HomeMy WebLinkAboutEA 13-05; Tri-Agencies Water Pipelines Reach 2 Phase I; Administrative Permits (ADMIN) (2)Application Form For
EARLY ASSESSMENT BY THE SPECIAL PROJECTS TEAM
THIS SECTION FOR PLANNING DIVISION USE ONLY
PROJECT (EA) #: DATE SUBMITTED: PLANNER:
PROJECT NAME/TITLE: TrI-Agencies Water Transmission Pipelines Reach 2-Phase 1
PROJECT PROPONENT/DEPT. CONTACT SIGNATURE:
David Ahles/Utilities
iJrtJTHORIZED SIGNATURE:.
Please type your responses in the boxes providecl below. The form may be expanded to accommodate as much
information as you choose to provide.
Have you submitted any previous early assessment applications for this project with Planning staff? If so, please attach a
copy of the original request and the Planning Division's response. No
Is the project part of an approved CIP budget or a future CIP budget? If so, please provide the CIP Project #.
Yes, Approved CIP No. 5008
List any previous and/or anticipated future Planning Commission or City Council actions (e.g., permit approvals, activity
authorizations, etc.) related to this project.
Authorization to Bid (March 2014)
Award of Construction Contract (June 2014)
List any previously certified environmental documents (e.g., EIRs, Negative Declarations).
Program EIR -Water Master Plan, (Approved November 2012)
List any technical studies that have been prepared or that you anticipate will be prepared (e.g., biology, archeology, traffic,
noise, etc.)..None, Will monitor for potential indirect noise-related impacts to special status birds species if project
construction would coincide with the breeding season.
Is the project on City property? If not, has property owner authorization or an easement been secured?
The entire project is located within an existing CMWD Water Easement. This is a replacement project.
p-15 Page 2 of 3 Revised 09/11
Identify the project location. Include specific parcel numbers if possible.
Pirgos Way, Oceanside, CA.
Identify the project schedule. List critical and desired milestones including dates in the development review and construction
process (e.g., pubiic hearing dates, grant application submittal deadlines, public workshops, construction phasing, etc.).
Authorization to Bid (March 2014)
Award of Construction Contract (June 2014)
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL - Describe the project in as much detail as possible. Use as much space as needed. Attach
additional sheets (drawings, etc.) if necessary. Be sure to identify, if applicable, estimated quantities of grading (including
import/export), construction staging areas on and offsite, areas of sensitive vegetation, unique construction technologies,
proposed facility technologies and byproducts, and any public art component. If preliminary or conceptual plans or exhibits
are available, please include two sets with this transmittal.
The Tri-Agencies Water Pipeline (TAP) was constructed in 1978 and is owned and operated by the Carlsbad
Municipal Water District (CMWD). Reach 2 of the TAP is a 21-inch pretension concrete cylinder pipe which
extends from Connection No. 4 to Calavera Hills. As part of Phase 1 the District intends to replace approximately
1,850 linear feet of Reach 2, due to sever corrosion, with a new 18-inch diameter steel pipeline. In addition the
project will include replacement of the existing pressure sustaining facility.
See attached 90% Drawings for additional detail.
Page 3 of 3 Revised 09/11
CITY OF CARLSBAD
REVIEW AND COIVIIVIENT MEMO
FILE COPY
DATE: JANUARY 6. 2014
PROJECT NO(S): EA 13-05 miMir^;.'- • • , REVIEW NO: 1
PROJECT TITLE: WATER PIPELINES REACH 2 PHASE 1
APPUCANT: CITY OF CARLSBAD/DAVID AHLES
TO:
Land Development Engineering • Pubiic Works (Storm Drain) - Clayton Dobbs
• Police Department-J. Sasway • Public Works (Wastewater) - Don Wasko
• Fire Department - Greg Ryan • Public Works (Water) -Jase Warner
• Building Division - Will Foss • Water/Sewer District
• Parks & Recreation (Parl<s/Trails) -Liz Ketabian • Landscape Plancheck Consultant - PELA
• Parks & Recreation (Trees & Medians) - Mike Bliss • School District
• Public Works Department (Streets) - Nick Roque • North County Transit District - Planning Dept.
