
Mitigation: A qualified paleontologist will develop a plan for salvaging and/or protecting
paleontological resources during the construction phase of the project. If paleontological
1 resources are discovered during excavation or grading, work will be redirected at that site
until the resource(s) can be protected, recorded and/or recovered.
' Finding: Potentially significant impacts to paleontogical resources will be mitigated
through recordation, protection and/or recovery. These impacts will be reduced to a level
below significance.
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5.1.6 Coastal 13luffs, Geology and Erosion ,
Lmpact: Due to the project's coastal location, coastal bluffs and erosion impacts are very ,
sensitive and potentially significant within the entire project site. The project proposes to
remove most of the coastal armoring associated with the mobilehome park but leave or
modify existing armoring at the beach side emergency vehicle access and along the road
to the new lifeguard tower/public restroom building. The project also proposes minor
new road construction and installation of sewer and utilities on and near coastal bluffs
and fill slopes.
Discussion: The existing armoring was placed by the mobilehome park residents under
the mobilehomes and by the California Department of Transportation near the Moro
,
Creek tunnel. As the highway descends to cross Moro Creek, the road leaves the coastal
bluff is laid on a fill slope. Near the creek crossing, the highway has been protected by
rip -rap revetment to prevent erosion. This is an unnatural situation that is beyond the
scope of this project to modify. Therefore, this project proposes a solution that is
compatible with and improves the existing condition by leaving some of the existing rip-
rap revetment in place and modifying the angle of the revetment to reduce potential
,
erosion. The solution will be in conformance with the Department's coastal erosion
policy.
'
The proposed lifeguard station/public restroom would be located about 600 feet
southwest of the creek overpass. It will be accessed by a road running from the beach
side emergency vehicle access to the station along the base of the highway fill slope and
'
coastal bluff. The elevation of the road varies from about+25' Mean Sea Level (MSL) to
about 15' MSL. This road will be subject to wave attack and is expected to washout
during times of extreme wave attack. The existing revetment will be left in place at the
,
beach side emergency access road but be modified to allow placement of a ramp that will
only be visible when the beach is eroded and the access road is gone. The existing
,
revetment will also be modified to reduce the 90-degree turn downcoast of the beach side
emergency vehicle access. The lifeguard station is proposed to be either protected by a
quarry stone revetment or placed on piles. If a revetment is constructed, concrete ramps
'
will be built to allow access to the beach when the sand is eroded. These ramps and most
of the revetment would not be visible under normal conditions because sand and
vegetation will be placed around the station. The proposed first floor elevation is about
,
16' MSL. The existing revetment at this location maybe used and would be modified to
eliminate 90-degree turns. Southwest of the lifeguard/public restroom facility, existing
armoring will be removed to allow natural coastal processes to return.
,
For this location, the maximum tide elevation is about +4.5' MSL. The calculated
maximum wave crest elevation at the structure for the subject site is +14.3' MSL. It is '
likely that the revetment would be overtopped every few years but it would be equivalent
to less that one foot in height of water coming over the top per foot of revetment per
wave. The proposed revetment structure will be subject to manageable overtopping over ,
its life. The proposed revetment with a crest at elevation +15 MSL will be subject to
overtopping which can be managed by proper site drainage paths and the use of water
resistant construction materials such as concrete or block. improvements at elevations
lower that approximately +18' MSL will be subject to wave runup. Improvements at
46 1
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elevations lower that +14.5 MSL will be subject to wave attack and wave forces. If the
lifeguard station is to be designed with no shore protection, then the station will be
supported on piles. The lowest horizontal structural member will be above elevation
+14.5 MSL or designed to withstand the impact force of wave attack.
A review of historical shoreline positions at.Moro Beach reveals that the shoreline in the
area has been relatively stable over the last 50 years. However, this long-term stability
does not exclude temporary significant erosion due to extreme winter storms or tropical
events. The coastal bluff toe and base of the fill slope behind Moro Beach are subject to
erosion under extreme event conditions. However, the shoreline in the area is relatively
stable and can be assumed to be stable in the future. The quarry.stone revetment is
primarily an energy dissipating type of structure and will not reflect wave energy onto the
adjacent unprotected sections of shoreline or exacerbate erosion of the unprotected
shoreline.
Construction for minor roads and trails and the installation of sewer and utilities is not
anticipated to contribute to coastal bluff instability or erosion. As discussed in section
2.2, best management practices will be implemented to reduce potential erosion impacts
during construction. After the project is built, there will be fewer impermeable surfaces
than currently exist within the project site hence further reducing erosion potential.
Mitigation: The existing revetment will be improved and modified to allow a smooth
transition to the unprotected shoreline with no 90-degree corners.
Finding: The potential to cause significant adverse impacts to coastal bluffs will be
reduced to a level below significance through avoidance, removal and modification of
existing shoreline protection.
5.1.7 Pedestrian and Emergency Vehicle Access
Impact: Pedestrians must be able to walk across Pacific Coast Highway safely to reach
the beach from the campground and day -use parking lot. The access used by the existing
mobilehome park is the Moro Creek tunnel which is not an all weather access and is
frequently closed by ocean water entering the tunnel and becoming trapped by beach
sand, the shoreline berm, or silt transported downstream.
Discussion: As discussed in section 3.2, a vehicle passes an average of every 2.4 seconds
on this section of Pacific Coast Highway. The vehicles are often proceeding at 55 miles
per hour. The traffic analysis estimates that it would take a person approximately 5
seconds to cross two lanes of traffic. The nearest traffic signal is 0.36 of a mile to north
at the school intersection, which would require walking nearly Ws of a mile along a busy
highway. Given State Parks' usage estimates, about 1000 people per day would cross the
highway to access the beach during peak use periods. These users would include family
groups with small children and school groups utilizing the interpretive area. The traffic
analysis further determined that the site would meet the warrants for a new traffic signal
at the emergency vehicle entrance.
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The tunnel is currently used but it does not provide dry access or all weather access from
the parking lot to the beach. Sand removal by tractor, as needed, would allow the tunnel
to remain open allowing pedestrians and park vehicles to cross under the highway when
the creek level is low. Regular maintenance ofhe tunnel mouth would also help to
prevent flooding upstream of the sand barrier. Decommissioning of the leach fields and
the reduction of runoff over currently eroded streambanks may reduce the sediment loads
and the frequency of required tunnel cleaning.
Mitigation: The project proposes a new signalized crossing for pedestrians at the
emergency vehicle access near the Moro Creek tunnel. Construction of the new signal is
subject to approval by the California Department of Transportation. Emergency vehicles ,
should utilize the same signalized access to reduce the potential for accidents when
accessing either the coastal or inland sides of the park. The tunnel mouth should be
opened after wave action moves sand up to close it.
Finding: The pedestrian access to the beach has potential safety issues that will be
reduced below a level of significance by the construction of a traffic signal and timely '
maintenance of the Moro Creek tunnel.
5.2 Impacts that are Less than Significant I
5.2.1 Public Services/Schools
lMaat: Potential conflicts withpublic services and El Morro Elementary School due to
project construction and implementation.
Discussion: Planning for the proposed project has been conducted incoordination with
,
the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the Laguna Beach Water District,
the Irvine Ranch Water District, and Laguna Beach Unified School District.
Representatives from the Laguna Beach Unified School District indicated concerns about
the potential for uncontrolled access between the school and the park campground.
Although elementary schools and state park campgrounds in other locations have not
'
indicated problems, the design of the campground was modified to create a buffer
between the campground and school. Additionally, there is an existing fence between the
school and the entrance road, the campground, and along the school sports fields on
Pacific Coast highway. The enrollment at the school is increasing and the school's
planned expansion anticipates the addition of about 100 more students. The elimination
of adjacent housing will remove 7 current students from the enrollment area and is not
,
anticipated to adversely affect enrollment. The Department and the school district are
partnering on the entrance road relocation and the sewer construction.
The path alongside the school was eliminated and campsite design was refined to reduce
potential impacts to the school. Restrooms were also designed to be located away from
the school yet provide minimum walking distance to all campsites .During operation of
Department personnel at the kiosk will have visual contact with the
,
the campground
border between the school and the campground. State Park Rangers and Lifeguards are
law enforcement personnel that will have a presence at the site.
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The proposed project will not significantly affect operations for the Irvine Ranch Water
District or the Laguna Beach Water District. The entrance road and emergency access
intersections will need encroachment permits and approval from Caltrans. The
Department will continue to coordinate with all public services, as needed, throughout the
planning and construction of the project.
5.2.2 Traffic
m act: The project proposes changes in land use that will generate different estimated
traffic volumes and types of vehicles than currently exist with the El Morro Village
Mobilehome Park. The proposed signal change will affect access to the El Morro
Elementary School.
Discussion: The change in land use is expected to only generate a nominal change in
traffic volumes and operations on Pacific Coast Highway. Further, as discussed in section
3.2, weekend traffic volumes.are lower than the average daily trip volumes for Pacific
Coast Highway. Since it is likely that the peak time to access the campground and day -
use areas will not coinoide with the peak time for the El Morro Elementary School or the
weekday commuter traffic on Pacific Coast Highway, the traffic effect of the project
should slightly improve from the current use.
The exception to this assumption would be during the summer season and Friday
afternoons when park users may utilize Pacific Coast Highway at the same time as
commuters. As noted in Table 2, the existing mobilehome park generates an average
daily trip volume of 1,380 vehicles. As shown on Table 5, the projected average daily
trip volume for the campground and day -use is 1,476, a difference of 96 vehicles per day.
This would account for 0.2% of the projected volume of 40,000 average daily trips on
Pacific Coast Highway in this location. Of the 60 units in the -campground, a percentage
will be recreational vehicles. With an average turnover in campsites of 28% per day,
many of these vehicles will stay on site until they leave, further reducing the trips taken
by large vehicles. It is not anticipated that the use of the campground by recreational
vehicles will generate any appreciable impact to traffic on Pacific Coast Highway. The
proposed new traffic signal for pedestrian traffic and emergency access will slow traffic
only when activated. It is not anticipated that this would be frequently activated during
peak commute hours except when beach users are returning to their vehicles during the
afternoon commute in the summer.
Table 5
Proposed Crystal Cove State Park
�:a.. u....... f`..nvnrainn Trin rumpratinn
Land Use
ADT
A.M. Peak Hour
P.M. Peak Hour
In
Out
Total
In
Out
Total
Campground
1,041
8
8
16
12
12
24
60-units
Beach Park
435
0
0
0
6
14
19
14.6 acres
Total
1,476
8
8
16
18
26
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Source: ITE, Trip Generation Edition.
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The change in location for the school entrance and relocation of the signal will reduce
potential traffic conflicts below the level of significance. Both the school entrance and
the park entrance were planned to occur together with new access from the previously
proposed Sand Canyon Avenue. Since the planning efforts for Sand Canyon Avenue
were abandoned, coordinating the entrance road for both the elementary school and park
uses will limit the access points to Pacific Coast Highway, providing better traffic
operations. There will notbe significant traffic conflicts in this shared use due to the
decreased delay and added storage provided with the inclusion of separate turning lanes
and differences in peak period occurrence. The project will provide for the change in
location and construction of the new signal and will require an encroachment permit from
the California Department of Transportation.
5.2.3 Aesthetics
Impact: Although the project will result in an improvement in aesthetic values, there will
,
be temporary adverse impacts associated with construction. The lifeguard tower/public
restroom will be visible to beach users, park users at Reef Point and motorists
southbound on PCH. Please see Figure 5.1 for a visual simulation of the proposed
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lifeguard tower/public restroom.
Discussion: The County of Orange has designated PCH as a Scenic Viewscape Corridor.
Additionally, the Crystal Cove State Park General Plan lists preservation of the
outstanding scenic quality and open space character of the park as a Plan Objective.
During the early plafming phase of the project, the lifeguard tower/public restroom was
situated to blend in with the coastal bluff below PCH. A proposed public restroom near
the Moro Creek tunnel was eliminated and combined with the lifeguard tower to reduce
'
manmade intrusions on Moro Beach. Parking for the day use has been placed in less
visible locations.
be
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Where armoring is required to protect the Moro Creek tunnel and its approach, it will
landscaped with native plants to appear more natural. Existing armoring will be cleaned
up, modified, removed or coveted to reduce visual intrusion on Moro Beach. Parking
areas will be landscaped with native plants and natural materials to soften their
appearance.
5.2.4 Land Use & Planning
m a : The proposed project would demolish and convert an existing 287-unit
mobilehome park to full park use by constructing a 60 unit campground with developed
sites for tents and recreational vehicles, day -use facilities, lifeguard facilities, an
interpretive area, and restoring Moro Creek to a more natural channel and condition.
