6.5. Environmental Studies (Subaccount 05)

The environmental studies will include a watershed inventory and mapping of remaining riparian habitat along stream corridors, identification of species diversity, a rating of habitat quality (high, degraded, etc...), an integration of available surface and ground water quality information, and formulation of restoration alternatives. The information will be used in defining the baseline (existing and future without project) environmental conditions used to evaluate the effects of watershed management and ecosystem restoration alternatives. The information will be documented in an Environmental Appendix (including programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the PLAN).

05A. Defining Existing Conditions

05.A.1. Riparian Habitat Assessment.
Baseline (present and future), without-project conditions for riparian habitat, water quality, fish and wildlife, endangered species, and other pertinent environmental conditions will be surveyed, mapped, and adequately described at a level appropriate to this study so that an incremental analysis may be performed. This assessment will include landscape-scale mapping and area inventory of all major watershed tributary habitat types. Baseline riparian habitats for major tributaries of the watershed shall be evaluated using available information, aerial photographs, and a comprehensive field survey. Baseline non-riparian habitat shall be evaluated using available information, aerial photographs and field spot checks as needed. A scientific habitat evaluation method acceptable to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Orange County, the California Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, local sponsors and stakeholders (including The Irvine Company) will be used to assess habitat value. Invasive plant species such as Around shall be identified and mapped.

05.A.2 Water Quality Assessment.
Environmental studies will include evaluation of baseline (existing and future without-project) water quality conditions for surface water and groundwater within the Newport Bay watershed. Effects of projects alternatives and surface and groundwater quality will also be evaluated. The analysis will be based on the review of existing water quality data collected by local and state agencies. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, depth, water movement criteria, sediment and nutrient loading, groundwater pollutant types and concentrations, and other components of water quality shall be collected and evaluated. Limiting values (i.e. loads, concentrations, etc.) that adversely affect recreational use, or wildlife and aquatic species shall be established. Future without project conditions must consider ongoing efforts in the sediment and nutrient TMDL's, and the proposed TMDL's for toxics and pathogens. Detailed tasks include:

05.A2.1 Analysis of surface water and groundwater quality, including non-point urban runoff and point source runoff. Water quality components include, but are not limited to: sediment and nutrient loadings, trace constituents, toxic substances, pathogens, recently mobilized DDT, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, urban and vegetative trash/debris, depth, and water movement criteria. Quantify the spatial (tributary) and temporal (seasonal) distributions of constituents for use in siting proposed restoration alternatives. Coordinate with hydraulics to determine if water quality is affected by ponding of daily return flows behind debris trapped on structures. The Rattlesnake and Central Irvine channels have been identified by Orange County as areas of potential concern for nutrients. The Lane, Barranca, and Santa Ana Delhi Channels have been identified as areas of potential concern for toxics and pathogens.

05.A2.2 Review and evaluate the water quality monitoring activities ongoing in the watershed and provide recommendations to improve or augment them from a watershed basis. Develop protocol or process (where, when, how) for collection of fluvial samples during the ascending phase, at the peak discharge, and in the descending phase of flows resulting from storms with greater than 0.5 inches of rain. Coordinate with sediment monitoring (09.C.13).

05.A2.3 Determine the effects of project alternatives on water quality. Coordinate with hydraulics to reduce ponding of low flows at structures.

05.A2.4 Address if sediment, nutrient, toxics and pathogenic TMDL's for the watershed and Bay are achievable objectives, based on baseline condition analyses and potential benefits resulting from the ecosystem restoration alternatives.

05.A.3. HTRW Evaluation.
A literature and data (website) search will be conducted to identify known HTRW sites in the vicinity of the proposed project alternatives listed under Plan Formulation (Subaccount 14, Section D) and for any other potential projects sites identified during the study. The HTRW work will be documented in a report that will be used in the EIS/EIR The known sites will be summarized, and the an inventory of available data (i.e., agency, location, website, etc.) will be produced for use for future project feature siting and design purposes.

05.B. Ecosystem Restoration Goals and Objectives.
Ecosystem restoration goals and objectives for the study area will be defined. Overall goals and objectives may be set in terms of ecosystem restoration of habitats and communities for a range of species within the watershed and Bay. Objectives must eventually be quantified in terms of habitat units, functions, and values as defined by the habitat evaluation method adopted for use in the study. The objectives should be coordinated with those in the Natural Community Conservation Plan & Habitat Conservation Plan, the proposed amended NCCP/HCP process, the proposed SAMP, and should also consider beneficial uses of San Diego Creek and the Bay. Ecosystem restoration opportunities will be compatible with economic development, flood control, groundwater recharge, wastewater re-use, and recreation objectives of the watershed management plan. This task will require close coordination and input from the Corps Regulatory Branch and other agencies (EPA, USFWS, etc.) to ensure opportunities for Section 404 compliance and mitigation banking are identified.

