DR-4407-CA Public Notice 003

INITIAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Los Gatos Vegetation Management, Santa Clara County, California | HMGP-4407-506-075

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intends to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to the Town of Los Gatos in Santa Clara County, California, to perform vegetation management. The proposed action would mitigate impacts from fire hazards by reducing fuels loads within five park/open spaces areas throughout Los Gatos. Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its intent to carry out an action affecting a floodplain.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the risk of wildfire spread and associated loss of life and property. The project encompasses approximately 194 acres over five project areas: Heintz Open Space, La Rinconada Park, Novitiate Park, Santa Rosa Park, and Worcester Park. The proposed project would include the reduction of hazardous fuels through the following mitigation activities: 1) Establish defensible space surrounding structures; 2) Reduce the height and density of existing vegetation to provide adequate spacing between shrubs and reduce ladder fuels that can allow a fire to climb up into the tree canopy; 3) Remove non-native species and dead wood to further reduce fuel loads and buildup; 4) Remove dead or diseased trees; and 5) Shred and chip all cut vegetation and wood fuel to evenly scatter over the ground. Project work would occur through a combination of hand tools, mechanized equipment, herbicides, and prescribed grazing.

The La Riconada Park project area is primarily located in a 500-year floodplain as depicted on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Number 06085C0238J, effective February 19, 2014. The FIRM shows most of the project area lies within shaded Zone X, an area with a 0.2 percent annual chance flood. The eastern portion of the La Riconada project area intersects a riverine habitat designated as Zone AE, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have been established and is in a regulatory floodway.  The four other project areas are primarily located in shaded Zone X and Zone D. Zone D is defined as an area with possible but undetermined flood hazard:

1. Santa Rosa open space is partially in shaded Zone X and partially in Zone D as shown on FIRM panel 06085C0381H dated May 18, 2009, and panel 06085C0377H dated May 18, 2009. Based on a review of topographic and aerial photography, it does not appear that this project area is located in a floodplain.
2. Heintz Open Space is partially in shade Zone X and partially in Zone D as shown on FIRM panel 06085C0381H dated May 18, 2009, and panel 06085C0377H dated May 18, 2009. Based on a review of topographic and aerial photography, it does not appear that this project area is located in a floodplain.
3. Novitiate Park is primarily in shaded Zone X and partially in Zone D, as shown on FIRM panel 06085C0380H dated May 18, 2009. Based on a review of topographic and aerial photography, it is likely that this project area is located in a floodplain.
4. Worcester Park is primarily in shaded Zone X and partially in Zone D as shown on FIRM panel 06085C0377H dated May 18, 2009. Based on a review of topographic and aerial photography, it does not appear that this project area is located in a floodplain.

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action, including maps showing the potential impacts on floodplains, may be obtained by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov, or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests should be received within 15 days after publication of this notice.