Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Watershed Protection District to host public scoping meeting

VENTURA, Calif. - March 2, 2015 - PRLog -- The Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Watershed Protection District (VCPWA WPD) will host a Public Scoping Meetingto solicit input on the scope of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its Santa Clara River Levee (SCR-3) project on Wednesday, March 4, at 7:00 p.m.

The VCPWA WPD is requesting assistance with identifying the scope and content of the environmental information that should be addressed in the EIR. The Initial Study analysis indicates the project may result in adverse impacts relating to air quality, biological resources, scenic resources, liquefaction, hazardous waste, noise and vibration, public health, transportation and circulation, utilities, and flood control/drainage. These topics will be addressed further in the EIR.

The project is located in unincorporated Ventura County, with components of the development also located within the City of Oxnard. The proposed levee alignment generally proceeds along the southern bank of the Santa Clara River, between the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge and Bailard Landfill. The project will provide continuous flood protection to properties in the City of Oxnard along the SCR-3 levee that would otherwise require flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program. The project would be designed to achieve compliance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) levee certification requirements through implementation of structural improvements to the existing SCR-3 levee system to enable it to withstand a one percent annual chance flood event, which is commonly referred to as a 100-year flood. Additionally, the design would accommodate a future bikeway along N. Ventura Road in support of the City of Oxnard’s Santa Clara River Trail Master Plan. Construction is anticipated to start in 2016 and take approximately 27 months to complete.

The public review period for this Initial Study is Feb. 26 – March 27. All comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27. Written comments can be sent via mail to: Ventura County Watershed Protection District, Attention: Angela Bonfiglio Allen, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, Calif., 93009-1600. Written comments may also be submitted online at the website below.

For more information, visit http://www.vclevees.com, or contact Angela Bonfiglio Allen, Environmental Planner, at 805-477-7175.

Meeting Details:

What: VCPWA Watershed Protection public scoping meeting

When: Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

Where: Marriot Residence Inn in the River Ridge Ballroom

2101 West Vineyard Avenue

Oxnard, Calif. 93036