05.C Environmental Opportunities.

05.C.1 Restoration Alternatives.
Assist in the development of watershed management alternatives that integrate ecosystem restoration with flood control, groundwater recharge, polishing of wastewater effluent, and recreation. Emphasis will be given to measures or groups of measures that will restore a corridor or green way of interconnected habitat as opposed to isolated measures with limited habitat output. Strategies shall be developed for eradication of invasive species with replacement by native vegetation. Opportunities and alternatives for with-project water quality improvement shall be developed for surface water flows, local water supply for domestic use, water used for recreational purposes, and groundwater. These water quality issues may be interrelated. Improvements to be investigated shall include wetland and riparian vegetation development, best management practices, public awareness programs, modification of stream topography and gradient, dilution of surface and ground waters, optimum usage of reclaimed wastewater, and other opportunities identified in the plan formulation process.

05.C.2. Maintenance of Channels and Basins.
In conjunction with hydraulic team members and local sponsors, channel maintenance needs and appropriate maintenance methods will be identified and impacts documented as part of the programmatic EIS/EIR that accompanies the PLAN.

05.C.3. Recreation Needs and Opportunities.
Develop a comprehensive, realistic vision of the river recreation system along the major tributaries of the watershed, and within the Bay. Develop and evaluate recreation alternatives in conjunction with ecosystem restoration and flood control opportunities. This will include, but not be limited to:

• Develop concept plans at a reconnaissance level showing the nature and location of alternative recreational facilities.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities for development of river parks trails and other appropriate recreational uses along the creek system.
• Coordinate with other planning efforts by Orange County and local cities.
  

05.D. Environmental Benefits.

05.D.1 Environmental Outputs.
Environmental outputs shall be measured in terms of habitat units using an approved habitat evaluation method established for the baseline conditions. Outputs of plan increments will be displayed in a format similar to that shown in EC 1105-2-185, which allows for an incremental cost analysis of the measures under consideration.

05.D.2 Recreation Outputs.
Recreation outputs will be quantified in coordination with the Economic Section of the Corps and include a breakdown of water contact (public health) related benefits as well as user days for trails, hiking, etc.

05.E. Environmental Appendix Including NEPA/CEQA Documentation.
The Environmental Studies Task will include preparation of an Environmental Appendix (including programmatic EIS/EIR for the PLAN).

05.E.1 F3 Report.
The F3 report will include a complete discussion of the results of tasks 05.A.1, 05.A.2.1, 05.A.2.2, and 05.A.3. Portions of tasks 04, 05.B, 05.A.2.3, 05A.2.4, 05.C, and 05.D will be completed prior to the F3 conference and will be included in the report. The Fish and Wildlife Service survey participation and Planning Aid Report (PAR, task 06.B) will be incorporated into the F3 documentation.

05.E.2 F4 Report.
T14 F4 report will include revisions and completion of the tasks described in 05.E.1. The draft and final Coordination Act Report (CAR, task 06.C) will be included in the report documentation.

05.E.3 Public Draft Report.
The public draft report will include revisions based on the F4 meeting, and additional tasks completed to address the PLAN.

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6.6. Fish and Wildlife Studies (Subaccount 06)

06A Habitat Field Surveys.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will work with Corps regulatory and environmental planning personnel to conduct field spot surveys of habitat mapping within portions of the watershed. The USFWS will use aerial photos and GIS maps developed from the aerial surveys to verify the habitat types that have been mapped. Field surveys may include up to 32 kilometers of channels. Some of the habitat areas are within the NCCP/HCP lands, and may be studied under the amended NCCP/HCP process (see below). The USFWS will coordinate work efforts with other resource agencies. A technical team which, at a minimum, consists of the Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the California Fish and Game Department and representatives appointed by the local sponsors will assist the study team in historical research, data collection, species identification, habitat modeling, and ecosystem mapping to arrive at the baseline conditions.

At the present time the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the County of Orange and other participants in the approved Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) for the Coastal and Central Subregion of the County of Orange, are considering preparing an amendment to the approved NCCP/HCP to specifically address and provide for protection and management of riparian and other aquatic resources. It is expected that this plan amendment would then serve as the vehicle for preparing work products that will be incorporated into the fully negotiated regulatory actions and other implementation vehicles summarized in Section 05.C. Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) or a similar scientific (i.e. Hydro-Geomorphic Method or HGM) method will be pre-approved for use by all parties engaged in this study and other studies within the watershed. This will help facilitate "buy-in" to the results. The technical team will assist in the development of project alternatives and analyze project-induced environmental effects/benefits.

