Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Section 3.11. Air Quality
As noted above, estimating GHG emission changes associated with land use
change is subject to numerous uncertainties and the analysis above is somewhat
speculative and broad in nature and should only be considered for illustrative
purposes. Further, this analysis has excluded other GHG emission sources and
sinks for both the existing setting and the project conditions including: fossil fuel
emissions for transport of crops and use of fertilizer; fossil fuel emissions of
current (hunt club) recreationist vehicles as well as those of future recreational
visitors to the site; nitrous oxide emissions from current and future wetlands and
changes in absolute biomass stock levels between crops and fallow land today vs.
tidal marsh vegetation with the project. Nevertheless, given the likely character
of the tidal wetland area as a net GHG sink and the likely existing character of
the site as either neutral or possibly a net source of GHG emissions, the project is
not expected to increase GHG emissions overall, nor contribute to a cumulative
increase in GHG emissions. The evidence suggests that the project may actually
reduce GHG emissions relative to baseline conditions.
Conclusion: Less than Significant.
Full-Tidal Alternative
Construction
Annual CO 2 emissions that would result from construction of the Full-Tidal
Alternative are quantified above in Tables 3.11-8 through 3.11-10, and total just
under 8,800 tons. The greater acreage of tidal marsh (1,352 acres) that would be
created under the Full-Tidal Alternative would result in an estimated 1,080 to
6,080 metric tons of carbon sequestration per year. Based on the same
assumptions as outlined for the Proposed Project, these emissions would be offset
by carbon sequestration in the tidal marsh within 1.5 to 8 years
Operation
Under the Full-Tidal Alternative, two electric drainage pumps would be installed
in the project area. These pumps would result in an increase in energy use, which
would lead to increases in CO 2 emissions associated with electricity generation.
However, as described above, the conversion of agricultural fields to tidal
wetlands is likely to more than offset construction emissions upon wetland
maturity and result in time with net reduction of GHG emissions compared to the
baseline conditions.
Conclusion: Less than Significant.
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
3.11-27
April 2012