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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem P June 14, 1999 STAFF REPORT To: Mayor and Members of the City Council Attention: Keith R. Till, City Manager From: Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services Subject: COMMENTS ON "PUBLIC NOTICE/APPLICATION NO. 970033900-YJC" - ROSSMOOR RETARDING BASIN/CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT SUMMARY OF REQUEST Authorize Mayor to sign Response Letters, with any amendments determined appropriate. Receive and File Staff Report. Instruct Staff to forward to the Planning Commission and Environmental Quality Control Board for information. DISCUSSION The City has received a copy of the "Public Notice/Application No. 970033900`YJC" regarding proposed improvements to the Rossmoor Storm Channel and Rossmoor Retarding Basin from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District ("Corps). Proposed Project: Proposed improvements consist of constructing a pump station on the western wall of the Rossmoor Retarding Basin (CO1BO2) across from the confluence with Rossmoor Storm Channel to pump water from the basin to the San Gabriel River, removing weirs and adjoining embankments within the basin, regrading the basin to direct flows to the pump station, and constructing an overflow spillway at the south end of the basin. Agenda Item CAMy I)ooumenls\CEQA\Rossmoor Retarding Basin,Corps Notice,CC SR.doc LW\05-25-99 Notice of Application for Permit 97(X)339 YJC Rossmoor Retarding Basin/Channel hnprovements Comment Letter from City of Seal Beach City Council Staff Report June 14, 1999 The project consists of the following improvements: o Construction of a new 1000 cubic feet per second (cfs) pump station within the Rossmoor Retarding Basin across from the confluence with Rossmoor Storm Channel that will include a wet well, a housing structure, outlet structure to the San Gabriel River, a control facility, and a back-up fuel storage tank. ❑ The removal of all the weir structures and the construction of a berm with an emergency spillway (about 150 feet (L) by 90 feet (W)) at the downstream end of the basin to contain all of the 100-year inflows of the basin. o Re-configuration of the Rossmoor Retarding Basin and re-grading of the invert to drain to the new pump station. The Rossmoor Retarding Basin will have the existing weir structures removed and have an overflow spillway at the downstream end of the basin. Therefore, all incoming flows to the basin will be retained and pumped to the San Gabriel River. Two local storm drains (Piedmont and the Bostonian Storm Drain) which currently drain into the basin, will be diverted to drain into Los Alamitos Channel (CO1) downstream of the Rossmoor Retarding Basin just downstream of the spillway. Restoration of the retarding effectiveness of the basin will reduce peak discharges downstream. Construction of the channel is expected to begin in June 1999 and take approximately one year to complete. The Orange County Flood Control District (OCFCD) proposes to construct this project within the existing OCFCD right-of-way. No residential, golf course, industrial structures or private property will be permanently impacted by the project. The proposed improvements are planned to provide a 100-year protection along the channel segments. These improvements are necessary to remove deficiencies within the existing drainage system and provide greater flood protection for adjacent properties and residences. The unincorporated community of Rossmoor and residences within Leisure World along the existing channel, and other channels that feed into the Los Alamitos Retarding Basin have been subject to severe flooding over the past years with the most severe flooding occurring in 1995, resulting in the evacuation of several hundred residents within Leisure World. Comment Period on Corps Application for Permit: The comment period on the Corps Application for Permit is from May 17 to June 17, 1999. Due to the time constraints in commenting on the Application for Permit by both the City Council or the Environmental Quality Control Board due to meeting schedules, staff has prepared this matter for Rossmoor Retarding Basin,Corps Notice,CC SR 2 Notice of Application for Permit 97(033900-YJC Rossmoor Retarding Basin/Channel Improvements Comment Letter from City of Seal Beach City Council Staff Report June 14, 1999 review and consideration by the City Council, without the matter being reviewed by the Environmental Quality Control Board. This is the first available meeting of the City Council, and the Environmental Quality Control Board will not meet until June 30, 1999, after the close of the comment period. Summary of Proposed Action and Environmental Impacts: Staff is providing a complete copy of the "Public Notice/Application No. 970033900-YJC" regarding this project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District as Attachment 2, with a proposed response letter to the Corps provided as Attachment 1. RECOMMENDATION Authorize Mayor to sign Response Letters, with any amendments determined appropriate. Receive and File