• Public Works Department (Traffic) - John Kim • Sempra Energy - Land Management
• Public Works Department (Design) - Patrick Vaughan • Caltrans (Send anything adjacent to 1-5)
•ALWAYS SEND EXHIBITS
FROM: PLANNING DIVISION/BARBARA KENNEDY
Please review and submit written comments and/or conditions to the PLAwNllf^Tftl&'Olli^SlDfiW the
Planning Division at 1635 Faraday Avenue, by 1/17/14. IT you have "No Comments, please '^O'^atg; if vou
determine that there are items that ne^WW 'submitted to deem the application "complete" for
processing, please immediately contact the applicant and/or their representatives (via phone or e-mail) to
let them know.
Thank you
COMMENTS:
Signature Date
PLANS ATTACHED
Review & Comment 03/13
PLANNING
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LAND USE/COASTAL PLANNING
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE • LA3900
POLICY AND PROCESSING
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION
April 4,2014
Mr. David Ahles
CITY OF CARLSBAD
Engineering/Public Works Department
163 5 Faraday Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
RE: PRE-CONSTRUCTION BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE SURVEY
TRI-AGENCY WATER LINE REACH 2 - PHASE 1
Dear Mr. Ahles:
At your request. Planning Systems' biologists have conducted a Pre-Construction field survey of
the property in and around the area to be affected by installation of the proposed Tri-Agency
Water Line Reach 2, Phase 1. This field survey is conducted in satisfaction of Mitigation
Measure #Bio IE of EIR 12-01, City of Carlsbad Sewer Master Plan Update. This measure
requires pre-construction biological resource surveys for water projects which will be sited
immediately adjacent to undeveloped open space areas.
The subject project involves the trenching excavation and replacement of an existing 18-inch
diameter potable water line segment that is presently old and in need of replacement. The project
involves the abandonment of the existing pipe and installation of a new 18-inch steel pipe. This
new pipe segment will parallel the old line and then be connected on each end with existing lines.
The old segment will be abandoned in place.
The subject water line segment is approximately 1,860 feet in length, situated largely within an
urbanized area of the south section of the city of Oceanside, CA; however the construction area
crosses a city boundary line, with the westerly 160-foot length situated within the eastern city
limits of the city of Carlsbad, CA. At the westerly point where the project crosses the city
boundary into Carlsbad, a short section of the project enters into a non-urban environment of the
Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank open space preserve. It is this westerly section within the
open space preserve which triggers the Pre-Construction biological survey required by Mitigation
measure #Bio IE.
The project is located wholly within an existing 30-foot wide public utility easement, with
operation and maintenance rights of the water line granted to Carlsbad Municipal Water District
("CMWD"). The pipe replacement work will take place totally within this easement. The
pipeline installation construction will impact an area approximately 8-10 feet in width, with an
approximate 3.5-foot wide trench. The easement and pipe area are shown on Figure 1; Aerial
Photograph.
1530 FARADAY AVENUE • SUITE 100 • CARLSBAD, CA 92008 • (760) 931-0780 • FAX (760) 931-5744 • info@planningsysteinsjiet
0 60 120
Figure 1
Aerial Photograph
TRI-AGENCY WATER LINE (REACH 2 - PHASE 1)
Carlsbad, California
NORTH
April 3, 2014
Beginning on the east end of the construction segment, the pipe will connect to an existing line at
a location approximately 100-feet easterly of Cannon Road, within an SDG&E electric
transmission line easement. Going westerly, the line will travel across Cannon Road into and
within Pirgos Way, a private residential street serving access to the Seagate Terrace single-family
neighborhood. At the west end of Pirgos Way, the line will continue west through the side yard of
a private residence, across the city boundary at the rear property line of the residence, and into the
open space preserve in Carlsbad. Approximately 160-feet into this preserve, the line will connect
with the existing 21-inch Phase II pipeline at the west end of the construction project.
