Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report on the Bair Island Restoration and Management Plan, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Bair Island State Ecological Reserve, San Mateo County, CA, 42872-42874 [E6-12016]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 145 / Friday, July 28, 2006 / Notices
C. Conservation measures that have
been implemented to benefit the
species;
D. Threat status and trends (see five
factors under heading ‘‘How do we
determine whether a species is
endangered or threatened?’’); and
E. Other new information, data, or
corrections, including but not limited to
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes,
identification of erroneous information
contained in the List, and improved
analytical methods.
Definitions Related to This Notice
The following definitions are
provided to assist those persons who
contemplate submitting information
regarding the species being reviewed:
A. Species includes any species or
subspecies of fish, wildlife, or plant,
and any distinct population segment of
any species of vertebrate which
interbreeds when mature.
B. Endangered means any species that
is in danger of extinction throughout all
or a significant portion of its range.
C. Threatened means any species that
is likely to become an endangered
species within the foreseeable future
throughout all or a significant portion of
its range.
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How do we determine whether a
species is endangered or threatened?
Section 4(a)(1) of the Act establishes
that we determine whether a species is
endangered or threatened based on one
or more of the following five factors:
A. The present or threatened
destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range;
B. Overutilization for commercial,
recreational, scientific, or educational
purposes;
C. Disease or predation;
D. The inadequacy of existing
regulatory mechanisms; or
E. Other natural or manmade factors
affecting its continued existence.
Section 4(a)(1) of the Act requires that
our determination be made on the basis
of the best scientific and commercial
data available.
What could happen as a result of this
review?
If we find that there is new
information concerning any of these 19
species indicating that a change in
classification may be warranted, we may
propose a new rule that could do one of
the following: (a) Reclassify the species
from endangered to threatened
(downlist); (b) reclassify the species
from threatened to endangered (uplist);
or (c) delist the species. If we determine
that a change in classification is not
warranted, then the species will remain
on the List under its current status.
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Public Solicitation of New Information
We request any new information
concerning the status of any of these 19
species. See ‘‘What information is
considered in the review?’’ heading for
specific criteria. Information submitted
should be supported by documentation
such as maps, bibliographic references,
methods used to gather and analyze the
data, and/or copies of any pertinent
publications, reports, or letters by
knowledgeable sources. Our practice is
to make comments, including names
and home addresses of respondents,
available for public review. Individual
respondents may request that we
withhold their home addresses from the
supporting record, which we will honor
to the extent allowable by law. There
also may be circumstances in which we
may withhold from the supporting
record a respondent’s identity, as
allowable by law. If you wish us to
withhold your name and/or address,
you must state this prominently at the
beginning of your comment, but you
should be aware that the Service may be
required to disclose your name and
address pursuant to the Freedom of
Information Act. We will not consider
anonymous comments, however. We
will make all submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
Authority
This document is published under the
authority of the Endangered Species Act
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: June 12, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E6–12108 Filed 7–27–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Final
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report on the
Bair Island Restoration and
Management Plan, Don Edwards San
Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
and the Bair Island State Ecological
Reserve, San Mateo County, CA
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public
of the availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement/
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Environmental Impact Report (Final
EIS/EIR) for the Bair Island Restoration
and Management Plan. The Record of
Decision will be signed no sooner than
30 days after this notice.
The Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) and the California Department
of Fish and Game (CDFG) plan to restore
to tidal action 1,400 acres of former salt
ponds on Bair Island, a unit of the Don
Edwards San Francisco Bay National
Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and the Bair
Island State Ecological Reserve in South
San Francisco Bay. The restoration
would involve breaching existing former
commercial salt pond levees, adding
flow restricters to Corkscrew Slough,
and adding wildlife-oriented public use
facilities. It could also include rerouting
Smith Slough to its former slough bed
and raising the bottom elevation of
Inner Bair Island with dredge and/or fill
material or adding water control
structures to Inner Bair Island.