Staff Report. Instruct Staff to forward to the Planning Commission and Environmental Quality Control Board for information. NOTED APPROVED I .A ./,r A ffil whi - berg, Director >`` Keith R. Till V velopment Services Department - City Manager Attachments: (2) Attachment 1: Proposed Response Letter re: "Public Notice/Application No. 970033900 - YJC", U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, September 7, 1998 Attachment 2: "Public Notice/Application No. 970033900 - YJC", U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, May 17, 1999 (complete) Rossmoor Retarding Basin,Corps Notice,CC SR 3 Notice of Application for Permit 970033900-YJC Rossmoor Retarding Barin/Channel hnprovements Comment Letter from Cay of Seal Beach City Council Staff-Report June 14, 1999 ATTACHMENT 1 PROPOSED RESPONSE LETTER RE: "PUBLIC NOTICE/APPLICATION NO. 970033900 - YJC", U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT, MAY 17, 1999 Rossmoor Retarding Basin,Corps Notice,CC SR 4 n . „'" "� Z � t=. �' Z gk r,.fi. taw -. .5 ^�.�a-� a£�'* t `,,4 • dr 7DS�' cam"'- Th1. June 14, 1999 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District Regulatory Branch ATTN: CESPL-CO-R-970033900-YJC P. O. Box 532711 Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325 Dear Mr. Chung: SUBJECT: "PUBLIC NOTICE/APPLICATION NO. 970033900-YJC', Rossmoor Retarding Basin/Storm Channel, Orange County, California The City Council of the City of Seal Beach has reviewed the above referenced Application for Permit regarding proposed improvements to the Rossmoor Retarding Basin/Storm Channel. The City of Seal Beach strongly supports the proposed improvements to this retarding basin and storm channel. The safety of the residents adjoining the Rossmoor Channel and the downstream Federal Storm Channel will be greatly increased by the successful completion of the project, alleviating a flooding problem from this portion of Orange County, and our community in particular. In reviewing the subject document, the City concurs with the determinations of the Corps regarding this project and urges the issuance of the requested permit to the County of Orange. The City has continued to urge improvements to the subject storm facilities and encourages additional improvements to the Los Alamitos Retarding Basin within the near future to alleviate the potential flooding concerns within the Leisure World community in Seal Beach. It is imperative that adequate measures be taken during the construction period to ensure adequate storm water protection during the winter 1999-2000 to provide a sufficient level of safety to the impacted residential areas. The permit issuance should address this issue in a forthright manner, indicating the level of protection to be provided during the winter storm season. Thank you for your consideration of the comments of the City of Seal Beach. Please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services at (562) 431-2527, extension 313, if you have any questions regarding this matter C:\My Documents\CEQA\Rossmoor Retarding Basin.CC Comment Ldiu.doc\LW\06-14-99 City of Seal Beach Comment Letter re: Corps of Engineers Public Notice/Application No. 970033900-YJC Rossmoor Retarding Basin/Channel Improvements June 14, 1999 Sincerely, ` Ce) 7,47;f4—‘ Paul Yost,Mayor City of Seal Beach Distribution: Seal Beach City Council Seal Beach Planning Commission Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board Seal Beach Archaeological Advisory Committee City Manager City Engineer Director of Development Services Rossmoor Retarding Basin.CC Comment Letter 2 Notice of Application for Permit 970033900-YJC Rossmoor Retarding Basin/Channel Improvements Comment Letter from Ory of Seal Beach City Council Staff Report June 14, 1999 ATTACHMENT 2 "PUBLIC NOTICE/APPLICATION NO. 9700333900- YJC", U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT, MAY 17, 1999 (COMPLETE) Roumoor Retarding Basin,Corps Notice,CC SR 7 PUBLIC NOTICE US Army Corps CITY OF SEAL BEACH of Engineers® APPLICATION FOR PERMIT MAY 2 1999 LOS ANGELES DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF DEVELODMENT SERVICES Public Notice/Application No.: 970033900-YJC Comment Period: 05/17/1999 through 06/17/1999 Project Manager Jae Chung (213) 452-3292 ychung@spl.usace.army.mil Applicant Contact V.P. Rosales J.A. Miller County of Orange Design Division County of Orange Flood Control Design 300 N. Flower Street 300 N. Flower Street P.O. Box 4048 P.O. Box 4048 Santa Ana, California 92702-4048 Santa Ana, CA 92702-4048 Location Northwest of the intersection of the I-405 and I-605 freeways in the City of Long Beach and the City of Los Alamitos. Activity To construct a 1000 cubic feet per second pump station across from the confluence with the Rossmoor Storm Channel on the western wall of the Rossmoor Retarding Basin (CO1BO2) and to reconfigure the basin to drain to the new pump station (see drawings). For more information see page 3 of this notice. Interested parties are hereby notified that an application has been received for a Department of the Army permit for the activity described herein and shown on the attached