To compensate for impacts to vernal pool habitats as a result of landfill expansion, the project’s Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion required the creation of 5.67 acres of vernal pool habitat within the 167-acre mitigation and preservation area adjacent to the existing and proposed landfill. Foothill Associates prepared preliminary wetland construction plans and conducted soil feasibility analyses on prospective vernal pool construction sites. Site analysis and soil studies provided crucial data to develop and refine detailed construction plans. Foothill Associates field staff oversaw all aspects of the vernal pool construction project, harvest and stockpile of vernal pool topsoil, layout of new vernal pools, excavation of vernal pool basins, distribution of wetland topsoil, finish grading of vernal pools, and revegetation of haul routes and other areas disturbed by construction activities. Annual monitoring of the constructed vernal pools is ongoing and includes fairy shrimp surveys, floristic surveys, and hydrologic monitoring.

Foothill Associates provided overview monitoring of North Natomas Basins 3, 4, 7A and 7B to identify water quality, wildlife, habitat, public use, and vegetation management issues to assist with compliance with the Adaptive Management Plans developed for each basin. Monitoring occurred eight times per year and monthly reports prepared to document any evident issues that require attention and provided recommended actions. Additional services include landscape design and construction document preparation for Basin 4, planting plan review for Basin 7A, and monthly park maintenance inspections for Basins 3 and 4.

Foothill Associates performed various surveys for this proposed road alignment located in the City of Rocklin, including an arborist survey, wetland delineation, and focused botanical survey all in support of the on-going CEQA analysis and document being prepared. Foothill Associates performed an arborist survey to document all trees within the proposed alignment that had a potential for impact and to assist in finalizing the road alignment. A field wetland delineation and subsequent map were also prepared and utilized in finalization of the road alignment in order to avoid environmental impacts. A focused botanical survey was conducted to determine if potentially occurring List 1A and 1B special-status plant species are present on-site.

Foothill Associates provided 3D modeling as part of the landscape restoration project for the Lake Hodges Pump Station and staging areas located in San Diego County. The landscape design process included facilitating a series of community meetings, preparing concept drawings, construction drawings and specifications, and providing construction oversight for the plantings and restoration associated with the pump storage project on Lake Hodges reservoir. 3D models of the pump station were generated as a visualization tool used during the community outreach process. These models were used to illustrate to the committee what the project will look like after construction is finished but before planting. Based on input received during the community outreach process, final design models and renderings were produced. Buildings were modeled using Autocad and 3D Studio VIZ. The landform model employed ArcMap 3D Analyst and GIS maps of habitat, roads, trails, and disturbed areas. Using a software package called Visual Nature Studio, buildings, landforms, and ecosystems were integrated into one model to produce static images of different perspectives, and an animation following the regional trail and lake access path adjacent to the site.

Foothill Associates provided Scenery Analysis for preparation of a NEPA EIS covering fuel reduction timber management within the Klamath National Forest Eddy Gulch Late Successional Reserve. Services included review of existing scenic character, integrity, stability and sensitive viewpoints and impact analysis for three alternative projects: 1) no project, 2) fuel reduction with temporary roads, and 3) fuel reduction without temporary roads. The USFS Scenery Management Handbook and the Klamath National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan were utilized to prepare the Scenery Analysis.

Foothill Associates used Visual Nature Studio (VNS) software to generate a visual simulation assessing the impacts of the addition of a third new water tank as part of the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) Wastewater Treatment Plant Recycled Water Expansion. Foothill used vector and raster data from CAD and GIS to create digital models that were spatially accurate. We created simulated views from two viewpoints corresponding to locations of field photographs, and we obtained topographic data by merging detailed topographic survey data with contour data from the USGS Digital Elevation Model. The detailed data covered the area immediately surrounding the tanks and a narrow band between the treatment facility and the tanks. Tank objects were located based upon existing footprints in the surveyed data.