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) notice officially starts the
30-day waiting period for these
documents. It is the goal of the Service
to have our notice published on the
same date as the EPA notice. However,
if that does not occur, the date of the
EPA notice will determine the closing
date for the Final EIS/EIR. The 30-day
waiting period will end on August 28,
2006. Written comments should be
received on or before this date.
DATES:
The Final EIS/EIR can be
viewed on the South Bay Salt Pond
Restoration Project Web site at https://
www.southbayrestoration.org/Bair-EIREIS.html. Copies of the Final EIS/EIR are
also available for review at the following
government offices and libraries:
Government Offices—Don Edwards
San Francisco Bay National Wildlife
Refuge at the headquarters, #1
Marshlands Road, Fremont, California
94536, (510) 792–0222; Don Edwards
San Francisco Bay NWR Environmental
Education Center, 1751 Grand
Boulevard, Alviso, California 95002,
(408) 262–5513; California Department
of Fish and Game, 7329 Silverado Trail,
Napa, CA 94558, (707) 944–5500.
Libraries—Redwood City Library 1044
Middlefield Road, Redwood City,
California 94063, (650) 780–1077; San
Carlos Library 610 Elm Street, San
Carlos, California 94070, (650) 591–
0341.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Clyde Morris, Refuge Manager, Don
Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR, P.O.
Box 524, Newark, California 94560,
(510) 792–0222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 145 / Friday, July 28, 2006 / Notices
Background
Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Service prepared a Final EIS evaluating
the impacts of restoring and managing
up to 1,400 acres of former salt ponds
to tidal wetland in San Francisco Bay.
The Bair Island Complex is divided
into three distinct areas separated by
slough channels: Inner, Middle, and
Outer Bair. Inner Bair Island is
connected to the mainland with access
from Whipple Avenue and U.S.
Highway 101. Inner Bair Island is
separated from Middle Bair by Smith
Slough, which in turn is separated from
Outer Bair by Corkscrew Slough.
Historically, Bair Island was part of a
large complex of tidal marshes and mud
flats within the drainage of San
Francisco Bay, Redwood Creek, and
Steinberger Slough. Bair Island was
diked in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s
for agricultural purposes. It was
converted to commercial salt ponds in
1946 and remained in production until
1965. The lands were then drained and
sold to a series of real estate
development companies. A local
referendum in the City of Redwood City
halted development plans for Bair
Island. The CDFG and the Refuge both
acquired portions of Bair Island over
time. The Peninsula Open Space Trust
purchased the majority of the remaining
portions of Bair Island in 1999, and
their interests were acquired by these
agencies. Among several other
landowners still remaining on Bair
Island, the San Carlos Airport retains a
portion of Inner Bair Island as a flight
safety zone. In addition, two easements
exist on Bair Island, for the Pacific Gas
and Electric transmission towers and
lines that run throughout the site and
for the South Bayside System Authority
(SBSA) force main that runs underneath
most of the southern part of the levee on
Inner Bair Island. Pedestrians and
bicyclists currently use the top of the
Inner Bair Island levee as a 3-mile loop
trail with a 1⁄2-mile trail cutting across
Inner Bair Island during the dry season.
Portions of Middle and Outer Bair
Island are used for waterfowl hunting,
but there is little fishing occurring.
Redwood Creek and to a lesser extent,
Smith, Corkscrew and Steinberger
Sloughs, are popular recreational
boating areas.
The goal of the proposed Bair Island
Restoration and Management Plan is to
evaluate options to restore Bair Island to
a tidal salt marsh to provide habitat for
endangered species and other native
wildlife, as well as to enhance the
public’s appreciation and awareness of
the unique resources at Bair Island.
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Once restored, the site will assist with
the preservation and recovery of both
the California clapper rail and the salt
marsh harvest mouse. These two species
were listed by the Service as endangered
on October 13, 1970.
The restoration of Bair Island would
take place in phases. The first phase
would be breaching of Outer Bair Island
at one location on Steinberger Slough
near its entrance to San Francisco Bay.