drawing(s). Interested parties are invited to provide their views on the proposed work, which will become a part of the record and will be considered in the decision. This permit will be issued or denied under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1344). Comments should be mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District Regulatory Branch ATTN: CESPL-CO-R-970033900-YJC P.O. Box 532711 Los Angeles, California 90053-2325 Alternatively, comments can be sent electronically to: ychung@spl.usace.army.mil Evaluation Factors The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof. Factors that will be considered include conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food production and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. In addition, if the proposal would discharge dredged or fill material, the evaluation of the activity will include application of the EPA Guidelines (40 CFR 230) as required by Section 404 (b)(1) of the Clean Water Act. The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. Preliminary Review of Selected Factors EIS Determination- A preliminary determination has been made that an environmental impact statement is not required for the proposed work. Water Quality- The applicant is required to obtain water quality certification, under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. Section 401 requires that any applicant for an individual Section 404 permit provide proof of water quality certification to the Corps of Engineers prior to permit issuance. For any proposed activity on Tribal land that is subject to Section 404 jurisdiction, the applicant will be required to obtain water quality certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Coastal Zone Management- For those projects in or affecting the coastal zone, the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act requires that prior to issuing the Corps authorization for the project, the applicant must obtain concurrence from the California Coastal Commission that the project is consistent with the State's Coastal Zone Management Plan. This project is located outside the coastal zone and preliminary review indicates that it will not affect coastal zone resources. A final determination of whether this project affects coastal zone resources will be made by the Corps, in consultation with the California Coastal Commission, after review of the comments received on this Public Notice. • Cultural Resources- The latest version of the National Register of Historic Places has been consulted and this site is not listed. The County of Orange's Notice of Determination states there 2 • are no paleontological or archaeological resources within the basin due to the disturbed nature of the area and because the County General Plan indicates the project is not within a "general area of sensitivity" for such resources. Endangered Species- Preliminary determinations indicate that the proposed activity would not affect federally-listed endangered or threatened species, or their critical habitat. Therefore, formal consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act does not appear to be required at this time. Public Hearing- Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests for public hearing shall state with particularity the reasons for holding a public hearing. Proposed Activity for Which a Permit is Required The activity consists of constructing a pump station on the western wall of the Rossmoor Retarding Basin (CO1BO2) across from the confluence with Rossmoor Storm Channel to pump water from the basin to the San Gabriel River, removing weirs and adjoining embankments within the basin, regrading the basin to direct flows to the pump station, and constructing an overflow spillway at the south end of the basin. Additional Project Information During the storm of January 4, 1995, the Los Alamitos Channel (COl) watershed received between 2.5 to 3 inches of rain in a three-hour period. The Orange County Hydrology Section estimated the rainfall during this three-hour period to be in excess of a 100-year event. As a result of the storm, the pumps at the Los Alamitos Pump Station south of the Rossmoor Retarding Basin exceeded their capacity. Los Alamitos Channel and Federal Storm Channel (CO1SO6) overtopped just upstream of the Los Alamitos Basin (Attachment 1) flooding the community of Leisure World between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. There was also flooding upstream within the unincorporated community of Rossmoor. As a result of the downstream Los Alamitos Pump station exceeding capacity, the Rossmoor Basin located adjacent to the Rossmoor Community could not properly drain. The Rossmoor and the Katella Channels, which drain into the Rossmoor Basin, were unable to convey the discharges, and as a consequence, either overflowed or could not accept surface drainage. The Rossmoor Retarding Basin (CO1BO2) was constructed in 1983 as a 25 acre flow through basin with a capacity of 220 acre-feet. CO2B02 was built upstream of the intersection of the I-405 and the I-605 Freeways and currently consists of a series of five basins