DR-4407-CA Public Notice 017

Notice Date

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Los Gatos Vegetation Management Phase 2, Santa Clara County, California | HMGP-4407-506-075

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to the Town of Los Gatos in Santa Clara County, California, to perform vegetation management to mitigate impacts from wildfire hazards by reducing fuel loads in five park/open spaces areas throughout the Town. Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain 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 final decision and an explanation of the alternatives that were considered.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the risk of wildfire spread and associated loss of life and property. The project encompasses approximately 194 acres over five project areas: Heintz Open Space, La Rinconada Park, Novitiate Park, Santa Rosa Open Space, and Worcester Park. The proposed project would include the reduction of hazardous fuels through the following mitigation activities: 1) establish defensible space surrounding structures; 2) reduce the height and density of existing vegetation to provide adequate spacing between shrubs and reduce ladder fuels that can allow a fire to climb up into the tree canopy; 3) remove non-native species and dead wood to further reduce fuel loads and buildup; 4) remove dead or diseased trees; and 5) shred and chip all cut vegetation and wood fuel to evenly scatter over the ground. Project work would occur through a combination of hand tools, mechanized equipment, herbicides, and prescribed grazing.

The La Rinconada Park project area is primarily located in a 500-year floodplain as depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Number 06085C0238J, effective February 19, 2014. The FIRM shows most of the project area lies within shaded Zone X, an area with a 0.2 percent annual chance flood. The eastern portion of the La Riconada project area intersects a riverine habitat designated as Zone AE, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have been established and is in a regulatory floodway. The four other project areas are primarily located in shaded Zone X and Zone D as shown on FIRM panels 06085C0381H and 06085C0377H (Santa Rosa Open Space and Heintz Open Space), panel 06085C0380H (Novitiate Park), and panel 06085C0377H (Worcester Park); all panels are dated May 18, 2009. Zone D is defined as an area with possible but undetermined flood hazard. Based on a review of topographic and aerial photography, it does not appear that the project areas in Zone D are located in a floodplain.

A map of the project area and its location within the floodplain is available for public inspection. Parties interested in receiving a copy of the map should contact the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer using contact information provided in this notice.

Two alternatives to the proposed action were considered: Alternative 1, No Action Alternative; and Alternative 2, Second Action Alternative. Alternative 1 is not recommended because it would not implement fuels reduction and the risk of wildfire hazard and associated loss of life and property would remain. Alternative 2 included development of a Vegetation Management Plan for the removal of hazardous fuels but did not include funding to implement fuels reduction; therefore, implementation of the plan would only occur in fragments, over time, as funding became available. Alternative 2 is not recommended because it would not substantially reduce fuel loads and the risk of fire hazards would remain.

FEMA has determined that the proposed project is the only practicable alternative available; therefore, the proposed action must be located in the floodplain. The proposed action would have no significant adverse impact on the floodplain and would benefit the area by reducing the risk of wildfire spread and loss of vegetation thus reducing the risk of flooding and flood damage. Therefore, measures to minimize impacts on the floodplain are not necessary. The Town of Los Gatos has declared that the proposed action conforms to local floodplain standards and would be responsible for the management, construction, and maintenance of the proposed action.

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action may be requested 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 no later than 15 days after publication of this notice. No action will be taken before this date.

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