09.01.2015 Views

Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

California Department of Fish and Game<br />

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<br />

Section 3.3. Water Quality<br />

excavated and sequestered during levee construction. This impact is considered<br />

less than significant, and no mitigation is required.<br />

Conclusion: Less than Significant.<br />

<strong>Impact</strong> WQ-9: Degradation of Water Quality due to<br />

Residual Herbicides in Proposed Tidal Basin<br />

Proposed Project<br />

A portion of the proposed new tidal wetland would be located on land currently<br />

used for oat hay production. Herbicides such as Roundup have been used in<br />

conjunction with hay production activities, and may have been stored or handled<br />

in the existing structures onsite (Wetlands and Water Resources 2005b).<br />

Roundup strongly adsorbs to soils particles, giving it little potential for leaching<br />

to surface waters. In addition, it is rapidly broken down by soil microorganisms<br />

(U.S. <strong>Environmental</strong> Protection Agency 2006). The potential for elevated<br />

herbicide concentrations to enter San Pablo Bay through wetlands pathways<br />

would therefore be minimal.<br />

If pesticides were to enter the Bay, elevated concentrations would be limited to a<br />

localized area near the wetlands restoration site. Given the vast area of San Pablo<br />

Bay relative to the small area of the proposed tidal wetland, and tidal action<br />

within the Bay, and the type of pesticides and limited quantity that have been<br />

applied, any pesticides entering surface waters would dissipate very rapidly.<br />

Potential overall pesticide impacts on San Pablo Bay due to the proposed<br />

restoration Project are therefore considered less than significant, and no<br />

mitigation is required.<br />

Conclusion: Less than Significant.<br />

Full-Tidal Alternative<br />

As above, residual pesticides located within soils of the new tidal basinarea are<br />

likely to strongly adsorb to soils particles, and rapidly break down and/or be<br />

adequately diluted by tidal flushing, giving little potential for leaching to surface<br />

waters. Although the Full-Tidal Alternative will inundate a larger area of former<br />

agricultural fields, potential overall pesticide impacts on San Pablo Bay are<br />

considered less than significant, and no mitigation is required.<br />

Conclusion: Less than Significant.<br />

Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration<br />

Project Final <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong><br />

Report/<strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Statement</strong><br />

3.3-26<br />

April 2012

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!