Foothill Associates worked with the Auburn Urban Development Authority to prepare the first phase of the Auburn UDA Streetscape Master Plan. The Master Plan links the City of Auburn’s historic Old Town with its Downtown business district. Much coordination took place with Caltrans. As an outcome of the project the City decided to work with Caltrans to relinquish the right of way to the City. Foothill facilitated three Community Advisory Committee meetings to elicit comments from community stakeholders and enrich the final design. We coordinated with traffic engineers to prepare new traffic lighting plans for the area and striping plans; with civil engineers to prepare new utility, roadway, and street grading plans; and with electrical engineers to prepare new street lighting and accent lighting plans. The electrical engineers also worked on the dry utility undergrounding plans. Foothill Associates coordinated with PG&E, AT&T, and Wave Broadband to implement Rule 20A funding and undergrounding within the corridor. The first phase was planned to ease the flow of traffic, and invite pedestrians and bicyclists to use the corridor. The project includes intersection design, parking realignment, introduction of planter spaces and bulb-outs, community gateway and signage design, sidewalk café design, fountain design, and furnishing selection. Foothill Associates prepared construction documents and provided bid assistance and construction monitoring.

Foothill Associates prepared the Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) for the 2,000-acre Sly Park Recreation Area located in central El Dorado County. Sly Park is a regional destination for visitors throughout northern California. The Master Plan provides EID with guidance for developing, redeveloping, maintaining, and managing the recreation facility over the next 20 years. This project involved detailed site and facilities analyses. One of the key challenges of developing the Sly Park Recreation Area Master Plan was balancing multiple recreation and resource objectives, including opportunities for quality recreation, revenue generation and fiscal constraints, user conflicts, public safety, protection of natural, cultural and historical resources, and environmental constraints. The project included preparation of a Master Plan, EIR, and Market and Economic Analysis.

Foothill Associates performed site design, construction documents, and cost estimate for enhancements to the US Forest Service’s Nevada Beach Day Use and Campground in Douglas County, NV. Improvements include detention/infiltration basins, beach access and internal day-use trails, picnic areas, vegetated screening along boundary, ADA access, retrofit, roads and parking, and revegetation along day-use trails. Low Impact Development techniques are being used throughout the day use areas to handle runoff on-site and reduce potential impacts of stormwater on Lake Tahoe.

Foothill Associates prepared environmental documents, secured permits and developed restoration plans for the City of Roseville Environmental Utilities Department to facilitate relocation of an existing levee. The levee relocation will provide additional floodplain along Dry Creek and provide 100 year floodplain protection for the Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Foothill Associates prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Program in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. We also developed the necessary permit applications for the CDFG and Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB).

Foothill Associates created the riparian and floodplain restoration conceptual plans and construction documents and participated in public outreach. Designs incorporated first and second terrace riparian plantings with swales and grassland revegetation to meet flood conveyance and CVFPB requirements while enhancing habitat. After project construction, we monitored restoration areas. By protecting the Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and wastewater ponds from inundation during 100-year flood events, this project will prevent a potential release of wastewater to Dry Creek. The CEQA document was adopted by the City of Roseville in January 2009.

Foothill Associates prepared a joint CEQA/NEPA document in support of securing a USDA Loan for improvements to the Auburn Trails Water Treatment Facility for the Georgetown Divide PUD located in El Dorado County, CA. Our environmental planners prepared a combined CEQA IS/MND and NEPA EA/FONSI. Foothill Associates biologists conducted resource assessment surveys facilitating CEQA compliance, as well as Section 7 Consultation with the USFWS. USDA is the NEPA Lead Agency and the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District is the CEQA Lead Agency. The CEQA document was adopted June 8, 2010.

