ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
5.	AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURE OF REIMBURSABLE FUNDS (EXEMPT FROM BOARD SPENDING FREEZE) TO CONTRACT FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES TO COMPLETE DESIGN OF THE SLEEPY HOLLOW FORD REMOVAL AND BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
Meeting Date:			April 18, 2011	Budgeted:	No
From:			Darby Fuerst, General Manager	Program/	Protect Environmental Quality
				Line Item No.:	N/A
Prepared By:			Larry Hampson	Cost Estimate:	$114,300 (Reimbursable)
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on April 11, 2011, and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: Staff is requesting authorization to expend reimbursable, non-budgeted funds to retain several consultants to complete design work for removal of the 140-foot long Sleepy Hollow Ford and replacement of the ford with a clear-span bridge. The ford contains an 80-foot long by 10 foot wide by three feet high concrete barrier with seven 18-inch culverts across the main stem of the Carmel River at River Mile 17.5 (RM, measured from the ocean). The project includes the design of a 180-foot clear span in place of the existing stream crossing, which currently provides limited, seasonal access to the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility (SHSRF).

The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) has approved funds for this work in accordance with the process to implement the Settlement Agreement (Agreement) with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and California American Water (CAW or Cal-Am). The Agreement addresses impacts to the Carmel River from CAW diversions. Field work is tentatively scheduled to begin in the summer of 2011, with a design completed by the end of 2011. The District will provide oversight and technical review of the project design.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Administrative Committee recommend approval of funds to complete design of the Sleepy Hollow Ford Removal and Bridge Replacement Project. If this item is approved, the General Manger would be authorized to enter into several agreements for professional services at a not-to-exceed total cost of $114,300, with the understanding that these expenses will be reimbursed by the California Department of Fish and Game.

BACKGROUND: At their March 15, 2010 meeting, the District Board adopted Resolution 2010-03 in support of applying for grant funding from the CDFG Fisheries Restoration Grant Program and authorized the General Manager to enter into a contract with the CDFG to receive grant funds. The District received a grant agreement on March 27, 2011, and is proceeding to execute that agreement, which is scheduled to take effect June 1, 2011.

Completion of design work would allow the District to request that CDFG consider funding construction of the project in the future. Construction of a new bridge would provide reliable year-round access to the District for operations at the SHSRF and increase the flexibility of operations. In addition, a bridge at this location would allow the future removal of the Old Carmel River Dam (OCRD), located approximately 0.8 miles upstream of the ford. Removal of the OCRD is proposed to be carried out by CAW and the State Coastal Conservancy with the San Clemente Dam Removal and Carmel River Reroute Project.

Staff proposes to retain three separate consultants to complete tasks associated with the design work at the ford at a cost of $114,300 (see Exhibit 5-A). The District received estimates from the following consultants: 1) Pacific Crest Engineering, Inc. for geotechnical investigation and seismic shaking analysis at a cost of $39,875 (see Exhibit 5-A, pages 8-12); 2) Avila and Associates for hydraulic and scour analysis at a cost of $11,800 (see Exhibit 5-A, pages 13-14); and 3) Whitson Engineers for survey and engineering work at a cost of $62,625 (see Exhibit 5-A, page 15). The grant agreement specifies that invoices may not be submitted more frequently than monthly, in arrears.

Detailed project description including all tasks to be performed:

Summary: The proposal is to complete analyses and design plans for removal of the 140-foot long Sleepy Hollow Ford across the main stem of the Carmel River at RM 17.5 and replacement of the crossing with a clear-span bridge. Ford removal would consist of the demolition of an 80-foot long low-flow concrete portion of the ford and removal of the remaining 60 feet of the ford, which consists of gravel. Installation of a clear-span bridge would include construction of abutments and approaches and placing a bridge across the river. Stream restoration work would include revegetation as necessary and injection of spawning gravel at the site of the existing ford. Sketches and photographs of the project site are attached as Exhibit 5-B.

The following analyses and design plans would be completed:

Studies/Analyses

1.) A field survey of existing site features, topography (profile and cross-section) and riparian vegetation will be conducted for use in developing base drawings for final design drawings. Field work is to extend a minimum of 100 feet up and downstream of the work site.

2.) A review of available flood studies will be conducted (e.g., 2009 Monterey County Flood Insurance Study) and a design flow will be selected to be used in bridge design.

3.) A geotechnical investigation will be conducted that includes a minimum of three borings (two for abutments and one in the center of the channel), laboratory results, and a report. Information from the geotechnical analysis will be used in a seismic shaking analysis at the site.

