**PALM SPRINGS-SOUTH COAST FIELD OFFICE**

**CALIFORNIA DESERT DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCIL REPORT**

**March, 2009**

**1. Energy Project Proposals**

**BLM Action:** The BLM is processing several energy related proposals.
Due to the current energy situation, considerable policy emphasis has
been placed on expediting processes and timelines. The following is a
summary of the major energy related proposals.

**Contact:** Michael Bennett, Assist Field Manager (760) 251- 4839

[Desert Southwest 500 kV Transmission Line Project]{.underline}:

**Project proponent**: Imperial Irrigation District.

> **Status**: This project is for a major electrical transmission line
> located between Blythe and western Coachella Valley. Grants issued
> early September, 2007 and plans for development are being finalized.

[Devers-Palo Verde #2 500 kV Transmission Line Project]{.underline}:

> **Project proponent**: Southern California Edison (SCE);

**Co-lead**: California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

> **Status**: This project involves a proposed 500 kV electrical
> transmission line originating west of Phoenix, AZ and ending in
> Romoland, CA, using an alignment through Kofa Refuge in Arizona and
> following Interstate 10 through California. Final EIR/EIS was issued
> in November, 2006. Record of Decision is pending resolution of issues
> involving project approval by the Arizona Corporation Commission which
> had rejected the project on May 30, 2007. The project has come under
> jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as means of
> resolving this impasse. SCE has also petitioned the CPUC to phase
> project approvals to include construction of the California portion of
> the project while issues in Arizona are being resolved.

[Blythe Energy 230 kV Transmission Line Project]{.underline}:

**Project proponent**: Blythe Energy LLC;

> **Co-leads**: California Energy Commission (CEC) and Western Area
> Power Administration (WAPA)
>
> **Status**: Project involving construction of 230 kV line from Blythe
> to area between Desert Center and Chiriaco Summit along I-10 utility
> corridor (Julian Hines). Grant issued July, 2007, the development plan
> is approved and construction is due to begin very soon.
>
> [Green Path North 500 kV Transmission Line Project]{.underline}:

**Project proponent**: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
(LADWP).

> **Status**: This purpose of the project is for a 500kV electrical
> transmission line to connect renewable energy sources in Imperial
> Valley with LADWP facilities in the Upland, California vicinity.
> Various route alternatives will be analyzed through an EIS/EIR
> process. Both BLM and San Bernadino National Forest staffs are working
> with LADWP on the analysis of the routes. Proposal is still in the
> very early stages of processing with both public scoping and EIS
> preparation not initiated.
>
> [Wind Energy]{.underline}:

**Project proponent**: various.

> **Status**: We oversee 21 wind energy rights-of-way grants including
> processing r/w applications and assignments, assessing and monitoring
> cost recovery accounts, completing environmental reviews, and issuing
> notices and decisions. We also processed an application for the
> Mountain View Wind Partners "Section 28" re-power project located just
> north of Palm Springs proper involving preparation of a joint EIS/EIR
> with the City of Palm Springs, issued in February, 2007. The final
> EIS/EIR was released 11/7/08. A Record of Decision was issued on
> 2/5/09 and the Right of Way Grant was issued in early March, 2009.
>
> [Solar Energy]{.underline}:

**Project proponent**: various.

> **Status**: We are processing 19 applications for solar energy
> projects as part of the District-wide process. Applications involve
> approximately 125,000 acres in the Palm Springs, Desert Center and
> Blythe areas and are in the early stages of processing involving
> submission and review of their respective plans of development.

**2.** **Off-Highway Vehicle Green Sticker Grant Program**

**BLM Action:** Install signage and provide information to the public
regarding riding opportunities in the Palm Springs Field Office. Conduct
restoration work to repair OHV intrusions into closed areas.

**Contact:** Michael Bennett, Assist Field Manager (760) 251- 4839

**Agency Roles:** State Off Highway Vehicle Commission -- Project
funding through grants; Student Conservation Association -- Restoration
field work.

**Status:** Grants were provided to BLM Palm Springs in 2008-9 for
ongoing restoration work, outreach, enforcement and signage conducted in

> the Mecca Hills, Dos Palmas, Big Morongo ACEC, and Coachella Valley
> Preserve.