The proposed project would impact approximately 45 acres for the demolition, removal
and abandonment of existing improvements and reconstruction of the new facilities. '
iLe"sion: The proposed project would remove residential use that does not conform to
the Crystal Cove State Park General Plan and provide a new park/public land use. The ,
majority of the 45-acre project site is within the developed footprint of the El Morro
Village Mobilehome Park. However, the entrance road will change the access into the
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site and occurs outside the footprint of the existing mobilehome park. The leach fields
will be abandoned and no longer used as a developed site, converting to park open space.
The majority of Moro Beach will also be converted from a developed use to a
recreational park use. All of the southern portion of Moro Beach was included within the
project footprint due to the need to remove shore protection underneath the mobilehomes
south of the proposed lifeguard tower and reduce/realign the shore protection near the
lifeguard tower. The proposed project is consistent with the Crystal Cove State Park
General Plan, the public works plan with jurisdiction over the site and the Department's
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Coastal Erosion Policy. A Coastal Permit will be required from the California Coastal
Commission for all facilities.
5.2.5 Historic Resources
Impact: There may be a potential impact to historic trailers or structures within the El
Morro Village Mobilehome Park.
Discussion: The age of the El Morro Village Mobilehome Park is just under 50 years
'
old. Although some of these trailers may be over 50 years old, they do not have the
individual historical significance to be eligible to the National or California Registers of
Historic Places as defined by the mandated eligibility criteria. Almost all have been
been
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modified significantly and the setting and association of the trailer park has also
severely altered. The lack of historical integrity to reflect significance is also lacking for
the mobilehome park overall. Many of the current mobilehomes date from the late 1960s
district. As
and 1970s. These therefore could not be contributors to any eligible historic
such they do not qualify as historical resources under CEQA or Public Resources Code
5024. The Department will obtain a formal determination of eligibility from the Office
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of Historic Preservation, however, no mitigation is anticipated.
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5.2.6 Air Quality
Impact: Project operation and construction has the potential to cause new adverse air
quality impacts due to the use of campfires or barbecues in campground andduring
construction due to demolition and grading.
Discussion: The proposed project in is an air quality non -attainment area. However, the
proposed project is consistent with air quality management policies in the current Air
Quality Management Plan and its emissions would be below the emissions thresholds
established in the South Coast Air Quality Management District, CEQA Air Quality
Handbook, April, 1993. Barbecues will be allowed at campsites and picnic areas but will
be less in number than the existing uses with nominal effects on air quality. One
campfire ring is proposed at the amphitheater and, due to its' infrequent use, will not
significantly affect air quality. No wood burning campfires will be allowed in the
campsites. No significant effects to air quality are anticipated to occur from
implementation of the proposed project.
Potential air quality impacts during construction include fugitive dust from demolition
and grading and emissions from utility engines, generators, and construction vehicles and
heavy equipment. Nearby sensitive receptors may be exposed to blowing dust or odors
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associated with asphalt paving, depending on the weather and prevailing wind conditions.
Standard specifications for construction equipment and processes, including frequent ,
watering, will reduce fugitive dust and other emissions below a level of significance.
The area disturbed by earthmoving equipment or excavation operations shall be
minimized at all times. Demolition and earth moving activities shall be limited or
redirected during periods of high winds. On -site vehicle speed shall be reduced to 15
mph. Storage piles of material and graded areas shall be either watered twice daily or
covered to prevent fugitive dust emissions. Coastal Sage Scrub located within the likely
dust drift radius of construction areas shall be periodically sprayed with water to reduce
accumulated dust on the leaves as recommended by monitoring biologists in accordance
with NCCP/HCP construction guidelines. All mechanical equipment shall be operated in
compliance with appropriate air quality controls.
5.2.7 Noise
impact: Potential impacts of future campground and day -use activity noise and '
construction noise on the school and other sensitive receptors.
i cu i : Representatives from the El Morro Elementary School have expressed a
concern over future operational noise in the campground because four classrooms are
located close to the project site. They have also expressed concerns about construction
noise. During the planning phase for the project, a buffer was created between the
campground and the school that eliminated a proposed path and an existing road in the
mobilehome park. Several campsites were also moved farther from the school during
initial planning. Vehicles will stack near the back of the school at the kiosk, but these '
noise levels will be well within the County noise criteria. The campground can be
expected to adhere to the Quiet Urban Daytime sound level as shown on Table 6 of
around 50 dBA except for near Pacific Coast Highway. Typical highway noise levels are
65 to 75 dBA within 50 feet of the highway and with a direct line of sight to the highway.
Therefore, all receptors will be subject to highway noise near the highway unless they are
above or below the grade of the roadway in a noise shadow.
Individuals or groups staying at the campground will be subject to State Park Ranger
supervision should noise become a nuisance. The school is likely to alternate between
the Quiet Urban Daytime sound level and the Noisy Urban Daytime sound level of nearly
80 dBA due to the variation of outside activities such as recess or sporting events and '
indoor classroom activities. The school's Playfield Expansion Project Mitigated
Negative Declaration listed the assumed outdoor activities at 73.2 dBA, below the
County's noise limit of 75dBA. Additionally, the amphitheater designed to direct noise
and light associated with nighttime programs away from sensitive habitat. No significant
noise impacts are anticipated with the operation of the campground and day -use facilities.
Noise associated with construction and demolition is shown on Table 7. Some of the
project construction will be very close to sensitive receptors such as the school, beach
users, and wildlife, and can be quite loud. However, much of the project construction
will be in areas that will have little or no noise effect on the school and other sensitive
receptors due to the nature of the project site. Demolition work or other loud
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construction activities near the school can be coordinated with the school to minimize
noise impacts during school hours. This is comparable to the mitigation proposed in the
school's School Expansion project. The school is closed in the summer and closes each
day at 2:30 P.M. Similarly, the two loudest activities, demolition and potential pile
driving should occur outside of the peak season for beach users in that location. Due to
topography and distance many of the construction activities will not exceed limits
comparable to the County's noise limit of 75dBA where sensitive receptors are located.
Construction near sensitive birds will be avoided during nesting season or will be
monitored by a qualified biologist to determine whether or not construction noise is
adversely affecting nesting birds. If the biologist determines that project activities are
disrupting nesting behavior of a sensitive species, the impacting -activities will be
redirected, rescheduled or modified to avoid significant impacts. Additionally, the
amphitheater has been situated to direct noise and light away from sensitive habitat.
5.2.8 Hazardous Waste
Impact: The project proposes demolition of structures and conversion of an urban use to
park use which is likely to require the removal of hazardous substances.
Discussion: The mobilehomes and structures on -site are expected to have some asbestos
containing materials; lead -based and/or lead containing paints, coatings and or ceramics;
ballasts containing PCBs, mercury vapor in light tubes and mercury in thermostat
switches; motor oil staining of the soil; and potential organochlorine pesticides. All
hazardous substances must be contained, cleaned or removed and disposed according to
accepted Federal, State, and Local protocols specific to each type of substance. This will
reduce the potential impact to a level below significance. Accepted Federal, State, and
Local protocols will be followed for the containment, cleaning, removal and disposal of
all hazardous substances.
5.2.9 Water Quality
Fact: The project is located in an area of extreme sensitivity to water quality'impacts.
Construction and park interpretive and recreational activities may adversely impact water
quality.
Discussion: The project will improve water quality from the existing condition but still
has potential impacts during construction and operation. As discussed in sections 2.1
and 2.2, water quality controls have been implemented as a part of the project and will
mitigate the potential adverse impacts to a level below significance. The Department has
incorporated a series of water quality control improvements appropriate for a park
setting. Figures 5.2 and 5.3 reflect examples of water quality control features proposed
throughout the project area.
Water quality control features have been incorporated into the design of the project as
discussed in sections 2.1 and 2.2. Throughout the final design and construction of the
project, the Department will ensure that all appropriate measures are incorporated to
improve water quality from storm runoff and park uses.
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TABLE 7
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT NOISE RANGES
NOISE LEVEL (dI3A) AT 15 METERS
EARTH MOVING ff0
Equipment powsrrd by tntem*1 colnbustlon *"phew
COMPACTER$(ROLLERS)
* PRONT LOADEnS
* BACKHORS
* TRACTORS
* SCRAPERS, GRADERS
PAVERS
TRUCKS
MATL HANDLING Pwwmm
Equtpment pow*W byintems) combustion enoin*s
CONCRETE MIXERS
CONCRETE PUMPS
* CRANES (MOVABLE)
STATIONARY CRANES (DERRICK)
Equipment poweMdbyimemsl combustion snot"**
PUMPS
GENERATORS
* COMPRESSORS
IMPACT EOUIPMENT
PNEUMATIC WRENCHES
JACKHAMMERWROCK DRILLS
PILE DRIVERS (PEAKS)
OTHER
do
r)0
H
90
100
110
H
H
H
_..
VIBRATOR
SAW$(WOOD)
SAWS (CONCRETE)
1
* The noise emission levels listed for various types of construction related machinery are based on
limited samples. The values are presented in order to give the reader a basic understanding of where
particular pieces of machinery fit on a noise -range spectrum. the equipment with an asterisk were
provided by the American Fload guilders Association,1973.
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TABLE 6
COMPARATIVE SOUND LEVELS
COMMON OUTDOOR
NOISE
(dBA)
LEVEL
COMMON NOIE EELS INDOOR
NOISE LEVELS
110
Rock Band
Jet Flyover at 1,000 feel
100
Inside Subway Train (Newyork)
Gas LOwn Mower at 3 feet
so
Food Blender at 3 feet
Diesel Truck at SO teet
BD
Garbage DisPoSal of 0 loot
Noisy Urban Daytime
Y Y
Shouting at 3 feet
70
Vacuom Cleaneratl0tect
Gas Lawn Mower at 100 feel
Normal Speech at3 fact
Commercial Arco
HaavyTrolfiC at 3001eel
s0
Large business Office
Oulet Urban Daytime
s0
Dishwasher Next Room
Quiet Urban Nighttime
40
Small Tneatra, Large Conlorence
Room (Background)
Quiet Suburban Nighttime
Library
00
Bedroom at Night
Quicl Rural Nighttime
Concert Hall (Background)
20
Broadcast and Recording Studio
10
Threshold of Hcaring
0
COMMON INDOOR AND
OUTDOOR
NOISE LEVELS
5.3 Effects with Little or No Impacts '
Exposure to potential landslides, seismic ground failure, tsunami, land subsidence, and
flooding are not anticipated to have significant adverse affects associated with the
construction of this project. Additionally, the project will not adversely affect water
movement, groundwater, energy and mineral resources, agriculture, local plans, or
employment.
5.4 Beneficial Effects
5.4.1 Public Park & Recreation
Current public recreational opportunities in this area are limited to Moro Beach with
access from upcoast at Reef Point. The proposed project would provide a focal point for
Crystal Cove State Park that allows utilization of the inland and coastal portions of the
park in one location. It would provide needed parking at beach level and camping on the
coast. The proposed project would provide a unique interpretive area and a relatively
undisturbed coastal valley for picnicking, walking, mountain biking, nature study, and
educational programs. The amphitheater/campfire center and group picnic sites will also
serve as a resource to the community that can be used for approved events or small
meetings. The proposed project will serve the local community, the region, and
vacationers as a unique recreational opportunity in a pristine location.
5.4.2 Archaeological Resources
Entrance Road
Near the northeast extension of the entrance road as it approaches the proposed kiosk, the
proposed sewage line will be buried. Subsurface cultural resource trench testing along
the proposed new sewage line corridor is beneficial because it protects any (currently
unknown) possible resources that are buried in the vicinity by defining them prior to
construction.
In addition, archaeological shovel test probes will be excavated near the proposed
location of the new kiosk which should benefit our understanding of resource
presence/absence in this transitional area between a recorded site and the deeply
excavated current mobilehome park road.
Upper Terrace
Archaeological survey and subsurface testing of the upper terrace adds to the
archaeological database regarding the cultural resource integrity and nature of cultural
deposits remaining in this area. Prior to the archaeological work associated with this
project it was not known if in -situ cultural resources actually were still present on the
terrace.
Other benefits accrue from the plan to use existing mobilehome park utility corridors for
any replacement utilities required for the new campground. Excavation of any required
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Lnew utility corridors for burial of new utilities or new park featureswill be at a shallow
I depth. This is a beneficial because it protects any possible unknown residual pockets of
deeply buried cultural resources that may have gone undetected.
Moro Creek Valley
Benefit to the unique, highly preserved, buried archaeological resources in Moro Creek
valley will occur in several ways including:
1) Mobilehome park demolition and removal of mobilehome park structures, features,
developed roadways, etc. will eliminate present negative weight -bearing and pressure -
related effects to the on site cultural deposit. Shell midden deposits are particularly
vulnerable to compression damage due to the fragility of shell and bone.
2) Mobilehome park demolition and removal will also eliminate harmful substances
associated with daily life in the mobilehome park including weed killers, fertilizers,
' soaps, household cleansers, washing mobilehomes, and automobiles. Harmful agents,
associated with urban residential living change and damage the chemical, biological, and
physical constituency of the midden deposit. Scientific importance is degraded and
valuable, irreplaceable knowledge of the past and archaeological data are lost over time.
