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Regular-Community Services # 41.
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| Board of Supervisors |
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| Subject |
| Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the County Road 41 over Cache Creek Bridge Replacement Project as the appropriate level of environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, and direct County staff to file the Notice of Determination with the County Clerk-Recorder. (No general fund impact) (Echiburú/Riddiough) |
| Recommended Action |
- Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the County Road 41 over Cache Creek Bridge Replacement Project (Project) as the appropriate level of environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
- Direct County staff to file the Notice of Determination with the County Clerk-Recorder.
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| Strategic Plan Goal(s) |
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Safe Communities |
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Flourishing Agriculture |
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| Reason for Recommended Action/Background |
Based on the environmental evaluation in the Initial Study for the County Road 41 bridge over Cache Creek Replacement Project, with the implementation of prescribed mitigation and other measures to reduce environmental impacts, the Project was determined not to have a significant effect on the environment. Adoption of this Mitigated Negative Declaration will allow the Project to move forward through the environmental permitting process and into the right-of-way acquisition phase of the Project.
BACKGROUND
The County Road 41 bridge over Cache Creek (also known as the Rumsey Bridge or the Cache Creek Bridge) was built in 1930 and was constructed as a two-span reinforced concrete through tied arch. Each span is 108 feet long, for a total bridge length of 216 feet. The bridge is supported by reinforced concrete piers and abutments, both supported on pile foundations. Due to flood damage, the bridge was rehabilitated and extended in 1949 with two additional 47.5-foot long cast-in-place reinforced concrete T-beam spans on the north end of the bridge. These modifications resulted in the current bridge length of approximately 311 feet. The existing bridge is 24.5 feet wide with 20.5 feet clearance between the inside of the concrete bridge rails.
The purpose of the Project is to replace the existing structurally deficient Rumsey Bridge that is near the end of its service life. After extensive public outreach, and assembling a feasibility study containing six alternatives, the Board approved the following bridge replacement strategy on December 15, 2015: an approximate 400-foot long, three span, cast-in-place, prestressed concrete box girder structure with 28 feet of clear width between concrete barriers. The replacement bridge would be located west of the existing bridge along a new upstream alignment. County Road 41 would also be oriented along a new bearing relative to the original alignment so that the new road intersects State Route 16 at a perpendicular angle. This would improve the intersection geometrics relative to the existing condition and allow for the existing bridge to remain open during construction to accommodate traffic.
Rock slope protection will be placed along the creek banks to protect the new roadway embankment and will consist of 2-ton (or heavier) boulders with several smaller backing layers and rock slope protection fabric. This erosion protection would be installed from the 100-year water surface elevation down to approximately 10 feet below the creek bed and channel and would be installed approximately 50 feet or more up and down stream of the new bridge. On the south side of the bridge, new rock slope protection would conform to the existing rock erosion protection and rock groins that extend approximately 700 feet upstream.
A Natural Environmental Study and Biological Assessment were prepared for the Project area which support the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (Attachment A). The Initial Study/ Mitigated Negative Declaration was submitted to the State Clearinghouse, and subsequently circulated for public review and comment on May 26, 2020. A community meeting was held with the Capay Valley Citizens Advisory Committee on June 3, 2020, to accept public comments. Comments were received during the review period through June 26, 2020, and responses to those comments are included in the attached memorandum (Attachment B).
County staff has applied with the Yolo Habitat Conservancy for coverage of this proposed Project under the Yolo Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan (Yolo HCP/NCCP).
The Rumsey Bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its type, period, and method of construction, as a rare and significant example of a concrete tied arch bridge in California. Since the bridge will be replaced, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was developed and signed by the State of California and Yolo County to provide several historical mitigation actions, including requirement of a monument that provides a brief history of the Rumsey Bridge, its engineering features, and its significance. The Rumsey Improvement Association, The Greater Capay Valley Historical Society, and the Yolo County Historical Society each provided their concurrence with the MOA mitigations, as well. Since Board approval of the replacement strategy in 2015, the MOA development and approval process has been the greatest draw of staff efforts, up until circulation of the IS/MND.
The County also initiated an early consultation request with interested Tribes under the provisions of Assembly Bill (AB) 52, and subsequently met with Cultural Resources staff of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, who indicated a cultural interest and authority in the project area. A site visit was conducted at the project site with Yocha Dehe’s Cultural Resources Director, Caltrans and County staff, and the County’s consultant team, including an archaeologist. Details of the consultation process are outlined in the Initial Study provided in Attachment A.
The County has received a signed Categorical Exclusion from Caltrans as part of their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) determination. The County will be responsible for implementing the conservation and mitigation measures outlined in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) (Attachment B), as referenced in the attached Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. |
| Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies) |
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Caltrans
Capay Valley Citizens’ Advisory Committee
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation
Yolo Habitat Conservancy |
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| Fiscal Impact |
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| Source of Funds for this Expenditure |
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Explanation (Expenditure and/or Revenue) |
| Further explanation as needed: |
| There is no general fund impact by this action. This approval today is for the adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration as the appropriate level of environmental review in accordance with CEQA. |
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