The second phase would be restoration
of Inner and Middle Bair Island. The
third phase, which could take place
during or after the first two phases,
would be the construction of wildlifeoriented public use facilities.
On March 27, 2000, the Service
published a Notice of Intent to prepare
an EIS in the Federal Register (59 FR
16217). Scoping activities included a
public scoping meeting on April 27,
2000. Comments received in response to
this notice were incorporated into the
Draft EIS/EIR.
On August 27, 2004, the Service
published a Notice of Availability of the
Draft EIS/EIR in the Federal Register (69
FR 52730). A public meeting to accept
comments on the draft document was
held on September 22, 2004. In the Draft
EIS/EIR, we proposed to restore 1,400
acres of former commercial salt pond to
tidal wetlands on Outer, Middle and
Inner Bair Island. Wildlife-oriented
public use improvements were also
proposed. Project impacts were also
described in the Draft EIS/EIR.
Development of the Final EIS
The Draft EIS/EIR was jointly
developed with CDFG, which owns a
portion of the lands to be restored on
Bair Island. All comments received by
either the Service or the CDFG are
included and considered in the Final
EIS/EIR. A total of 31 comment letters
were received from organizations or
individuals. The Final EIS/EIR
incorporates all changes or additions to
the draft into one complete document.
The Analysis provided in the Final
EIS/EIR is intended to accomplish the
following: Inform the public of the
proposed action; address public
comments received on the Draft EIS/
EIR; disclose the direct, indirect, and
cumulative environmental effects of the
proposed actions; and indicate any
irreversible commitment of resources
that would result from implementation
of the proposed action.
Alternatives Analyzed
The Final EIS/EIR considers five
alternatives: A. No-Action Alternative,
Alternative 1: Tidal Marsh Restoration
with Moderate Public Access
Alternative (Proposed Action),
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Alternative 2: Tidal Marsh Restoration
with Restricted Public Access
Alternative, Alternative 3: Tidal and
Managed Marsh Restoration with
Moderate Public Access Alternative,
and Alternative 4: Tidal and Managed
Marsh with Restricted Public Access
Alternative.
Under the No-Action alternative, the
Refuge would discontinue ongoing levee
maintenance and would not repair any
levee breaks. The Refuge would work
with the San Carlos Airport and the
SBSA to protect their infrastructure on
Inner Bair Island. The existing levees on
Middle and Outer Bair Island would
eventually breach, causing unmanaged
tidal inundation of the ponds. This
would result in several impacts to
existing infrastructure. There would be
an increase in the sedimentation rate of
the Redwood Creek Shipping Channel,
resulting in the need for more frequent
dredging by the Port of Redwood City.
At least in the short term, there would
be an increase in the velocity rate of the
tidal waters at the junction of Smith
Slough and Redwood Creek, making use
of the Pete’s Harbor Marina more
difficult. Ponding of water on Inner Bair
Island would increase the bird strike
issue for the San Carlos Airport.
Approximately 1,400 acres of tidal salt
marsh would eventually be restored, but
the No-Action Alternative would delay
restoration of the ponds to salt marsh by
20–100 years and, at least in the short
term, result in poorer quality
endangered species habitat being
developed compared to the four action
alternatives.
In the short term (approximately 5
years), the No-Action alternative would
provide limited public use consistent
with protection of wildlife habitat and
public safety. In the long term
(approximately 5 to 10 years), as the
Inner Bair Island levee became unsafe,
public use of the 3-mile trail would be
eliminated and the area would be closed
to public access. No additional public
use infrastructure such as wildlife
viewing platforms and interpretive
signage would be installed, and the Bair
Island parking lot would be closed.
In Alternative 1, the proposed action,
the Tidal Marsh Restoration with
Moderate Public Access Alternative, full
tidal salt marsh restoration would occur
on Outer, Middle and Inner Bair Island.