06.B Planning Aid Report.
The USFWS will provide a Planning Aid Report (PAR) to the Corps prior to the F3 milestone. The report will describe baseline conditions, habitat evaluation methodology, and initial restoration measures.

06.C Coordination Act Report.
The USFWS will provide a draft and final Coordination Act Report (CAR) by the F4 milestone that defines the environmental effects of selected restoration alternatives. The CAR will incorporate the findings of the technical team and any comments from interested parties.

06.D Meetings and Coordination.
The USFWS will meet with the Corps once a month to review study progress of assigned study tasks, update schedules, and for general coordination purposes.

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6.7. Economic Studies (Subaccount 07)

Economic data will be used to define the benefits and costs of potential restoration projects. Benefits include the reduction of flood and erosion damages, the increase in habitat and recreational value, and the savings in sediment maintenance and water quality related costs in comparison to the baseline condition. The baseline is defined as the expected flood and erosion damages, or the value of habitat and recreation for the current condition, and for the future without-project condition. Costs include those for construction, operation, and maintenance of proposed project alternatives.

The economic data prepared during previous studies will be used to its full extent when such data is consistent with feasibility report requirements. Studies will be conducted pursuant to Chapter 6 "Economic Considerations," of ER 1105-2-100. The base conditions from which economic development occurs must be well documented and readily understood. The feasibility analysis will also require the development of project area specific baseline information. To develop this baseline condition, the following tasks must be accomplished:

07A. Inventory of Erosion Damages.
Conduct a. general inventory of the following facilities susceptible to being damaged by erosion within the study area: bridges, flood control channels, pipelines (gas, water, and sewage). Field investigations win be based upon hydrology, hydraulics and sediment transport investigations that identify channel areas subject to erosion, and by contacting the public or private establishments charged with the operation of affected facilities.

07.B. Inventory of Sediment Related Maintenance Costs.
Complete a financial inventory of the historical costs associated with sediment control and maintenance. This will include the cost of construction for in-channel basins, foothill basins, in-Bay basins, and the, long-term maintenance requirements. Inventory the costs for individual stakeholders to meet sediment and water quality goals versus a regional approach.

07.C. TMDL Implementation Costs.
In coordination with 05.A2.4, evaluate compliance costs to meet the partial or total objectives of the sediment, nutrient, toxics and pathogenic TMDL's.

07.D. Recreation.
An inventory and description of existing recreation resources will be completed and will include the following:

• Estimate recreation resource (similar recreation provided in the study area). This involves gathering information from the local sponsor(s) and/or local experts to estimate the inventory of recreation resources in the market area.
• Forecast potential recreation use in study area. Gather information from the local sponsor(s) and local experts to determine potential recreation use.

07.E. Development Growth.
Based on a review of existing data, the rate of future growth of development in the watershed will be documented. This review will include documentation of the available information listed below.

a.	Current forecasts for the project/surrounding area
b.	Census tract population/demographic items count for the area
c.	Household formation rates for the area
d.	Project area vacancy rates
e.	Land zoning
f.	Zoning densities
g.	Public land demands
h.	Commercial land demands
i.	Development pattern
	•	Parcel size development
	•	Ratio of parcel size development.
j.	Socio-economic characteristics of future population.

07.F. Erosion Damage Assessment.
Determine the future without-project damages from erosion within the watershed, by conducting a general survey of damages along the major watercourses, with more detailed economic studies at project alternative sites. Forecast of damages will be supported by hydraulic studies and historic documentation.

07.G. Incremental Cost Analysis.
An incremental cost analysis will be performed in cooperation with Environmental Branch to determine the most efficient and cost-effective alternatives for ecosystem restoration. This effort includes the following tasks:

• Display environmental outputs (Habitat units) and cost estimates of the management measures
• Analyze management measures to separate those that can and can not be implemented together.
• Identify combinations of managements measures and calculate each combination output (habitat units) and cost.
• Eliminate economically inefficient solutions (e.g. those solutions which have a higher cost and produce less output).
• Calculate average cost of each level of output.
• Recalculate average costs for additional output.
• Calculate incremental costs.
• Compare successive outputs and incremental costs.
  

