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Whiskeytown Environmental School Rebuild
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area » Whiskeytown Environmental School Rebuild
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has announced the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Whiskeytown Environmental School Rebuild. The selected action is the preferred alternative (action alternative), as evaluated in the Environmental Assessment (EA). Also included in this announcement is the Floodplain Statement of Findings (FSOF), which assesses the risk of flooding and the project's impact to floodplains at the project site. The FONSI, EA and the FSOF can be found in the Document List under the Project Links on the left-hand side of this page.
This EA evaluated the potential environmental impacts to resources by proposing two alternatives to the rebuilding of the Whiskeytown Environmental School, an action alternative (preferred) and a no-action alternative. The proposed action, or preferred alternative, would rebuild the school campus, allowing for expanded educational programming at WES from daytime only to week-long residential programs. Specifically, the cabins destroyed in 2018 by the Carr Fire as well as other features of the campus would be rebuilt and brought up to safety, health, and environmental code. An analysis of the two alternatives and their potential impacts to the environment were presented in the EA.
There were many substantive public comments on the EA. Therefore, modifications were incorporated into the FONSI after the review period, with text changes to the EA identified in the Errata (Appendix A of the FONSI). Several comments concerned the Monitoring and Mitigation Plan of the EA, and this updated plan is also included in the FONSI in Appendix D.
The selected action meets the purpose and need for action by rebuilding the buildings and infrastructure of WES to create an educational school and campus that can host overnight educational programs, while meeting modern safety and sustainability standards. The residential outdoor school would use concrete building materials to the greatest extent possible and be made into a model of environmental sustainability and climate resilience deep into the 21st Century. Additionally, an administrative building including camp office at the entrance to the school would greatly enhance student safety and site security. Site flow and accessibility would also be improved.
The WES Rebuild culminates years of research and planning with park and community partners including the Shasta County Office of Education and the Whiskeytown Environmental School Community. The goal has been how best to restore the popular residential campus that has served over 152,000 Shasta County residents since its official opening back in 1971.
Remaking the environmental school supports hands-on learning experiences that connect local students to science, history, stewardship, and the outdoors. The environmental school will serve schools, families, and communities across Northern California, making this more than a facility project—it is an investment in regional education and connection to public lands.
For questions, please contact the National Park Service Pacific West Region's Public Affairs Office at PWR_Public_Affairs@nps.gov
c/o WES Rebuild
P.O. Box 188
Whiskeytown, CA 96095
PWR_Public_Affairs@nps.gov
This EA evaluated the potential environmental impacts to resources by proposing two alternatives to the rebuilding of the Whiskeytown Environmental School, an action alternative (preferred) and a no-action alternative. The proposed action, or preferred alternative, would rebuild the school campus, allowing for expanded educational programming at WES from daytime only to week-long residential programs. Specifically, the cabins destroyed in 2018 by the Carr Fire as well as other features of the campus would be rebuilt and brought up to safety, health, and environmental code. An analysis of the two alternatives and their potential impacts to the environment were presented in the EA.
There were many substantive public comments on the EA. Therefore, modifications were incorporated into the FONSI after the review period, with text changes to the EA identified in the Errata (Appendix A of the FONSI). Several comments concerned the Monitoring and Mitigation Plan of the EA, and this updated plan is also included in the FONSI in Appendix D.
The selected action meets the purpose and need for action by rebuilding the buildings and infrastructure of WES to create an educational school and campus that can host overnight educational programs, while meeting modern safety and sustainability standards. The residential outdoor school would use concrete building materials to the greatest extent possible and be made into a model of environmental sustainability and climate resilience deep into the 21st Century. Additionally, an administrative building including camp office at the entrance to the school would greatly enhance student safety and site security. Site flow and accessibility would also be improved.
The WES Rebuild culminates years of research and planning with park and community partners including the Shasta County Office of Education and the Whiskeytown Environmental School Community. The goal has been how best to restore the popular residential campus that has served over 152,000 Shasta County residents since its official opening back in 1971.
Remaking the environmental school supports hands-on learning experiences that connect local students to science, history, stewardship, and the outdoors. The environmental school will serve schools, families, and communities across Northern California, making this more than a facility project—it is an investment in regional education and connection to public lands.
For questions, please contact the National Park Service Pacific West Region's Public Affairs Office at PWR_Public_Affairs@nps.gov
Contact Information
Whiskeytown National Recreation Areac/o WES Rebuild
P.O. Box 188
Whiskeytown, CA 96095
PWR_Public_Affairs@nps.gov