The ground surface elevation of the line varies from 466-feet elevation on the east connection
point, to 391-feet elevation at the west connection. The pipe will be buried totally underground,
with the top of the pipe laid a minimum of 42-inches below the ground surface elevation.
Background
Study Area. The 1,860 foot long water line segment is located at an interface between urban and
rural land uses. Over 90% of the line segment is within an urban residential environment,
including a four-lane arterial roadway (Cannon Road) and overhead electrical transmission towers
and lines at the east end. The central portion of the line travels through the urban improvements
associated with the Seagate Terrace neighborhood. The remaining <10% of the segment lies
within the rural open space preserve in the eastern portion of Carlsbad.
Planning Systems' biologists were provided with a copy of the project plans that clearly depict
the construction work limits, including staging and storage areas. All physical construction will
be within the existing utility easement. Staging and storage will be within the improved private
street.
For purposes of this biological survey, a Study Area of 200-feet in width, including the 30-foot
wide utility easement in the center, was identified. All existing significant biological features
within this Study Area were cataloged. The subject study area was wholly visible and easily
accessible, except for the rear yards of private residences, which were observed by aerial photo
and considered to be fully "Developed".
Survev Methods. The biological investigation performed for this project included a general
biological survey of the study area for plants only. Fieldwork was conducted on March 11, 2014
using a 2013 aerial photograph of the area. The entire project area was traversed on foot. Off-
site areas were also visually inspected from the propeily. Identified vegetation resources were
surveyed visually and documented. The vegetation types were classified according to the
Holland (1986) and Oberbauer (2005) classification systems, in accordance with the requirements
of the Guidelines for Biological Studies categories. City of Carlsbad Planning Department,
9/30/08. A list of detectable flora species was recorded in a field notebook. Plant identifications
were detennined through direct observation.
Vegetation Communities
The project area contains four (4) primary vegetation communities; Developed Land, Disturbed
Land, Annual (non-native) Grassland and Coastal Sage Scrub ("CSS"). These areas are shown on
Figure 2; Vegetation Resources Map.
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LAKE CALAVERA
PRESERVE
(CITY OF CARLSBAD)
CARLSBAD HIGHLANDS
MITIGATION BANK
(CDFW)
VEGETATION RESOURCES
Coastal Sage Scrub
Developed Land*
Disturbed Land
Non-native Grassland •
* Includes roads, sidewalks, homes and
ornamental planting.
" \ ^
0 60 120 240
Figure 2
Vegetation Resources Map
TRI-AGENCY WATER LINE (REACH 2 - PHASE 1)
Carlsbad, California
NORTH
April 3, 2014
Developed Land. Developed land encompasses virtually the entire middle section (majority) of
the study area. This includes wholly urbanized land use area, including residential homes, paved
street, sidew^alks, and domestic yards and associated ornamental landscaping. No sensitive
vegetation exists within this area. No effort at listing individual domestic landscape plants was
made for purposes of this survey.
Disturbed Land. Disturbed lands are found on the eastern and westem ends of the Study Area.
These lands include dirt service roads for underground and overhead utilities, and some
unauthorized off-road recreation vehicle trails on the west. No sensitive vegetation exists within
this area. Small patches of immature Bull thistle {Cirsium vulgare). Telegraph weed {Heterotheca
grandiflora) and Black mustard {Brassica nigra) grow on the periphery of these highly-disturbed
areas. None of this vegetation is sensitive or native.