The levees on Middle and Outer Bair
Island would be breached. Dredge and/
or fill material would be used to raise
the elevation of Inner Bair Island to
prevent increasing the bird strike issue
for San Carlos Airport. Following
dredge or fill material placement, the
Inner Bair Island levee would be
breached, restoring the historic meander
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 145 / Friday, July 28, 2006 / Notices
of Smith Slough to prevent
unacceptable tidal velocities at Pete’s
Harbor Marina. A flow restricter would
be installed in Corkscrew Slough to
prevent increased sedimentation of the
Redwood Creek Shipping Channel.
Approximately 1,400 acres of tidal salt
marsh would be restored more quickly
than would occur under the No-Action
Alternative for the endangered
California clapper rail, salt marsh
harvest mouse, and other native
wildlife.
A wildlife viewing platform with
portage for small boats would be
constructed at the flow restricter in
Corkscrew Slough. A 5-mile-per-hour
speed limit and no-wake zone would be
implemented in Smith and Corkscrew
Slough to protect harbor seals and other
sensitive wildlife. In addition to
waterfowl hunting, Refuge guided trips
would continue to be the only public
access allowed on Outer and Middle
Bair Island. On Inner Bair Island, 1.8
miles of trails on the levee, which
would end at two wildlife platforms
adjacent to Smith Slough, would replace
the 3-mile loop trail. A predatorresistant pedestrian bridge would be
built from the existing parking lot to
Inner Bair Island. The parking lot would
be enlarged to accommodate school
buses, a restroom and an information
kiosk. The Whipple Avenue entrance
would be closed to public access but
maintained for emergency vehicle
access. Pets (dogs only) would be
allowed on the Inner Bair Island trails
on a 6-foot leash. Future dog access to
Bair Island will be determined during a
test period of compliance with Refuge
regulations designed to protect wildlife.
As a result of comments made on the
Draft EIS/EIR, Alternative 1 in the Final
EIS/EIR differs from Alternative 1 in the
Draft EIS/EIR in the following ways: (1)
The public access trail on Inner Bair
Island would be shortened from 2.7
miles to 1.8 miles; (2) a predatorresistent pedestrian bridge would be
added to directly connect the existing
Bair Island Parking Lot to Inner Bair
Island; (3) a 3-foot high berm or one
strand fence would be added, to be
placed between the public access area
and the restored habitat; and (4) the
existing parking lot would be enlarged
to accommodate school buses, a
restroom, and an information kiosk.
Alternative 2, the Tidal Marsh
Restoration with Restricted Public
Access Alternative, would be the same
as the Preferred Alternative (Alternative
1), except for the following: (1) No pets
would be allowed on Inner Bair Island;
(2) there would be a seasonal closure to
boating in Corkscrew Slough to protect
harbor seals; (3) no pedestrian bridge
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would be built from the Refuge parking
lot and the parking lot would not be
enlarged to accommodate school buses
and a restroom; (4) an existing
unimproved trail on the mainland from
the Refuge parking lot to the Whipple
Avenue trailhead would be improved,
and Whipple Avenue would continue to
be used as the primary public access
route to Inner Bair Island; and (5) the
1.8-mile Inner Bair Island Trail would
not extend east of Whipple Avenue, but
would extend further along Smith
Slough on the west side of Whipple
Avenue, ending in one wildlife viewing
platform along Smith Slough.
Approximately 1,400 acres of tidal salt
marsh would be restored more quickly
than would occur under the No-Action
Alternative for the endangered
California clapper rail, endangered salt
marsh harvest mouse, and other native
wildlife.