3\. **Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mountains Recreation Trails Planning**

**BLM Action:** Preparation of a coordinated recreation trails plan that
provides recreational opportunities and minimizes risk of impacts to the
federally-listed Peninsular Ranges bighorn sheep

**Contact:** Jim Foote, Monument Manager, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains National Monument (760) 251-4836

**Agency Roles:** Bureau of Land Management -- cooperator on EIS

Coachella Valley Association of Governments -- CEQA lead

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- NEPA lead

Cities of the Coachella Valley, Riverside County, others -- permittees

**Status:** Due to the mix of land ownership, this trails plan was
conceived as a collaborative effort, and is part of the Coachella Valley
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP) process. In
coordination with the local jurisdictions through the Coachella Valley
Association of Governments (CVAG), BLM jointly conducted public scoping
sessions and coordination meetings to obtain public input based on two
goals: 1) provide opportunities for trail use, and 2) minimize risk of
impacts to the federally-listed Peninsular Ranges bighorn sheep from
recreational activities. Interim measures are in place, promulgated from
the Biological Opinion for the California Desert Conservation Area Plan
Amendment for the Coachella Valley (2002). BLM currently relies
primarily on a *voluntary* trail avoidance program.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/EIS) for the
CVMSHCP and trails plan was released for a 90-day public comment period
in November, 2004. Public meetings were held in November, December, 2004
and January, 2005. The comment period was extended for one month to
March 7, 2005. Numerous comments were received opposing a proposed trail
permit system. Comments were addressed in the Final EIR/EIS with the
proposed trail plan being modified to the satisfaction of most
respondents.

The CVAG Executive Committee released the Final EIR/EIS to the various
signatory agencies in early February 2006 for approval. About four
months later, the City of Desert Hot Springs rejected the CVMSHCP. Since
the plan requires approval of *all* permittees for it to take effect,
CVAG initiated preparation of a recirculated draft plan, including the
trails plan, along with a recirculated draft EIR and supplemental final
EIS. The recirculated draft plan, which excludes lands within the City
of Desert Hot Springs, was released for a 60-day public comment period
in mid-March 2007.

On September 10, 2007, the CVAG Executive Committee released the Final
Recirculated CVMSHCP and Final Recirculated EIR/Supplemental Final EIS
to the various signatory agencies for approval. The trails plan element
is essentially the same as proposed in the February 2006 Final EIR/EIS.
The CVMSHCP was approved October 1, 2008. The Federal side of the trails
plan will be approved subject to issuance of a biological opinion by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

**4. Water Projects: Implement Canal Lining Projects as part of
PL100-675**

**BLM Action:** PL 100-675 established the All American and Coachella
Canal Lining Projects and commits the federal government to providing
potential habitat creation/restoration sites and groundwater from public
lands to help meet project environmental requirements. The Dos Palmas
ACEC is a focus area for these efforts.

**Contact:** John Kalish, Field Manager, (760)251-4849

**Agency Roles:** BLM, BOR, Coachella Valley Water District, San Luis
Rey Indian Water Rights Settlement Parties & San Diego Water Authority

> **Status:** In cooperation with the above parties, BLM is implementing
> an assistance agreement that includes BLM managing the restoration of
> 352 acres of desert riparian habitat, making lands available for the
> creation of 17 acre marsh/aquatic habitat, preserving 105 acres of
> marsh/aquatic habitat, acquisition of up to 875 acres of additional
> lands within the ACEC, and long-term management of these projects.

**5. Fuels Reduction Permits/Private Property Defensible Space**

> **BLM Action:** In FY2008, 1,998 acres of fuels treatments were
> completed in Riverside and San Diego Counties for community protection
> purposes.
>
> BLM prepared a Programmatic Environmental Assessment that allows
> permits to be issued to property owners to reduce or remove vegetation
> from public lands adjacent to their private property to create
> defensible space in the event of a wildfire. This project was
> initiated in response to landowner requests to clear vegetation from
> public lands to comply with county regulations requiring a minimum 100
> foot defensible space.

**Contact:** James Gannon, Fire Management Specialist (951) 903-4141

**Agency Roles:** Bureau of Land Management, lead

Fish and Wildlife Service, cooperator

> **Status:** Plans are being developed for additional fuels treatments
> in FY09 as means of community protection. Defensible space permits are
> also issued upon request; BLM personnel work with landowners to
> provide technical information and guidance in carrying out the intent
> of the permits.

