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Home My WebLink About3184; CANNON ROAD WEST; MITIGATION MONITORING RESULTS, WEEKS 20 & 21; 1999-08-27RECEIVE &gative Science and Engineering AUG 3 '0 1999 3511 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 302 San Diego, CA 92108-4003 Phone/Fax: 619-640-9379 /619-640-0763 www.ise-advJtJ&'daERlNG DEPARTMENT August 27, 1999 Mr. Doug Gettinger Ogden Environmental and Energy, Inc. 5510 Morehouse Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Re: Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #21 (8-26-99) (ISE Report #99-009u, 035) Dear Mr. Gettinger: Pursuant to U.S.F.W.S. permit approval requirements, Investigative Science and Engineering (ISE) has examined potential noise impacts to the riparian habitat along the proposed Cannon Road extension alignment located in Carlsbad, California. A field survey of the site was performed on August 26, 1999. The results of that survey are presented in this letter report. ISO Introduction and Definitions Site Characterization The Cannon Road West Project is located in the City of Carlsbad in San Diego County, California (refer to Figure 1). This project will extend Cannon Road approximately 2 miles east from its terminus at I-S to El Camino Real. The Cannon Road extension consists of two bridge crossings and traverses through and adjacent to habitat for the federally endangered/threatened least Bell's vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, and California gnatcatcher. The predominate' land use of the project area is undisturbed open space. Wetlands originating from the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and Agua Hedionda Creek are located adjacent to the north and commercial developments are present to the west. Elevations for the project area have been altered due to construction activities; however, pre-construction elevations range from approximately 100 feet above mean sea level (MSL) along the terrace over looking Agua Hedionda Lagoon down to approximately 5 feet above MSL along the banks of the Agua Hedionda Creek. Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results -Week #21 (8-26-99) ISE Report #99-009u, 035 August 27, 1999 Page 2 .: . . 1 - / 1127 / ,jL_ C: ProjectPJignmen 1' Area \ . • : '1 ___________ J ....i .. 'C ,-•' ______ ZV Figure 1: Project Alignment Area Map (Thomas Guide Pages 1126, 1127, and 1107) Acoustical Definitions Airborne sound is a rapid fluctuation of air pressure above and below atmospheric levels. The loudest sounds the human ear can hear conformably is approximately one trillion (a one with 12 zeros following it) times the acoustic energy that the ear can barely detect. Because of this vast range, any attempt to represent the acoustic intensity of a particular sound on a linear scale becomes unwieldy. Because of this, a logarithmic ratio known as the decibel (dB) is commonly employed. A sound level of zero '0" dB is scaled such that it is defined as the threshold of human hearing and would be barely audible to a human of normal hearing under extremely quiet listening conditions and would correspond to a sound pressure level equal to the reference level. Most of the sounds we hear in the environment do not consist of a single frequency, but rather a broad band of frequencies differing in sound level. The intensities of each frequency add to generate the sound we hear. The method commonly used to quantify environmental sounds consists of determining all of the frequencies of a sound according .to a weighting system that reflects the nonlinear response characteristics of the human ear. This is called "A" weighting, and the decibel level measured is called the A-weighted sound level (or dBA). In practice, the level of a noise source is conveniently measured using a sound level meter that includes a filter corresponding to the dBA curve. Although the A-weighted sound level may adequately indicate the level of environmental noise at any instant in time, community noise levels vary continuously. Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #21 (8-26-99) ISE Report #99-009u, 035 August 27, 1999 Page Environmental noise includes a conglomeration of sounds from distant sources that create a relatively steady background noise in which no particular source is identifiable. For this type of noise, a single descriptor called the Leq (or equivalent sound level) is used. Leq is the energy-mean A-weighted sound level during a measured time interval. It is the 'equivalent' constant sound level that would have to be produced by a given source to equal the fluctuating level measured. To describe time-varying character of environmental noise, the statistical noise descriptors L10, L50, and L90 are commonly used. They are the noise levels equaled or exceeded during 10 percent, 50 percent, and 90 percent of a stated time. Sound levels associated with the L10 typically describe transient or short-term events, while levels associated with the L90 describe the steady state (or most prevalent) noise conditions. In addition, it is often desirable to know the acoustic range of the noise source being measured. This is accomplished through the maximum and minimum measured sound level (Lmax and Lmin) indicators. The Lmin value obtained for a particular monitoring location is often called the acoustic floor for that location. jB Applicable Significance Criteria Wildlife Habitat Regulations Construction and operational noise generated by this project is regulated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S.F.W.S.) and the California Department of Fish and Game for its effect on federally endangered least Bell's vireo (Vireo be/Ill push/us) and the southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trail/fl extrimus) and the federally threatened California gnatcatcher (Polio ptlla california). Resource agencies have theorized that elevated noise levels can potentially mask songs of the least Bell's vireo which are used to attract mates and defend territories. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) in a 1990 study entitled "Comprehensive Species Management Plan for the least Bell's vireo" theoretically estimated that {traffic} noise levels above 60 dBA Leq in vireo breeding areas may sufficiently mask the vireo's song and potentially reduce the reproductive success of this species during their breeding season that occurs from March 1 to September 1. Since sustained noise exposure (indicated by the L90 metric) produces greater masking effects than intermittent peak levels, this report will analyze both effects. The SANDAG report conclusions were unclear as to the specific time interval of the measurement, but it is typically taken as one hour. Although research is on going regarding similar noise impacts to the southwestern willow flycatcher and California gnatcatcher, in the absence of species-specific data, these same study results .are applied by the Service to this bird species as well. 4 Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results -Week #21 (8-2699) ISE Report #99-009u, 035 August 27, 1999 Page 4 Analysis Methodology Existing Conditions Field Survey Four Larson Davis Model 700 ANSI Type 2 integrating sound level meters were used as the data collection devices. The meters were positioned at the locations shown below in Figure 2 and the accompanying matrix. :\!cp ML #2 IVIL *1 ) ,,/ 'T; / -' - I ••.• - ¼ c,L4I 7 :: N T ;MN 0 1/2 1MILE ri I / I 1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 FEET Figure 2: Project Area Topography (USGS 7.5 San Luis Rey Quadrangle 1:12000) Monitor Sta. Eng. Sta. No. GPS Lat .GPS. Lon. Description ML #1 102+00 330 08.780 N 1170 18.195W Western end of alignment ML #2 113+00 330 08.826 N 1170 18.011 W Central point of alignment ML #3 n/a 330 08.952 N 1170 17.895W Eastern end of alignment ML #4 n/a 330 08.194 N 1170 18.401 W Macario Canyon Area EPE = Estimated Position Error = 49' Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results.