3) Removal of asphalt surfaces from the mobilehome park area will -prevent further
leaching of destructive asphalt toxins into the buried midden soil and alleviate unnatural
capping and differential focusing of surface water.
i 4) Prohibiting automobile/vehicle activity at the site is a beneficial impact. It prevents
additional damage to the midden soil from various agents associated with vehicles. In
addition to washwater and soaps/cleaners, other auto -related residues such as oil, grease,
various engine fluids, cleaning solvents, etc. leach into the ancient midden deposit from
vehicles.
5) Removal of exotic plants associated with the mobile homes and the creek - especially
vegetation with deep root systems beneficially impacts this portion of the APE. Integrity
of the ancient cultural deposit, and therefore the scientific capability to derive cultural
chronology from the in -situ midden strata laid down in the archaeological record, is
damaged by deeply rooted exotic plants.
6) Because extensive watering degrades and destroys ancient midden deposits,
eliminating the daily grass and plant watering in the mobilehome park will save bone
artifacts, other prehistoric cultural items, and important micro data that science can use to
study the ancient lifeways of the first people to inhabit this coastal canyon thousands of
years ago. Degradation of plant macrofossils, shell, bone, and other subsistence remains
can occur as soil chemistry is altered. These forms of cultural remains are critical to
scientific inquiry such as paleoenvironmental reconstruction, interpretation of past
lifeways, and others.
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7) Removal of underground utilities in the Moro Valley mobilehome park. Permanent
uility removal eliminates the need for future damaging digging associated with utility
maintenance/new development activities.
Moro Creek
Proposed creek modifications should help lessen storm damage related impacts to the
upcoast portion of the newly documented site in this area. This project benefits the
cultural resource there by bringing the resource and to the attention of project staff, who
can help in protection.
5.4.3 Biological Resources
The proposed actions associated with Moro Creek improvements, such as 1) septic
system improvements 2) reconfiguration of Moro Creek channel 3) constructing new
creek bridge/crossing 4) exotic plant removal and 5) removal of toxins associated with
daily residential activities and 6) revegetation with native plants, will improve water
quality, and improve habitat for aquatic invertebrates, riparian birds, and native plants.
Other actions that provide beneficial effects to biological resources include removal of
structures, and othermanmade intrusions at Moro Beach. The removal of such intrusions
will increase the natural habitat area for native plant immigration and restoration.
5.4.4 Hydrology
The proposed project will improve the hydraulic function of Moro Creek to reduce
flooding and erosion potential. Natural stream processes will be restored in the upper
reaches of the project area.
5.4.5 Water Quality
The project provides the opportunity to remove failing and inappropriate septic systems
in the coastal zone. The conversion will also significantly reduce the amount of
impervious surfaces on the site because it will be changed from high density urban
housing to park uses with permeable surfaces on much of the site. Mobilehome park
demolition and removal will also eliminate harmful substances associated with daily life
in the mobilehome park including weed killers, fertilizers, soaps, watering of plants and
grasses, and washing of mobile homes and automobiles. The current use does not
incorporate storm water control measures that will be constructed as part of the proposed
project.
5.4.6 Aesthetics
The proposed project will remove an urban intrusion in Crystal Cove State Park while
meeting the General Plan Goal to preserve its outstanding scenic quality and open space
character. Crystal Cove State Park is the only remaining stretch of coastline in Orange
County that is relatively undeveloped. Further, Moro Beach is the only beach in Crystal
Cove State Park visible from PCH and the project will remove the visual intrusion of the
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mobilehomes on that stretch of state park beach and in the PCH highway corridor. The
aesthetic improvement will be significant.
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Figure 5.1 Before/After Visual Analysis of Beach
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GFc ��DR
CG7 ST�NgTF ����'4 O
SRO F 2% 2%
ROAD PATH
SiOF194
op�O
VEGETATED BID SWALES
r m V m 00, M OW M r M r M so r M so an go r
2% "or,
�— 7--JI
CAMPSITE RVEGETA
SWALE
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we r M rOft r " .o an am, w an om m
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6 CEQA REQUIRED CONSIDERATIONS
6.1 Significant Irreversible Environmental Changes
The Department will implement significant beneficial changes to aesthetics,
archaeological resources, natural resources, water quality and public park use, in
Park General Plan with project approval and
accordance with the Crystal Cove State
conversion of the mobilehome park to park use.
6.2 Relationship of local Short -Term Uses and Maintenance and Enhancement of
Long -Term Productivity
Although the residential use of this area has been in place for many years, it is at odds
with the Department mission. Therefore, for planning purposes, it is considered a
temporary, short-term use that will be replaced by the permanent long-term use
in the Crystal Cove General Plan and Public Use Plan. The long-term use of
envisioned
the project site for public park use will provide a unique opportunity to the local
community, region, and vacation travelers to enjoy a pristine location while improving
aesthetics and water quality and protecting resources.
I6.3
Growth Inducing Impacts
There will be no growth inducing impacts because the project does not create new
infrastructure to support new development. The proposed project will
housing or provide
provide a quality of life improvement to the existing and growing communities around it.
6.4 Cumulative Impacts
Substantial impacts to many resources including natural resources, the visual nature of
traffic are occurring in this region due
the coastline, water quality, cultural resources, and
to urban developments adjacent to the State Park. The El Morro Elementary School has
recently approved a classroom expansion project for about 100 students and is in the
expansion that will include sewer hookup. The
process of approving a school playfield
school expansion will occur within the existing school footprint except for sewer and
water quality control systems. The drainage system for the school will encroach into the
drainage where endangered species and sensitive habitat have
park at the Muddy Creek
been identified. Within this context, the Department's actions are undertaken in an
extremely environmentally sensitive manner, limiting any potential for the Department's
efforts to contribute to local or regionally significant cumulative affects.
Nonetheless, the Department has or will undertake other projects within a close proximity
include the Crystal Cove Historic District
in Crystal Cove State Park. These projects
Interim Protection Plan, the Crystal Cove Historic District Preservation and Public Use
Plan, and a recently constructed day use project on the coastal terrace. The Interim
Protection Plan incorporates minor projects at the Historic District with no permanent
The Preservation and Public Use Plan will incorporate permanent changes at
changes.
the Historic District and is currently in preparation for release to the public. The
Preservation and Public Plan will propose minor circulation changes that will disturb
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coastal sage scrub and, potentially California gnatcatchers. These proposed changes vary
between 1 and 5 acres of CSS impact and have not been finalized. Since 1983, resource
management projects have restored at least 50 acres of CSS to the coastal terrace, much
of which is currently occupied by California gnatcatchers. The day use project on the
coastal terrace constructed vista points at six locations along the bluffs with connecting
trails, improved an existing amphitheater, constructed six shade ramadas, benches, picnic
tables, and low level interpretive panels. The project also included native vegetation
plantings.
Future Department projects may include a temporary sewer system for the mobilehome
park and reconstruction of the park headquarters entrance road. Natural and cultural
resources would potentially be impacted by these projects but no design has been
prepared for the road and the design for the temporary sewer system must be modified
substantially.
The project, when considered with other projects in the area, will not have significant
adverse environmental effects but will have significant beneficial effects.
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7
7.1 List of Preparers and Reviewers
Maria Baranowski, Senior Architect, B.A. Architecture, 24 years experience architecture,
12 years experience historic preservation, 9 years experience at Crystal Cove State Park.
Mike Bonk, Graphics, Research Analyst GIS, B.A. Geography, 3 years experience GIS
analysis.
Mike Buxton, Archaeological Project Leader, 10 years archaeological experience in the
southern California region.
Brent Caldwell —Site Design, Registered Civil Engineer in California, Licensed land
Surveyor in California. B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering, 21 years of experience.
Ronilee Clark, previous State Park Program Manager, B.S. Botany and M.S Ecology, 20
years of experience in park management and planning, 10 years of experience at Crystal
Cove State Park.
Bruce Cooke — Electrical Engineer Manager. B.S. Civil Engineering, with 30 years of
experience. Registered Electrical Engineer in California and Nevada.
Jeffrey Craft, Landscape Architect, ASLA
Michelle Fredrickson, Assistant Project Analyst, B.S. Outdoor Recreation
Administration, 1 year of experience in environmental studies.
Larry Gallery, Water and Wastewater Design, B.S. Degree n Civil Engineering. 23 years
of experience. Registered Civil Engineer in California and Arizona.
Mary Hambel, Project Engineer, Water Resources, 3 years of experience. Registered
Civil Engineer in California. B.S., M.S. Degree in Civil Engineering.
Greg Helmer, GPS Services, A.A. in Business Administration Professional Land
Surveyor in California, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona, 26 years survey experience.
Rick Henriksen, ME, EE, 25 years experience.
Karen Miner, Senior Resource Ecologist, B.S. Environmental & Systematic Biology,
M.S. Ecology, PHD Candidate Ecology,14 years experience as a wildlife biologist in the
southern California region. 12 years experience in park planning and management
including California gnatcatcher monitoring and management at Crystal Cove.
Jim Newland, State Historian III (senior level), B.A. Social Sciences (history &
geography emphasis), M.A. Public History, 11 years experience in cultural resource
management.
1 63
Carlos Ortiz, Traffic Engineering, Registered Civil Engineer in California and Arizona,
Registered Traffic Engineer in California, 12 years experience civil/traffic engineering.
Roy Pettus, M.A., Associate Archaeologist, 25 years archaeological experience in the
southern California region. Four years archaeology experience in Orange County. Listed
as qualified archaeologist on Orange County Register of Qualified Archaeologists.
Bruce Phillips, Water Resources, Registered Civil Engineer in California and Arizona.
B.S., M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering, M.S. Degree in Petroleum Engineering.
Computer hydraulic models for steady state and varied flow analyses.16 years
experience.
David Pryor, Associate Resource Ecologist, B.S. Marine Biology, 27 years experience
with State Parks in the southern California region.
Jim Quayle, Project Manager, Senior Landscape Architect, B.S. Landscape Architecture,
Registered in California, 28 years experience in Landscape Architecture,10 years
acquisition project management,14 years experience at Crystal Cove State Park.
Robert Robinson, Associate Civil Engineer, B.S. Civil Engineering,15 years experience
civil engineering.
Tina Robinson, Project Analyst, B.S. Animal Science, MBA Finance, 18 years
experience in environmental studies. 15 years community impact analysis.
Diona Roja, Associate Resource Ecologist, B.S. Wildlife Biology, Native American
Perspectives on Natural Resource Management,l2 years experience in Natural Resource
Management.
Richard Rozzelle, Associate Park and Recreation Specialist, B.A. Political Science, 21
years of experience at California Department of Parks & Recreation, Southern Region
Karen Shabel, Archaeological Project Leader, B.A. Anthropology, M.A. Anthropology, 4
years experience in southern California archaeology.
Dave Skelley/ Skelley Engineering — Coastal Engineer. B.A. in Applied Mechanics and
Engineering Sciences, M.S. in Oceanography, Registered Professional Engineer in
California and Hawaii, 26 years of experience.
Alan Tang, Project Manager, B.S. Landscape Architecture, 26 years Landscape
Architecture experience, 21 years experience at Crystal Cove State Park.
Bruce F. Unger, Architect/Design Team Coordinator. 22 years architectural experience.
Paul Young, Structural Engineer. B.S., M.S. in Civil Engineering, Registered Civil and
Structural Engineer in California, 21 years of civil engineering experience.
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1 7.2 Literature Referenced
Bean, Lowell John and Charles R. Smith
1978 Gabrielino. In California, R.F. Heizer ed., pp. 538-549. Handbook of North
American Indians, Vol. 8. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
California Department of Parks and Recreation
1982 Crystal Cove State Park General Plan. Copy on File at the California
Department of Parks and Recreation, Southern Service Center.
California Department of Parks and Recreation
'
1980 Irvine Coast Project Inventory offeatures. Resource Preservation & Interpretive
Division.
California Department of Parks and Recreation
2001 Economic Impacts on Local Economies by Visitors to California State Parks from
1999-2002: An Update of the 1995 Analysis. Marketing Division.
California Department of Parks and Recreation
1997 Public Opinions and Attitudes in Outdoor Recreation in California.
California Department of Parks and Recreation
2002 Comparison of State Park Attendance by Areas/Type of Park— current/past fiscal
years.
2001 El Morro School Playfield Expansion, Initial Study/Mitigated Negative
Declaration, Laguna Beach Unified School District. LSA.
Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Draft recovery plan for the least Bell's vireo. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR.
Hickman, J.C. 1993. The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, J.C. Hickman,
edit., University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Holland, R. F. 1986. Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of
California. State of California. The Resources Agency, Department of Fish and
Game, Sacramento. 156 pp.
Ingles, L.G. 1965. Mammals of the Pacific States. Stanford University Press, Stanford,
California. 506pp.
Irvine Development Company. 2001 Annual Monitoring Report for Newport Coast
Planned Community.
