Title
Consider receiving the Annual Report to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2016 Work Season; and, authorizing the General Manager to execute the Certification of Compliance verifying compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the Regional General Permit.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Receive the Annual Report to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2016 Work Season; and, authorize the General Manager to execute the Certification of Compliance verifying compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the Regional General Permit.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
This report summarizes the 2016 activities of the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program (SMP). The objective for the SMP is to reduce flood risk to land adjacent to the Salinas River while maintaining or enhancing natural habitat and ecological and hydrological processes. This is achieved through vegetation maintenance, sediment management, and non-native vegetation removal primarily in designated secondary or high flow channels outside of the low flow channel. This Annual Report provides regulatory agencies and interested parties with an overview of the work completed during the 2016 maintenance season and the program’s compliance with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ permit conditions. It also allows the MCWRA to summarize and analyze the project success and impacts for future planning activities.
The 2016 work season was the first to include both Phase 1 and Phase 2, implementing a uniform approach for the entire program. Phase 1 includes two River Management Units (RMUs) along the Salinas River at river miles that were permitted in 2014 as a pilot program. Phase 2 of the SMP was developed following the same process as Phase 1 and includes five additional RMUs within the SMP Program Area (river miles 2 to 94). Stream maintenance activities began on Thursday, October 1st and finished on November 15th. Maintenance activities were performed in 5 of the 7 RMUs for a total of 13 new Maintenance Areas and retreatment of 10 previously constructed secondary channels and arundo removal areas. The total new vegetation maintenance area was 70.6 acres and an additional 37.9 acres of retreated areas.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The National Marine Fisheries Service, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
FINANCING:
Funding for staff time associated with this project is included in MCWRA’s Adopted Budget for FY 16-17.
Prepared by: Shaunna Juarez, Associate Water Resources Engineer, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: _______________________________________________
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2016 Work Season: Annual Report to United
State Army Corps of Engineers
2. USACE Certification of Compliance
3. Board Order