Title
Receive the Annual Report to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2017 Work Season.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Receive the Annual Report to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2017 Work Season.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
This report summarizes the annual maintenance activities of the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program (SMP) for the 2017 maintenance season. The SMP incorporates a cooperative planning and design process among technical experts, agencies, municipalities, landowners, and growers to establish a flood risk reduction and habitat enhancement approach for the majority of the Salinas River and three tributaries. 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 maintenance season and the program’s compliance with the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Water Quality Certification’s conditions. It also allows the MCWRA to summarize and analyze the project success and impacts for future planning activities.
Stream maintenance activities began on Tuesday, October 3rd and finished by November 15th. Maintenance activities were performed in 4 of the 7 RMUs for a total of 5 new Maintenance Areas and retreatment of 12 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, 120 cottonwood trees were planted as mitigation.
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 17-18.
Prepared by: Shaunna Murray, Associate Water Resources Engineer, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: _______________________________________________
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Board Order
2. Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program 2017 Work Season: Annual Report to Central
Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board