Orange County 2002 Community Indicators
R.J. Meade Consulting Inc. 1996. Final Central and Coastal Subregion Natural
Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan. Prepared for: County of
1 65
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Orange, Environmental Management Agency and United States Fish and Wildlife
Service/California Department of Fish and Game.
Rarefind. 2000. Electronic version of California Department of Fish and Game Natural
Diversity Data Base. Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game, Wildlife Conservation Division,
Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
Sawyer, J.O and T. Keeler -Wolf. 1995. A manual of Calfiornia Vegetation. California
Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California.
Stebbins, R.C. 1985. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition,
revised. Houghton -Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 336pp.
Weeks, Kay D. and Anne E. Grimmer
1995 The Secretary of the Interlor's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, & Reconstructing
Historic Buildings. U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, ,
Washington D.C.
8 COMMENTS AND COORDINATION ,
As discussed in section 1.2, the project is consistent with the Crystal Cove General Plan,
a public works plan that underwent five public workshops and two public hearings before
it was approved. After project planning was implemented, the Department or its
consultants held scoping meetings with the Laguna Beach Unified School District, the '
California Department of Transportation, the Irvine Ranch Water District, the California
Coastal commission, and Village Laguna. Additionally, informal consultation and early
coordination was initiated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Army Corp of
Engineers, and the California Department of Fish and Game. A Public Information
Meeting was advertised to the public in the project Notice of Preparation and held in
conjunction with the annual Friends of the Irvine Coast meeting on November 27, 2001.
Coordination with responsible and partnering agencies will continue throughout the
project planning and construction
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APPENDICES
A Notice of Preparation, Initial Study, & Responses
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State of California —The Resources Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
NOTICE OF PREPARATION
PROJECT TITLE: Crystal Cove State Park El Morro Conversion to Campground and
Day Use
PROJECT LOCATION: Orange County, north of Laguna Beach on Pacific Coast
Highway within Crystal Cove State Park and adjacent to the El Morro Elementary
School.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project proposes to convert an existing 294 unit
mobile home park to a public campground and day use area with associated
amenities including picnic sites, interpretive areas, lifeguard facilities and
restrooms while restoring the creek to a more natural channel. Project
implementation will require adding sewer and other utilities, construction of a new
entrance road, pedestrian access across Pacific Coast Highway and removal of
the mobile home park infrastructure.
POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: The project has potential
beneficial effects on the natural environment (wetlands, wildlife and vegetation),
water quality, recreation, aesthetics, energy, and cultural resources. However,
due to the construction required to effect the change in uses, the project also has
the potential to adversely impact natural resources and water quality on a
temporary basis. The project may also have adverse impacts to cultural
resources, housing, aesthetics, paleontology, traffic, schools, public infrastructure
including sewer and water, hazardous materials, noise and air quality.
PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING: A public information meeting will be
held on November 27th, 2001 at 7:30 PM at the Laguna Beach Women's Club,
286 St. Anns Drive in Laguna Beach. Preliminary maps of the proposed project
will be available for review.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation is the Lead Agency under the
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act and is considering the
preparation of an environmental document for the project identified above. We
need to know the views of your agency or organization as to the scope and
content of the environmental information that is germane to your agency's or
organization's statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed project.
The project description, location, and possible environmental effects are
addressed in this notice.
FORM 0606.5.3A
lJ
Your response must be sent to the address below not later than thirty (30) days '
after the receipt of this notice. We would appreciate the name of a contact person
in your agency.
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION CONTACT PERSON
Tina Robinson, Associate Park and Recreation Specialist 1
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Southern Service Center '
8885 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 270
San Diego, CA 92108
(619)220-5300
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i
FORM 0606.5.3A I
State of California —The Resources Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
INITIAL STUDY CHECKLIST
! 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A. Name of Project: Crystal Cove State Park El Morro Conversion to Campground and Day Use
' B. Contact Person: Tina Robinson Telephone: (619) 220-5300
C. Location: Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County
D. Checklist Date: 11-1-01
E. Project Description:
The project proposes to convert an existing 294 unit mobile home park to a public campground and day use area with
' associated amenities including picnic sites, interpretive areas, lifeguard facilities and restrooms while restoring the creek
to a more natural channel. Project implementation will require adding sewer and other utilities, construction of a new
entrance road, pedestrian access across Pacific Coast Highway and removal of the mobile home park infrastructure.
11. ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Potential Potential Less than No
Significant Significant Significant Impact
Impact impact Unless Impact
Mitigated
LAND USE AND PLANNING Would the proposal:
1. Conflict with General Plan designation and zoning? ❑ ❑ ❑
2. Conflict with applicable environmental plans or policies adopted by agencies
` wilhjurisdiction over the project? ❑ ® ❑ ❑
3. Be incompatible with existing land use in the vicinity? ❑ ❑ ❑
19
4. Affect agriculturall[esources or operations? ❑ ❑ '❑
5. Disrupt or divide the physical arrangement of an established community
(including a low income or minority community)? ❑ ❑ ® ❑
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
#2 Coastal Commission and the State Regional Water Quality Control Board will need to approve actions that fall within their jurisdiction
at the project site. These actions may Include potential visual and water quality Impacts.
05 The current lessees will, by the agreement in their current lease, vacate the site and remove their mobile homes. These leases expire In
December 2004. The lessees are a mixture of full-time and part-time residents and are not part of a low Income or minority community.
Several of the tenants qualify for low -Income houseing assistance and implementalon of the project would remove below market housing from
The housing stock in Orange County.
POPULATION AND HOUSING Would the proposal:
6. Cumulatively exceed official regional or local populations projections? ❑ ❑ ❑
7. Induce substantial growth in an area, either directly or indirectly? ❑ ❑ ❑
8. Displace existing housing, especially affordable housing? ❑ ❑ ® ❑
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
' EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
#8 Please seethe response to #5 above.
GEOLOGIC PROBLEMS Would the project result in or expose people to impacts involving:
9. Fault rupture? ❑ ❑ ❑
10. Seismic ground shaking?
11. Seismic ground failure? ❑ ❑ ® ❑
12. Seich, tsunami, or volcanic hazard?
13. Landslides or mudflows? ❑ ❑ ® ❑
14. Erosion, changes in topography, or unstable soil conditions from excavation,
grading or fill? ❑ ❑ ® ❑
15. Subsidence of land? ❑ ❑ ❑
16. Expansive soils? ❑ ❑ ❑
17. Scientifically significant paleontological resources, geological or physical features? ❑ ❑ ® ❑
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
#12, #13, #14, HIS There is potential for tsunami due to the coastal location. Past landslides have occurred in the area. There will be a
grading in certain locations to change the site use. Paleontological resources are known to exist on the site and a paleontologist will be on site
to record and preserve specimens, as appropriate.
I
11
WATER Would the proposal result in:
18. Changes in absorption rates, drainage patterns, or the rate and amount
of surface runoff?
19. Exposure of people or property to water related hazards such as flooding?
20. Discharge into surface waters or other alteration of surface water quality
Page 1
❑ ❑ ® ❑
❑ ❑ ® ❑
than No
'
II. ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST
PotentialPotentialLess
Significant Significant
Significant Impart
Impact Impact Unless
Mitigated
Impact
(e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen, or turbidity)?
O
El
21. Changes in amount of surface water in any water body?
❑ ElQ
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22. Changes in currents, or the course or direction of water movements?
23. Changes in the quantity of ground waters, either through direct additions or
withdrawals, or through intercepilon of all aquifer by cuts or cxcavatiods,
❑
or through substantial loss of groundwater rechargecapability7
a
® ❑
24, Altered direction or rate of now of groundwater?
❑ ❑
® ❑
25. Impacts 10 groundwater quality?
26. Substantial reduction in the amount of groundwater otherwise available for
❑ ❑
❑
public water supplies?
SOURCES: (Use additional Page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) If necessary -)ark use.
a due to the treck restoration and the removal of the
25 The
resulting Is less ground water percolation fwill change the hydrology Irk the Art aro the leach fields. Thelprojrl will result
The mobiil
le home Park's It sch geld will be abandoned,
in a beneficlai Impact to water quality.
AIR QUALITY Wouidlheproposal:
—27: Violate any air quality standard orcont4bOtctoanexistingorprojected
❑
--
air quality violation?
❑
28. Expose sensitive receptors to pollutants?
29. Alter airmovcmcnt, moisture, or temperature, or cause any change in climate?
❑ ❑
❑ ❑
® O
30, Create objectionable Wort?
SOURCES: (Use additional pages) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional Palle(s) if necessary.)
0 30 There may be some air quality issues with csnipnrs and barbeques, however, they
should be similar overall to the existing
use.
'
TRANSPORTATION/CIRCULATION Would the proposal result in:
❑ ❑
® ❑
31. Increased vehicle nips or traffic congestion?
32. Hazards to safety from design features (curves, dangerous intersections) or
0 E3
El ID
Incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)?
Cl
33. Inadequate emergency access or access to nearby uses?
Cl El
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34. insufficient parking apacityonorof-Wo?
❑ ❑
®
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35. Hazatds or barriers for pedestrians or bicyclists?
36, Conflicts with adopted policies supporting alternative transportation
❑
Q
(e.g„bustumouts,bicycleMcks)?
❑ O
®
37, Rail,watetbome,orair traffic Impacts?
,
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) If necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.) me park ances to a new rance told adjacent to
roject wichange the access to he area from the
scurrent
may be insu llc enl onrpeak demand days,
the El Morro Elementary School but over all trips hould be similar.PsWng
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES Would the proposal result in adverse impocts lo:
❑
0
38. Endangered, threatened, or rare species or their habitats?
, ❑ ®
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39. Locally designated species (e.g.. hcHtsgc trees)?
40. Locally designated natural communities (e.g., oak forest, coastal habitat)?
®
❑ 0
❑
41. Welland habitat (mats% riparian. and vernal Pool)?
1
❑ ®
❑ ❑
42. Wildlife dispersal or migration corridors?
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
coastal habitat ith There
dlifeeto utilize the
c bra
should be 0 se impacts Impacts will be temporary in nature
site. Any adver,
ndgrating wilive
quality.fThproject
re will be no change n ability of rsldentor
and fully mitigated. The project will provide benental effect to biological resources In the long term.
ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES WouldtpcProposal:
❑ Cl
❑
43. Conflict with adopted energy conservation plans?
❑
❑
44. Use nonrenewable resources in awastcful and inefficient manner?
Page 2
'
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II. ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST
Potential
Potential
Less than No
Significant
Significant
Significant Impact
Impact
Impact Unless
Impact
'
Mitigated
45. Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of
future value to the region and residents of the state?
❑
❑
❑
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
HAZARDS Would the proposal involve
46. A risk of accidental explosion or release of hazardous substances
❑
❑
®
❑
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(including but not limited to oils, pesticides, chemicals, or radiation)?
47. Possible interference with an emergency response plan or emergency?
❑
❑
❑
48. The creation of any health hazard or potential health hazard?
❑
❑
®
❑
49. Exposure of people to existing sources of health hazards?
❑
❑
❑
50. Increased fire hazard in areas with flammable brush, grass, or trees?
❑
❑
❑
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
4 46 & 148 There will be testing for hazardous substances and they would be removed according to approved practices.
in the following
PUBLIC SERVICES Would the project have an adverse effect upon, or result in a need for new or altered government
service
any of
areas:
51. Fire protection?
❑
❑
❑
52. Police protection?
❑
❑
❑
53. Schools?
54. Maintenance of public facilities, including roads?
❑
®
❑
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
#53 The project will change the school entrance location and traffic patterns and remove students from the
enrollment area. #54 There will be
a neglibie increase in maintenance of Infrastructure.
UTILITIES AND SERVICES SYSTEMS Would the project result in a need for new systems or supplies, or substantial alterations to the following
utilities:
55. Power or natural gas?
Communications systems?
facilities?
El
❑
El
❑
El56.
®
❑
57. Local or regional water treatment of distribution
❑
❑
®
❑
58. Sewer or septic tanks?
59. Storm water drainage?
❑
❑
®
❑
`
60. Solid waste disposal?
❑
❑
®
❑
61. Local or regional water supplies?
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
facilities be added
to the sewer
system/# 58
The septic system
for
155 There will be reduced power usage from the existing use. 4 57 The will
the mobile home park will be abandoned. 1159 Storm water drainage facilities will be Incorporated Into the project.
160 The sewer will
contribute to the solid waste taken to a municipal facility for solid waste disposal. #61 the overall water demand will be decreased.
NOISE Would the result in:
proposal
❑
❑
®
❑
62. An increase in existing noise levels?
❑
❑
❑
63, Exposure ofpeople to severe noise levels?
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
462 Noise levels may change near the school with the new entrance road and park entry kiosk.
II
i
AESTHETICS Would the project:
64. Adversely affect a scenic vista or scenic highway?
65. Have a demonstrable negative aesthetic effect?
66. Create light or glare?
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
❑
®
❑
❑
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
164 & # 65 The scenic quality of Crystal Cove State Park is very sensitive and the project may adversely affect the views of and around the
site in the short-term but will improve long-term aesthetics.
