Environmental Impact Statement - Sonoma Land Trust

California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Chapter 2. Alternatives
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. Services did resume July 13, 2011. 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. Alternative 3
(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 (see Table 2-1). 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.
Table 2-1. Preliminary Cost Estimates for FPRP Alternatives 1 and 3
Range
Alternative Low High
Alternative 1—Full-Tidal
Alternative
Alternative 3—No Tidal
Alternative
Source: Wetlands and Water Resources 2007.
Rail Line
Improvement
$ 20,487,804 $ 21,999,823 $ 50,000,000
$ 14,707,262 $ 15,726,724 ---
NEPA/CEQA Alternatives Development
The USFWS and CDFG considered the comments provided during scoping, the
SLT’s development and evaluation of initial alternatives, and the key
environmental impacts of the project to develop a preliminary list of alternatives
for consideration in this EIR/EIS.
• No Action Alternative
• Partial-Tidal Wetland Restoration (Proposed Project) with
Dredging/Breaching Options and Bay Trail Options
• Full-Tidal Wetland Restoration
• Muted-Tidal Wetland Restoration
• Full Equilibrium Dredging Alternative
• Dickson Ranch Alternative
• Bayfront Spur Trail Alternative
• Off-Site Alternative
Sears Point Wetland and Watershed Restoration
Project Final Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement
2-2
April 2012