Rain Gardens at South Fortuna Elementary School
Summary
SCH Number
2017128532
Public Agency
Fortuna Union Elementary School District
Document Title
Rain Gardens at South Fortuna Elementary School
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/26/2017
Document Description
The campus is in an urbanized area with existing buildings, paving, and landscape areas, including playing fields. The project proposes to install two new Low Impact Development features. These LIDs will receive treat, detain, and store storm water runoff from the drainage areas indicated.
The current site for BMPs 1.3 and 2 is flat asphalt parking lot at the front of the school that sheet flows runoff. The DROPS project will be designed in tandem with a Safe Routes to School project that will result in changes to the circulation design of the parking lot. BMPs 1.3 and 2 can accommodate these changes and will serve as rain gardens, with gentle grading of shallow basins to receive storm water runoff. Native landscaping will assist storm water treatment, support pollinators, and beautify the street view. It captures runoff from approximately 27,000 square feet and is approximately 2,500 square feet in size.
BMP 3 is a flat lawn and asphalt play area that is adjacent to classroom buildings. A drain inlet is in one corner of the site, and there is a storm drain flowing into this inlet and a storm drain carrying flow out of it. BMP 3 will create a large rain garden redirecting in-flowing storm water runoff into a long swale that winds throughout the site. It will out-flow at a new outfall connected to the existing out-flowing storm drainpipe. Gentle topography will be mounded to balance cut and fill, and amphitheater seating will be set into one side of the mounds. Native landscaping will mimic a woodland/riparian environment and a footpath will encourage exploration for students. This BMP will capture approx. 25,700 square feet of runoff and is approx. 2,425 square feet in size.
Contact Information
Name
Jeff Northern
Agency Name
Fortuna Union Elementary School District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
Fortuna
Counties
Humboldt
Cross Streets
2089 Newburg Rd
Schools
south fortune elementary school
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
S: 15301,15304
Reasons for Exemption
The Drought Response Outreach Project is funded by the State Water Resources Control Board and involves some minor alterations to the land to achieve water quality, water supply and runoff mitigation benefits. The project is exempt under Article 19, Section 15304 Minor Alterations of Land. This exemption allows for gardening, landscaping, trenching, etc., as long as it isn't in existing wetlands or on an Alquist-priolo Earthquake Fault Zone or within an official Seismic Hazard Zone. The BMP locations do not exist within an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone. However, Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone designations exist for "prohibiting the siting of most structures for human occupancy across traces of active faults". Existing Facilities allows for minor alterations of topography and facilities, and includes maintenance activities.
Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above.