Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Section 3.13. Cultural Resources
• introduction of visual, audible, or atmospheric elements that are out of
character with the property or that alter its setting;
• neglect of a property resulting in its deterioration or destruction; or
• transfer, lease, or sale of the property (36 CFR 800.9).
Impacts and Mitigation Measures
No-Action Alternative
Under the No-Action Alternative, no cultural resources would be disturbed;
therefore, there would be no impact.
While some buildings and other structures would most likely be removed under
the No Action Alternative, no cultural resources that were examined are
considered eligible for listing in the NRHP and the CRHP. Limited ground
disturbing activities could occur as a result of access road construction and CRLF
habitat enhancement. CLRF habitat enhancement has already been permitted.
Conclusion: No Impact.
Proposed Project
Impact CR-1: Damage or Destruction of Archaeological
Resources
Although one archaeological resource, CA-SON-206, was recorded within the
project area, recent surveys (Origer 2003 and Jones & Stokes 2007) were not able
to relocate the site. No other archaeological resources are recorded within the
project area nor were any observed during initial surveys. It is therefore not
anticipated that the conducted west of Tolay Creek. While the PGE alignment
east of Tolay Creek was not surveyed, it consists of disturbed ground along a
road owned and maintained by Vallejo Sanitation District and does not contain
any existing structures in the locations where power poles would be placed. It is
therefore not anticipated that the Project would cause a substantial adverse
change in the significance of NRHP or CRHR eligible resources. However, the
potential exists that buried archaeological resources (which may meet the
definition of historic resource or unique archaeological resource) are present in
the project area. Although unanticipated, there also is always the possibility that
Native American remains may be unearthed.
Damage to or destruction of such resources would be a significant impact.
Implementation of Mitigation Measure MM-CR-1 would reduce this impact to a
less-than-significant level.
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
3.13-15
April 2012