Page 3
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It, ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST
Potential Potential Less than No
Significant Significant Significant Impact
Impact Impact Unless Impact
Mitigated
CULTURAL RESOURCES Would the projdet:
67. Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical or
❑ ® ❑ El
resource?
68. Bave the potential to cause physical change which would adversely affect
El
unique cultural values?
69. Restrict existing religious or sacred uses Within the potential impact area?
O
SOURCES: (Use additional pogc(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) If necessary.)
H67 & H 69 The project is located within an area with archaeological resources.
RECREATION Would the proposal adversely:
❑ ® El ❑
70, Affect recreational opportunities?
SOURCES: (Use additional page(s) if necessary.)
EXPLANATION OF ANSWERS: (Use additional page(s) If necessary.)
Would significantly benefit by Increased access for the publlept this
site.
H 70 Recreational use
ADDITIONAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOVE ---
III. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE
Does the project have the potential to degrade the environment, substantially
fish or wildlife species, cause a Esh or wildlife population to drop
reduce habitat of a
below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce
the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate
❑ ® ❑ ❑
important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory?
Does the project have the potential to achieve short-term to the disadvantage of
❑ ❑ ❑
long-term environmental goals?
Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable?
❑ ❑ ® ❑
Does the project have environmental effects whlchwill cause substantive adverse
❑ ❑ ® ❑
effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly?
IV. PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION
On the basis of the initial Study,
❑ I find that the proposed project could not have an adverse effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.
[]I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on die environment, there will not beg significant effect because the
mitigation measures described in the attached Mitigation appendix will be required. A NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.
® I End the proposed project may have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required.
PREPARER: Tins Robinso
ate
TITLE: As;r,:r,„,, Park ..and Recreation Spe- ={-{allot DATE; November R. 2EE1
--
Page 4
1 15
5
Los Angeles 1°
San
t 5 emardin
1
Long Beach
_ ao5 a - �
' Santa. serside
Catalina Newport Beac
'Island Crystal Cove 10
Laguna Beac_ State Park
P A C I F i C
5
O C E A N
8
San Diego
NO SCALE
' LOCATION MAP -Figure 1. Project Location
I
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,� 'y, .. _•: f •�• .. , it / � ":.:;.
`.`. _". ♦` `.. �z• .. �1 ,. , _ ,. „• -fit i
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ice. ♦ ..
�t .� • ,1i -. ` tit Y♦^' ':� .:, . � .I r v >a.=. y .:.5� a
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Legend
Park Boundary
200 0 200 400 Fed
0 so IN IN 11eMn
ThM.0 dfplo Orww n,wft bamd.pf.
Every m•mtll•d W M• bwn nrdf 10 rfus
N•fnassyaltldf mp. Nwuw. E4 mww N
Oq w 0fmn2wd nk nW fwM bmfd.
� ay
V
,�,���`;� � jam,•_ ♦� ,.
Jr ;p
' P,%4, t11\I hlhc
y
c w
rr" •• STATE OF CALIFORNIA �
Trl
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE of PLANNING AND RESEARCH � "I, N pp111POs
�` arrJ P
State Clearinghouse Steven A. Nissen
Gray Davis DIRECTOR
' GOVERNOR
' Notice of Preparation
November 13, 2001
To: Reviewing Agencies
' Re: Crystal Cove State Park El Mono Conversion to Campground and Day Use
SCH# 2001111088
' Attached for your review and comment is the Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the Crystal Cove State Park El Morro
Conversion to Campground and Day Use draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
' Responsible agencies must transmit their comments on the scope and content of the NOP, focusing on specific
information related to their own statutory responsibility, within 30 days of receipt of the NOP from the Lead Agency.
' This is a courtesy notice provided by the State Clearinghouse with a reminder for you to comment in a timely
manner. We encourage other agencies to also respond to this notice and express their concerns early in the
environmental review process.
Please direct your comments to:
Tina Robinson
California Department of Parks and Recreation
8885 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
with a copy to the State Clearinghouse in the Office of Planning and Research. Please refer to the SCH number
noted above in all correspondence concerning this project.
If you have any questions about the environmental document review process, please call'the State Clearinghouse at
(916)445-0613.
' Sincerely,
' S organ
Project Analyst, State Clearinghouse
' Attachments
cc: Lead Agency
' 1400 TENTH STREET P.O. BOX 3044 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95812-3044
916-445.0613 FAX 916-323-3019\C'\V\V.OPR.CA.GOV/CLEARINGHOUSE.HTMt.
Document Details Repoli
'
State Clearinghouse Data Base
'
SCH#
2001111088
Crystal Cove State Park El Morro Conversion to Campground and Day Use
project Title
Lead Agency
Parks and Recreation, Department of
'
Type
Neg Negative Declaration
to convert an existing 294 unit mobilome tea public cam d
Description
The project proposes building lifeguard
with associated aminilies including p es,interprek
,
day use area
facilities and restrooms while restoring the creek to a more natural channel. Project implementation
will require adding sewer and other utilities.
,
Lead Agency Contact
Name
Tina Robinson
California Department of Parks and Recreation
'
Agency
Phone
Fax
619 220-5300
email
Address
8885 Rio San Diego Drive State...CA Zip 92106
'
' City
San Diego
Project Location '
County Orange
City Laguna Beach
Region '
Cross Streets Newport Coast Drive on Pacific Coast Highway
Parcel No. Section Base
Township Range
Proximity to: ,
Highways 1
Airports
Railways
waterways
Schools '
Land Use State Park
Project Issues AesthaticNlsual; Air Quality; Archaeologic -Historic; Coastal Zone; Drainage/Absorption; Flood '
Plain/Flooding; Geologic/seismic; Noise; Population/Housing Bolahc0;ublic Services;
Recreation/Parks; SchoolslUniversities; Septic System; Sewer CapP
act Soil
Erosion/Compaction/Grading; Toxic/Hazardous; Traffic/Circulation; Vegetation; Water Quality;
Wetland/Riparian; Wildlife; Landuse; Cumulative Effects '
Reviewing Resources Agency; Department of Boating and Waterways; California Coastal Commission; Office of
Agencies Historic Preservation; Department of Parks and Recreation; Department of Fish and Game, Region 6: '
Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region; Native American Heritage Commission; State Lands
Commission; Caltrans, District 11, Stale Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality;
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region a
Date Recelved 11/1312001 Startof Review 11/13/2001 End of Review 12/1212001 ,
i
by load nnanCv.
M M
M M M M
i NM
O PT1
�P Distribution List
County.
- •---_-••- --
❑ Colorado River Board
❑ In, of Transportation 10
® State Water Resources Control
!sources Agency
Fish and Game
Gerald R. Zimmerman
C.q Sayre
Board
DI$trict 10
Greg Frantz
Resources Agency
❑ Dept. of Fish & Game
❑ Tahoe Regional Planning
AN Ipt, of Transportation 11
Division of Water Quality
❑ state teeMaoucas Control
Nadell Gayou
Scott Flint
Environmental Services Division
Agency (TRPA)
Lyn Barnett
Lo Salazar
01 idct 11
Board
Dept of Boating & Waterways
Bill Curry
❑ Dept of Fish & Game 1
❑ Dept, of Transportation 12
M keFalkenstein
Division of Water Rights
Donald Koch
❑ Office of Emergency Services
All an Kennedy
❑ Dept. of Toxic Substances Control
California Coastal
Commission
Region 1
John Rowden, Manager
DI irlcl 12
CEQA Tracking Center
Elizabeth A. Fuchs
❑ Dept of Fish & Game 2
Banky Curtis
❑ Delta Protection Commission
BusinTrans ess. T& Housing
I
'
Regional Water OuaNly Control
Dept of Conservation
Ken Trott
Region 2
Debby Eddy
❑ Housing Community Development
Board (RWQCB)
Dept of Forestry & Fire
❑ Dept. of Fish & Game 3
❑
s
Cathy Creswell
Protection
Robert Floerke
Santa Monica Mountains
Housing Policy Division❑
RWOCB 1
Allen Robertson
Region 3
❑ Dept. of Fish &Game 4
Conservancy
Paul Edelman
❑ Caltrans - Division of Aeronautics
Cathleen Hudson
North Coast Region (I)
1 Office of Historic
Preservation
William Laudermilk
4
Wit. of Transportation
Sandy Hesnard
❑ California:Jull Highway Patrol
❑ RWOCB 2
-
Hans Kreutzberg
Dept of Parks &Recreation
Region
Dept. of Fish & Game 5
❑ Dept. of Transportation 1
o Pape
011lce of Special Projects
Office
Document
Coordinator
San Francis
San Francisco Bay Region (2)
Resource Mgml. Division
Don Chadwick
Region 5, Habitat Conservation
IGRIPlanning
Dept. of Transportation
❑ gWOCB 3
-1
.1 Reclamation Board
Program
❑'Dept of Fish &Game 6
District 1
❑ Dept, of Transportation 2
Ron Helgeson
Caitrans - Planning
Central Coast Region (3)
❑ RWOCB 4
Pam Bruner
Gabdna.Galchel
-
Vicki Roe
Local, Development Review,
❑ Dept of General Services
Jonathan Bishop
S.F. Bay Conservation &
Region Habitat Conservation
District 2
R ert Sleppy
9
Los Angeles Region (1)
Dev't Comm.
Program
Q Dept. Transportation 3
Ertvironmenlal Services Section
I
❑ RWOCB Ss
Steve McAdam
❑Dept. of Fish &Game 6 UM
of
Jeff Putverman
Air R ources Board
Central Valley Region (5)
Resources Agency
Tammy Allen
Region 6, Inyo1Mono, Habitat
Dlslrlcl3
Airport Projects
❑ RWOCB SF
Nadel! Gayou
Dept. of Water Resources
Conservallon Program
❑ Dept. of Transportation 4
Finney
Jim Lerner
Central Valley Region (5)
Fresno Branch Office
Haalth & Welfare
Dept. of Fish & Game M
Jean
District 4
Transportation Projects
Ann Geraghty
9 lY
RWOCB 5R
--77
Tom Napoli
Marine Region
LiDept. of Transportation 5
- I Industrial Projects
-
Central Varlet' Flagon (5)
Redding Branch Office
�I Health &.Welfare
Independent Commissions
Lawrence Newland
District 5
Mike Tollslrup
❑ RWOCB 6
Wayne Hubbard
Dept. of HeallldDrinking Water
❑ Dept. of Transportation 6
❑ California Integrated Waste
Lahonlan Region (6)
0 California Energy Commission
Marc Birnbaum
Managemejft Board
❑ gyyoCe 6v
=pod & AgrICUI)Ure
Environmental Office
District 6
Sue O'teary
Lehontan Region (6)
Native American Heritage
❑ Dept. of Transportation 7
State Water Resources Control
Victorville Branch Office
Food &Agriculture
Comm.
Stephen J. Buswell
Board
❑ RWOCB 7
Tad Bell
Debbie Treadway
District 7
Diane Edwards
Colorado River Basin Region (7)
Dept. of Food and Agriculture
❑ Public Utilities Commission
� pap! of Transportation 6
Division of Gleerl Water Programs
. RWOCB S
Andrew eamsdale
Mike Sim
Santa Ana Ragkm (a)
State Sands Commission
District 8
0 gyro0a e
Retry Sava
❑ Dept, of Transportation e
San Diego Region (Y)
❑ Governor's Office of Planning
Caroline Yea for Kale Welton
& Research
District 9
(
Stale Clearinghouse Planner
i
i
.•. o
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE of PLANNING AND RESEARCH
Gray Davis State Clearinghouse Steven A. Nissen
DIRECTOR
GovENNOR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT
DAT) : November 21, 2001
TO: Tina Robinson
California Department of Parks and Recreation
8885 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
RE: Crystal Cove State Park El Morro Conversion to Campground and Day Use
SCH#: 2001111088
11
I
This is to acknowledge that the State Clearinghouse has received your environmental document '
for state review. The review period assigned by the State Clearinghouse is:
Review Start Date: November l3, 2001
Review End Date: December 12, 2001
We have distributed your document to the following agencies and departments:
California Coastal Commission
Caltrans, District 11
Department of Boating and Waterways
Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region
Department of Fish and Game, Region 5
Department of Parks and Recreation
Native American Heritage Commission
Office of Historic Preservation
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 8
Resources Agency
State Lands Commission
State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality
The State Clearinghouse will provide a closing letter with any state agency comments to your
attention on the date following the close of the review period.
Thank you for your participation in the State Clearinghouse review process.