— Week #21 (8-26-99) ISE Report #99-009u, 035 August 27, 1999 Page 5 The meters were mounted on tripods roughly 5 feet above the ground and were calibrated before and after each field deployment. Each station was programmed to record and log the following noise metrics each hour: Leq-h, Lmax, Lmin, L10, L50, and L90. Findings Field Monitorina Results A field survey was performed to ascertain construction noise levels within the habitat area due to excavating, bridge fabrication, light grading and associated ancillary activities. To date, the least Bell's vireo has been predominantly located between station markers 103+00 and 108+00. These station markers correlate with ISE monitoring locations 1 and 2. Additional sightings of the least Bell's vireo have been observed within Macano Canyon (approximately 1-mile southwest of ISE monitoring location ML 1) and in the /4 acre habitat located between the El Camino Real / Cannon Road access bridge and the haul road entrance (approximately 300 feet south of ISE monitoring location ML 3). During the Week #21 monitoring period, no construction activities associated with the Cannon Road West Project were identified. Activities and equipment observed at Macario Canyon were associated with the proposed alignment of Faraday Road (to connect with Cannon Road) and included five (5) CAT scrapers (model 657E) working in a continuous short haul cycle long the eastern alignment limit, two (2) CAT dozers (model D9R), a CAT dozer (model n/a), and water truck. Testing conditions. during the monitoring intervals were clear with an average barometric pressure reading of 30.05 in-Hg, an average westerly wind speed of 0 to 5 miles per hour (MPH), and an approximate mean temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The results of the sound level monitoring are shown below in Table 1. The values for the energy equivalent sound level (Leq), the maximum and minimum measured sound levels (Lmax and Lmin), and the statistical indicators L10, L50, and L90, are given for each monitoring location. Areas in excess of the i30-dBA Leq-h impact threshold are underlined. Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #21 (8-26-99) ISE Report #99-009u, 035 August 27, 1999 Page 6 Table 1: Measured Construction Levels - Cannon Road Alignment I Site Leq. 1-Hour NoiseLeve!.Descriptors in dBA Lmax Lmin .LiO .1-50 L90 9:00 a.m. ML 1 51.0 74.0 47.5 49.5 48.5 48.0 ML 2 54.0 70.0 43.0 57.0 52.0 47.0 ML 56.0 74.0 41.0 59.0 55.0 49.0 ML 4 53.0 76.0 38.5 52.5 42.0 40.0 10:00 a.m. MI-1 50.5 71.0 48.0 51.0 49.0 48.5 ML 2 51.5 74.5 41.0 52.5 48.5 44.5 MI-3 58.0 79.5 43.5 59.5 55.0 49.0 MI-4 54.0 75.5 39.5 51.0 42.5 40.5 11:00 a.m. ML 1 49.5 72.5 46.5 52.5 50.5 49.0 ML 53.5 72.0 41.5 54.5 48.5 45.0 MI-3 57.5 79.0 43.5 59.5 56.0 51.0 MI-4 58.5 87.5 40.5 65.5 55.5 46.5 12:00 p.m. ML 1 53.5 725 47.5 54.5 50.0 48.5 MI-2 54.0 73.5 42.5 55.5 49.5 46.0 MI-3 57.5 73.0 44.5 59.5 55.5 51.0 ML 60.5 76.0 .46.0 66.0 56.5 52.0 1:00 P.M. ML 1 52.5 71.5 46.5 53.5 51.0 49.5 ML 2 54.5 79.5 39.0 51.5 45.5 42.0 ML 3 58.5 80.0 44.5 60.5 57.0 52.0 ML 4 57.5 84.5 39.5 64.5 54.5 45.5 Measurements collected at monitoring locations, ML 1 through ML 4, reflect typical sound levels associated with the community setting observed and the topography of the surrounding terrain. With the exception of location ML 4 (Macano Canyon), all monitoring stations were below the 60-dBA Leq-h impact threshold during the Week #21 monitoring period. The highest hourly energy equivalent sound level (Leq-h) recorded for monitoring locations ML 1 through 3 was 58.5 dBA and was due Mr. Doug .Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #21 (8-26-99) ISE Report #99-009u, 035 August 27, 1999 Page 7 entirely to traffic activity along El Camino Real. Additionally, the highest Leq-h recorded at monitoring location ML 4 was 60.5 dBA. The exceedance recorded at ML 4 during the 12:00 p.m. monitoring' interval was due to the close proximity of equipment staging/idling to the habitat. Finally, the background noise level (L90) for the Macano Canyon monitoring station (ML 4) never exceeded 52.0 dBA thus enabling vireo communication over 90 percent of any stated time interval. EM Recommendations With the exception of ML 4 (Macano Canyon), All monitoring locations were observed to be below the 60-dBA Leq impact threshold throughout the duration of the Week #21 monitoring period. The exceedances recorded at ML 4 were attributed to the close proximity of equipment staging/idling to the habitat boundary. The following mitigation measures are recommended. Idling of equipment should be kept to a minimum, especially in areas immediately adjacent to the habitat of concern. Staging and maintenance of equipment should be performed away from the habitat boundary. Should you have any questions regarding the above