Title
Receive the Annual Report to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2017 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.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
a. Receive the Annual Report to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2017 Work Season; and
b. 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 2017 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 previous maintenance season and the program’s compliance with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ permit conditions. It also allows the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) to summarize and analyze the project success and impacts for future planning activities.
The SMP is a collaborative program which has formalized a partnership between multiple agencies, landowners, and lessees. The landowners and program participants formed the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program River Management Unit Association (RMU Association), a California non-profit in order to efficiently and effectively support the implementation and reporting of the SMP. This was the first year that the RMU Association included municipalities as members. The RMU Association continues to grow and advocate for improvements to the SMP.
The MCWRA received the subject permit for the program period of 2016 through 2021 and it incorporated work that was authorized under the Demonstration Project. The work is divided into seven River Management Units (RMUs) that extend form River Mile 2 to 92. The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC) received an updated Routine Maintenance Agreement for the Program from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in June of 2017. Both the MCWRA and the RCDMC monitor regulatory compliance.
Stream maintenance activities began on October 3rd and finished by November 15th. Maintenance activities were performed in four of the seven RMUs for a total of five new Maintenance Areas and retreatment of twelve previously treated Maintenance Areas. The total Maintenance Area treated equaled 90.2 acres with 22.1 acres of new vegetation treated and 68.1 acres of retreatment areas. Grading activities occurred in two Maintenance Areas with sediment removal occurring in one. Compensatory mitigation was achieved through arundo treatment and tree planting. The total area of arundo treatment equaled 70.4 acres with 19.3 acres of initial treatment and 51.1 acres of retreatment. In addition, 85 cottonwood trees were planted as mitigation.
Biological surveys for species of concern were conducted prior to work within specified time windows, and protective measures were followed during all project activities. All personnel involved in on-site work were trained in permit conditions, project protocols, and species identification by qualified staff. Woodrats were the most common species of concern found in the Project Area. Coast horned lizard was the only other Species of Special Concern found (although American badger burrows were seen), and no state- or federally- listed animals or plants were observed. No-disturbance buffers were placed around known and potential habitats like burrows and woodrat nests, and no permit violations occurred.
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:
None
Prepared by: Shaunna Murray, Associate Water Resources Engineer, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: _________________________________________________
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2017 Work Season: Annual Report to United
States Army Corps of Engineers
2. USACE Certification of Compliance
3. Board Order