1400 TENTH STREET F.O. BOX 3044 SACRAMENTO. CALIFORNIA 95812.3044
916-445.0613 FAX 016-333.3018W\C'W.OFR.CA.GO\'ICI.FARINGHOUSE.HTAIL
II
1
I
11
' California Regional Water Quality Control Board
Santa Ana Region
lastoa H• Hickox Internet Address: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov
tan far 3737 Main Street, Suite 500. Riverside, California 92501.3339
Sec•re
SerPhone (909) 782.41303 FAX (909)781.6288
rtunental
Protection
December 12, 2001
L
D
Tina Robinson
California Department of Parks and Recreation
8885 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
RESPONSE TO THE NOTICE OF PREPARATION (NOP) OF
REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED CRYSTAL COVE STATE
CAMPGROUND AND DAY USE PROJECT, SCH# 2001111088
Dear Ms. Robinson:
(a
Gray Davis
Governor
A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
PARK EL MORRO CONVERSION TO
We have -reviewed your letter ottransmittal regarding the proposed project referenced above. As stipulated
in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15063, the lead agency shall
conduct an initial study to determine if the proposed project may have a significant effect on the
environment. If the lead agency determines from the initial study that a Negative Declaration, Mitigated
Negative Declaration, or an EIR is necessary for the proposed project, the CEQA report should address the
following water quality issues:
Water Quality and Beneficial Uses
A. Potential impacts of the proposed project on surface and groundwater quality, both during and
after construction:
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. Any impacts that could cause violation of narrative numerical water quality objectives or
violations of numerical water quality objectives contained in the 1995 Water Quality Control
Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin need to be addressed
discharging into impaired waterbodies listed on the
Proposed projects occurring upstream of or
Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list may be subject to additional controls (specifically Total
Depending on the proposed
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Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs) pursuant to federal regulation.
these controls could include discharge prohibitions, revisions to discharge permits, or
project,
management plans to address water quality impacts. This is especially important in the
Newport Bay, Chino Basin, Bear Big Lake, and Lake Elsinore watersheds. Environmental
documents for proposed projects need to acknowledge that these additional requirements
may be imposed in the future.
a Construction activities (including grading) that could result in water quality impacts.
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Soil characteristics related to water quality (potential for erosion and subsequent siltation,
increase or decrease in percolation).
Impacts of toxic substances handling and/or disposal (if appropriate).
In compliance with the State Water Quality Control Board's antidegradation policy, new
impacts related to the potential increase of toxins
development projects should address any
in urban runoff (compared to runoff from undeveloped areas). These toxins may include
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pesticides, herbicides, grease, oil and other toxins not normally occurring in runoff from
undeveloped areas.
B. Potential impacts of the proposed project on surface and groundwater
beneficial uses.
If the project impacts any riparian or wetland habitats, a complete description of the impacts,
acreage of the impacts, and proposed mitigation should be provided.
' California Environmental Protection Agency
'M Recycled Paper
Tina Robinson
California Department of Parks and Recreation
C. Mitigation of Adverse Impacts.
.2.
II. Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Service
A. Water
• Availability of water for the proposed project.
• Existing infrastructure: location of water supply lines, tie-ins.
• Applications or permits required for water acquisition.
• Impact or calculated project demand on water supply.
B. Waste Disposal/Treatment
December 12, 20011 '
• Types and amounts of waste materials generated by project.
• Proposed waste treatment and disposal methods. Existing, infrastructure:
• treatment facilities: location, current capacity, treatment standards, master treatment
facilities expansion plan (if appropriate)
• treatment plant collection system: location of major trunk lines and tie -Ins, current
capacity
• disposal facilities: location, capacity
• Applications or permits required to Implement waste disposal.
• Impact of calculated project waste volume on capacity of existing and proposed treatment
and disposal facilities.
III. Permits
A. It no new point discharges are created from the proposed project the storm water runoff will be
regulated by an area -wide storm water discharge permit under the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES).
B. A notice of intent (NO1) with the appropriate fees for coverage of the project under the General
Construction Activity Storm Water Runoff Permit must be submitted to the State Water Resources
Control Board at least 30•days prior to initiation of construction activity at the site. This is
required for any construction activity over five acres in area.
C o surface) waters or ant iWaste Dischargeon Requiremestem nts for any discht for arge of wastesidischarge
land isles
required by the Regional Board.
D. if reclaimed water is to be used in the proposed project, Water Reclamation Requirements will
have to be issued by the Regional Board.
We look forward to reviewing the Draft EIR When it becomes available. If you have any questions, please
call me at (909) 782.3221.
Sincerely, n '
Stephanie M. Gasca
Environmental Scientist
Planning Section — Coastal Waters
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e'3 Reryrred Paper
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CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
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P.O. BOX 1768, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658-8915
e�
C•9<! FO R��P
November 21, 2001
Tina Robinson, Associate Park and Recreation Specialist
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Southern Service Center
8885 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 270
San Diego, CA 92101
Re: Notice of Prepi'ation for Crystal Cove State Park, El Morro MHP Conversion
Project
Dear Ms Robinson:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the NOP for the El Morro MHP conversion
project. The City of Newport Beach has no comments on the project at this time. Please
forward a copy of the EIR and all technical appendixes when available. Thank you again.
If you have questions regarding this letter, please contact me at (949) 644-3210 or via e-
mail at icamubell@city newoort-beach.ca.us.
Sincerely,
' James Campbell
Senior Planner
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1 3300 Newport Boulevard, Newport Beach
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION
915 CAPITOL MALL, ROOM 364
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
(916) 653-4082
(916) 057.5390. Fax
December 7, 2001
Tina Robinson
California Department of Parks and Recreation
8885 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
RE: SCH# 2001111088 — Crystal Cove State Park El Morro Conversion to Campground and Day Use
Dear Ms. Robinson:
The Native American Heritage Commission has reviewed the above mentioned NOP. To adequately
assess and mitigate project -related Impacts on archaeological resources, the Commission recommends the
following actions be required:
✓ Contact the appropriate Information Center for a record search. The record search will determine:
• If a part or all of the area of project effect (APE) has been previously surveyed for cultural
resources.
• If any known cultural resources have already been recorded on or adjacent to the APE.
• If the probability is low, moderate, or high that cultural resources are located in the APE.
• If a survey is required to determine whether previously unrecorded cultural resources are present.
✓ if an archaeological Inventory survey Is required, the final stage Is the preparation of a professional report
detailing the findings and recommendations of the records search and field survey.
• The final report containing site forms, site significance, and mitigation measurers should be
submitted immediately to the planning department. All Information regarding site locations, Native
American human remains, and associated funerary objects should be In a separate confidential
addendurn, and not be made available for pubic disclosure.
• The final written report should be submitted within 3 months after work has been completed to the
appropriate regional archaeological Information Center.
✓ Contact the Native American Heritage Commission for:
• A Sacred Lands File Check.
• A list of appropriate Native American Contacts for consultation concerning the project site and to
assist in the mitigation measures.
✓ Lack of surface evidence of archeological resources does not preclude their subsurface existence.
■ Lead agencies should Include in their mitigation plan provisions for the identification and evaluation
of accidentally discovered archeological resources, per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
§15064.5 (f). In areas of Identified archaeological sensitivity, a certified archaeologist and a
culturally affiliated Native American, with knowledge in cultural resources, should monitor all
ground -disturbing activities.
• Lead agencies should include in their mitigation plan provisions for the disposition of recovered
artifacts, In consultation with culturally affiliated Native Americans.
• Lead agencies should Include provisions for discovery of Native American human remains in their
mitigation plan. Health and Safety Code §7050.51 CEQA §15064.5 (e), and Public Resources Code
§5097.98 mandates the process to be followed in the event of an accidental discovery of any human
remains in a location other than a dedicated cemetery.
Sincerely,
Rob Wood
Environmental Specialist III
(916) 653-4040
CC: State Clearinghouse
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FRIENDS OF THE IRVINE COAST
POST OFFICE BOX 671
CORONA DEL MAR
CALIFORNIA 92625
December 11, 2001
MENDS OF
THE EMWE COAST. WC
Tina Robinson, Associate
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Southern Service Center
8885 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 270
San Diego, California 92108 -
' Subject: Notice of Preparation of Environmental Document for El Morro Conversion to
Campground and Day Use
Dear Ms. Robinson:
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The Friends of the Irvine Coast have reviewed the Notice of Preparation identified above
and have some concerns about the project. As you may be aware, the mission of our
organization is to protect, preserve, and restore the wildlife habitat and public open space
within the Newport Coast area, formerly known as the Irvine Coast (part of the Irvine
Ranch lands). We have been active for the past 26 years working to preserve the wildlife
habitat on a majority of the original 9,500 acres of undeveloped Irvine Coast ranch lands.
The proposed conversion of the existing mobile home park to a public campground and
day use area is an important aspect of the Crystal Cove State Park General Plan adopted
in 1982. We are supportive of this conversion and want to ensure that the environmental
document addresses all of the potential impacts associated with this conversion, so that
the project may be implemented soon. Our concerns relate to aesthetics and
compatibility of the improvements, land use compatibility, interim access to the beach,
traffic and parking, and water quality.
Aesthetics and Compatibility of the Improvements
The EIR should fully address the aesthetic Impacts associated with the design and type of
improvements proposed along El Morro Creek as well as the proposed structures
contemplated as part of this project. All improvements to the creek should be designed to
provide a natural appearance, including rock formations, vegetation and natural
alignment. A straight concrete -lined, flat -bottom channel would not be compatible appropriate. While this site has been utilized as a mobile home park for the past several
decades, the architectural design of any permanent structures within the El Morro area
should be reflective of the historic cottages in the Crystal Cove Historic District and not
the mobile homes. The use of angled structures with modern materials and forms is not
compatible with the historic character of the park nor what is expected within this rustic
setting.
Page 2
Response to NOP
peoember 11, 2001
Land Use Compatibility located in close
The EIR should address the issue of compatibility of a public campground
proximity to a public school. It is important to cite specific examples and quantify the
statistics that are available related to conflicts or problems that have occurred where
similar land uses occur. For example, the EIR should identify the length of time that the
San Clemente campground and public school have been adjacent land uses and the
number of conflicts and nature of the conflicts that have occurred. We do not believe that
these two uses are incompatible.
Interim Access To The Beach
The Friends believe that the El Morro beach area should be accessible to the public for
day use during the interim period after the tenants have been removed from the site. This
has been a part of a public park for the past 20-years that has not been accessible to or
useable by the public. In addition, temporary restroom facilities should be installed at the
beach area when public access is provided.
Traffic And Parking
There is a concern that the traffic signal providing for pedestrian access to the EL Morro
beach area may create a traffic hazard with the speed of traffic in the area, and the slope
and curve of the highway at this location. In addition, the northbound motorist may
confuse this pedestrian/ emergency access as the main entrance to the campground,
slowing traffic and creating a hazard. A preferable alternative is to have no traffic signal
at this point, still maintain an emergency access and improve the present tunnel uuse
nder
PCH for yearcampgroundconjunction waccess to ith the campgr uach. The )R should also address if the d facility will be adequate and there
parking proposed
is a possibility of joint use of the parking lot at the school by the park when school is not in
session. it is possible that there will be some overflow parking needed on busy summer
days that could be provided on the school site.
Water ity
eadjacentbeaches should be addressed ed in the EIR. water quality of E1 Morro Creak an
the
Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to review your project and to identify
issues and concerns. Should you need any clarification of our comments, please do not
nent and
docut
working with the Parnct ks Department oWe lookrn the implementation of theard to reviewing theElMorrto Campground.
Sincerely,
J;Zot'Tt2A ,�j p
Fern Pirkle, President
Friends of the Irvine Coast
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MQNT of TN
v' "' United States Department of the Interior
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FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Ecological Services
Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office
2730 Laker Avenue West
Carlsbad, California 92008
In Reply Refer To:
FWS-OR-2424.1
Tina Robinson
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Southern Service Center
8885 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, California 92108
N 0 V 3 0 201C1
Re: — Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Crystal Cove State_
Park El Morro Conversion to Campground and Day Use in the County of Orange,
California
Dear Ms. Robinson:
We have reviewed the above mentioned Notice of Preparation (NOP) for a Draft Environmental
Impact Report (E1R), received November 13, 2001, for the conversion of a mobile home park to
a public campground and day use area in Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County, California.
Crystal Cove State Park (CCSP) is located east and west of the Pacific Coast Highway, just north
of the City of Laguna Niguel. The proposed project involves the removal of existing mobile
homes and associated infrastructure and the creation of a public campground and day use area
with picnic sites, interpretive areas, lifeguard facilities, and restrooms, installation of utilities,
construction of a new entrance road, pedestrian access to the beach, and restoration of El Mono
creek. The project site supports a variety of sensitive biological resources including the federally
threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila califomica califontica), federally
endangered least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), and coastal sage scrub, oak woodland, and
riparian vegetation.
We offer the following comments and recommendations regarding project -associated biological
impacts based on our review of the NOP and our knowledge of declining habitat types and
species within Orange County. We provide these comments in keeping with our agency's
mission to work "with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people." Specifically, we administer the
' Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. We also provide comments on public
notices issued for a Federal permit or license affecting the Nation's waters pursuant to the Clean
Water Act.