conclusion, please do not hesitate to contact me at (619) 640-9379. Sincere , Rick Tavares, REA, INCE Project Principal Investigative Science and Engineering Cc: Shem Howard, City of Carlsbad Glen Laube, ISE i Investigative Science and Engineering 3511 Carnino Del Rio South, Suite 302 Phone,Fax: 619-640-9379 /619-640-0763 San Diego, CA 92108-4003 www.ise-advantage.com August 23, 1999 RECEIVED Mr. Doug Gethnger AUG 25 1999 Ogden Environmental and Energy, Inc. 5510 Morehouse Drive ENGINEERING San Diego, CA 92121 DEPARTMENT Re: Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #20 (8-20-99) (ISE Report #99-009t, 035) Dear Mr. Gettinger: Pursuant to U.S.F.W.S. permit approval requirements, Investigative Science and Engineering (lSE) has examined potential noise impacts to the riparian habitat along the proposed Cannon Road extension alignment located in Carlsbad, California. A field survey of the site was performed on August 20, .1999. The results of that survey are presented in this letter report. ES Introduction and Definitions Site Characterization The Cannon Road West Project is located in the City of Carlsbad in San Diego County, California (refer to Figure 1). This project will extend Cannon Road approximately 2 miles east from its terminus at 1-5 to El Camino Real. The Cannon Road extension consists of two bridge crossings and traverses through and adjacent to habitat for the federally endangered/threatened least Bell's vireo, southwestern willow flycatcher, and California gnatcatcher. The predominate land use of the project area is undisturbed open space. Wetlands originating from the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and Agua Hedionda Creek are located adjacent to the north and commercial developments are present to the west. Elevations for the project area have been altered due to construction activities; however, pre-construction elevations range from approximately 100 feet above mean sea level (MSL) along the terrace over looking Agua Hedionda Lagoon down to approximately 5 feet above MSL along the banks of the Agua Hediorda Creek. '- c:.i; r -..- - •C èk" -" . ':.;r-' - 4t. ) ç ct"S r ' k \ , Komi 1 Mr. Doug Gettinger .• Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results —Week #20 (8-20-99) ISE Report #99-009t, 035 ;, . ..4 * August 23, 1999 - Page 2 - 14 I 1 Figure 1: Project Alignment Area, Map (Thomas Guide Pages 1126,1127, and 1107) Acoustical Definitions - . - '•'•. .. - s. -. , . ' Airborne sound is .à rapid fluctuãtiôn of - air, pressure above and below * ' - atmospheric levels. The loudest sounds the human ear can hear conformably is , * - S - approximately one trillion (a one with 12 zeros following it) times the acoustic energy -' - that the ear can barely detect. Because of this vast range, any attempt to represent the acoustic intensity of a particular sound on à'linear scale becomes unwieldy. Becauseof - this, a logarithmic ratiO known as the decibel (dB) is commonly employed. A sound levelS -. of zero "0" dB is scaled such that-it is defined-as the threshold of human hearing and , would be barely audible to a human of normal hearing under extremely quiet listening- - - conditions and would correspond to a sound pressure level equal-to the reference level.' - - - Most of the sounds we hear in the,envirohmertdo not consist of.a single - '.- frequency, but rather a broad band of frequencies differing in sound level. The - - , intensities of each frequency add to gehérate the sound we hear. The method commonly used to quantify environmental sounds consists, of determining all of the frequencies of a sound according to a weighting system that reflects the nonlinear - . response characteristics of the human ear. This is called "A" weighting, and the decibel -: ,. . level measured is called the A-weighted sound level (or dBA). In practice, the level of a'- noise source is conveniently measured usinga sound level meter that include's a filter * corresponding to the dBA curve Although the A-weighted sound level rna 'adequately indicate the level of environmental noise at any instant in- time, community noise .levels vary continuously. .-. '' :' - .1.f ' - - .• - -- .4- 5 - * I - _ S ,),, •. , , . 