Utilities
This section identifies existing and potential new demands on natural gas, electricity, and telecommunications for the planning area. Information in this section based on data derived from the Southern California Gas Company (SCGC), Imperial Irrigation District’s (IID), and Verizon California Inc. (Verizon). (Read More)
Wastewater
The planning area receives its wastewater conveyance and treatment services through the Coachella Sanitary District (CSD) and Valley Sanitary District (VSD) for flows generated within the incorporated boundary. Service to constituencies within the unincorporated areas receives service from either Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) or the Thermal Sanitary District (TSD). (Read More)
Domestic Water
This section discusses the current status of potable water service and supply sources. Also discussed is the infrastructure system currently in use to distribute water resources within the planning area. (Read More)
Biological Resources
This section identifies sensitive plant, wildlife, and habitat resources within the General Plan planning area. Resources used in the preparation of this report include the Final Recirculated Coachella Valley Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSHCP) EIR (MSHCP, 2007), the City of Coachella General Plan 2020 EIR (City of Coachella, 1997), the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) (CDFG, 2011), and publicly available documents for projects within or adjacent to the planning area. (Read More)
Cultural Resources
This section describes the cultural resources present or potentially present in the City of Coachella planning area. Cultural resources are defined as prehistoric and historic sites, structures, and districts, or any other physical evidence associated with human activity considered important to a culture, a subculture, or a community for scientific, traditional, religious or any other reason. For analysis purposes, cultural resources may be categorized into groups: archaeological resources, historic resources, contemporary Native American resources, and paleontological resources. Resources used in the preparation of this section include a cultural resources database search at the Eastern Information Center (EIC) and the City of Coachella General Plan 2020 EIR. (Read More)
Geology & Seismic Hazards
This section evaluates whether the implementation of goals and policies from the City of Coachella General Plan could result in potential adverse impact related to geology, existing soil conditions, or seismicity. The analysis is based, in part of review of geologic maps and reports from the California Geologic Survey (CGS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (Read More)
Greenhouse Gases
This section presents an overview of the existing greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations and discusses the potential global climate change impacts as a result of construction and operation activities associated with the proposed general plan update.
Global climate change refers to any significant change in climate measurements, such as temperature, precipitation, or wind, lasting for an extended period (i.e., decades or longer). Climate change may result from:
· Natural factors, such as changes in the sun’s intensity or slow changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun;
· Natural processes within the climate system (e.g., changes in ocean circulation, reduction in sunlight from the addition of GHG and other gases to the atmosphere from volcanic eruptions); and
· Human activities that change the atmosphere’s composition (e.g., through burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g., deforestation, reforestation, urbanization, desertification).
The third bullet is the focus of climate change legislation. The natural process through which heat is retained in the troposphere is called the “greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect traps heat in the troposphere through a threefold process as follows: (1) short‑wave radiation in the form of visible light emitted by the Sun is absorbed by the Earth as heat; (2) long-wave radiation is re-emitted by the Earth; and (3) greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere absorb or trap the long-wave radiation and re-emit it back towards the Earth and into space.
While water vapor and CO2 are the most abundant GHG, other trace GHGs have a greater ability to absorb and re-radiate long-wave radiation. To gauge the potency of GHGs, scientists have established a Global Warming Potential (GWP) for each GHG based on its ability to absorb and re-emit long-wave radiation over a specific period. The GWP of a gas is determined using CO2 as the reference gas with a GWP of 1 over 100 years. For example, a gas with a GWP of 10 is 10 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years. The use of GWP allows GHG emissions to be reported using CO2 as a baseline. The sum of each GHG multiplied by its associated GWP is referred to as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). This essentially means that 1 metric ton of a GHG with a GWP of 10 has the same climate change impacts as 10 metric tons of CO2. (Read More)
Global climate change refers to any significant change in climate measurements, such as temperature, precipitation, or wind, lasting for an extended period (i.e., decades or longer). Climate change may result from:
· Natural factors, such as changes in the sun’s intensity or slow changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun;
· Natural processes within the climate system (e.g., changes in ocean circulation, reduction in sunlight from the addition of GHG and other gases to the atmosphere from volcanic eruptions); and
· Human activities that change the atmosphere’s composition (e.g., through burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g., deforestation, reforestation, urbanization, desertification).
The third bullet is the focus of climate change legislation. The natural process through which heat is retained in the troposphere is called the “greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect traps heat in the troposphere through a threefold process as follows: (1) short‑wave radiation in the form of visible light emitted by the Sun is absorbed by the Earth as heat; (2) long-wave radiation is re-emitted by the Earth; and (3) greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere absorb or trap the long-wave radiation and re-emit it back towards the Earth and into space.
