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Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

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California Department of Fish and Game<br />

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

Section 3.3. Water Quality<br />

<strong>Impact</strong> WQ-10: Potential for Changes in Salinity Levels<br />

within Tolay Creek<br />

Proposed Project<br />

Salinity levels in Tolay Creek are directly related to tidal flow from San Pablo<br />

Bay and freshwater inflow from the surrounding watershed. Tidal range indicates<br />

the amount of tidal exchange and can therefore be used as a baseline for<br />

determining salinity impacts. The Project could result in dampening of tidal<br />

cycles in Tolay Creek (depending on breaching/dredging option selected) due to<br />

diversion. The breach(es) would divert a portion of flows through the levee<br />

breaches and across the Sears Point site (see Section 3.2, Surface-Water<br />

Hydrology, Tidal Hydraulics, and Sedimentation). These changes in tidal flow in<br />

the Project area could potentially result in slight salinity changes in upstream<br />

areas of Tolay Creek.<br />

Construction of Breach 2 and potentially Breaches 3 and/or 4, could result in<br />

cChanges in salinity levels within Tolay Creek and could have detrimental<br />

effects on water supply for agriculture in the Project vicinity if local groundwater<br />

aquifers are subject to salt water intrusion. The main facilities potentially<br />

impacted would be the Paradise Vineyard property and associated residential<br />

parcels west of Tolay Creek and south of Highway 37. Water supply to these<br />

properties is currently pumped from two groundwater wells located at the North<br />

Point Joint Venture (NPJV) property and conveyed to the vineyard property via<br />

water supply lines. However, because these wells are located upgradient from<br />

Tolay Creek and its associated groundwater aquifer, there is little potential for<br />

salinity changes in the creek to affect these wells.<br />

The Tolay Creek system historically had greater connectivity to tidal flow from<br />

San Pablo Bay. As a result of reduced tidal flows in the creek, salinity levels in<br />

upper Tolay Creek are most likely depressed due to the influence of freshwater<br />

inflows, particularly during the wet season. However, as a result of the Tolay<br />

Creek restoration project, some tidal flow has been restored to upper Tolay<br />

Creek, which has increased salinity levels in the Upper Lagoon. Because it would<br />

not substantially affect salinity of agricultural water supplies and would not<br />

increase salinity beyond historical conditions in Tolay Creek, Project-related<br />

effects to Tolay Creek salinity levels resulting from increased tidal muting are<br />

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

Conclusion: Less than significant.<br />

Full-Tidal Alternative<br />

Effects to salinity levels in Tolay Creek due to the Full-Tidal Alternative would<br />

be comparable to that of the Project. Nearby water users pumping water from<br />

groundwater wells would not likely be affected by changes in salinity. Therefore,<br />

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

3.3-27<br />

April 2012

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