Las Virgenes Creek Restoration Project, One-Time Maintenance of Soft-Bottom Channel, Reach 122 of Las Virgenes Creek

Project Location (Los Angeles County]): This project is located within Reach 122 of Las Virgenes Creek, situated immediately downstream of U.S. Highway 101 and bordered by urban development in the City of Calabasas, Los Angeles County, California (see Project Footprint figure below). This reach lies within the Calabasas U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute quadrangle map at Township 1 North, Range 17 West, Section 30. Project Description: Maintenance involves the selective removal of vegetation and debris within the channel right-of-way to maintain flow capacity and prevent flooding. Work would be conducted using hand tools only, to avoid impacts to jurisdictional waters or disturbing sensitive habitat. The channel area experienced vegetation growth since its construction which has impeded flows and reduced capacity of the channel. A one-time maintenance cleanup is required to ensure functionality while preserving the ecological integrity of the creek. Public Agency Approving Project: LOS ANGELES COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT Person or Public Agency Carrying Out Project: LOS ANGELES COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT Categorical Exemption. Type – Class 1; California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15301 Reasons why project is exempt: This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301(b) and 15301(h) of the State CEQA Guidelines, and Classes 1(e) and 1(j) of Los Angeles County’s (the County) Environmental Reporting Procedures Guidelines, Appendix G, as follows: • Section 15301(b) of the State CEQA Guidelines and Class 1(e) of the County’s Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Appendix G: Routine maintenance of existing public structures. • Section 15301(h) and Class 1(j) of the County’s Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Appendix G: The work involves minor alterations to native growth in an existing channel structure to support flow capacity. The work necessary involves one-time maintenance activities to the existing channel right-of-way (Reach 122), with no expansion of use or significant alteration to the physical structure of the creek. The activities are minor, involving only hand tools, and are limited to maintaining the flood capacity of an already-engineered stream channel without impacting waters of the U.S. or adjacent wetlands.