|
ITEM: |
ACTION ITEM |
||||
|
|
|||||
|
15. |
CONSIDER extension of time for district grant for removal of concrete ford on finch creek located on hastings reserve |
||||
|
|
|||||
|
Meeting Date: |
November 15, 2021 |
Budgeted: |
Yes |
||
|
|
|||||
|
From: |
David J. Stoldt, |
Program/ |
ERD/Fisheries |
||
|
|
General Manager |
Line Item
No.: |
2-3-9 |
||
|
|
|||||
|
Prepared By: |
David J. Stoldt |
Cost Estimate: |
N/A |
||
|
|
|||||
|
General
Counsel Approval: N/A |
|||||
|
Committee
Recommendation: N/A |
|||||
|
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378. |
|||||
SUMMARY: At its March 16, 2020 meeting the District
Board approved $100,000 of grant funding for removal of the wet stream crossing
(ford) at UC Berkeley’s (UCB) Hastings Natural History Reservation on Finch
Creek which had been identified as the 6th worst steelhead barrier
in the District’s 2014 Steelhead Barrier Assessment Report, which was funded
through a District IRWM grant. Removal of this barrier would allow unrestricted
passage to an additional 3.5 miles of quality stream habitat in wet years. Finch Creek, in upper Carmel Valley, is the
primary tributary to Cachagua Creek, and is potentially one of the most
productive, highest habitat value creeks downstream of Los Padres Dam. In
normal and above water years, much of Finch Creek remains wetted, allowing
steelhead to survive the summer and contribute to the overall success of the
Carmel River watershed’s steelhead population.
UCB has been working with Waterways Consulting and
the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County. They have completed 65%
plans, the geotechnical investigation and are hard at work applying for CDFW,
Army Corp, and CA Water Board permits for the construction phase of the
project. They have received preliminary approval from the State Coastal
Conservancy, pending board support, to fund the construction costs (~$800k),
with the hope to be under construction in summer 2022.
The District agreed to let UCB use any of the grant
funds remaining after the design phase toward construction. At this stage there
is $9,964.32 in unobligated funds. However, the grant is set to end on December
31, 2021, and UCB has requested an extension to use these remaining funds (see Exhibit
15-A). UCB has asked to extend the grant for
2 more years, until December 31, 2023. UCB is hopeful that this project will be
completed next year, but it's possible that delays due to permitting approvals,
weather or supplies may push construction out until summer 2023.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the extension of the District’s grant
to UCB until December 31, 2023.
EXHIBIT
15-A Letter from UCB dated October 20, 2021
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2021\20211115\Action
Items\15\Item-15.docx