While water vapor and CO2 are the most abundant GHG, other trace GHGs have a greater ability to absorb and re-radiate long-wave radiation. To gauge the potency of GHGs, scientists have established a Global Warming Potential (GWP) for each GHG based on its ability to absorb and re-emit long-wave radiation over a specific period. The GWP of a gas is determined using CO2 as the reference gas with a GWP of 1 over 100 years. For example, a gas with a GWP of 10 is 10 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years. The use of GWP allows GHG emissions to be reported using CO2 as a baseline. The sum of each GHG multiplied by its associated GWP is referred to as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). This essentially means that 1 metric ton of a GHG with a GWP of 10 has the same climate change impacts as 10 metric tons of CO2. (Read More)
Solid Waste
The section discusses solid waste collection and disposal services for the planning area. The methodology for the analysis of impacts to solid waste services involved a review of web-based information about the applicable service and existing utility infrastructure. Additionally, federal, state, and local regulations were reviewed for applicability. (Read More)
Hazardous Materials
This section discusses the hazards and hazardous materials issues related to the existence of hazardous materials and waste associated with the planning area. The section identifies existing and past hazardous waste and substance sites located within the planning area. These sites can pose an individual and collective threat to public health. The City of Coachella has a long agricultural history and a by-product of this type of land use is typically the residual presence of pesticides, herbicides and various nitrogen based fertilizer products. This section also identifies hazards airports and wildfires. Geologic hazards are discussed in Geologic and Seismic Hazards section of the existing conditions report (please see Section 2.6).
A second source of hazardous materials is associated with current and past industrial, commercial and manufacturing facilities throughout the City general area. Current California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) as well as State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) records provide a record of identified hazardous materials releases and any clean up activities.
A hazardous material is any substance that may be explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, reactive, radioactive, or any combination thereof, because of its quantity, concentration or characteristics. Hazardous materials require special care in handling because of the hazards they pose to public health, safety, and the environment.
A hazardous materials incident involves the uncontrolled release of hazardous substances(s) during storage or reuse from a fixed facility or mobile transport. Releases of hazardous materials can be especially damaging when they occur in highly populated areas or along transportation routes used simultaneously by commuters and hazardous materials transporters. (Read More)
A second source of hazardous materials is associated with current and past industrial, commercial and manufacturing facilities throughout the City general area. Current California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) as well as State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) records provide a record of identified hazardous materials releases and any clean up activities.
A hazardous material is any substance that may be explosive, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, reactive, radioactive, or any combination thereof, because of its quantity, concentration or characteristics. Hazardous materials require special care in handling because of the hazards they pose to public health, safety, and the environment.
A hazardous materials incident involves the uncontrolled release of hazardous substances(s) during storage or reuse from a fixed facility or mobile transport. Releases of hazardous materials can be especially damaging when they occur in highly populated areas or along transportation routes used simultaneously by commuters and hazardous materials transporters. (Read More)
Hydro & Water Quality
This section describes the existing hydrology and water quality resources within the City planning area. It sets the regulatory framework and addresses existing conditions, impacts and mitigation for the issues of drainage, flooding, groundwater, as well as surface and groundwater quality. (Read More)
Law Enforcement
This section identifies the police protection agency and facilities that serve the planning area. This section therefore describes current levels of service and or capacity, as appropriate, for construction and operation. Services for the proposed project are assessed in terms of location of the services, existing and projected service ratios, response times, and other service objectives as applicable. Information in this section is based upon the information provided by the City of Coachella and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. (Read More)
Fire Protection
This section identifies fire protection facilities that serve the City of Coachella and the planning area, fire protection facilities, staff levels, standards, calls received, average response times, and programs/plans. Information in this section is based on the City of Coachella Fire and Emergency Medical Services Master Plan, the Riverside County Fire Department (RCFD), and the City of Coachella. (Read More)
Libraries
This section identifies the library system that serves the planning area, describes the current staff levels, hours of operation, funding, and library programs/plans. Information in this section is based on communication with representatives from the Riverside County Library System. (Read More)
Parks_Recreation
This section identifies existing parks and recreational facilities within the planning area. This analysis considered existing General Plan 2020 policies, goals, and applicable regulations, as well as existing and proposed parks, open space, and recreation facilities within the overall planning area. Information in this section is based on the City of Coachella General Plan 2020 (adopted October 1998), and on existing conditions identified in the Draft City of Coachella, California, Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan), prepared by PlaySafe, LLC Recreational Consulting and Services, 2006. (Read More)
Schools
This section identifies the name and location, enrollment, and capacity of each school that serves the planning area. Additionally, current State, regional, and local policies regarding new school development is identified below. Information from this section is based on State education data, facilities master plans for several school districts, and communication with the staff of the respective school districts. (Read More)