Alternative 3, the Tidal and Managed
Marsh Restoration with Moderate Public
Access Alternative, would be the same
as Alternative 2 except for the
following: (1) Inner Bair Island would
not be restored to tidal salt marsh; (2)
Pets (dogs only) would be allowed on
the Inner Bair Island trails on a 6-foot
leash for a test period to determine
compliance with Refuge regulations
designed to protect wildlife; and (3)
there would not be a seasonal closure of
Corkscrew Slough to protect harbor
seals. Using water control structures,
managed salt marsh would be created
on Inner Bair Island, a flow restricter
would be built in Smith Slough to
prevent an unacceptable increase in
tidal velocity at Pete’s Harbor Marina,
and the slough would not be restored to
its historic meander. Approximately
1,100 acres of tidal salt marsh would be
restored on Outer and Middle Bair
Island more quickly than would occur
under the No-Action Alternative for the
endangered California clapper rail,
endangered salt marsh harvest mouse,
and other native wildlife. Three
hundred acres of managed salt marsh
would be created on Inner Bair Island
for the endangered salt marsh harvest
mouse but no habitat would be created
for the endangered California clapper
rail.
Alternative 4, the Tidal and Managed
Marsh Restoration with Restricted
Public Access Alternative, would be a
mixture of Alternative’s 2 and 3. The
restoration of 1,100 acres of tidal salt
marsh and 300 acres of managed salt
marsh on Inner Bair Island would be the
same as in Alternative 3. The public
access would be the same as in
Alternative 2.
This notice is provided pursuant to
regulations for implementing the
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National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: July 19, 2006.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada
Operations Office.
[FR Doc. E6–12016 Filed 7–27–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Submission of Collection of Water
Delivery and Electric Service Data for
the Operation of Irrigation and Power
Projects and Systems to the Office of
Management and Budget
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act, the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) is submitting the
information collection titled: Electrical
Service Application, 25 CFR 175, OMB
Control Number 1076–0021, and Water
Request, 25 CFR 171, OMB Central
Number 1076–0141, for reinstatement,
review, and approval. These collections
expired during the Paperwork
Reduction Act renewal process.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
August 28, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on the information collection to the
Desk Officer for the Department of the
Interior at the Office of Management and
Budget, by facsimile at (202) 395–6566
or you may send an e-mail to:
OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov.
Please send a copy of the comments
to John Anevski, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Branch of Irrigation, Power, and
Safety of Dams, Mail Stop 4655–MIB,
Washington, DC 20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You
may request further information or
obtain copies of the information
collection request submission from John
Anevski at (202) 208–5480, or by
facsimile at (202) 219–0006.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments
on these two information collections
were requested in a Federal Register
notice published February 28, 2006 (71
FR 10054). No comments were received.
Request for Comments
The Bureau of Indian Affairs requests
you to send your comments on this
collection to the two locations listed in
the ADDRESSES section. The Bureau of
Indian Affairs solicits comments in
order to:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42872-42874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12016]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report on the Bair Island Restoration and
Management Plan, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
and the Bair Island State Ecological Reserve, San Mateo County, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public of the availability of the
Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Final
EIS/EIR) for the Bair Island Restoration and Management Plan. The
Record of Decision will be signed no sooner than 30 days after this
notice.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the California
Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) plan to restore to tidal action
1,400 acres of former salt ponds on Bair Island, a unit of the Don
Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and the
Bair Island State Ecological Reserve in South San Francisco Bay. The
restoration would involve breaching existing former commercial salt
pond levees, adding flow restricters to Corkscrew Slough, and adding
wildlife-oriented public use facilities. It could also include
rerouting Smith Slough to its former slough bed and raising the bottom
elevation of Inner Bair Island with dredge and/or fill material or
adding water control structures to Inner Bair Island.
DATES: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notice officially
starts the 30-day waiting period for these documents. It is the goal of
the Service to have our notice published on the same date as the EPA
notice. However, if that does not occur, the date of the EPA notice
will determine the closing date for the Final EIS/EIR. The 30-day
waiting period will end on August 28, 2006. Written comments should be
received on or before this date.
