SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSL. NOISEof rural residential development in Santa Clara County within the southern portion of theWatershed, which are outside urban service areas and incorporated cities. The Town of Sunol isto the north of the Watershed. There are residential receptors present in the town, and the TownSchool is approximately one-quarter mile from the future mining permitted under SMP-32, northof I-680.2.0 IMPACTS2.1 SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIAThe City has not formally adopted significance standards for noise impacts, but it generallyconsiders implementation of the Alameda Watershed Management Plan would have a significantnoise effect if it were to:! substantially increase noise levels above County ordinance maximums at the location ofany sensitive receptors over an extended period of time; or! substantially increase noise levels to a degree that would affect the use and enjoyment ofproximate areas or facilities and/or be above County ordinance maximums.2.2 PROGRAM-LEVEL IMPACTSThis section discusses the potential noise impacts associated with implementation of themanagement actions in the Management Plan, including construction activities, and operation ofWatershed facilities, and changes to gravel mining operations.Construction ActivitiesImplementation of the Management Plan would result in construction of a number of additionalfacilities or improvements on the Watershed. Many of the facilities would be installed to ensureand/or improve water quality or resource protection, such as barriers or fences at identified highriskspill potential areas (Action haz6); installation of infiltration drainfields and detention basins(Action sto1); installation of long-term sediment retention basins or other permanent measures(Action aqu12); rehabilitation of shoreline areas and stream segments (Actions aqu5 and aqu7);improvements that prevent human and animal waste from impacting Watershed resources(Action was1); and wildlife passage structures (Action wil13). Many of the actions listed in theRoads Section of the Management Plan (Actions roa2, roa3, roa4, roa6, roa7, and roa8) wouldmodify or relocate existing roads or road components in order to reduce potential erosion andWatershed contamination from automobile by-products. Fire management actions include theinstallation of hydrants, helispots, and water tanks (Actions fir2 through fir5); roadway andaccess improvements (Action fir7); and implementation of fuel management projects that includeconstruction of fuel breaks, conducting prescribed burns, and other improvements (Action fir8).Construction projects would be generated through actions that would provide additional publicuse opportunities, such as information kiosks and a Watershed Visitor Education Center (Actionspub3 and pub4), additional new trails (Policies WA15.2 andNOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.L-3 ESA / 930385January 2001