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County approves after‑the‑fact Caltrans drainage changes for Cleon shoulder widening; staff adds monitoring requirement
Summary
Mendocino County approved a modification to a prior Caltrans coastal development permit covering the Cleon shoulder‑widening project after staff found additional, small impacts to environmentally sensitive habitat areas and recommended a condition requiring continued annual revegetation reporting.
Mendocino County’s Coastal Permit Administrator on June 12 approved a modification to a prior Caltrans coastal development permit for the Cleon shoulder‑widening project after county staff described previously unaccounted drainage work that increased impacts to two environmentally sensitive habitat areas (ESHA).
Staff planner Liam Crowley told the administrator that some drainage elements installed by Caltrans—deepening/widening a drainage ditch, a flared end section, and a headwall—were not shown on the previously approved plans. The unpermitted work occurred entirely within Caltrans right‑of‑way, Crowley said, and county review concluded the features had no visual or fire‑hazard effect but did result in greater ESHA disturbance than originally anticipated.
Why it matters: County staff reported an additional 53 linear feet of temporary disturbance and a very small amount of permanent impact described in the staff report as "2.10 thousandths of an acre." Caltrans said the drainage changes increase hydraulic capacity and that the additional disturbance can be revegetated; the agency submitted a revegetation plan and annual monitoring photos showing reestablishment in impacted areas.
Staff recommendation and new condition
- Staff recommended approval of the modification but added an explicit condition requiring Caltrans to continue to submit annual revegetation monitoring reports to the county to ensure the revegetation succeeds. - Caltrans stated it is updating the revegetation plan and expects to submit annual reports in accordance with the new condition.
Public comment
Valerie Stanley, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, reiterated concerns about cultural resources in the Cleon area and said she would follow up with Caltrans. Crowley and Caltrans representatives noted prior archaeological review and that tribal monitors had been engaged under the original CDP conditions.
Decision and next steps
The Coastal Permit Administrator approved the modification and adopted the staff report findings and conditions, including the explicit requirement for continued submittal of annual revegetation monitoring reports. The county will monitor compliance and receive the annual reports as a condition of the modified permit.