07.H. Compute Annual Cost.
Annual costs will also be calculated for each alternative, including construction costs, interest during construction, real estate, operation and maintenance, etc. Costs will be converted to annual figures using the appropriate discount rate.

07.I. Habitat Benefits.
Habitat values will be displayed for each alternative in terms of habitat units (from the HEP analysis) or other appropriate methodology identified in a literature search to be conducted into the quantification of environmental restoration outputs. Habitat values for the various alternatives will be compared to costs in the selection of recommended management alternatives.

07.J. Tradeoff Analysis.
A trade-off analysis between monetary and non-monetary benefits shall be completed for the structural and non-structural elements of the PLAN. Selection criteria derived at the beginning of the study will be applied to a decision-framework that is acceptable to all members of the study team (Federal and non-Federal).

07.K. Prepare Economic Appendix.
All data collected and/or developed to support the alternatives will be collected and displayed in an economics appendix to the final feasibility report.

07.K.1 Prepare F3 report draft economics appendix describing the results of tasks 07.A-F. Portions of the tasks described in 07.G-J may be initiated prior to the F3. Interim results of these tasks will be reported in this report.

07.K.2 Prepare F4 report to include the tasks described in 07.G-J.

07.K.3 Prepare F5 public draft report based on comments received during the F4 conference and additional studies completed that address the PLAN.

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6.8. Surveying and Mapping (Subaccount 08)

08.A Collection of Existing Mapping and Aerial Photography. This task will include the collection of existing aerial photographs, topographic, and Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping and Land Information System. (LIS) mapping for use by the study team to define the baseline condition. Existing mapping will be reviewed to determine additional aerial photography and mapping needs for the modeling and environmental efforts (Sections 6.9 and 6.5, respectively). Known resources include, but are not limited to:

• Digital USGS contours are available from the Orange County GIS. Can be used to generate Digital terrain Models (DTM) for use in watershed delineations under Subaccount 9A - Hydrology.
• 1997 digital aerial photos can be purchased from Orange County. These can be used as a backdrop for GIS information.
• 1995 digital aerial photos that correspond to the Thomas Guide maps area available from Aerial Photo Bank in Irvine, California. They include street names, but are not geo-referenced.
• Orange County drainage base mapping.
• Orange County's NCCP study mapping (GIS).
• Orange County's aerial photography and contour mapping of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, including the golf course.
• City of Lake Forest photography and contour mapping for approximately 5.5 kilometers from Bake Parkway, through the Serrano Creek Community Park, to the Foothill Transportation Corridor.
• Marshburn channel data from the Marshburn retarding basin to San Diego Creek (5.5 kilometers) can be obtained from the Flood Control Master Plan for San Diego Creek.
• Recent as-builts for the re-aligned Peter's Canyon Wash adjacent to the Eastern Transportation Corridor (approximately 6 kilometers).
• Annual channel cross-section surveys by Orange County along portions of San Diego Creek.
  

08.B New Aerial Photography and Contour Mapping. New aerial photography will be used for habitat mapping. Aerial photography and contour mapping will be used for the hydrologic, hydraulic, and sediment transport modeling and for the conceptual design of the alternatives described under Subaccount 14 - Plan Formulation. Areas have been selected to fill in gaps in existing information. The aerial photographs will be ortho-corrected to ensure that they correspond with topographic mapping and can be easily added to the GIS. The photography will comply with recent OCPFRD mapping requirements. Where plotted, the existing 500-year FEMA floodplain is suggested as a minimum photography and mapping width. At a minimum, the 100-year floodplain will be mapped. Exact photography and mapping requirements shall be coordinated with the study manager and the hydraulic, environmental and economic technical team members prior to initiation of this task. To avoid duplication, mapping efforts will be coordinated with those underway in the current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded watershed work efforts. A survey crew will verify exact routes and distances for aerial photography, contour mapping and cross-sectional surveys using a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) unit.

For habitat mapping purposes, it is recommended that photography be taken at a scale to allow for photographs to be printed at a scale of 1"= 400'. The photography will also be used for mapping one-meter contours in portion of channels to compliment existing information. All the following bullets identify areas to be photographed, with approximate distances. Contour mapping will not be required for all of the reaches being photographed. Specific mapping requirements for designated reaches are described below.