connected by weir structures. The original purpose of CO1BO2 was to reduce peak flows into the undersized Los Alamitos Pump Station and Retarding Basin (CO1BO1). Backwater from CO1BO1 combined with CO1BO2 filling up during the early part of a storm greatly reduced the operating efficiency of CO1BO2 and all but eliminated any retarding effect and reduction of peak flows downstream. The proposed project includes the following improvements: 1. Construction of a new 1000 cubic feet per second (cfs) pump station within the Rossmoor Retarding Basin across from the confluence with Rossmoor Storm Channel 3 that will include a wet well, a housing structure, outlet structure to the San Gabriel River, a control facility, and a back-up fuel storage tank. 2. The removal of all of the weir structures and the construction of a berm with an emergency spillway (about 150 feet (L) by 90 feet (W)) at the downstream end of the basin to contain all of the 100-year inflows of the basin. 3. Re-configuration of the Rossmoor Retarding Basin and re-grading of the invert to drain to the new pump station. The proposed improvements intend to provide 100-year protection along the channel segments. The Rossmoor Retarding Basin will have the existing weir structures removed and have an overflow spillway at the downstream end of the basin. Therefore, all incoming flows to the basin will be retained and pumped to the San Gabriel River (Attachment 2). Two local storm drains (Piedmont and the Bostonian Storm Drain), which currently drain into the basin, will be diverted to drain into COl downstream of the Rossmoor Retarding Basin just downstream of the spillway. Restoration of the retarding effectiveness of the basin will reduce peak discharges downstream. The County of Orange Flood Control District (OCFCD) proposes to construct this project within existing OCFCD right-of-way. No residential, commercial, or industrial structures or private property will be permanently impacted by the project. The basin currently contains 0.31 acres of streambed consisting of open water and cattails. The streambed is fed by three large channels (Los Alamitos Channel (CO1), Katella Storm Channel, and Rossmoor Storm Channel) and three minor channels (Shakespeare Storm Drain, Piedmont Storm Drain, and Bostonian Storm Drain). The stream ranges from 3 feet to 10 feet in width and meanders along the east end of the retarding basin. When construction is finished, the basin will return to soft bottom, and the existing storm drains will again supply the water allowing herbaceous wetlands to regrow. It is expected that the project construction will start in June of 1999 and that it will take approximately one year to complete. The work will involve discharge of 1,500 cubic yards of concrete and 300 cubic yards of gravel base material into the existing basin. In addition, 18,000 cubic yards of material will be excavated. All excavated material will be reused for basin regrading (primarily at the south end) and berm improvements within the project site with some of the material being discharged into waters of the United States. Because the current stream meanders along only a portion of the east end, not all the discharge will be within waters of the United States. For additional information please call Jae Chung of my staff at (213) 452-3292. This public notice is issued by the Chief, Regulatory Branch. 4 • . L.-7fi. 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I ROSS w00R Ct • ' PARR ; W a PROPOSED PUMPje STATION e Ileills!" •/ eoss..00� • . 1 r 44444,e4.44: 1 . 4::lioto: ... /* 1 1 i ir op, Ilik 4v .:: ,.. c • qac V •/ .0 d` • miimo, ---- „ , ...:./..../ -- ,. , . , v . 1 sT.ua.,a a ¢/- 1, NA,,, ,.. . ./ i 1. g I� ORANGE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY \ZIIIF �°°°sT°°` "� LOCATION MAP `a"°” • (C011302). •� M.Ta WM•A� ROSSMOOR S M O O R PUMP STATION T [;;::: FROM D/S OF KATELLA AVE. 'y TO U/S OF 1-405 FWY. 0 r_______i iNOT TO SCALE r . ROSSMOOR BASIN SCHEMA TIC WITH BYPASS Los Alamitos Channel (C01) Katella Storm Channel Shakespeare No Scale Rossmoor Storm Channel 4v t;► r• Piedmont Storm Drain Bostonian Storm Drain o� a� c� 1®®g E N MOFFG ATTN ENIE& CHOL RS CO1 Los Alamitos Channel APRIL 1999 FIGURE 3-3 • /zr _ • tr w' I' �._����if��/F./J�+� ._Ar J'ri#�I� -^-93ti�`�t .,.�"—`r y ! TN* '" �I wy"— •�f. � 4M P '-`yd f.w YNC pll1 r.t�rr(toll i4.V rN f..r(fry) •, + .:.:----..^_�- --+'�. �� (y01 .. Y ` fN aa"'�R.ff V ; LEGEND ///, BASIN #1 STORAGE AREA 0 WEIR EL +1.02 m (3.34 ft) 1/l//2 BASIN 02 STORAGE AREA 0 WEIR EL +1.36 m (4.46 ft) f'///r{ BASIN /3 STORAGE AREA 0 WEIR EL +2.12 m (6.97 ft) Vim'//A BASIN #4 STORAGE AREA 0 WEIR EL +2.83 m (9.29 ft) BASIN y5 STORAGE AREA 0 WEIR EL +3.38 m (11.1 ft) ROSSMOOR BASIN EXISTING CONDITIONS ,,Min,"CAT . HIE IPO S APRIL 1999 FIGURE 3-1 1 --- lq 'w!l[S Cyyry kr-..Va" f- aTi.fi fai.M1�� I 00 i PA GAWK awn AWN.OW LEGEND — I////A WATER STORAGE AREA ® EL +3.05 m V 0 ROSSMOOR PUMP STATION STORAGE CAPACITY PROPOSED GRADING PLAN © BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH END BASIN CONFIGURATION BC-6 V ""M0FFATTdc\ICHOL Y [ M G I N E C P APRIL 1999 IZ FIGURE 5-6