Non-native Grassland. Within the Study Area, annual (Non-native) grasslands are the primary
vegetation community found within the Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank property on the
westem section of the project construction area. Plants identified within this habitat onsite
include Ripgut grass (Bromus diandrus), Australian brass-buttons {Dienandra fasciculata),
Bermuda grass {Cynodon dactylon). Short-pod mustard (Lepidium nitidum), Cheeseweed (Malva
parviflora), Tumbleweed {Amaranthus albus L.), and Slender wild oat {Avena barbata). None of
these plants are considered native or sensitive. A few isolated individuals of immature Coyote
Bmsh (Baccharis salicifolia) were identified; however these native individuals are not in
sufficient numbers so as to constitute any indication of a native habitat.
Coastal Sage Scrub. Native Diegan CSS occurs within the electrical transmission easement in
the extreme east end of the Study Area. At the west end, the Study Area also overlaps onto the
edge of a vast offsite section of CSS which covers much of the northem section of the Carlsbad
Highlands Mitigation Bank. CSS species identified on both of these east and west ends of the
project include Flat-top Buckwheat {Eriogonum fasciculatum van foliolosum), Califomia
adolphia {Adolphia californica), Califomia Sagebmsh (Artemisia californica). Black Sage (Salvia
mellifera), and purple needlegrass (Nasselapulchra). The CSS on the east end includes an
understory of Califomia broom, purple needlegrass and ashy spike-moss (Selaginella
cinerascens). The CSS vegetation is a sensitive native community. However, on the east end, the
CSS is found under the electrical lines in a pattem of very small, isolated sections, not part of a
significant corridor or substantive wildlife link. Only a very small and insignificant amount
(approximately 500 sf) within this electrical corridor will be impacted by implementation of the
project. This small impact area is expected to naturally re-establish through post-construction
application of erosion control hydroseeding with CSS seeds upon completion of the project
construction. This is the only direct impact to native vegetation that will result from the project.
No CSS will be directly impacted by the project on the west end within the Carlsbad Highlands
Mitigation Bank property. Adjacent Mitigation Bank CSS northerly of the constmction zone will
not be impacted by the constmction operation.
Conclusions
This Pre-Construction Biological Survey concludes that project impacts associated with trenching
excavation and replacement of the Reach 2 - Phase 1 potable water line segment will not directly
or indirectly impact native habitats. Specifically, no impact on sensitive habitats within the
undeveloped Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank open space area on the on the westem end of
the project segment will result. Plarming Systems' biologists conclude that the CSS vegetation
identified in the Mitigation Bank is of a sufficient distance from the actual coi^struction operatioa-
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that it will not be negatively impacted.
It is recommended that prior to construction, a qualified biologist stake the edge of the CSS in
this location, so as to ensure that the construction operation will not result in inadvertent impacts
to the adjacent CSS in this undeveloped open space area.
Further, the approximately 500 sf area of impact to CSS at the eastern end of the segment within
the SDG&E easement in Oceanside is also not considered a significant impact to sensitive
habitats because the CSS vegetation in the area is not of sufficient size or shape as to constitute a
habitat community, and the impact area is expected to re-establish.
It is recommended that upon completion of construction in this eastern CSS section, that erosion
control consisting of a CSS hydroseed mix be placed over the impact area and allowed to grow in
via natural propagation and recruitment resulting from the hydroseeding operation.
This survey concludes that the project will not result in any significant impacts to the adjacent
Carlsbad Highlands Mitigation Bank open space preserve, and that no significant impacts to any
native or sensitive vegetation will result from the project. Further, no impacts to wetlands or
riparian habitat or area otherwise jurisdictional delineation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Califomia Department of Fish and Game, and Califomia Coastal Commission occurs within or
near the study area..
Please let me know if you need any additional information on the above survey results.
Sirjc^erely,
Paul J. Klukas
Director of Planning
Supporting Documentation
City of Carlsbad Planning Department, Guidelines for Biological Studies. 9/30/08.
Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson Manual. Higher Plants of Califomia. University of Califomia
Press, Berkeley, California.
Holland, Robert F. 1986. "Preliminary Vegetative Plant Communities of Califomia."
Department of Fish and Game, Natural Heritage Section.
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