Yolo Natural Heritage Program 

Welcome to Plan Document and Environmental Portal for the Yolo Natural Heritage Program

This portal contains the most up to date information about the Yolo Natural Heritage Program Plan document (HCP/NCCP) and the associated environment document (EIS/EIR). We encourage you to visit often, as content will update from time to time.

The Yolo County Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan Joint Powers Agency (JPA)—composed of members representing Yolo County; the Cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland; and the University of California at Davis—and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) plan to jointly prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) on the Yolo Natural Heritage Program Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP or Plan) for Yolo County.

About the Plan

The Plan serves as a habitat conservation plan (HCP) pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), and a natural community conservation plan (NCCP) under the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCPA).

The Plan is a comprehensive, county-wide plan that encompasses approximately 653,817 acres and is designed to provide long-term conservation and management of natural communities, sensitive species, and the habitats upon which those species depend. The Plan also is designed to accommodate appropriate economic and development activity, support the County’s vibrant agricultural economy, and enhance recreational opportunities. The Plan will set out a conservation strategy that includes measures to ensure that impacts on the 35 covered species and habitats related to covered activities are avoided, minimized, or mitigated, as appropriate. The Plan also proposes to provide conservation for 31 additional species of local concern. These covered activities encompass the range of existing and future activities that are associated with much of the regional economy. The Plan is further intended to reinforce the role of local government in overseeing local land use planning and decision-making. For more information about proposed covered species and covered activities, please view Working Draft Chapter 1 and Working Draft Chapter 3 of the Plan document.

Working draft chapters of the Plan document are available on this portal to allow for early public input. The working draft Plan document is subject to revision as the review and approval process continues. Remaining chapters and appendices will be available soon. Comments on the working draft document can be submitted to yolonhp@yolocounty.org.

Overview of NEPA and CEQA

California Environmental Quality Act

CEQA requires state and local agencies to estimate and evaluate the environmental implications of their actions and aims to prevent adverse environmental impacts of those actions by requiring those agencies, when feasible, to avoid or reduce significant environmental impacts. The State CEQA Guidelines are the primary source of rules and interpretation of CEQA.

National Environmental Policy Act

NEPA provides an interdisciplinary framework for federal agencies to prevent environmental damage and contains action-forcing procedures to ensure that federal agency decision makers take environmental factors into account for all alternatives. NEPA applies to all federal agencies and to most of the activities they manage, regulate, or fund that affect the human environment. It requires all agencies to consider and to publicly disclose the environmental implications of their proposed actions through the preparation of appropriate documents. CEQA has adopted regulations and other guidance that provides detailed procedures that federal agencies must follow to implement NEPA.

Joint NEPA/CEQA Document

When a project is subject to review under both NEPA and CEQA, state and local agencies are encouraged to cooperate with federal agencies in the environmental review process and to prepare a joint environmental document.

The JPA, acting as the lead agency under CEQA, and the Service, acting as the lead agency under the NEPA, have determined that a joint EIS/EIR should be prepared for the Plan. The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) is a Responsible Agency and a Trustee Agency for purposes of CEQA. The EIS/EIR will be prepared pursuant to CEQA and NEPA.

The JPA released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings on October 21, 2011 in accordance to CEQA.

Similarly, a Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal Register on the same date by the Service in accordance with NEPA.

Public Input Sought!

The JPA and Service seek public comments on the scope and content of the EIS/EIR. Scoping is a public process under NEPA and CEQA to assist the lead agencies in the development of the EIS/EIR. Comments received during the scoping period from the public and agencies will help determine the scope of the EIS/EIR and identify significant issues related to the proposed Plan.

Public Scoping Meetings

Two public scoping meetings have been scheduled to provide an overview of the Plan and obtain written and/or oral comments on the scope and content of the EIS/EIR. The meetings will be held on:

  • November 7, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • November 7, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Both scoping meetings will be held at the City of West Sacramento City Hall in the Galleria Room, 1110 West Capitol Avenue, in West Sacramento.

Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and participate in one of the public meetings should contact Maria Wong at (530) 406-4885 as soon as possible. In order to allow sufficient time to process requests, please call no later than 1 week before the public meeting.

Submitting Comments

Please send written comments on or before December 5, 2011. Written comments regarding the scope of the EIS/EIR are invited from interested parties to ensure that the full range of environmental issues related to the proposed Plan is identified and evaluated. All comments received, including names and addresses of commenters, will become part of the official administrative record and will be made available to the public. Information, written comments, or questions related to the preparation of the EIS/EIR should be received on or before December 5, 2011. Written comments should be directed to:

Maria Wong, Executive Director
Yolo County JPA
120 West Main Street, Suite C
Woodland, CA 95695
Fax: (530) 668-1801
Email: yolonhp@yolocounty.org

Traveling Kiosk

In addition, a traveling information kiosk will be available to the public throughout the 45-day comment period. The kiosk includes a computer station where maps and related information can be viewed. For a schedule showing locations, dates, and times to view the kiosk, please click here.