ADDRESSES: The Final EIS/EIR can be viewed on the South Bay Salt Pond
Restoration Project Web site at https://www.southbayrestoration.org/
Bair-EIR-EIS.html. Copies of the Final EIS/EIR are also available for
review at the following government offices and libraries:
Government Offices--Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife
Refuge at the headquarters, 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont,
California 94536, (510) 792-0222; Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR
Environmental Education Center, 1751 Grand Boulevard, Alviso,
California 95002, (408) 262-5513; California Department of Fish and
Game, 7329 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 944-5500.
Libraries--Redwood City Library 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood
City, California 94063, (650) 780-1077; San Carlos Library 610 Elm
Street, San Carlos, California 94070, (650) 591-0341.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clyde Morris, Refuge Manager, Don
Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR, P.O. Box 524, Newark, California 94560,
(510) 792-0222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 42873]]
Background
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Service prepared a Final EIS evaluating the impacts of restoring and
managing up to 1,400 acres of former salt ponds to tidal wetland in San
Francisco Bay.
The Bair Island Complex is divided into three distinct areas
separated by slough channels: Inner, Middle, and Outer Bair. Inner Bair
Island is connected to the mainland with access from Whipple Avenue and
U.S. Highway 101. Inner Bair Island is separated from Middle Bair by
Smith Slough, which in turn is separated from Outer Bair by Corkscrew
Slough.
Historically, Bair Island was part of a large complex of tidal
marshes and mud flats within the drainage of San Francisco Bay, Redwood
Creek, and Steinberger Slough. Bair Island was diked in the late 1800's
and early 1900's for agricultural purposes. It was converted to
commercial salt ponds in 1946 and remained in production until 1965.
The lands were then drained and sold to a series of real estate
development companies. A local referendum in the City of Redwood City
halted development plans for Bair Island. The CDFG and the Refuge both
acquired portions of Bair Island over time. The Peninsula Open Space
Trust purchased the majority of the remaining portions of Bair Island
in 1999, and their interests were acquired by these agencies. Among
several other landowners still remaining on Bair Island, the San Carlos
Airport retains a portion of Inner Bair Island as a flight safety zone.
In addition, two easements exist on Bair Island, for the Pacific Gas
and Electric transmission towers and lines that run throughout the site
and for the South Bayside System Authority (SBSA) force main that runs
underneath most of the southern part of the levee on Inner Bair Island.
Pedestrians and bicyclists currently use the top of the Inner Bair
Island levee as a 3-mile loop trail with a \1/2\-mile trail cutting
across Inner Bair Island during the dry season. Portions of Middle and
Outer Bair Island are used for waterfowl hunting, but there is little
fishing occurring. Redwood Creek and to a lesser extent, Smith,
Corkscrew and Steinberger Sloughs, are popular recreational boating
areas.
The goal of the proposed Bair Island Restoration and Management
Plan is to evaluate options to restore Bair Island to a tidal salt
marsh to provide habitat for endangered species and other native
wildlife, as well as to enhance the public's appreciation and awareness
of the unique resources at Bair Island. Once restored, the site will
assist with the preservation and recovery of both the California
clapper rail and the salt marsh harvest mouse. These two species were
listed by the Service as endangered on October 13, 1970.
The restoration of Bair Island would take place in phases. The
first phase would be breaching of Outer Bair Island at one location on
Steinberger Slough near its entrance to San Francisco Bay. The second
phase would be restoration of Inner and Middle Bair Island. The third
phase, which could take place during or after the first two phases,
would be the construction of wildlife-oriented public use facilities.
On March 27, 2000, the Service published a Notice of Intent to
prepare an EIS in the Federal Register (59 FR 16217). Scoping
activities included a public scoping meeting on April 27, 2000.
Comments received in response to this notice were incorporated into the
Draft EIS/EIR.
On August 27, 2004, the Service published a Notice of Availability
of the Draft EIS/EIR in the Federal Register (69 FR 52730). A public
meeting to accept comments on the draft document was held on September
22, 2004. In the Draft EIS/EIR, we proposed to restore 1,400 acres of
former commercial salt pond to tidal wetlands on Outer, Middle and
Inner Bair Island. Wildlife-oriented public use improvements were also
proposed. Project impacts were also described in the Draft EIS/EIR.
