Waddell Adaptive Management Plan
Summary
SCH Number
2026090551
Public Agency
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Document Title
Waddell Adaptive Management Plan
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/14/2026
Document Description
Project consists of creating a vegetated foredune at the mouth of Waddell Creek in the Rancho del Oso subunit of Big Basin Redwoods State Park to guide the creek mouth away from public infrastructure, reduce erosion, restore previous lagoon dynamics and alleviate the need for additional hard armoring. Work will occur as follows:
•Biologists will survey and clear the work area of any target animal species;
•Biological monitors will guide State Park equipment operators tracking onto the beach from the parking lot and begin lowering the sandbar to the south of the current river mouth;
•Generated sand will be stockpiled towards the parking lot;
•Operators will create a southerly aligned outlet channel with a similar rise and run to the existing northerly channel;
•While being shaped, the southern channel will be hydrologically disconnected from the system by a fill plug left in place at the upstream end;
•Upon completion of the channel, the upstream sand plug will be removed, allowing water to flow through the southern outlet channel;
•Stockpiled sand will then be moved north to construct a foredune between the embayment and the parking lot;
•Woody debris will be buried beneath the dune for added support and will remain lower than the parking lot and will mimic previous foredune; and
•Seed and plant dune with native plants and water into the dry season as necessary.
Contact Information
Name
Linda Hitchcock
Agency Name
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Job Title
Senior Park and Recreation Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Unincorporated Area (Santa Cruz County)
Counties
Santa Cruz
Regions
Northern California, Unincorporated
Cross Streets
Highway 1 and Skyline to the Sea Trail Rd.
Zip
95017
Other Location Info
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15304 & 15333
Reasons for Exemption
Project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond current levels; the minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water and/or vegetation, which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes; and projects not to exceed five acres in size to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of habitat for plants and is included as “revegetation with native plants” in the Department of Parks and Recreation’s list of exempt activities in accordance with CCR §15300.4
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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