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Property Details for Wildflower Ridge Preserve


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Kenny Ranch
Private
256095
13167 Ridge Road GRASS VALLEY, CA 95945
128
007-111-003
39.23145844849879 / -121.07493034453313
999
Stollman, Scott
Stollman.Scott@epa.gov
415-972-3729


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Property Location



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Property Progress


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CAs Associated with this Property

CA NameCA #StateTypeAnnouncement Year
City of Grass Valley4B98T42301CAAssessment2022


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Assessment Activities at this Property

ActivityEPA FundingStart DateCompletion DateCAAccomplishment Counted?Counted When?
Phase I Environmental Assessment$4,800.0003/16/202306/30/2023City of Grass ValleyYFY23
Phase II Environmental Assessment$10,277.0004/17/2023City of Grass Valley


Is Cleanup Necessary? Yes
EPA Assessment Funding: $15,077.00
Leveraged Funding:
Total Funding: $15,077.00


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Planning or Assessment

Selected Strategy(ies)Explanatory Text
Phase I and Phase II ESAs that consider impacts from extreme weather events and natural disastersPhase I ESAs may consider current and on-going impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters and consider future impacts to the site or area. For example, an investigation of the site history can include an investigation of site vulnerabilities based on historical and recent extreme weather patterns and events (e.g., floods and drought). Phase II ESAs may include use of renewable energy, incorporating remote sensing capabilities, maximize reuse of existing wells (as appropriate) and/or design wells for future reuse, use of field test kits when possible, use of local laboratories when possible, and use of appropriate sized equipment for the project.
OtherEnter additional planning or assessment activities that incorporate strategies to address impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters.
Evaluate Reuse options that consider impacts from extreme weather events and natural disastersDiscussion of observed and forecasted natural hazard conditions and the associated site-specific risk are part of any reuse considerations. Both current and forecasted extreme weather events and natural disasters may impact the effectiveness of a remedial alternative.
Identify potential risk factors and infrastructure or utility vulnerabilitiesIdentify potential risk factors and infrastructure or utility vulnerabilities resulting directly from the impacts of increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and natural disasters. Possible risk factors and vulnerabilities may include proximity to the ocean, infrastructure vulnerabilities, property affected by a revised FEMA flood plain, drought monitor, or wildfire risk map, vulnerability related to changes in frequency and intensity of precipitation events, vulnerability of soil type due to moisture and hydraulic changes, and ground and surface drinking water vulnerabilities.


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Contaminants and Media


Arsenic
Lead
Other Metals
NOT Cleaned up
NOT Cleaned up
NOT Cleaned up
Soil
NOT Cleaned up


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Cleanup Activities

There are no current cleanup activities.


Cleanup/Treatment Implemented:
Cleanup/Treatement Categories:
Addl Cleanup/Treatment info: Engineering controls and land use controls for mine waste stockpiles.
Address of Data Source:
Total ACRES Cleaned Up: 128
Number of Cleanup Jobs Leveraged:
EPA Cleanup Funding:
Leveraged Funding:
Cost Share Funding:
Total Funding:


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Demolition or Cleanup

Selected Strategy(ies)Explanatory Text
Reduce energy usePractices to reduce energy use may include limiting or eliminating idling of heavy equipment; maximizing use of machinery with advanced energy saving controls; use of cleaner fuels to power machinery and auxiliary equipment; onsite carbon sequestration (e.g., soil amendments, revegetation); reducing fuel consumption to save energy; and maximizing use of renewable energy.
Reduce waste and manage materials sustainablyPractices to reduce water and manage materials sustainably may include minimizing consumption of virgin materials; minimizing waste generation; use of recycled products and local materials; beneficially reusing waste materials (e.g. concrete made with coal combustion products replacing a portion of cement); and segregating and reusing or recycling materials, products, and infrastructure (e.g. soil, construction and demolition debris, buildings).