' The Central and Coastal Orange County Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat
Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) was adopted in 1996 to provide for the regional protection and
' perpetuation of natural wildlife diversity while allowing compatible land use and appropriate
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Tina Robinson (FWS-OR-2424.1)
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development growth. The law provides an alternative to "single species" conservation through
the formulation of regional, natural community -based, habitat protection programs. The
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NCCP/HCP was developed to provide adequate mitigation for impacts to the California
habitat. Planning for the long-term protection and
gnatcatcher and other Identified Species'
of coastal sage scrub resources is implemented through participating landowners
,
management
and jurisdictions enrolled in the program. The California Department of Parks and Recreation is
Cove State Park is within the Nature
a participating landowner in the NCCP/HCP, and Crystal
Reserve of Orange County (Reserve), which was created to protect a variety of sensitive
biological resources. The Implementing Agreement (IA) for the NCCP/HCP states that activities
1982 CCSP General Plan are authorized within the
conducted in accordance with the adopted
Reserve (IA p. 122). The IA also states that impacts associated with the implementation of the
CCSP General Plan in the Reserve will be evaluated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
California Department of Fish and Game, and the NCCP/HCP Non -Profit Corporation, which
was formed to help implement the NCCP/HCP (IA. p. 122). These entities will assist in
determining appropriate mitigation. Impacts to coastal sage scrub associated with
implementation of the CCSP General Plan will be deducted from the 18 acres of credit that were
granted as a result of coastal sage scrub restoration activities in the park.
To facilitate the evaluation of the proposed project from the standpoint of fish and wildlife
,
protection, we request that the Draft EIR contain the following specific information:
1. A description of the environment in the vicinity of the project from both a local and
regional perspective, including an aerial photograph of the area with the project site
outlined.
2. A complete discussion of the purpose and need for the project and each of its alternatives.
3. A complete description of the proposed project, including the limits of development,
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grading, and fuel modification zones.
4. Quantitative and qualitative assessments of the biological resources and habitat types that
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will be impacted by the proposed project and its alternatives. An assessment of direct,
indirect, and cumulative project impacts to fish and wildlife associated habitats,
particularly growth -accommodating effects of the project (e.g., increased population,
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increased development, increased traffic). All facets of the project (e.g., construction,
implementation, operation, and maintenance) should be included in this assessment.
in area should be addressed in the analysis of
Proposed developments the surrounding
cumulative impacts.
This assessment should include a list of Federal candidate, proposed, or listed species;
State -listed species; and locally sensitive species that are on or near the project site,
information pertaining to their local
including a detailed discussion of these species and
status and distribution. We are particularly interested in any and all information and data
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pertaining to potential impacts to populations of federally listed species, including the
California gnatcatcher and least Eell's vireo.
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The analysis of impacts to biological resources and habitat types should include detailed
maps and tables summarizing specific acreages and locations of all habitat types, as well
as the number and distribution of all Federal candidate, proposed, or listed species; State -
listed species; and locally sensitive species, on or near the project site that may be
affected by the proposed project or project alternatives.
5. A detailed discussion of measures to be taken to avoid, minimize, and offset impacts to
biological resources.
6. A detailed analysis of impacts of the proposed project on the movement of wildlife and
measures proposed to avoid, minimize, and offset impacts to wildlife movement.
7. An assessment of potential impacts to wetlands and jurisdictional waters of the United
States. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act prohibits the unauthorized discharge of
dredged or fill material -into such waters, including wetlands. This section also provides
that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) may issue permits for discharges of
dredged or fill material into jurisdictional waters and wetlands. Potential areas of Corps
jurisdiction should be evaluated and wetlands should be delineated using the
methodology set forth in the Corps' Wetland Delineation Manual (Environmental
Laboratory 1987). The Draft EIR should disclose all impacts to jurisdictional waters and
wetlands, and proposed measures to be taken to avoid and minimize impacts, and
mitigate unavoidable impacts.
We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the referenced NOP for potential impacts on
sensitive and endangered species, wildlife and wetlands. Should you have any questions
pertaining to these comments, please contact Jonathan Snyder of my staff at (760) 431-9440.
Sincerely,
Karen A. Evans
Assistant Field Supervisor
cc: Warren Wong, CDFG
Jae Chung, ACOE
NROC Board
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DISTRICT 12
3337 Michelson Ddve Suito 380
Irvine, CA. 92612.8894
FAX AND MAIL
December 12, 2001
Ms, Tina Robinson
California Department of Parks and Recreation
8885 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
File: IGR/CEQA
SCH#: 999101125
Log #: 870B
SR: PCH
Subject: Crystal Cove State Park, El Morro Conversion to Campground and Day
Use
Dear Ms. Robinson,
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the Notice of Preparation
NOP) for a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Crystal Cove State Park, El
Morro Conversion to Campground and Day Use project. The project proposes to convert an
existing 294 unit mobile park to a public campground and day use area with associated
amenities including picnic sites, interpretive areas, building lifeguard facilities and restrooms
while restoring the creek to a more natural channel. Project implementation will require adding
sewer and other utilities. The project site is located north of Laguna Beach on Pacific Coast
Highway (PCH).
Caltrans District 12 status is a responsible agency on this project and has the following
comments:
1. Comments from Caltrans functional units (Design, Traffic Operations, Traffic Studies
Branch, Traffic Electrical Design, and Hydraulics) were provided to the project consulting
firm of RBF on September 26, 2001. These comments (copies attached) were made based
on a pre -submittal meeting on May 31, 2001 and the review of Permit Engineering
Evaluation Report (PEER). Please address those comments In the DEIR.
2. An Encroachment Permit will be required for any work within the Caltrans right-of-way.
Biological, cultural and water quality impacts will have to be assessed to meet Caltrans
standards.
3. A Cease and Desist Order prohibiting drainage into the area of special biological
significance was issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board and is currently in
effect in this area along PCH. The Environmental document should examine drainage
patterns and construction activity to ensure they are compatible with the order.
Cl
December 12, 2001
Page 2
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Please continue to keep us informed of this project and other future developments, which
could potentially impact our transportation facilities. If you have any questions or need to
contact us, please do not hesitate to call Maryam Molavi at (949) 724-2267.
Sirgcer y,
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Robert F. Jose h,'1✓hief '
Ro P
IGR/Commundy Planning Branch
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c: Terry Roberts, Office of Planning and Research
' Ron Helgeson, HQ IGR/Community Planning
Raouf Moussa, Traffic Operations — [North or South]
Praveen Gupta, Environmental Planning Branch [A or B]
Mori Mohtashemi, Encroachment Permit
Nooshin Yossefi, Project Management
Roger Kao, Hydraulics
N Mill Lim, Design
Jason Osman, Traffic Studies Branch
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Permit # - None
PCH/22.28
Statements on PEER report are inconsistent.
Permittee to comply with ADA standards. Permittee to clearly show layout plans,
pavement delineation plans, typical section with dimensions showing side walk curve
data, ES, EP, bike lane, lane lines, (existing in dashed and proposed in solid line).
Permittee to justify how the left turns are used for Emergency Vehicles ONLY!
Permittee to show station line on the plans. Permittee to positively identify (position,
elevation, depth and name) the high and low risk utilities on permit plans. Permittee to
provide detail for new wheelchair ramp (plan view, elevation and typical section) with
dimensions. Permittee to justify why the existing intersection at State Park may not be
utilized for crossing PCH. Median openings should be spaced at intervals no closer than
500 m. Please see CALTRANS Highway Design Manual (405.5). All plans to be
stamped and signed by a CA registered Civil Engineer. Pennittee to provide full set of
plans. Permittee to provide full set of plans. Permittee to provide 10, minimum parkway
all along the project. Please provide full detail for new access road (plan view, elevation
and typical section). Further comments shall be provided once Engineer has formally
submitted final plans for Permit review.
Ebrahim Mahgerefteh Date - 7/3/01
(949) 724-2153
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TRAFFIC OPERATIONS SOUTH: 07/02/01
PERMIT ENGINEERING EVALUATION REPORT:
• CLARIFY THE RELOCATION OF THE EXISTING SIGNAL AT PCH / EL
MORRO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE, i.e. SHOW THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE EXISTING LOCARTION AND THE PROPOSED ONE.
• JUSTIFY THE INSTALLATION OF THE SECOND TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE
PICNIC AREA/BEACH ACCESS. A SIGNAL WARRANT STUDY MUST BE
COMPLETED PER CALTRANS STANDARD PROVIDING CURRENT AND
FUTURE VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC VOLUME.
• PROVIDE STATIONS ON PCH AND INDICATE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN
THE TWO PROPOSED SIGNALS.
• IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT EL MORRO SCHOOL HAVE PEPARED
PLANS DUE TO ITS EXPANSION WHICH INCLUDE MODIFICATION OF THE
SCHOOL ENTERANCE AT PCH. THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE
COORDINATED WITH EL MORO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS.
• THE SUBMITTED PLANS MUST SHOW THE STATIONING OF PCH AS WELL
AS OTHER PERTINENT MEASUREMENT NEEDED TO REVIEW THE
PROPOSED PROJECT PLANS.
• IN THE PERMIT ENGINEERING EVALUATION REPORT ITEM NO. 5, THE
APPLICANT INDICATED THAT SIGNAL WARRANTS, CAPACITY
ANALYSIS AND SAFETY ANALYSIS ARE NOT APPLICABLE. THIS IS AN
ERROR, ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE REQUIRED.
• CLARIFY HOW THE PROPOSED EXCLUSIVE LEFT TURN POCKET ON THE
NB AND SB PCH WILL BE UTILIZED BY THE EMERGENCY/LIFEGUARD
VEHICLES ONLY AND NOT BY OTHER MOTORISTS; WHAT SIGNAGE
PACKAGE WILL BE USED.
• IN THE SUBMITTED PLANS (4 SHEETS), REVISE THE MATCH LINE
NOTATIONS TO READ " SEE BELOW LEFT" AND " SEE ABOVE RIGHT"
RAOUFFAM
AREA ENGINEER
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State of California
Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
Memorandum
To Raouf Moussa, Chief Date: 07/13/01
Traffic Operation South
File No.
12-ORAI-PM 11.9/12.4
Relocate the existing traffic signal at the
intersection of PCH (SRI) at State Park/
El Morro School Entrance and install new
Signal and pedestrian crosswalk at the
Intersection of PCH (SRI) at El Morro
Picnic Area/ Beach Access.
From . DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
District 12, Traffic Studies Branch
subject : PERMIT ENGINEERING EVALUATION REPORT (PEER)
Traffic Studies Branch is unable to make a constructive review of the incomplete plans you
have submitted to us at this time. The following informations are required at a minimum to
perform our review:
1) Provide the traffic signal warrant study for the proposal to install the new signal at the
intersection of PCH (SRI) and El Morro Picnic Area/ Beach Access.
2) Provide the TASAS Table B accident data for this proposed improvement project.
3) Provide the present and future of pedestrian crossing at the intersection of PCH (SRI)
and El Morro Picnic Area/ Beach Access.
4) Provide the plan shows the existing and new location of the signal at the intersection of
PCH (SRI) and State Park/El Morro School,
5) Provide the traffic control or lane closure plan for this proposed improvement project and
include this item's estimate in the project cost estimate summary.
6) Provide the plan shows the detail of the existing and proposed improvement at these
locations.
7) Provide the sign and delineation to warn the motorists the left turn lane on northbound
and southbound of PCH (SR-1) at El Morro Picnic Area/ Beach Access is using for
emergency and lifeguard vehicles only.
If you have any further questions, please contact Viet Kieu at (949) 724-2372.
Viet Kieu, P.E.
Traffic Studies Branch
Concurred by
JASON OSMAN, Chief
Traffic Studies Branch
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Traffic Electrical Design Comments
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1.
There are no stations on the plan.
2.
Intersection of PCH and picnic area not known. Since stations do no exist, I
cannot identify which intersection the Picnic area refers to ... Crystal Cove covers
3.
5 intersections along PCH.
Items shown on the plan are not reflected in the field. (i.e. Ped Heads, crosswalks,
4.
etc.).
There is no phase diagram.
5.
There is no conductor schedule.
6.
There is no pole equipment schedule.
7.
8.
There are no service points identified. _.
The plan does not show what is being relocated and where it is being relocated.
Please
make these changes ... I will then be able to provide a better review of the plans.
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Hydraulics Comments
Please refer to sheet 1/4 & 2/4 of your submittal, which indicates proposed development
of a 60-unit RV campground, 200-vehicle parking lot and a picnic area on the north side
of SR-1 along with its access road. Please submit hydrology and hydraulics of this
development to ascertain the drainage water flowing towards PCH or in the nearby creek.
Based on the hydrology of the area, there maybe a need to provide a Water Quality Inlet
at the affected area of PCH.