5,-. '. -- , - :, - - - . -: -S-" -' 5 . S - Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results -Week #20 (8-20-99) ISE Report #99-009t, 035 August 23, 1999 Page Environmental noise includes a conglomeration of sounds from distant sources that create a relatively steady background noise in which no particular source is identifiable. For this type of noise, a single descriptor called the Leq ((Sr equivalent sound level) is used. Leq is the energy-mean A-weighted sound level during a measured time interval. It is the 'equivalent' constant sound level that would have to be produced by a given source to equal the fluctuating level measured. To describe time-varying character of environmental noise, the statistical noise descriptors L10, L50, and L90 are commonly used. They are the noise levels equaled or exceeded during 10 percent, 50 percent, and 90 percent of a stated time. Sound levels associated with the LIO typically describe transient or short-term events, while levels associated with the L90 describe the steady state (or most prevalent) noise conditions. In addition, it is often desirable to know the acoustic range of the noise source being measured. This is accomplished through the maximum and minimum measured sound level (Lmax and Lmin) indicators. The Lmin value obtained for a particular monitoring location is often called the acoustic flOor for that location. Applicable Significance Criteria Wildlife Habitat Regulations Construction and operational noise generated by this project is regulated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S.F.W.S.) and the California Department of Fish and Game for its effect on federally endangered least Bell's vireo (Vireo be//il pusillus) and the southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trail/fl extrimus) and the federally threatened California gnatcatcher (Polioptila california). Resource agencies have theorized that elevated noise levels can potentially mask songs of the least Bell's vireo which are used to attract mates and defend territories. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) in a 1990 study entitled "Comprehensive Species Management Plan for the least Bell's vireo" theoretically estimated that {traffic} noise levels above 60 dBA Leq in vireo breeding areas may sufficiently mask the vireo's song and potentially reduce the reproductive success of this species during their breeding season that occurs from March 1 to September 1. Since sustained noise exposure (indicated by the L90 metric) produces greater masking effects than intermittent peak levels, this report will analyze both effects. The SANDAG report conclusions were unclear as to the specific time interval of the measurement, but it is typically taken as one hour. Although research is on going regarding similar noise impacts to the southwestern willow flycatcher and California gnatcatcher, in the absence of species-specific data, these same study results are applied by the Service to this bird species as well. Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #20 (8-20-99) ISE Report #99-009t, 035 August 23, 1999 Page 4 Analysis Methodology Existing Conditions Field Survey Four Larson Davis Model 700 ANSI Type 2 integrating sound level meters were used as the data collection devices. The meters were positioned at the locations shown below in Figure 2 and the accompanying matrix. intor IVIL .-,---.--..----.---- / S. 357/Jf \ 0 1/2 1MILE TN 1' i !vIN I / 13Y.0 (I 1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 FEET I -I Figure 2: Project Area Topography (USGS 7.5 San Luis Rey Quadrangle 1:12000) Monitor Sta. Eng. Sta. No. GPS Làt GPS.Lon Description ML #1 102+00 330 08.780 N 1170 18.195W Western end of alignment ML #2 113+00 330 08.826 N 1170 18.011 W Central point of alignment ML #3 n/a 330 08.952 N 1170 17.895W Eastern end of alignment ML #4 n/a 330 08.194 N 1170 18.401 W Macario Canyon Area EPE = Estimated Position Error = 49' Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #20 (8-20-99) ISE Report #99-009t, 035 August 23, 1999 Page The meters were mounted on tripods roughly 5 feet above the ground and were calibrated before and after each field deployment. Each station was programmed to record and log the following noise metrics each hour: Leq-h, Lmax, Lmin, L10, L50, and L90. Ix- Field Monitoring Results A field survey