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Institutional and Engineering Controls

Yes
Proprietary Controls Government Controls Information Devices
No
Yes
Security (e.g., Guard, Fences)
No


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Redevelopment and Other Leveraged Accomplishments

There are no current redevelopment activities.


Number of Redevelopment Jobs Leveraged:
Actual Acreage of Greenspace Created:
Leveraged Funding:


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Redevelopment

Selected Strategy(ies)Explanatory Text
Install green infrastructureGreen infrastructure includes practices and features to reduce the burden of storm events on local water infrastructure. Examples include green roofs, downspout disconnection, urban tree canopies, rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, planter boxes, green parking (permeable pavement), urban agriculture, and community open space.
Incorporate and encourage multi-modal transit opportunities in redevelopment activitiesPlanning, designing and building streets that enable access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders. Brownfield redevelopment projects can incorporate sidewalks in their plans to allow for pedestrian traffic, outdoor public spaces to encourage community gatherings, and bicycle parking, bike share rentals, and bike trails to encourage biking throughout the community.


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Additional Property Attributes

The City of Grass Valley is using USEPA Brownfields funding from the 2022 Community-Wide Assessment to develop engineering and institutional controls for historical mine waste piles at the Wildflower Ridge Preserve. The site is being acquired by the Bear Yuba Land Trust is acquiring the 128-acre property (Nevada County APN 007-111-003) to protect the property's high conservation value including the lava cap along the ridge and associated botanical resources, spotted-owl forest habitat, and black oak groves and landmark trees. BYLT has existing trail easements across the property along Ridge Road and the Rough and Ready Ditch, a water conveyance canal. The property is actively used for non-motorized public recreation, and the BYLT intends to improve and enhance the trail systems and create more areas for outdoor education and learning landscapes. In addition to recreation and conservation, BYLT has identified this site for a permanent office and Community Nature/Cultural Center.

The DTSC approved a Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) in 2003 that characterized five mine waste piles in the lower (northern) part of the property near the canal. The waste piles are associated with historical underground mining of gold-bearing ore deposits. The DTSC requires mitigation of the waste piles, which may include signage and possible fencing around the waste piles under a Land Use Covenant. The City of Grass Valley is using Brownfields funding to (1) update a Phase I ESA prior to the close of escrow for All Appropriate Inquiries, (2) update the risk assessment using the previous site investigation data to help determine whether fencing is required, and (3) fund DTSC's review of the risk assessment, development of land use controls, and site certification.

RECS:
The five piles of mine excavation spoils (Stockpiles #2 through #6) identified at the site are considered an REC based on the findings of the PEA performed by H&K in 2005. The piles are estimated to contain 100 to 1,500 cubic yards of soil and rock that originate from historical mine prospecting and/or small-scale mining operation. Based on the size of the stockpiles identified at the site (estimated to range from 100 to 1,500 cubic yards), the absence of processed ore materials (tailings), the absence of relic foundations or other mining infrastructure, and the lack of historical records pertaining to mining at the site, the mining operations at the site appear to have been short-lived and unprofitable. Historical mining records are described in Section 4.3.6, and the mining features identified at the site are described in Section 6.3.2.

The PEA included the collection of samples from the site (including mine excavation spoils, undisturbed surface soil, and surface water) and laboratory analysis of the samples for heavy metals and other potential contaminants related to historical mining activities. The human health risk assessment presented in the PEA identified arsenic as a constituent of concern for routine, long-term exposure via incidental ingestion, dust inhalation and/or dermal contact. Arsenic concentrations detected in samples of soil and mine excavation spoils ranged from 4 mg/kg to 210 mg/kg. The potential health risk associated with the mine excavation spoils is attributable to arsenic that occurs naturally in the excavation spoils due to geologic mineralization. The PEA was previously approved by the DTSC (Kenny Ranch; DTSC Site Code 101374). Land use controls were previously proposed for Stockpiles #2 through #6. Land use controls have not been implemented but may be required prior to site development.
Greenspace (128)
ID Number (if Applicable): 102508 Enrolled:


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Release 3.0.2