Rimforest Storm Drain Project

Project Specifications

Client: San Bernardino County Flood Control District

Location: San Bernardino County

Services: Biological Resources, Cultural Resources

The Rimforest community is situated in the vicinity of the headwaters of Strawberry Creek. For at least the last thirty years, this community has been experiencing severe erosion and land sliding resulting in significant property loss. The areas immediately south of Blackfoot Trail West and Apache Trail have been seriously impacted by more than 100 feet of bluff retreat as a result of erosion and land sliding. The remedial action, which includes rerouting water drainage back into Little Bear Creek, which flows through Blue Jay and into Lake Arrowhead would require construction of a storm drain system along Highway 18 and inside the village of Rimforest. Aspen prepared an Initial Study and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed action, including technical reports (Wetland Delineation, Cultural Resources Technical Report).

A Recirculated Draft EIR for the proposed project was prepared to inform the public of changes to the original document resulting from additional analysis for biological resources and hydrology and water quality. A downstream habitat and flow assessment for Strawberry Creek and Lower East Twin Creek was completed to more accurately characterize potential effects downstream from the proposed project. The Final EIR was published in March 2017, along with preparation of Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations. In May 2019, an Addendum was prepared based on changes to the detailed design plans and project disturbance area discussed in the Project EIR certified in 2017. The Addendum concluded that the approval of the design changes to and the design details for the project and the related minor modification of an existing mitigation measure, would not trigger any of the conditions requiring a subsequent or supplemental EIR set forth in CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162(a)(1) through (a)(3). Aspen is currently assisting the District with the preparation of permitting applications for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Lake or Streambed Alteration), Regional Water Quality Control Board (Section 401 of the Clean Water Act), and the US Army Corps of Engineers (404 Individual Permit).