Development of the Final EIS
The Draft EIS/EIR was jointly developed with CDFG, which owns a
portion of the lands to be restored on Bair Island. All comments
received by either the Service or the CDFG are included and considered
in the Final EIS/EIR. A total of 31 comment letters were received from
organizations or individuals. The Final EIS/EIR incorporates all
changes or additions to the draft into one complete document.
The Analysis provided in the Final EIS/EIR is intended to
accomplish the following: Inform the public of the proposed action;
address public comments received on the Draft EIS/EIR; disclose the
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of the proposed
actions; and indicate any irreversible commitment of resources that
would result from implementation of the proposed action.
Alternatives Analyzed
The Final EIS/EIR considers five alternatives: A. No-Action
Alternative, Alternative 1: Tidal Marsh Restoration with Moderate
Public Access Alternative (Proposed Action), Alternative 2: Tidal Marsh
Restoration with Restricted Public Access Alternative, Alternative 3:
Tidal and Managed Marsh Restoration with Moderate Public Access
Alternative, and Alternative 4: Tidal and Managed Marsh with Restricted
Public Access Alternative.
Under the No-Action alternative, the Refuge would discontinue
ongoing levee maintenance and would not repair any levee breaks. The
Refuge would work with the San Carlos Airport and the SBSA to protect
their infrastructure on Inner Bair Island. The existing levees on
Middle and Outer Bair Island would eventually breach, causing unmanaged
tidal inundation of the ponds. This would result in several impacts to
existing infrastructure. There would be an increase in the
sedimentation rate of the Redwood Creek Shipping Channel, resulting in
the need for more frequent dredging by the Port of Redwood City. At
least in the short term, there would be an increase in the velocity
rate of the tidal waters at the junction of Smith Slough and Redwood
Creek, making use of the Pete's Harbor Marina more difficult. Ponding
of water on Inner Bair Island would increase the bird strike issue for
the San Carlos Airport. Approximately 1,400 acres of tidal salt marsh
would eventually be restored, but the No-Action Alternative would delay
restoration of the ponds to salt marsh by 20-100 years and, at least in
the short term, result in poorer quality endangered species habitat
being developed compared to the four action alternatives.
In the short term (approximately 5 years), the No-Action
alternative would provide limited public use consistent with protection
of wildlife habitat and public safety. In the long term (approximately
5 to 10 years), as the Inner Bair Island levee became unsafe, public
use of the 3-mile trail would be eliminated and the area would be
closed to public access. No additional public use infrastructure such
as wildlife viewing platforms and interpretive signage would be
installed, and the Bair Island parking lot would be closed.
In Alternative 1, the proposed action, the Tidal Marsh Restoration
with Moderate Public Access Alternative, full tidal salt marsh
restoration would occur on Outer, Middle and Inner Bair Island. The
levees on Middle and Outer Bair Island would be breached. Dredge and/or
fill material would be used to raise the elevation of Inner Bair Island
to prevent increasing the bird strike issue for San Carlos Airport.
Following dredge or fill material placement, the Inner Bair Island
levee would be breached, restoring the historic meander
[[Page 42874]]
of Smith Slough to prevent unacceptable tidal velocities at Pete's
Harbor Marina. A flow restricter would be installed in Corkscrew Slough
to prevent increased sedimentation of the Redwood Creek Shipping
Channel. Approximately 1,400 acres of tidal salt marsh would be
restored more quickly than would occur under the No-Action Alternative
for the endangered California clapper rail, salt marsh harvest mouse,
and other native wildlife.
A wildlife viewing platform with portage for small boats would be
constructed at the flow restricter in Corkscrew Slough. A 5-mile-per-
hour speed limit and no-wake zone would be implemented in Smith and
Corkscrew Slough to protect harbor seals and other sensitive wildlife.
