North Coast Wildlife Area Facilities Maintenance Project

The project includes infrastructure improvements at three discrete locations owned and managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (“CDFW”): ? Lake Earl Wildlife Area – Includes replacement of four existing water control structures (“WCS”) or culverts (wooden headwalls and/or corrugated metal pipelines with risers), construction of one water crossing along a poorly drained two-track dirt trail/road, and installation of boulder barriers and signage at two beach access points to deter unauthorized motor vehicle use within sensitive dune habitats. o Culvert Replacement - Each culvert will be replaced in-kind (same location, same purpose) with a new culvert and pre-cast concrete riser located under a recontoured road/trail. Earthwork will largely be limited to the existing road/trail footprint where the structures are currently located, with some minor encroachment into ditches to remove sediment and debris at the inlet/outlet, and to stabilize ditch banks. o Water Crossing - A water crossing will be located along approximately 40 linear feet of a 6-foot wide two-track dirt road that is currently a barrier for water conveyance across a wetland. The crossing will be comprised of Class 2 base rock, elevated approximately 6-inches above grade, to allow water to flow through/under the road. Crushed gravel will extend north and south from the crossing for 20 feet at a 1% slope to gradually match the crossing elevation to the existing road elevation. Improvements will be limited to the prism of the existing road and will not extend into the adjacent wetland habitats. o Beach Access Boulder Barriers - Boulders and associated signage will be placed at two access points along the beach to deter the use of motor vehicles in areas where a breeding population of western snowy plover (Anarhynchus nivosus nivosus) occur. One series of boulders will be placed across a beach access point on the south side of Ramey Street. A second series of boulders will be placed at a beach access point on the west end of Stukey Street. Several kiosks will be placed along the boulder barriers in two locations, and will include signage describing allowed uses, the use of the beach by native wildlife, and the importance of the area to the Tolowa Dee-Ni' Nation. A 14-foot-wide locking gate will also be integrated into the boulder barrier to provide limited maintenance vehicle access along the beach. Staging areas for work at LEWA will be located in disturbed/weedy ruderal areas adjacent to a barn east and south of the most northern water control structure (WCS 1), on the north and south side of the exiting two-tract road southwest of WCS 3 and 4, and adjacent to the boulder placement areas. Construction access will be provided by existing roads. Work will require some vegetation removal at the culvert replacement locations; rare plants identified during special-status plant surveys by CDFW (2026) will be avoided. A cultural resources assessment of the project area identified no known historic or tribal resources in work areas (Helix 2025). ? Tolowa Visitor Center – Includes replacement of an existing pump and filtration system that provides potable water to the Tolowa Visitor Center. Work to replace the pump will be limited to the area associated with the well casing and surrounding concrete pad (no ground disturbance is proposed). The pump will be sized to provide the same service (capacity) as the existing pump. ? Pebble Beach Staircase – Includes improving the Pebble Beach staircase and associated public access amenities along South Pebble Beach Drive in Crescent City. Staircase improvements will include removing/replacing the concrete access at the top of the stairs; placing a new concrete overlay on the existing staircase; installing landings at the bottom of the north and south stairs; and repairing/replacing the railing along the staircase. The project will make other minor improvements to public access amenities at the site, including improving the fencing that demarcates the edge of the bluff; marking parking spaces and adding/signing an ADA parking location in the parking lot; replacing the existing light post and light adjacent to the parking area; and replacing interpretive panels. Staging and access will be provided at the existing parking area. Work will require some vegetation removal along the sides of the staircase; rare plants identified during special-status plant surveys by CDFW will generally be avoided, with the exception of several Wolf’s evening primrose (Oenothera wolfii, California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1) that will be temporarily disturbed by work at the staircase (CDFW 2026). Impacts to native coastal bluff habitat, including Wolf’s evening primrose, will be offset by invasive plant removal and native plant seeding along about 1500 square feet of coastal bluff adjacent to the staircase, and by improving the fence between the bluff edge and parking lot to both allow for focused management of native coastal bluff species and to minimize ongoing disturbance and erosion of the bluff proximate to the staircase. A cultural resources assessment completed in 2025 identified no known historic resources (including the staircase, recommended as not eligible for listing). CDFW has also coordinated with the Tolowa Dee-Ni' Nation on interpretive signage and cultural monitoring at this location.