DR-4558-CA Public Notice 004

INITIAL PUBLIC NOTICE: County of Santa Cruz Roadside Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program, Santa Cruz County, California | HMGP 4558-571-067R

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 to the County of Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz County, California, to provide systematic hazardous fuels reduction along major corridors of the county’s road network. The proposed action would mitigate impacts from wildfires by ensuring safer evacuation routes along mountain corridors and reducing the fuel loads along major corridors, which are often coincident with power distribution infrastructure. 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 wildfire hazards. The proposed action consists of the thinning and removal of vegetation within 15 feet on both sides of eight roadways: Bear Creek Road, China Grade Road, East Zayante Road, Eureka Canyon Road, Graham Hill Road, Highland Way, Soquel San Jose Road, and Upper East Zayante Road. For the first 8 feet off the edge of pavement, all trees, limbs, and brush 12 inches or less in diameter at breast height (DBH) would be cut. For a distance of 7 feet beyond the 8-foot mowing and trimming zone, all woody stemmed vegetation less than 8 inches DBH would be removed, unless flagged for retention. All dead woody vegetation and dead trees would also be removed, unless flagged. In addition, trees hanging over the roadways that are at an increased susceptibility of falling during wildfires would be removed. Equipment involved in hazardous fuel removal would be primarily mechanical, but may include other tools, as necessary. Most vegetation removed would be chipped onsite. Adjustments to vegetation removal practices would be made in areas with steep slopes and areas near creeks or other water bodies.

The project areas are in the 100-year floodplain as depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Numbers 06087C0113E, 06087C0212E, and 06087C0381E, effective date May 16, 2012. The FIRM shows that part of the Bear Creek area (Panel 06087C0113E) lies within Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) Zone A, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have not been established. The terminus of Bear Creek Road is in SFHA Zone AE, Regulatory Floodway, which also has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and whose Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is roughly 465 feet.

Part of the western end of Graham Hill Road (Panel 06087C0212E) lies within SFHA Zone AE, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year. Predicted BFEs have been established (265 feet) for part of this zone (Regulatory Floodway). In other portions of Zone AE, BFEs have not been established. Another portion of Graham Hill Road is in Zone X, with a 0.2- percent Annual Chance Flood Hazard and where BFEs have not been developed. A third portion is classified as Zone X in an Area of 1-percent Annual Chance Flood with an average depth of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas of less than 1 square mile. On East Zayante Road, also in FIRM Panel 06087C0212E, project activities would slightly overlap with Zone X, an area with a 0.2-percent Annual Chance Flood Hazard, and Zone X, an Area of 1-percent annual chance flood with average depths less than 1 foot or with drainage areas of less than 1 square mile. A small portion of the road is in Zone AE, Regulatory Floodway, with a 1-percent annual chance of flooding and a BFE of 268 feet. On Eureka Canyon Road, in FIRM Panel 06087C0381E, project activities would slightly overlap with SFHA Zone A, which has a 1-percent annual chance of flooding and for which no BFE has been established. All portions of China Grade Road, Soquel San Jose, Highland Way, and Upper East Zayante Road are in Zone X, Areas of Minimal Flood Hazard.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory map shows several different potential wetlands within the eight project areas. The riverine habitats present are not considered wetlands in this case, as they do not display typical wetland characteristics such as wetland vegetation or soils. Four palustrine habitats would have slight overlap with vegetation removal areas, and seven palustrine habitats are directly adjacent to project areas.

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action, including maps showing the potential impacts on floodplains and 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. All requests should be received within 15 days after publication of this notice.