In addition to waterfowl hunting, Refuge guided trips would continue to
be the only public access allowed on Outer and Middle Bair Island. On
Inner Bair Island, 1.8 miles of trails on the levee, which would end at
two wildlife platforms adjacent to Smith Slough, would replace the 3-
mile loop trail. A predator-resistant pedestrian bridge would be built
from the existing parking lot to Inner Bair Island. The parking lot
would be enlarged to accommodate school buses, a restroom and an
information kiosk. The Whipple Avenue entrance would be closed to
public access but maintained for emergency vehicle access. Pets (dogs
only) would be allowed on the Inner Bair Island trails on a 6-foot
leash. Future dog access to Bair Island will be determined during a
test period of compliance with Refuge regulations designed to protect
wildlife.
As a result of comments made on the Draft EIS/EIR, Alternative 1 in
the Final EIS/EIR differs from Alternative 1 in the Draft EIS/EIR in
the following ways: (1) The public access trail on Inner Bair Island
would be shortened from 2.7 miles to 1.8 miles; (2) a predator-
resistent pedestrian bridge would be added to directly connect the
existing Bair Island Parking Lot to Inner Bair Island; (3) a 3-foot
high berm or one strand fence would be added, to be placed between the
public access area and the restored habitat; and (4) the existing
parking lot would be enlarged to accommodate school buses, a restroom,
and an information kiosk.
Alternative 2, the Tidal Marsh Restoration with Restricted Public
Access Alternative, would be the same as the Preferred Alternative
(Alternative 1), except for the following: (1) No pets would be allowed
on Inner Bair Island; (2) there would be a seasonal closure to boating
in Corkscrew Slough to protect harbor seals; (3) no pedestrian bridge
would be built from the Refuge parking lot and the parking lot would
not be enlarged to accommodate school buses and a restroom; (4) an
existing unimproved trail on the mainland from the Refuge parking lot
to the Whipple Avenue trailhead would be improved, and Whipple Avenue
would continue to be used as the primary public access route to Inner
Bair Island; and (5) the 1.8-mile Inner Bair Island Trail would not
extend east of Whipple Avenue, but would extend further along Smith
Slough on the west side of Whipple Avenue, ending in one wildlife
viewing platform along Smith Slough. Approximately 1,400 acres of tidal
salt marsh would be restored more quickly than would occur under the
No-Action Alternative for the endangered California clapper rail,
endangered salt marsh harvest mouse, and other native wildlife.
Alternative 3, the Tidal and Managed Marsh Restoration with
Moderate Public Access Alternative, would be the same as Alternative 2
except for the following: (1) Inner Bair Island would not be restored
to tidal salt marsh; (2) Pets (dogs only) would be allowed on the Inner
Bair Island trails on a 6-foot leash for a test period to determine
compliance with Refuge regulations designed to protect wildlife; and
(3) there would not be a seasonal closure of Corkscrew Slough to
protect harbor seals. Using water control structures, managed salt
marsh would be created on Inner Bair Island, a flow restricter would be
built in Smith Slough to prevent an unacceptable increase in tidal
velocity at Pete's Harbor Marina, and the slough would not be restored
to its historic meander. Approximately 1,100 acres of tidal salt marsh
would be restored on Outer and Middle Bair Island more quickly than
would occur under the No-Action Alternative for the endangered
California clapper rail, endangered salt marsh harvest mouse, and other
native wildlife. Three hundred acres of managed salt marsh would be
created on Inner Bair Island for the endangered salt marsh harvest
mouse but no habitat would be created for the endangered California
clapper rail.
Alternative 4, the Tidal and Managed Marsh Restoration with
Restricted Public Access Alternative, would be a mixture of
Alternative's 2 and 3. The restoration of 1,100 acres of tidal salt
marsh and 300 acres of managed salt marsh on Inner Bair Island would be
the same as in Alternative 3. The public access would be the same as in
Alternative 2.
This notice is provided pursuant to regulations for implementing
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: July 19, 2006.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office.
[FR Doc. E6-12016 Filed 7-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
