Draft Environmental Impact Report - California Off Highway Vehicle ...

4.0 Cumulative Analysis
Resources,” the natural vegetation communities that exist at the SVRA are locally and regionally
common. The goals and guidelines within the General Plan would require appropriate planning,
restrictions, and stewardship to protect and enhance on‐site biological resources. Any sensitive
biological resources that may be affected by implementation of any aspect of the General Plan
would be protected, restored, or enhanced on a no net loss basis and in compliance with all permit
conditions (if applicable). Therefore, implementing the General Plan, including constructing and
operating the headquarters facilities, would not cause a considerable contribution to a
cumulatively significant impact on biological resources.
4.4.6 Cultural Resources
Cultural resources are known to exist throughout northern California and are not limited to any
specific locale. For this reason, the geographic scope for considering cumulative impacts on
cultural resources generally includes the perspective of the resources that are physically present
within the project area and within the broader regional geography associated with the
Sacramento Valley.
As discussed in Section 3.6, “Cultural Resources,” the areas currently proposed for disturbance
within Clay Pit SVRA are almost entirely located in vacant, unvegetated, and previously disturbed
areas, and no cultural resources were found in the areas proposed for facilities during surveys. In
addition, the site has been used for OHV recreation for many years. Because the potential is low
that cultural resources are located in areas that would likely be used for future development
under the General Plan, including construction and operation of the headquarters facilities, and
policies would be in place to protect and preserve any resources that could be discovered during
construction, no significant impacts on cultural resources are anticipated. Growth and
development throughout the region, including the projects on the cumulative projects list and
development that may be approved to accommodate the expanding regional population, would
potentially result in a significant cumulative impact on sensitive cultural resources. However,
because implementing the General Plan, including constructing and operating the headquarters
facilities, is not expected to affect significant cultural resources, and because appropriate plans are
in place if cultural resources were to be discovered, implementing the General Plan would not
create a considerable contribution to a cumulatively significant impact on cultural resources.
4.4.7 Geology and Soils
Although geology is a regional topic with geologic features spanning large areas, impacts on soils
and geology are typically site specific. Constructing a project in extreme geologic conditions (e.g.,
steep slopes) may put surrounding areas at risk; however, these risks are generally avoided by
required conformance with the California Building Standards Code and other applicable
regulations. In addition, no extreme geologic features are on or near the project site. For these
reasons, the regional area is not considered and instead the analysis focuses on the areas of those
projects in the cumulative projects list.
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area
February 2012 4-16 Draft EIR