Stanislaus County Creek Maintenance Project

FirstCarbon Solutions (FCS) conducted comprehensive environmental assessments and management planning for a city to support routine maintenance activities within a creek in Stanislaus County, California. The project spans approximately 8,000 linear feet and involves routine maintenance activities, including vegetation management, trash and debris removal, erosion control, and sediment removal to maintain the creek's functional integrity for flood control.  

FCS's work included a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliant Categorical Exemption for the proposed maintenance activities. Additionally, a Biological Resources Assessment (BRA) was prepared to document potential sensitive biological resources, analyze potential project-related impacts, and recommend appropriate mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts resulting from proposed maintenance activities. The team also conducted an aquatic resources delineation to identify potential jurisdictional waters and wetlands within the project site, ensuring regulatory compliance with local, state, and federal permitting requirements. FCS assisted the city in obtaining the necessary regulatory permits for the proposed maintenance activities, which include a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA) from CDFW. After the LSAA was issued by CDFW, FCS assisted the city with pre-maintenance surveys, including burrowing owl, Swainson's hawk, nesting birds, and roosting bats. 

Through FCS’s thorough approach and expertise in conducting biological assessments, aquatic resource delineations, and environmental management, valuable insights and recommendations were provided to support the successful implementation of the creek maintenance project.