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ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE |
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6. |
CONSIDER APPROVAL FOR GRAnt funding for Hastings Reservation Ford RePLACEMENT ON Finch Creek |
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Meeting Date: |
February 13, 2020 |
Budgeted: |
Yes |
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From: |
David J. Stoldt |
Program/ |
ERD/Fisheries |
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General Manager |
Line Item No.: |
2-3-9 |
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Prepared By: |
Beverly Chaney |
Cost Estimate: |
$100,000 |
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General
Counsel Approval: N/A |
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Committee
Recommendation: The Water Supply Planning Committee reviewed this
item twice: once on March 28, 2019 and a second time on February 5 and
recommended approval. Administrative Committee reviewed this item on February
13, 2020 and recommended _____________. |
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CEQA Compliance: This grant is exempt as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15301(i). Project permitting will be handled by UCB. |
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SUMMARY: 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.
The wet stream crossing (ford) at UC Berkeley’s (UCB)
Hastings Natural History Reservation on Finch Creek was identified as a likely
steelhead barrier with “inadequate passage” and was ranked 6th worst
in the District’s 2014 Steelhead Barrier Assessment Report – part of the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM)
report the District completed in 2014. Removal of this barrier would allow
unrestricted passage to an additional 3.5 miles of quality stream habitat in wet
years. Work to remove other barriers further downstream is currently being
undertaken by Trout Unlimited and their partners. While this site is outside
the District boundary, it is in the Carmel River Watershed and within the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM)
boundary.
The concept of a partnership between the District, UCB/
Hastings Reserve, and the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) to fund the planning,
permitting and construction of a replacement crossing on Finch Creek to improve
steelhead passage was brought before the District’s Water Supply Planning
Committee for discussion in March 2019. Dr.
Jennifer Hunter, Hastings’ Director, gave a presentation and after a discussion
and questions, the Committee gave its support to a District grant to help fund
the project.
By the end of 2019, both UCB and the SCC were ready to move forward with the project.
They need the grant money from the District to stay on-track this spring with
the planning and permitting stage. Construction is planned for fall of 2020
with possible project completion by the end of this year.
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend that the Board of Directors authorize
the General Manager to approve the grant to the Regents of the University of
California, Berkeley campus, for the work related to the replacement of the
Finch Creek Ford at the Hastings Natural History Reservation for a
not-to-exceed amount of $100,000.
IMPACT
TO STAFF/RESOURCES: Funds for
this project are included in the FY 2019-2020 budget under “Aquatic Resources Fisheries”
line item 2-3-9 Ford Removal @ Hastings Reservation”, Account 24-04-785870,
$100,000.
EXHIBIT
6-A Proposal from Regents
University of California, Hastings Reservation, Finch Creek Ford Replacement
Grant Request dated December 19, 2019.
U:\staff\Board_Committees\Admin\2020\20200213\06\Item-6.docx