On behalf of the City of Rocklin, Foothill Associates prepared an IS/MND for the proposed Farron Street Pedestrian and Bike Crossing. The City is proposing the construction of an 83.5-foot long by 9-foot wide pre-manufactured single-span steel-truss pedestrian/bike bridge across Antelope Creek. In support of the IS/MND, Foothill biologists prepared a biological resources assessment summarizing the general biological resources on the site and assesses the suitability of the site to support special-status species and habitat (western pond turtle, raptors, sensitive habitat, protected trees). We conducted a wetland delineation; facilitated a Streambed Alteration Agreement with the Department of Fish and Game; and prepared a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program as part of the IS/MND. Foothill’s ISA certified arborists conducted an arborist survey to record the size, health, and structure of 153 trees onsite. Trees were surveyed following the City of Rocklin Tree Ordinance. The IS/MND was adopted April 14, 2009. Foothill Associates also prepared a Riparian Oak Woodland Mitigation Plan pursuant to the terms of the CDFG 1600 Agreement, and we are currently managing restoration planning and implementation.

Foothill Associates developed a restoration and enhancement plan for a tributary to Rock Creek in Auburn, California, that has been affected by recent development in the area. The purpose of this restoration master plan was to recommend ecologically beneficial improvements to the tributary, focusing on habitat enhancement, hydro-geomorphic improvements, water quality enhancement, and increased recreational opportunities. The restoration plan was preceded by a thorough assessment of creek hydrology, hydraulics, water quality, biology and botany. The final plan focused on improving the hydrology, riparian vegetation, and water quality of the creek while reducing the potential for stormwater impacts to site vegetation and soils as well as adjacent properties. The plan includes a pedestrian/bike trail that also functions as an access road for sewer-line maintenance vehicles, interpretive signage, and integration of a future mixed-use commercial complex. Two public meetings were held with local landowners to identify public concerns and obtain property-owner buy-in on the project. Low Impact Development (LID) concepts were integrated into the overall design, including filtration wetlands, permeable paving, and water catchment areas to reduce the impacts of existing and future development on the creek. The project involved detailed assessments of existing biological/botanical communities, hydraulic and geomorphic conditions, water quality, and recreational opportunities, which were used in developing an opportunities and constraints analysis and a final conceptual design for the site.

Foothill Associates is working on a 200± acre project with the City of Lincoln within the Markham Ravine corridor to restore and enhance wildlife habitat values, improve the aesthetic appearance of the corridor, enhance flood protection and management, and create an open space system that is a regional recreational destination. The project involves the development of an overall concept plan, master plan, and the preparation of Phase 1 construction documents. Improvements within the corridor will include a Class I trail system, interpretive signage, a nature interpretive center, pedestrian bridge crossings, picnic areas, and parking/staging areas. New overflow channels and wetland basins will increase storm water management options and habitat diversity within the corridor. Design considerations are being carefully coordinated and managed to minimize or eliminate the need for Federal permits and to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Additionally, Foothill Associates is facilitating all of the environmental permitting and is drafting the Adaptive Management Plan for the area. This project includes numerous public presentations to community groups, the city Parks and Recreation Committee, and City Council.

Foothill Associates provided restoration design services for Hazel Meadows Day Use area within the Sly Park Recreation Area in El Dorado County, California. The restoration project was designed to balance the ecological recovery of the site with managed recreational access. We prepared a conceptual plan and construction documents for a boardwalk, viewing platform, drainage swale, and foot bridges. An existing trail that runs through the middle of the meadow was relocated and replaced with separated alignments for equestrians and pedestrians/cyclists. Areas were planted with native species and a floodplain was enlarged to facilitate erosion control. Access to the reservoir shoreline through the meadow was replaced by an elevated boardwalk. The boardwalk terminates at a platform structure that incorporates seating and interpretive signage. The project complies with the Sly Park Recreation Area Master Plan Design Standards and Guidelines including requirements for the use of sustainable products.

The California Rural Water Association awarded the El Dorado Irrigation District the California Environmental Protection award for the restoration project. Foothill Associates staff were recognized for their contributions to the success of the project.

