Protection Measures Selection Tool

The project proponent will minimize, to the greatest extent feasible, the amount of soil, terrestrial vegetation, emergent native vegetation, and submerged vegetation (e.g., eelgrass and kelp in marine areas, or submerged aquatic vegetation in brackish and freshwater areas) disturbed during project construction and completion and using methods creating the least disturbance to vegetation. Disturbance to existing grades and native vegetation, the number of access routes, the size of staging areas, and the total area disturbed by the project will be limited to the extent of all temporary and permanent impacts as defined by the final project design. All roads, staging areas, and other facilities will be placed to avoid and limit disturbance to waters of the state and other aquatic habitats (e.g., streambank or stream channel, riparian habitat) as much as possible. When possible, existing ingress or egress points will be used and/or work will be performed from the top of the creek banks or from barges on the waterside of the stream or levee bank, or dry gravel beds. Existing native vegetation will be retained as practicable, emphasizing the retention of shade-producing and bank stabilizing trees and brush with greater than 6-inch diameter branches or trunks. Where possible, vegetation disturbance and soil compaction will be minimized by using low ground-pressure (typically less than 13 to 20 pounds psi) equipment that exerts less pressure per square inch on the ground than other equipment. To minimize impacts to vegetation, select equipment with a greater reach.