Thursday, 28 March 2024

CITY OF CLEARLAKE - Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain

CITY OF CLEARLAKE

Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain

To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals

This is to give notice that the City of Clearlake has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 and 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management, to determine the potential affect that its activity in the floodplain and wetland will have on the human environment for a project being proposed under Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program, Grant Number B-18-DP-06-0001.  The proposed project(s) is located in the northwest portion of the City, along Lakeshore Blvd., San Joaquin Avenue, between Olympic Drive. and the Northwest City Limits in Clearlake, County of Lake.  This activity consists of rehabilitating about 8.17 miles of roads that experienced damage following the 2017 Sulfur Wildfire including portions of Lakeshore Drive, San Joaquin Road, Arrowhead/Park Road, Mendocino/Napa Road, Plumas Road, Joaquin Ext. Road, Monterey Road, Kern Road, Tulare Road, Mariposa Road, Lily Cove Road, Mesa/San Rafael Road, and Oak/Oakmont/Calaveras Roads. Road reconstruction would consist of grinding existing pavement sections, repaving existing roadway surfaces, removing and replacing several existing culverts, reconstructing approaches, embankment repair to existing roadway sections where erosion has undermined the existing roadway, slope stabilization and repair of the uphill slope adjoining the existing roadway where erosion caused by vegetation removal by the fire has placed hillside soils onto the existing roadway and caused additional siltation into the storm drain systems, widening some limited sections of roadways by adding an asphalt dike for safety purposes.  These improvements will not result in any increased traffic capacity. A portion of the project improvements occurring along Lakeshore Blvd. are located within the AE Flood Zone (100-Yr Flood Zone).  The floodplain area encompasses approximately 3.71 acres. Pursuant to a site specific biological report no wetlands will be impacted by this project.  

The City of Clearlake has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to be taken to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial values: 

  1. No action alternative – This alternative would provide no actionable work to be done along the areas located within the AE Flood Zone (100-Yr Flood Zone) located along Lakeshore Blvd.  This alternative was not selected, as is does not protect the local environment from excessive siltation and erosion which is ongoing, and actually would result in higher degrees of erosion and siltation into the surrounding area.  
  2. Raise the entire roadway above the AE Flood Zone (100-Yr Flood Zone) – This alternative would raise Lakeshore Blvd approximately 2-3 feet so that is elevated above the Flood elevation.  This alternative was not selected as it would involve not only raising the roadway but also adjacent residents located along the roadway whose access would be impacted by such a drastic increase would also require the raising of their property access.  Secondly, this option was not selected due to the topographic constraints related to the fill slope that would be required along Clear Lake.  This would require all construction to take place below the high water mark due to slopes and structural retaining wall footings, and actually result in most of the area requiring “fill” within the lake.  
  3. Relocate Residents and abandon the Roadway – This alternative would abandon this section of roadway and result in the removal and relocation of the residents living along the AE Flood Zone (100-Yr Flood Zone) Area.  This alternative was not selected, because it negatively impacts the entire north west portion of the City of Clearlake which encompasses hundreds of parcels.  Lakeshore Blvd. is the main route leading from this area for both travel, commerce and emergencies, in particular in the event of another wildfire.  
  4. Grind in Place, Slope Repair and Stabilization and Pavement Rehabilitation – This is the selected alternative, as it was deemed to provide the most beneficial  impact to the area, and also deemed to be the alternative that minimized the adverse impacts.   This alternative rehabilitates the roadway passing through the AE Flood Zone (100-Yr Flood Zone) by providing a new and enhanced structural section, which was designed with an enhanced cement treated structural section that will mitigate future roadway damage in the event of inundation.  Additionally this project minimizes impacts by construction as it requires no removal of roadway materials of site which minimizes both dust, and reduces vehicle truck trips i.e. greenhouse gas emissions.  Lastly, the slope repair both underlying the roadway and on the fill slope along the north side of the roadway involve planting and installation of rock, and all construction has be designed to take place above the natural high water mark of the lake.  

The City of Clearlake has reevaluated the alternatives to building in the floodplain and has determined that it has no practicable alternative. Environmental files that document compliance with steps 3 through 6 of Executive Order 11988 and/or 11990, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments. This activity will have no significant impact on the environment for the following reasons:

The project presents no significant impact to the area.  The matter that the project is being done within the AE Flood Zone (100-Yr Flood Zone) has been mitigated with the increased structural section, and by limiting construction traffic due to the off haul of materials.  Additionally, this project restores the native environment to pre disaster conditions, which serves to limit erosion and sedimentation runoff into Clear Lake.  

There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Written comments must be received by the City of Clearlake at the following address on or before June 7th , 2021.  Address all correspondence to:  Alan Flora, City Manager 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, Ca.  95422 and 707-994-8201, Attention: Melissa Swanson, City Clerk, during the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Comments may also be submitted via email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Date:

NOTE: According to 24 CRR 55, section 55.2(b)(1), the notice must be bilingual if the affected public is largely non-English speaking. In addition, the notice must be dispersed to federal, state and local public agencies, organizations, and individuals know to be interested in the proposed project.

*Wetland Protection (executive Order 11990_- Section 2(b) of the Executive Order, implemented by 24 CFR 55.20(b), requires similar notification when construction is proposed in designated wetland areas.

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03.28.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
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