**6. Status of Route Signing; Palm Springs - South Coast Field Office**

> **BLM Action:** All primary routes within the NECO planning area are
> signed with 4 x 4 steel posts consistent with the CDD sign policy. All
> major intersections have kiosks with maps. Secondary roads in the NECO
> area are not funded or signed at this time. Routes within the
> Coachella Valley planning area are not signed due to intermix of
> public and private lands, (i.e. locked gates, low mileage public route
> segments, not useful to the public.) The South Coast planning area is
> not signed but route inventory and designation for the Border
> Mountains area of San Diego County is being done as part of the
> on-going South Coast Resource Management Plan Revision.
>
> **Contact:** Greg Hill, Planning and Environmental Coordinator (760)
> 251-4840

**7. Riparian Restoration Activities Update -- Palm Springs South Coast
Field Office**

> **Inventory:** Approximately 2000 acres are annually inventoried for
> ecological condition. Habitats include stream corridors, mountain and
> desert oasis, and other desert riparian communities. Riparian
> Assessments review avian riparian species present, noxious weed
> infestations, disturbances etc.
>
> **Acres restored:** Approximately 250 acres are annually treated;
> techniques include:
>
> **Manual:** Hand pulling isolated noxious weed infestations such as
> sahara mustard, Mexican tree tobacco, Saltcedar.
>
> **Mechanical:** Chainsaw, dozer use for removal of Saltcedar
>
> **Chemical:** Herbicide cut stumps of Saltcedar
>
> **Biological:** Excessive aquatic vegetation removal within sensitive
> desert oasis using sterile Grass Carp in Dos Palmas ponds. The vast
> majority of the restoration is with the removal of Tamarisk
> (Saltcedar). Once the saltcedar is removed the existing native seed
> bank responds quickly re-establishing itself as does the water table.
>
> **Locations:** Numerous locations, including ACECs Dos Palmas, Big
> Morongo, Edom Hill/ Willow Hole; isolated oasis within the Santa
> Rosa's including Boo Hoff, Blazdale Canyon, Bear Creek, Magnesia
> Springs, Cathedral Canyon, Dead Indian Canyon drainages etc.
>
> **Partners:** Numerous partners continually work together to
> inventory, treat, educate and restore riparian communities. Recently a
> Lower Desert Weed Management Area was established further augmenting
> coordination and collaboration and pooling of resources for Riparian
> Projects.
>
> Coachella Valley Mountain Conservancy
>
> Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
>
> California Dept of Fish and Game
>
> College of the Desert Biology Class
>
> U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
>
> U. of California Riverside
>
> U.S. Forest Service
>
> U.S. Geological Survey
>
> Friends of Big Morongo
>
> California Native Plant Society RSB chapter
>
> Center for Natural Lands Management

**8. Border Activities/Issues -- Palm Springs South Coast Field Office**

> **BLM Action:** San Diego Sector of the Border Patrol has four Field
> Stations, plus the Headquarters Office and is responsible for San
> Diego County and a slice of western Imperial County. This sector is
> experiencing an increase in apprehensions in fiscal year 2009 with the
> largest increases in the El Cajon and Boulevard areas. The BLM
> coordinates closely with the Border Patrol in initiatives to protect
> resources and the public including on-going construction of the border
> fence in the Otay and Tecate vicinities.
>
> **Contact:** Janaye Byergo, South Coast Project Manager (858) 451-1767

**9.** **Planned Revision of the South Coast Resource Management Plan
(RMP)**

> **BLM Action:** This plan, encompassing public lands in western
> Riverside and San Diego Counties as well as Los Angeles County and the
> southwestern portion of San Bernardino County, has been in effect
> since May, 1994. Scoping meetings were held on the plan revision in
> late calendar, 2007 and the draft plan revision is scheduled for
> release to the public in early 2009.
>
> The purpose of the plan revision is to update the South Coast Resource
> Management Plan to: 1) ensure consistency to the extent possible with
> the various multi-species planning efforts and partnership agreements
> in South Coast region, 2) re-evaluate management direction in light of
> new land acquisitions, information, and change in circumstances, 3)
> assess the impact of BLM management on threatened and endangered
> species listed since 1993 through formal consultation with the US Fish
> and Wildlife Service, and 4) assess energy related needs of the region
> and meet the objectives of the President's energy plan.
>
> A draft plan is due out for public comment and review in April, 2009.
>
> **Contact:** Greg Hill, Planning and Environmental Coordinator (760)
> 251-4840

**Agency Roles:** Bureau of Land Management: lead on revision of land
use plan.

> **Status:** Data gathering in 2007-2008, planned ROD in December,
> 2009.