B08_Att_No__3__Environmental_Assessment_for_Cottonwood.pdf

Environmental Assessment for the McCain Valley Campgrounds Water System Upgrades and Campground Modifications Project September 2020 C-1

Appendix C: Project Design Features

The following Project Design Features would be implemented to protect resources during removal, campground improvement, and water supply upgrade work.

General Project Design Features:

• All motorized travel by BLM employees, volunteers, and contractors will be on approved routes.

• To prevent the spread of invasive plant species, all vehicles, tools, and equipment will be adequately cleaned prior to entering the Project Areas.

• All work proposed shall be specifically described and a location provided in advance for BLM review, approval, and coordination prior to implementation. A BLM Wildlife Biologist and Archaeologist and/or BLM-approved specialist from an external agency may need to be consulted before on-the-ground work, and may be required to be present during operations to oversee the protection of biological and culturally sensitive resources.

• Equipment and vehicles will be stored in previously disturbed areas/roadways.

• Soil, timber, and boulders will be acquired from BLM-approved locations.

• Water system work will be done within existing roadways as much as possible.

• Motorized equipment used for campground construction or other activities would not conduct routine maintenance and refueling activities within 200 feet of any drainage (perennial or ephemeral). Campground construction personnel would report any spills of fuel or hydraulic fluids to the El Centro Field Office Manager and would remove and properly dispose of any contaminated soil.

Biological Resources Project Design Features:

• The Designated Biologist(s) will conduct a pre-work survey to ensure no occupied burrows, sensitive plant species, or other sensitive biological resources are present within the construction areas. Resource setbacks will be identified if needed to avoid impacts to specific biological resources.

• During peak breeding season (February 15 to August 31), immediately prior to the commencement of any ground disturbing activity the Designated Biologist(s) shall conduct a preconstruction nest survey to include a ¼ mile buffer from the edge of the Project Area.

o If an active nest is located, the nest area shall be flagged for avoidance, and a 300-foot buffer zone shall be delineated for smaller songbirds, flagged, or otherwise marked; 500-foot buffers shall be established for Federally listed bird nests and a ¼ mile buffer for nesting raptors, including eagles.

o No work activity shall occur within avoidance buffer areas until the Designated Biologist(s) determines that the fledglings are independent of the nest or has verified nest failure.

o The BLM will contact the USFWS to identify construction methods that will avoid species impacts if either least Bell’s vireo or southwestern willow flycatcher nests or individuals are observed.

• The Designated Biologist(s) will implement a worker education program. Implement the following general standard practices:

o Feeding of wildlife, leaving of food or trash as an attractive nuisance to wildlife, collection of native plants, or harassing of wildlife on a site is prohibited.

September 2020 C-2 o Any wildlife encountered during the course of work is allowed to leave the area on its own, free from harassment.

o All construction materials undergo visual inspection for the presence of wildlife prior to their movement or use. Any wildlife encountered during the course of these inspections must be allowed to leave the construction area unharmed.

• Resource setbacks identified by the Designated Biologist will avoid and minimize the adverse effects to specific biological resources. Setbacks are a stipulation or condition associated with all native vegetation. Special attention goes towards resource setbacks around trees to prevent soil compaction and impact to roots.

• Natural, existing vegetation shall be retained and protected where shown on the plans and to the maximum extent possible. Areas outside the grading limits shown on the plans shall not be disturbed without written permission from the BLM.

• Access to areas not contiguous to areas already graded shall be routed to minimize damage to existing vegetation and existing roads or other visible access routes to be used.

• During ground disturbing activities, the area of disturbance is confined to the smallest practical area, considering topography, placement of facilities, location of sensitive biological resources, public health and safety, and other limiting factors. Work area boundaries identified with flagging or other marking will minimize surface disturbance associated with vehicle straying.

• During construction, Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) will be established for all sensitive biological resources located within 50 feet of ground disturbing activities for the duration of these activities. ESA temporary fencing or barriers will be placed within an appropriate buffer around the boundaries of all resource locations. ESAs will be designated by temporary fencing, flagging or barriers to alert workers to avoid the sensitive resources.

• Obligations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act should be reconsidered if:

o New information reveals effects of the agency action that may affect listed species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not previously considered;

o This action is subsequently modified in a manner that was not considered; or o A new species is listed or critical habitat is designated that may be affected by the action.

Cultural Resources Project Design Features:

• A BLM approved archaeologist(s) will be on site to ensure that avoidance and minimization measures are appropriately implemented and are effective for any ground disturbing work in the following areas:

o Cottonwood Campground: Before any work can begin in this area, the BLM archaeologist will be consulted as to specific locations requiring monitoring.

o Lark Canyon Campground.

o Lark Canyon Day Use Area as needed.

• If previously unidentified archaeological resources are uncovered during construction, work in the vicinity of the find(s) shall halt immediately and the BLM El Centro Field Manager and BLM or BLM-approved Archaeologist shall be notified so that the resource value can be documented and assess as soon as possible.

• If human remains and/or cultural items defined by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) are inadvertently discovered during construction activities, all work in the vicinity of the find shall cease and the San Diego County Coroner and the BLM El Centro Field Office Archaeologist shall be contacted immediately pursuant to Section (3)(d)(1) of the

September 2020 C-3

Act. Further, pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations 10.4 activities must stop in the vicinity of the discovery and remain protected for 30 days or until notified to proceed by the Field Office.

Protective and/or mitigation measures specified by the Field Office may be required.

• During construction, ESAs will be established for all cultural resources located within 50 feet of ground disturbing activities for the duration of these activities. ESA fencing or barriers will be placed within an appropriate buffer around the boundaries of all cultural resource locations. ESAs will be designated by temporary fencing, flagging or barriers to alert workers to avoid the sensitive resources.

• Prior to project construction, all non-archaeological project personnel will be briefed by the archaeologist on the importance of, and the legal basis for, the protection of significant archaeological resources and what to do if a resource is found.

Erosion and Sediment Control Project Design Features:

• The contractor shall utilize storm water quality best management practices (BMPs) to minimize soil erosion, sedimentation, increased pollutant loads and changed water flow characteristics resulting from land disturbing activities, to the maximum extent possible, so as to minimize pollution of receiving waters.

• The contractor will always be responsible for implementing and maintaining erosion and sediment control measures before, during, and after construction until the site is stabilized.

• At a minimum, all BMPs shown on the Grading and Erosion Control Plan shall be correctly installed and functioning at all times during construction. All temporary and permanent erosion and sedimentation control measures shall be maintained and repaired as needed to properly function.

• A silt fence shall be placed within 10 feet of an on the downstream side of any stockpile.

Note: It may be necessary to adjust during construction based on actual conditions on site. These changes will be covered by this NEPA analysis.