d> Yahoo! is not affiliated with the authors of this page or responsible for its content.
COASTAL CONSERVANCY Staff Recommendation December 2, 2004 PALCO (EUREKA) MARSH ENHANCEMENT UPDATED CEQA FINDINGS COASTAL CONSERVANCY

Staff Recommendation
December 2, 2004

PALCO (EUREKA) MARSH ENHANCEMENT UPDATED CEQA FINDINGS

File No. 04-080
Project Manager: Moira McEnespy


RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt updated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
findings for the City of Eurekas Phase IA enhancement activities at the Palco (Eureka) Marsh.

LOCATION: City of Eureka, Humboldt County

PROGRAM CATEGORY: Resource Enhancement



EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1: Project Location and Site Map
Exhibit 2: Coastal Conservancy Staff Recommendation No. 85-63 (May
19, 1989)
Exhibit 3: City of Eureka Initial Study and Mitigation Monitoring and
Reporting Program (09/04)
Exhibit 4: City of Eureka Mitigated Negative Declaration (signed
09/08/04)
Exhibit 5: City responses to comments on the Initial Study and proposed
new Mitigated Negative Declaration (09/07/04)
Exhibit 6: City of Eureka Resolution No. 2004-46 (passed 09/07/04)
Exhibit 7: City of Eureka Notice of Determination (filed 09/09/04)
Exhibit 8: CDFG Certificate of Fee Exemption De Minimis Impact
Finding (signed 09/08/04)



RESOLUTION AND FINDINGS:

Staff recommends that the State Coastal Conservancy adopt the following findings:
Based on the accompanying staff report and attached exhibits, the State Coastal Conservancy
hereby finds that:
1. The revised project remains consistent with the purposes and criteria set forth in Chapter 6 of
Division 21 of the Public Resources Code.
Page 1 of 8 PALCO MARSH ENHANCEMENT UPDATED CEQA FINDINGS

2. The revised project is consistent with the Project Selection Criteria and Guidelines adopted
by the Conservancy on January 24, 2001.
3. The Coastal Conservancy has reviewed the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
for the Palco (Eureka) Marsh Enhancement ProjectPhase IA (attached as Exhibits 3 and 4,
respectively, to the accompanying staff recommendation), adopted by the City of Eureka on
September 7, 2004 pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, and finds that there
is no evidence that the project as mitigated may have a significant effect on the environment
as defined in 14 Cal. Code of Regulations Section 15382.



PROJECT SUMMARY:
Staff recommends that the Conservancy adopt updated California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) findings for the City of Eurekas Phase IA enhancement activities at the Palco (Eureka)
Marsh.
In 1986, the City of Eureka purchased the Palco Marsh property, including the pole shed area
and Parcel 4, with Coastal Conservancy funding. In the same authorization, the Conservancy
provided funding for an enhancement plan, which was completed in 1987.
In 1988, the City adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration to conduct tasks recommended in the
Palco Marsh Enhancement Plan (by default, Phase I). The Mitigated Negative Declaration found
that with mitigations, the enhancement activities would not have significant impacts on the
environment. In 1989, the Conservancy approved the enhancement plan and granted funds to the
City to implement the plan. The City conducted some of the Phase I enhancement activities, but
did not complete all of them due to, among other reasons, encountering and having to remediate
contamination at the site.
In 1991, the City adopted a subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration for revisions to the
enhancement plan, which similarly found that with mitigation, the enhancement activities would
not have significant impacts on the environment. The Phase II Enhancement Plan provided for
restoration and enhancement of wetlands and increased public access opportunities on a portion
of the pole shed area and on the adjacent Restoration Area A salt marsh, and permitted the
City to lease a portion of the pole shed area to Bay Shore Mall for parking. In 1992, the
Conservancy approved the Phase II Enhancement Plan. The City has not, however, conducted
any of the Phase II enhancement tasks, which have never been funded.
In 2001, the City renewed its commitment to complete the Phase I enhancement activities.
Because of the 12+ year time lapse since start of the enhancement activities, Coastal
Conservancy staff worked with the City to consult with the resource and regulatory agencies to
ensure that the original enhancement plan was still appropriate, and to incorporate monitoring
recommendations. The intent was to update the plan if appropriate, not to re-do the plan.
The updated Plan, called Phase IA, provides for completion of the original enhancement plan
tasks that are still appropriate, incorporates recommendations from the monitoring program, and
includes some newly-identified enhancement tasks. Major changes under Phase IA include
installation of a 48-inch culvert, dredging of the tidal slough, changes in methods for removal of
invasive/exotic vegetation, and installation of interpretive signage. Specific changes to the
original enhancement activities are as follows:
Page 2 of 8 PALCO MARSH ENHANCEMENT UPDATED CEQA FINDINGS