4.) An analysis of scour potential will be conducted by a consultant familiar with scour at abutments and a determination made of the appropriate abutment type (e.g., vertical, wing-wall, flow-through), configuration (angle, height, width, depth). The consultant will be expected to provide a recommendation for erosion protection, if necessary, that is compatible with maintaining streamside habitat value for steelhead and other sensitive species.

Design/Construction Plans

The following plans will be developed:

1.) Plan for removal and disposal of a concrete slab with dimensions 80 feet long by 10 feet wide and three feet thick containing seven culverts and removal and disposal of the remainder of the ford, which is compacted gravel.

2.) A preliminary construction plan and set of specifications for two concrete abutments along the stream margins to support a clear-span Bailey bridge (up to 200 feet).

3.) A grading plan for areas disturbed by construction; grading to include a low flow channel to provide enhanced fish passage and to allow the natural flow of sediment and debris through the reach. Plans would reflect injection of up to 20 cubic yards of spawning gravel at the site to improve spawning habitat.

4.) A stream dewatering/silt prevention/fish exclusion plan.

5.) A quantity take-off for use in developing an engineer’s estimate of construction costs.

MPWMD staff will develop the following plan:

6.) A riparian restoration plan showing species and locations for placement.

All plans would be reviewed by MPWMD for consistency with the CDFG California Salmonid Stream Habitat Restoration Manual and generally-accepted engineering standards.

Habitat Conditions Near the Work Site

The Sleepy Hollow Ford crosses a perennial portion of the Carmel River located in a relatively steep canyon and bedrock controlled reach. The surface substrate is quite coarse and nearby geotechnical investigations show that the subsurface soils are also likely to be very coarse. There has been no supply of sediment from the upper watershed in this reach since about 1920, when San Clemente Dam was under construction. The ford crosses a reach that is a quintessential example of the effect of channel armoring due to dam construction.

Demolition of the ford and construction of abutments is likely to have minimal, temporary impacts on stream values for steelhead. Demolition of the ford would likely involve alternately moving the stream from one side of the river to the other, which will cause some siltation to occur. Flows are expected to be about five to ten cubic feet per second (flow throughout most of the dry season is controlled by release from Los Padres Reservoir). Construction of abutments would similarly cause some siltation to occur. Both activities would require some work in the live stream to set up coffer dams and/or divert stream flow around work areas. However, past experience with other MPWMD–sponsored projects shows that construction effects normally are not noticeable shortly after rains increase river flow.

Some riparian vegetation may need to be removed for access and to construct abutments. However, removal of mature trees (e.g., large sycamores) will be avoided unless there is no other option. MPWMD experience shows that fast-growing willow and alder species are easily replaced within a few years, if removal of some trees for construction is required. Other riparian species are likely to recruit naturally within one or two years.

Although there is a small pool/riffle area immediately downstream of the ford that can support summer rearing, during annual population surveys conducted at multiple sites along the Carmel River each fall, the Sleepy Hollow reach has among the lowest density of juvenile and young-of-the-year fish. MPWMD staff have observed families of up to 25 mergansers perched on the ford during the summer low flow season. It is estimated that fewer than 50 fish would be displaced by work at the ford and there is equally suitable habitat nearby.

This proposal includes removal of the 140-foot long Sleepy Hollow ford and seven culverts across the main stem of the Carmel River at RM 17.5 and replacement with a 180-foot Bailey bridge across the river. A concrete slab with dimensions 80 ft. long by 10-ft. wide and three feet high would be removed. The remainder of the ford, which is compacted gravel, would be removed. A low flow channel providing enhanced fish passage would be created to allow the natural flow of sediment and debris through the reach. Up to 20 cubic yards of spawning gravel would be injected at the site to improve spawning habitat. Disturbed streambank areas would be replanted with native riparian species. A clear-span Bailey bridge would be installed over the river to provide year-round access to the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility.

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES: A significant staff effort has been expended in planning and coordinating the grant proposal for this project.  This current item will be a continuation of that effort.  Staff estimates that the value of District in-kind services for the grant will be approximately $15,000, which is expected to be funded primarily from Mitigation Program User Fees.

EXHIBITS

5-A Sleepy Hollow Ford Removal and Bridge Replacement Project, Carmel River, Monterey County, California, 2010 FRGP, Budget Revision, Revised February 24, 2011.

5-B Sketches and photographs of the Sleepy Hollow Ford site

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