Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Chapter 2. Alternatives
Chapter 2
Alternatives
Introduction
This chapter provides a description of the alternatives being considered for the
restoration of Sears Point, including the Proposed Project, and the No Action and
Full Tidal Alternatives. The Project includes options for varying degrees of
dredging and breach sizes, as well as Bay Trail alignments. The design and
construction of each of these alternatives and the associated options are described
in this Chapter, and evaluated at an equal level of detail in each resource section
of Chapter 3. In addition, other alternatives considered but eliminated from
detailed evaluation are also summarized in this chapter.
Alternatives Development
Initial Alternatives Development
Over the course of the development of the Conceptual Restoration Plan, DPRP,
and FPRP, 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.
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 pendingrecent 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.
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
2-1
April 2012