Pavement Preservation Program 2025 (Notification of Lake or Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS-SON-57273-R3)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued Environmental Protection Information System Notification No. EPIMS-SON-57273-R3 under Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code to authorize Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works to conduct maintenance and infrastructure improvements as part of the Pavement Preservation Program 2025. The project involves the maintenance of approximately 14,000 linear feet of existing roadside ditches and the in-kind replacement of 16 culverts across unincorporated Sonoma County, with no work occurring in wetted streams. Four trees will be removed to facilitate access for four of the culvert replacements, and six of the new culverts will include rock slope protection or concrete headwalls, resulting in a permanent impact of 0.01 acres to riparian habitat. Temporary disturbances to approximately 13,983 linear feet and 2.55 acres of riparian habitat are expected during excavation, backfilling, and compaction activities, all conducted with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment. Ditch maintenance entails removal of sediment, debris, and overgrown vegetation to restore baseline flow conditions, while inlet and outlet protections will be replaced without expanding the affected area. The project qualifies for a categorical exemption under California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15301, as it involves maintenance of existing public facilities without expansion of use. The Sonoma County Department of Transportation and Public Works is the implementing agency, with oversight and regulatory compliance responsibilities held by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 3 - Bay Delta. Environmental compliance is monitored through the EPIMS notification system, with key contacts including Environmental Scientist James Hansen and Project Contact Olguin Caban. Work will occur along 13 road segments near multiple waterways including Mill Creek, Salmon Creek, Laguna de Santa Rosa, and Sonoma Creek. No competitive solicitation or contract award process applies, as this is an administrative environmental exemption notice. No funding figures, procurement clauses, or federal acquisition regulations are involved, as the action is governed solely by state environmental and fish and game statutes. The notice was posted on August 21, 2025, with a determination of exemption issued on July 30, 2025, and all activities are confined to existing roadway corridors with no new construction beyond necessary culvert replacements and ditch restoration.