Palco Marsh Complex
1. Remove tide gate completed
2. Construct an inverted siphon under the City maintenance dike completed
3. Excavate perimeter channel improvements, extend hand dug channels as necessary
completed
4. Construct culverts under maintenance dike to allow tidal influx to Railroad (RR) Marsh
(connect Palco Marsh to RR Marsh with two 12-inch culverts) not completed; included in
Phase IA
5. Remove railroad spur (adjacent to RR Marsh) and grade to marsh elevations not completed;
included in Phase IA as part of RR Marsh excavation
6. Clean out channel between RR Marsh and culvert under railroad tracks completed
7. Remove exotic vegetation and excavate channels in RR Marsh not completed; included in
Phase IA
8. Replant excavated salt marsh vegetation in Palco Marsh, RR Marsh and along channels, as
appropriate replanting in RR Marsh not completed; included as part of Phase IA
9. Excavate permanent open water area in cattail/common rush vegetated areas; provide resting
islands; provide low dike around open water area; provide adjustable weir not completed
and not included in Phase IA per recommendation by regulatory agency
10. Elevate and maintain existing maintenance dike for public access and periodic maintenance
completed
11. Remove exotic plants (e.g., common reed) initially, maintain eradication yearly partially
completed outside railroad right-of-way but unsuccessful; included in Phase IA
12. Plant riparian buffer areas along road edges, adjacent properties and around parking area for
screening completed and partially successful; replanting included in Phase IA
13. Access improvements
-gravel trail, gates and signs and benches along maintenance dike and Vigo Street
completed
-sidewalks along Del Norte Street, Felt Street and Broadway Avenue completed
14. Replace the collapsing 24-inch culvert that connects Palco Marsh with Humboldt Bay, with a
48-inch culvert that will be connected to the existing two 18-inch culverts under the utility
road/pathway along Palco Marsh new work not originally included in Phases I or II, but
recommended in the interim and final Palco Marsh monitoring reports; included in Phase IA
15. Replace barrier around concrete junction box; remove tidegate on the culvert from junction
box to marsh; install new tide gate on Del Norte Street culvert if necessary Plant riparian
buffer areas along road edges, adjacent properties and around parking area for screening
new work, some of which proposed in the final Palco Marsh monitoring report; included in
Phase IA
16. Hand-dig and clean Palco Marsh channels; dredge tidal slough between Palco Marsh and
peninsula west of marsh new work consistent with recommendations in the final Palco
Marsh monitoring report; included in Phase IA
17. Install interpretive signage new work; included in Phase IA

Paved Drying Shed Area
1. Remove drying sheds and other debris completed
2. Remove 40-foot-wide strip of paving outside of proposed parking area, berm and plant with
riparian buffer not completed; included in Phase II
Page 3 of 8 PALCO MARSH ENHANCEMENT UPDATED CEQA FINDINGS

3. Provide vehicular access barriers where necessary completed
4. Use remaining paved area for drying dredge spoils from excavation of channels and open
water area area currently still available for a similar use
5. Remove majority of paved area as part of Phase II of project not completed; included in
Phase II

Area West of Railroad Tracks
1. Provide public access improvements including parking, sidewalks, information kiosk, picnic
area, trail, and an elevated viewing area completed
2. Provide maintenance access for periodic removal of sediment from drainage channel in the
least impacting manner completed
3. Provide a temporary dredge spoils drying area adjacent to Del Norte Street completed, and
will be utilized in Phase IA

As lead agency under CEQA, the City determined that, due to the length of time since the