• San Diego Creek from Upper Newport Bay to the confluence of Peters Canyon Wash (7 kilometers). Because of the extremely low slope of the watercourse where it meets the estuary, a smaller contour interval may be recommended for this section, but contour mapping is assumed to remain at one-meter intervals at this time. Mapping should also cover the entire San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh at the lower end of San Diego Creek.
• San Diego Creek from the Peters Canyon Wash confluence to the Interstate-5 crossing in the City of Irvine (11 kilometers). One-meter contour mapping will be prepared for this area.
• Lower Santa Ana Delhi Channel from Newport Bay to the Paularino Channel confluence (4 kilometers). One-meter contour mapping will be prepared for the lower 2.5 kilometers of channel, from the Bay to Irvine Avenue, along the Newport Beach Golf Course.
• Peters Canyon Wash from Irvine Boulevard through the Tustin Ranch Golf course, to the southern border of Peter's Canyon Regional Park (4 kilometers). Some additional aerial photography may be done on the eastern half of the Tustin Marine Corp Air Station between Edinger and Warner Avenue. No contour mapping will be prepared for this area. Instead, channel cross-sections will be taken at appropriate intervals for the H&H modeling.
• Hicks Canyon from the intersection of Jeffrey Road and Portola Parkway to the Eastern Transportation Corridor (1.5 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done in this area but channel cross-sections will be taken at appropriate intervals.
• Bee Canyon Wash from the Foothill Transportation Corridor to the border of Limestone Canyon Regional Park (3 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done in this area, but some channel cross-sections may be taken for the H&H modeling.
• Round Canyon Wash from the Foothill Transportation Corridor to the round canyon retarding basin, near the border of Limestone Canyon Regional Park (1.5 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done in this area, but some channel cross-sections may be taken for the H&H modeling.
• Agua Chinon Wash from the El Toro MCAS to the Agua Chinon retarding basin (3 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done in this area, but some channel cross-sections may be taken for the H&H modeling.
• Borrego Canyon Wash, from the El Toro MCAS to the Limestone Canyon Regional Park/Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park (4 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done in this area, but some channel cross-sections may be taken for the H&H modeling.
• Serrano Creek, from the Foothill Transportation Corridor to the Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park (1 kilometer). No contour mapping will be done in this area. Several channel cross-sections will be taken along a 0.5 kilometer portion of channel parallel to Bake Parkway, between Toledo Way and Jeronimo Road, if no existing information is available on this stretch of channel. The information will be used for the H&H modeling.
• Canada Channel next to the San Diego Creek mainstem between Bake Parkway and Avenida de la Carlota (2 kilometers), and an unnamed channel from the mainstem to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (2 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done in this area, but some channel cross-sections may be taken for the H&H modeling.
• Sand Canyon Wash from the confluence with San Diego Creek, through the William R. Mason Regional Park, to the Sand Canyon Reservoir (4.5 kilometers). No contour mapping will be done in this area, but some channel cross-sections may be taken for the H&H modeling.
• Bonita Creek from San Diego Creek to the San Joaquin Reservoir (3.5 kilometers).
  

The mapping shall show culture, including buildings, bridges, fences, walls, trees, shrubbery, labeled streets and access roads (including curb, gutter and sidewalks), railroads, drainage features, and exposed utility features. The mapping shall be supplemented by ground survey with field notes indicating: dimensions, and elevations of the invert, low chord, and top of road or railing for each bridge or utility crossing the channel; dimensions and elevations of pipes, culverts, headwalls, chutes, or drainage ways entering the channel; dimensions and elevations of any other culture found along the study reaches, and along the major tributaries within 200 feet of their confluence with one of the study reaches.

Mapping is required to be compiled in the 1983 North American Datum (NAD 1983) for horizontal control, and the 1988 North American Vertical Datum (NAVD 88) for vertical control, and must meet the U.S. Bureau of the Budget's "United States National Map Accuracy-Standards" and comply with: Federal Geodetic Control Networks and the following Corps Engineering Memorandums:

• EM 1110-1-1002, "Survey Markers and Monumentation,"
• EM 1110-1-1003 14 June 1991, "NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Surveying"
• EM 1110-1-1807, Parts 1 to 4 30 July 1990, "Standards Manual for U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Computer Aided Design and Drafting Systems".

Original topographic maps and aerial ortho-photographs shall be supplied to the hydrologic/hydraulic, environmental and economics sections of the Corps. Original field notes shall be provided to the hydrologic/hydraulics section. Digital files shall be provided to the engineering division.

08.C GIS/LIS. Incorporate existing GIS/LIS data and new spatial data (discharges, floodplains, habitat areas, project alternatives, etc.) generated by the study into a project GIS (see list at Task 14A). The new aerial photographs should be geo-referenced to serve as a backdrop. The GIS will serve as a central repository for project spatial data, and can be made available to public and private agencies during and after the study. Study generated data can be accessible through the project website.