DR-4382-CA Public Notice 005

INITIAL PUBLIC NOTIC: Americana Park Bypass Channel Project, Contra Costa County, California │ HMGP 4382-601-15

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intends to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to the City of Pittsburg in Contra Costa County, California, to construct a bypass channel to redirect stormwater from the Americana Park detention basin to an unnamed tributary of Willow Creek. The proposed action would mitigate impacts from stormwater overflows by diverting water away from Parkside Drive. Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and Executive Order 11990 (Wetlands Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its intent to carry out an action affecting a floodplain and wetland.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce flood hazards. The proposed action consists of the following: 1) lowering the elevation of the existing detention basin spillway; 2) excavating a new bypass channel south of Parkside Drive through uplands to the unnamed tributary; 3) removing and reinstalling chain link fencing around the detention basin; 4) lowering two existing waterlines; 5) replacing existing irrigation valves, supply lines, conduits, electrolier, and a pull box.

The project area is in the 100-year floodplain as depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Numbers 06013C0118G and 06013C0119G, both effective September 30, 2015. The FIRM shows that the project area lies within Zone A, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have not been established.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory map and a preliminary wetland delineation performed by the Subapplicant in 2014 shows freshwater emergent wetlands within the project area and vicinity.

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action, including maps showing the potential impacts on floodplains and/or wetlands, may be obtained by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov, or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests should be received within 15 days after publication of this notice.