was performed to ascertain construction noise levels within the habitat area due to excavating, bridge fabrication, light grading and associated ancillary activities. To date, the least Bell's vireo has been predominantly located between station markers 103+00 and 108+00. These station markers correlate. with ISE monitoring locations I and 2. Additional sightings of the least Bell's vireo have been observed within Macario Canyon (approximately 1-mile southwest of ISE monitoring location ML 1) and in the 1/4 acre habitat located between the El Camino Real / Cannon Road access bridge and the haul road entrance (approximately 300 feet south of ISE monitoring location ML 3). During the Week #20 monitoring period, no construction activities associated with the Cannon Road West Project were identified. Activities and equipment observed at Macario Canyon were associated with connection of the Faraday haul road to the Cannon Road alignment and included a single CAT dozer (model n/a), and water truck. Testing conditions during the monitoring intervals were clear with an average barometric pressure reading of 30.05 in-Hg, an average westerly wind speed of 0 to 3 miles per hour. (MPH), and an approximate mean temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The results of the sound level monitoring are shown below in Table 1. The values for the energy equivalent sound level (Leq), the maximum and minimum measured sound levels (1-ma and Lmin), and the statistical indicators L10, L50, and L90, are given for each monitoring location. Areas in excess of the 60-dBA Leq-h impact threshold are underlined. Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #20 (8-20-99) ISE Report #99-009t, 035 August 23, 1999 Page Table 1: Measured Construction Levels - Cannon Road Alignment I 1-Hour Noise Level. Descriptors indBA 1: Site '.'Leg. Lmax Lmin LIO L50 L90 9:00 a.m. ML 1* n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a MI-2 51.0 69.5 46.0 52.5 48.0 47.0 MI-3 54.5 74.0 42.0 57.0 53.0 47.5 ML 4 53.0 76.0 38.5 52.5 42.0 40.0 10:00 a.m. ML 1* n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a MI-2 51.5 61.5 47.0 54.5 49.5 48.0 ML 54.0 61.5 41.5 57.0 53.5 49.0 MI-4 57.5 68.0, 39.5 60.5 56.5 41.5 11:00 a.m. ML 1* 5 n/a n/ n/a n/a n/a n/a MI-2 51.5 68.0 47.0 54.5 50.0 48.0 ML 3 54.5 63.0 42.5 57.5 54.0 48.5 MI-4 47.5 65.5 39.5 50.0 42.0 40.5 12:00 p.m. ML 1* n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a ML 2 53.0 69.5 47.0 55.0 50.0 48.0 MIL 55.5 71.5 43.0 58.0 54.0 49.5 MI-4 55.0 75.5 5 39.5 56.5 43.0 41.0 1:00 P.M. ML 1* n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a ML 2 53.5 68.5 47.0 58.0 49.5 47.5 MI-3 56.0 71.0 42.0 58.5 55.0 50.0 ML 4 54.5 75.0 39.5 56.0 44.0 40.5 *: ML 1 data not available due to theft of equipment Measurements collected at monitoring locations, ML 1 through ML 4, reflect typical sound levels associated with the community setting observed and the topography of the surrounding terrain. Measurements for monitoring location ML 1 were not available for the Week #20 monitoring period due to theft (i.e., the monitoring equipment was stolen off the jobsite). All remaining monitoring stations were below the 60-dBA Leq-h impact threshold during the Week #20. monitoring period. The highest Mr. Doug Gettinger Cannon Road Mitigation Monitoring Results - Week #20 (8-20-99) ISE Report #99-009t, 035 August 23, 1999 Page hourly energy equivalent sound level (Leq-h) recorded for monitoring locations ML 1 through 3 was 56.0 dBA and was due entirely to traffic activity along El Camino Real. Additionally, the highest Leq-h recorded at monitoring location ML 4 was 57.5 dBA. These levels are lower than in previous weeks due to discussions between ISE, City staff, and the project foreman on methods to reduce the exceedance. Recommendations All monitoring locations were observed to be below the 60-dBA Leq impact threshold throughout the duration of the Week #20 monitoring period. ISE recommends no further mitigation at this time. Should you have any questions regarding the above conclusion, please do not hesitate to contact me at (619) 640-9379. Sincerely, Rick Tavares, REA, INCE Project Principal Investigative Science and Engineering Cc: Sherri Howard, City of Carlsbad Glen Laube, ISE L. d3ETA. rp o a