This development is proposed in an environmentally sensitive area. Accordingly indicate
the proposed and permanent BMPS' to comply with the NPDBS permit requirements.
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Table B.1
Potential Sensitive Wildlife Species
Coastal cactus wren'
Coastal California gnatcatcher'
Least Bell's vireo'
Yellow -breasted chat)
Grasshopper sparrow'
Yellow warbler
Western Snowy Plover
Southwestern pond turtle
Orange -throated whiptail'
Northern red -diamond rattlesnake'
Coast patch -nosed snake
San Diego homed lizard'
Pacific pocket mouse
8.1.1.1.7.1 Status
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus couesi
CSC
Polioptila californica
FT, CSC
Vireo bellii pusillus
FE, SE
Icteria virens
CSC
Ammodramus savannarum
MNBMC
Dendroica petechia brewsteri
CSC
Charadrius alexandrinus nivouis
FT
Clemmys marmorata pallida
FSC, CSC
Cnemidophorus hyperythrus beldingi
FSC, CSC
Crotalus ruberTuber
FSC, CtiC_
Salvadora hexalepis virgultea
FSC, CSC
Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillei
FSC, CSC
Perognathus longimembris pacificus
FE, CSC
SE State Endangered
ST State Threatened
FE Federally Endangered
FT Federally Threatened
FSC Federal Special Concern
CSC California Special Concern
MNBMC Migratory Nongame Birds of Management Concern
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Table B.2
Potential Sensitive Plant
Common No Scientltie No Status
Red sand -verbena' Abronia maritima CNPS 4
Aphanisma
Coultefs saltbush
South Coast saltscale
Parish's brittlescale
Davidson's saltscale
Catalina mariposa lily'
Intermediate mariposa lily'
Turkish ruggingt
Many -stemmed dudleya'
Laguna Beach dudleya
Cliff spurge
Aphanfsmd blitoides
CLAPS 113
Atriplex coulteri
CNPS IB
Atriplexpacifrca
CLAPS iB
Atriplex parishii
CNPS 113
Atriplex serenana var davidson
CNP51B
Calachortus catalitme
CNPS 4
Calochortus weedii var intermedius
CLAPS 113
Chorizanthestattcotdesssp.chrysacantha
Locally Rare
Dudleya multicaulis
CNPS 1B
Dudleya stolonifera
rT, ST, CNPS 1B
Euphorbfa misera
CNPS 2
Pahnees grappling hook' Harpagmtella pabneri CNPS 4
Coulter's goldfields' Lasthenia glabrata ssp coulterd CNPS Ill
CLAPS 1B
Nuttall's scrub oak Quercus dutnosa
Crownbcard Verbestnadissita FT ST CNPS 1$
'Known to occur in the Park
SE State Endangered
ST state Threatened
FE Federally Endangered
FT Federally Threatened
CNPS California Nagve Plant Society Lists:
1B: Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California and elsewhere
2: Plank Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in Callfomia, but more common elsewhere'
4: Plants of ilmited distribution — Watch Iiel
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Table B.3 TARGET AND IDENTIFIED SPECIES RECEIVING REGULATORY
rnVVI? Af_F InVnVR TFTF. NrrPfRrP
arboreal salamander
8.1.1.1.1.1.1 Aneides lugubris
black -bellied slender salamander
Batrachose s ni riventris
Catalina mariposa lily
Calochortus catalinae
coastal cactus wren
Campylorhynchus brunneica illus
coastal California Snatcatcher
Polio tila call ornica calf ornica
coastal rosy boa
Lichanura trivir ata rosafusca
coastal western whi tail lizard
Cnemido horns ti ris multiscutatus
Coronado skink
Eumeces skiltonianus inferparietalis
Coulter's matQa 2oppy
Romneya coulteri
co ote
Canis latrans
foothill marl osa lily
Calochortus weedii
olden eagle
_Aquila ch saetos
gray fox
Uroc on cinerepar enteus
heart -leaved pitcher sae
Le ichinia cardio h lla
La ima'Beach dudle a -
Dudleya stoloni era
least Bell's vireo
Verio belli pusilius
northern harrier
Circus cvaneus
Nuttal's scrub oak
Quercus dumosa
orange -throated whi tail lizard
Cnemido horus hyperythrus beldinizi
Pacific pocket mouse
Pero nathus lon imembris pacificus
peregrine falcon
Falco peregnnus
Prairie falcon
Falco mexicanus
uino (Wright's) checkers of
Euphidryos editha quino
red diamond rattlesnake
Crotalis rubber rubber
red -shouldered hawk
Buteo lineatus
Riverside fa' shrimpStre
tore halus woottoni
rough -legged hawk
Buteo la o us
San Bernardino rin neck snake
Diado his punclatus modestus
San Diego desert woodrat
Neotoma le ida intermedia
San Diego fairy shrimP
Branchinecta sandei onensis
San Diego homed lizard
Ph nosoma coronatum blainvillei
Santa Monica Mts. Dudle a
Dudle a c mosa spp ovati olia
sharp -shinned hawk
Acci iterstriatus
small -flowered mountain mahogany
Cercocc us minuti olio
Southern California rufous -crowned sparrow
Aimo hila ru tce s canescens
southwestern arroyo toad
Bu o microsea hus call ornicus
southwestern willow flycatcher
Em idonax trailli extimus
Tecate cypress
Cu ressus forbesii
westerns adefoot toad Coastal Subarea
Sca hio his hammondi
C NCCP Joint EIR/EIS Excerpt
FINAL
Joint Environmental Impact,
Report & Environmental
Impact Statement
Regarding Take Authorization for Implementation
of the County of Orange Central & Coastal
Subregion Natural Community Conservation
Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan
MAY 1996
DOCUMENTS:
• EIR/EIS
• NCCP/HCP implementation Agreement
• NCCP/HCP & EIR/EIS Map Book
■ Comment Letters
■ Response to Comments
• NCCP/HCP (available upon request)
P. NCCP/HCP & EIPJEIS AppendiceS (available for review)
Prepared for:
County of Orange
Environmental Management Agency
300 North Flower
Santa Ana, CA 92702;
and
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U.S. Department of Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
Carlsbad Field Office
2730 Laker Avenue West
Carlsbad, CA 92008
JN5"5.45s3
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• payment of a mitigation fee to the NCCP/HCP management entity to assure the
maintenance of net habitat value by means of habitat restoration/enhancement within
the Reserve System and/or acquisition of CSS habitat lands to be added to the Reserve
System.
7.5.3 Construction -Related Minimization Measures
The NCCP/HCP proposes that certain construction -related minimization measures be
required to assure that development/construction within areas recommended to be authorized
for incidental take of CSS (including allowed uses within the Reserve System) be undertaken
in a manner that minimizes impacts on gnatcatchers presently using or in close proximity to the
habitat to be converted. These, minimization measures would also be expected to benefit other
Identified CSS species.
For participating Landowners, each landowner will comply with the "construction -related
minimization measures" as part of compliance with the landowner's individual Section 10(a)
permit pursuant to the Implementation. Agreement. For "non participating landowners," the
construction -related minimization measures will be integrated with standard
brush-clearance/grading permits at the local government level by signatory local governments
as specified in the Implementation Agreement.
Since the construction -related minimization measures are based on measures required in prior
gnatcatcher Section 7 consultations and Section 10 HCPs, these measures are determined to
constitute significant minimization/rnitigation of impacts of uses proposed to be allowed in or
near CSS occupied by gnatcatchers.
MINIMIZATION/MITIGATION MEASURES - CONSTRUCTION RELATED IMPACTS
I. To the maximum extent practicable, no grading of CSS habitat that is occupied by
nesting gnatcatchers will occur during the breeding season (February 15 through July
15). It is expressly understood that this provision and the remaining provisions of these
"construction -related minimization measures," are subject to public health and safety
considerations. These considerations include unexpected slope stabilization, erosion
control measure and emergency facility repairs. In the event'of such public health and
safety circumstances, landowners or public agencies/utilities will provide
USFWS/CDFG with the maximum practicable notice (or such notice as is specified in
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the NCCP/I-iCP) to allow for capture of gnatcatchers, cactus wrens and any other CSS
Identified Species that are not otherwise flushed and will carry out the following'
measures only to the extent as practicable in the context of the public health and safety
considerations.
2. Prior to the commencement of grading operations or other activities involving
significant soil disturbance, all areas of CSS habitat to be avoided under the provisions
of the NCCP/HCP, shall be identified with temporary fencing Or other markers clearly
visible to construction personnel. Additionally, prior to the commencement of grading
operations or other activities involving disturbance of CSS, a survey will be conducted
to locate gnatcatchers and cactus wrens within 100 feet of the outer extent of projected
soil disturbance activities and the locations of any such species shall be clearly marked
and identified on the construction/grading plans.
3. A monitoring biologist, acceptable to USFWS/CDFG will be on site during any clearing
of CSS. The landowner or relevant public agency/utility will advise USFWS/CDFG at
least seven (7) calendar days (and preferably fourteen (14) calendar days) prior to the
clearing of any habitat occupied by Identified Species to allow USFWSICDFG to work
with the monitoring biologist in connection with bird flushing/eapture activities. The
monitoring biologist will flush Identified Species (avian or other mobile Identified
Species) from occupied habitat areas immediately prior to brush -clearing and
earth -moving activities. If birds cannot be flushed, they will be captured in mist nets, if
feasible, and relocated to areas of the site be protected onto the NCCP/tICP Reserve
System. It will be the responsibility of the monitoring biologist to assure that Identified
bird species will not be directly impacted by brush -clearing and earth -moving
equipment in a manner that also allows for construction activities on a timely basis.
4. Following the completion of initial grading/earth movement activities, all areas of CSS
habitat to be avoided by construction equipment and personnel will be marked with
temporary fencing other appropriate markers clearly visible to construction personnel.
No construction access, parking or storage of equipment or materials will be permitted
within such marked areas.
5. In areas bordering the NCCP Reserve System or Special Linkage/Special Management
areas containing significant CSS identified in the NCCP/HCP for protection, vehicle
transportation routes between cut -and -fill locations will be restricted to a minimum
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number during construction consistent with project construction requirements. waste
dirt or rubble will not be deposited on adjacent CSS identified in the NCCP/HCP for
protection. Preconstruetion meetings involving the monitoring biologist, construction
supervisors and equipment operators will be conducted and documented to ensure
maximum practicable adherence to these measures.
6. CSS identified in the NCCP/HCP for protection and located within the likely dust drift
radius of construction areas shall be periodically .sprayed with water to reduce
' accumulated dust on the leaves as recommended by the monitoring biologist.
7.5.4 Conclusions Regarding Consistency of the NCCP/HCP
Minimization/Avoidance Measures and Mitigation Measures with the NCCP
Conservation Guidelines
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For the reasons set forth in this chapter and in Chapters 5 and 8, the Central and Coastal
NCCP/I-iCP provides for a Reserve System, including specifically designed reserves protecting
core habitat and connectivity features assuring species interchange within and between
reserves, and a comprehensive Adaptive Management Program determined to be -fully
consistent with the substantive requirements of the NTTCCP Conservation Guidelines.
Regarding the assurances of assemblage of the NCCP/HCP Reserve System, the findings for
the Implementation Agreement state that:
"Based on the deed restrictions, provisions of dedication offers, commitments,
pursuant to adopted CEQA mitigation measures and other encumbrances against
those current and future public lands which are to be included in the Reserve System
and Special Linkage Areas as established by the NCCP/HCP, USFWS and CDFG
have determined that the habitat protection afforded under those encumbrances
and by commitments of lands for Reserve System or Special Linkage purposes
pursuant to this Agreement constitute commitments in perpetuity to uses consistent
with the purposes of the NCCP/HCP as set forth herein" (Implementation
Agreement, Section 3.0(j)).
Each of the encumbrances and commitments cited in the above Finding as the basis for the
"commitments in perpetuity" determination is reviewed in detail in the Final EIRMS
Response to Comments:
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The mitigation measures proposed to be provided by participating landowners, in combination ,
with pre-NCCP and NCCP avoidance actions, assure the assemblage of the Reserve System
and the implementation of the Adaptive Management Program. The NCCP/HCP Reserve
System is of sufficient size and the NCCP/HCP assurances of a comprehensive Adaptive
Management Program are such that the NCCP/HCP, in its totality, provides for high
likelihoods for persistence of NCCP Target Species in the subregion. Therefore, the proposed
mitigation measures provide the basis for mitigating those impacts of incidental take which
remain following the application of the minimization and avoidance measures reviewed in
Chapter 5. '
With regard to non participating landowners, the NCCP/HCP provides an option for mitigation
of impacts on the habitat of species listed as threatened or endangered under CESA/FESA
which would place such mitigation actions within the broad framework of a comprehensive
Reserve System and long-term management program. As an alternative mitigation approach
to the FESA Section 7/10 and CESA 2081 processes, the NCCPJHCP mitigation fee option
provides an effective means of addressing incidental take by "non participating landowners."
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