Foothill Associates prepared Phase 1 of the Arcade Creek Watershed Plan which included baseline assessment of watershed conditions and identified high priority projects for future implementation. This plan provides an overview of resources in the watershed based upon existing information; establishes overriding goals based upon values expressed by watershed stakeholders; and presents a series of recommendations for improving flood protection, enhancing water quality and habitat, and providing increased recreation opportunities. The Arcade Creek Watershed Group was also initiated as part of this project, and numerous stakeholder meetings were held to solicit input the plan and watershed issues. A baseline GIS was also developed and used to analyze and map soils, topography, land use, sensitive habitats, pollutant loading, hydrology, and recreational facilities.

Foothill Associates prepared a current conditions report of the Lower Feather River HUC/Honcut Creek Watershed, an area encompassing portions of Butte, Yuba, and Sutter counties. The study established a partnership to bring together urban and rural communities to identify and address natural resource concerns. Foothill met with the Project Steering Committee to establish goals and objectives, identify watershed components most important to them, and to collect and analyze current and historical data to write an initial conditions report. The report considers the effect of human activities within the watershed to determine whether the resources of the watershed are supportive of the various land uses and community interest. Functional areas for this study included topography, geology, geomorphology, soils, hydrology, water quality, biological resources, community development, and fuel/fire. The project was consistent with the CWAM and consisted of public agency involvement, data collection, watershed process modeling, data analysis, and development of an assessment report summarizing the current watershed state. This assessment laid the groundwork for the next phase, which will be creation of a watershed planning document.

As a primary component of the project, Foothill Associates GIS staff was charged with the huge task of acquiring and managing vast amounts of GIS and tabular datasets on a wide range of themes from a wide variety of sources including Federal, State, County, City and private sources. Watershed-wide mapping of the various themes across County boundaries often required extensive work to standardize and combine data of different quality, levels of completeness, and time periods. Where spatial data did not yet exist, Foothill Associates GIS staff utilized existing spatial and tabular data from various government agencies to produce mappable results that could be analyzed on a watershed-wide level.

Foothill Associates conducted water quality monitoring (sampling, testing, and reporting) for Yolo County, California, on Lower Cache Creek at four sites located between the Capay Bridge and I-5. Monitoring was conducted three times a year to capture the first flush, a typical winter runoff event, and late summer low flows. Samples were analyzed for a wide variety of water quality parameters including metals, organics (herbicides and pesticides), coliform (bacteria) and nutrients. Results were compared to regional water quality goals and a final report following each sampling was provided to the County.

Foothill Associates designed four interpretive signs for the 1.6-mile bike and pedestrian trail at Fisherman’s Lake Parkway in the Natomas area of Sacramento. The signs profile two special-status species found in the area; giant garter snake and Swainson’s hawk. Collectively, three of the signs cover their habitat, prey, and characteristics, as well as hawk migration. The fourth sign discusses the regions historical, cultural, and the unique hydrological features of Fisherman’s Lake. The signs utilize historical photos collected from the Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center, and integrate watercolor renderings, photography, and digital art to depict the Parkway's unique features.

Foothill Associates graphic specialists designed 12 interpretive signs for installation at Hazel Meadow within El Dorado Irrigation District’s Sly Park Recreation Area. We designed four 70" wide kiosk signs and eight 24" x 18" signs for placement along the boardwalk and at the boardwalk’s terminus overlooking Jenkinson Lake. Sign topics and content were developed by Foothill with input by EID and include a general overview of the meadow’s natural resources, unique habitat, water quality, water conservation, ladybug migration, bats, fire protection, and unique species. We coordinated with the sign manufacturer to produce high-pressure laminate signs for installation at the park.

Foothill Associates developed an Interpretive Plan for the Curtz Lake area in Alpine County, CA for the Bureau of Land Management. The interpretive plan outlined the historical background of the area, the interpretive planning process, identified the goals and objectives, and identified the interpretive themes and signs. Results of a stakeholder meeting and an online survey were integrated to determine the themes and topics to be included on the thirteen interpretive signs. The interests of the public were balanced with the goals of the BLM. Sign topics cover on culture (Washoe people), recreation, climate, restoration, aquatic habitat, seasonal marsh, geology, flora and fauna, fire ecology, and forest use. Custom bases and sign shapes were developed for select signs along the trail and around the lake.