The Los Cerritos Wetlands Program Environmental Impact Report

This Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) is the next step in the LCWA’s efforts to provide a comprehensive restoration framework for the Los Cerritos Wetlands. The LCWA initiated the preparation of a PEIR to determine the nature and extent of the proposed program’s impact upon the environment. An EIR also identifies ways to reduce environmental effects and analyzes reasonable alternatives to avoid or minimize significant environmental effects.

The proposed program would restore wetland, transitional, and upland habitats throughout the program area. This would involve remediation of contaminated soil, grading, revegetation, construction of new public access opportunities (including trails, visitor centers, parking lots, and viewpoints), construction of flood management facilities (including earthen levees, berms, and walls), and modification of existing infrastructure and utilities.

The Final PEIR is available below. The Final PEIR contains responses to comments received on the Draft PEIR during the public review period which began May 8, 2020, and closed July 6, 2020

The final version of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Plan can be viewed and downloaded by clicking the links below.

• The Los Cerritos Wetlands Habitat Restoration Plan 

The LCWA produced a Draft Restoration Plan that is consistent with the findings of the Final PEIR and provides more details about how near-term projects will be implemented.  The LCWA solicited comments on this Draft Restoration Plan from March 1, 2021 – March 25, 2021.  A public meeting was held via Zoom on March 18, 2021 at 7:00pm to discuss the Draft Restoration Plan and answer questions from the public. The Draft Restoration Plan, a recording of that meeting, as well as the presentation used can be accessed by clicking the links below.

• LCWA’s Draft Restoration Plan (PDF)
• LCWA Restoration Plan Public Meeting Presentation (PDF)
• LCWA Restoration Plan Public Meeting – 3.18.2021 Zoom Recording (Video)
• LCWA Restoration Plan Public Meeting – 3.18.2021 Zoom Recording (Audio Only)

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority has certified the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR). To view and download the Final Program Environmental Impact Report clicking on the links below.

• Notice of Determination – Orange County (New)
• Notice of Determination – Los Angeles County (New)

• Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations

• Cover, Table of Contents, Chapter 1 – Introduction to the Final PEIR 
• Chapter 2 – Response to Comments
• Chapter 3 – Draft PEIR Revisions
• Chapter 4 – Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 

• Appendix A – Revised Draft PEIR
  • Executive Summary (Revised)
  • Chapter 1 – Introduction (Revised)
  • Chapter 2 – Project Description (Revised)
  • Chapter 3 – Individual Sections (Revised)
    • Section 3.2 – Air Quality (Revised)
    • Section 3.3 – Biological Resources (Revised)
    • Section 3.4 – Cultural Resources (Revised)
    • Section 3.5 – Geology and Soils (Revised)
    • Section 3.6 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy (Revised)
    • Section 3.7 – Hazards and Hazardous Materials (Revised)
    • Section 3.8 – Hydrology and Water Quality (Revised)
    • Section 3.9 – Land Use and Planning (Revised)
    • Section 3.13 – Recreation (Revised)
    • Section 3.15 – Tribal Cultural Resources (Revised)
    • Section 3.16 – Utilities and Service Systems (Revised)
  • Chapter 4 – Other CEQA Considerations (Revised)
  • Chapter 5 – Alternatives (Revised)

• Appendix B – Draft Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan (MAMP) Framework 

View and download the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report by clicking on the links below.

• Notice of Availability of a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report – UPDATED
• Notice of Time Extension of the Public Comment Period for a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report 
• Cover, Table of Contents, Executive Summary
• Chapters
  • Chapter 1 – Introduction
  • Chapter 2 – Project Description
  • Chapter 3 – Environmental Setting
  • Chapter 4 – Other CEQA Considerations 
  • Chapter 5 – Alternatives 
  • Chapter 6 – Report Preparers
  • Chapter 3 Individual Sections
    • Section 3.1 – Aesthetics
    • Section 3.2 – Air Quality
    • Section 3.3 – Biological Resources
    • Section 3.4 – Cultural Resources
    • Section 3.5 – Geology and Soils 
    • Section 3.6 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy 
    • Section 3.7 –  Hazards and Hazardous Materials 
    • Section 3.8 – Hydrology and Water Quality
    • Section 3.9 – Land Use and Planning 
    • Section 3.10 – Mineral Resources 
    • Section 3.11 – Noise
    • Section 3.12 – Public Services 
    • Section 3.13 – Recreation 
    • Section 3.14 – Transportation 
    • Section 3.15 – Tribal Cultural Resources 
    • Section 3.16 – Utilities and Service Systems 
• Appendices
  • Appendix A – NOP Initial Study Comment Letters 
  • Appendix B – Air Quality Technical Report 
  • Appendix C – Supplemental Biological Surveys and Mapping for LCW
  • Appendix D – Cultural Resources Assessment Report [Divider]
  • Appendix E – Paleontological Resources Assessment [Divider]
  • Appendix F – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Technical Report 
  • Appendix G – Energy Calculations 
  • Appendix H – Hydrodynamic Modeling Technical Report 
  • Appendix I – Sediment Dynamics Technical Report 
  • Appendix J – Sediment and Water Quaility Investigation 
  • Appendix K – Noise Technical Report 
  • Appendix L – Summary of Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority hosted a two-part virtual public meeting during the Draft PEIR comment period. Both virtual meetings were recorded and are available HERE.

The first public meeting took place on May 21st, 2020. This meeting covered the CEQA process and the project description (Chapter 2 of the Draft PEIR). Meeting attendees asked questions regarding land ownership, the no action alternative, habitat designations, nesting trees, proposed visitor centers, and the LCWA logo.

The second public meeting took place on June 4th, 2020. This meeting covered the impact analysis (Chapter 3 of the Draft PEIR) and alternatives (Chapter 5 of the Draft PEIR). Meeting attendees asked questions regarding tribal cultural resources and Native American tribal entities, earthwork, berm height and footprint, existing oil operations, and flooding of existing habitats.

CLICK HERE to access the LCWA’s Notice of Preparation of a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report. The Public Review Period is March 8th-April 8th.

CLICK HERE to access the Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Plan Initial Study. The Public Review Period is March 8th-April 8th.

As part of the NOP process, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority conducted a public scoping meeting on March 19, 2019 in order to present the proposed program and environmental process and to receive public comments and suggestions regarding the proposed program.

The posters presented at the meeting are available here.

The slide deck from the presentation is available here.