Capitola Road at Leona Creek Culvert Rehabilitation Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026030845
Public Agency
Santa Cruz County
Document Title
Capitola Road at Leona Creek Culvert Rehabilitation Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/19/2026
Document Description
The proposed project will rehabilitate the lower 100 lineal feet of a 66-inch corrugated metal culvert pipe. The culvert is located below Capitola Road and on private property within drainage easements. The total length of the culvert is 216 feet. The culvert conveys Leona Creek which drains into Schwan Lagoon. The project will take place between July 1st and September 30th with an expected construction duration of five days, and a maximum dewatered period of fourteen days. Temporary diversion dams composed of clean gravel and visqueen sheeting will be installed at the upstream and downstream ends of the culvert. Creek flow at the upstream dam will be pumped through rigid or flexible pipe to an adjacent sanitary sewer manhole. Nuisance water from the work area that collects upstream of the downstream dam will be pumped through rigid or flexible pipe to a tank and then disposed into the sanitary sewer system. Once the work area is isolated from the creek, the culvert interior will be cleaned, and any voids will be filled with a repair mortar. Exterior voids around the culvert will be compaction grouted from the pipe interior with polyurethane geotechnical foam. A 1.5-inch layer and 1.0-inch layer of fiber reinforced grout will be applied to the pipe interior and lower corroded portion of manholes within the culvert using a centrifugally cast concrete pipe machine. Once the concrete has cured (typically 72 hours) the creek diversion will be removed.
Contact Information
Name
Erik San Miguel
Agency Name
County of Santa Cruz, Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 5
Job Title
Civil Engineering Assistant
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Santa Cruz
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Capitola Road
Zip
95062
Other Location Info
Capitola Road at Leona Creek, 1115 Capitola Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 - 15301
Reasons for Exemption
CEQA section 15301 Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.
The culvert is an existing portion of the public drainage infrastructure in the area in need maintenance and repair. There is no expansion of the culvert system.
Mitigation measures of the Riparian Exception have been included due to the Creek flow at the upstream dam that will be pumped to an adjacent sanitary sewer manhole among other significant mitigations measures are that heavy equipment shall not be used within the riparian areas. All stream diversion materials shall be transported, installed and removed by hand via existing pathways and slopes adjacent to the ends of the culvert or through existing manholes.
As work will occur within CDFW’s jurisdiction, a Streambed Alteration Agreement with this agency will be required. The proposed project is located with RWQCB jurisdiction. As work will occur within Waters of the State and federal waters, a 401 certification from RWQCB will be required. The proposed project involves temporary fill for clean gravel bag and visqueen coffer dams during culvert dewatering below the OHWM of the creek, areas that are within USACE’s jurisdiction. A permit from USACE may be required as repair work will occur within the confines of the OHWM. However, adherence with these permit conditions is not expected to impact special status species or habitat.
County Clerk
Santa Cruz
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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