Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Executive Summary
educational opportunities compatible with ecological and cultural resources
protection.
Alternatives
Initial Alternatives Development
Over the course of the development of the Conceptual Restoration Plan (WWR
2005a), DPRP (WWR 2006), and FPRP (WWR 2007), SLT initially developed
three alternatives for the diked baylands portion of the Site: (1) restored tidal
marsh to Highway 37—the Full Tidal Alternative; (2) restored tidal marsh to the
rail line and muted tides between the rail line and Highway 37—the Muted Tidal
Alternative; and (3) restored tidal marsh to the rail line and retained agriculture
and pasture between the rail line and Highway 37 with improved practices to
promote seasonal wetlands—the Non-Tidal Alternative.
SLT initially considered the Full Tidal Alternative as its preferred project to be
evaluated in this EIR/EIS. However, after consideration of several factors, the
SLT shifted its preferred project to the Non-Tidal Alternative, referred to as the
Partial-Tidal Alternative (Project or Proposed Project) in this EIR/EIS. This
evolution reflects input received from the Project’s stakeholder group and the
pending reactivation of the SMART rail line through the site. In March 2006,
SLT held a public meeting to present the DPRP. The majority of stakeholder
comments received at and after the meeting suggested retaining existing
agricultural practices north of the rail line, enhancing existing seasonal wetlands
on those lands, and clarifying public access plans.
In June 2006, SLT learned that the North Coast Railway Authority (NCRA) was
entering into contracts to resume freight service across the site as early as
summer 2007. 1 Following a subsequent meeting with SMART representatives,
SLT learned that restoration activities could not interrupt or impede rail service
on the line. This new constraint rendered implementation of the full tidal
alternative very difficult due to exceedingly high design and construction costs in
the short-term. The Non-Tidal Alternative) was subsequently selected as the
preferred project in the FPRP, in part because it significantly cuts implementation
costs over the full tidal alternative. SLT also assumes that rail line activity on the
existing SMART line will not preclude future restoration efforts in the project
area, including any activities that may be undertaken at a later date to restore full
tidal action north of the rail line. The Final EIR/EIS provides the revisions
resulting from comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS and updated project
design.
1 Rail service was reestablished effective July 13, 2011.
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
ES-4
April 2012