35. See Fisheries Update and Future Action

August 15, 2000 BOS Agenda notes
by the Board Watcher

This report is on specific issues only. To read the complete official agenda, check the official county web site:

http://www.sonoma-county.org/perl/frame.cgi

Board Watcher's Report:

REGULAR CALENDAR
III. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT

32. Implementation Program for Acquisition Plan 2000 Discussion and approval of the Program recommended by staff.

[BW Comment:There is a lot of information on the county web site, but I couldn't find anything as specific as the staff report. But first the web site:
http://www.openspaceplan.org/plan/ ]

Staff Report:
*Initial Implementation Program*
During FY 00/01 staff will focus on willing sellers and projects in the following areas:

Ag Category
    Coastal Ag
    Two Rock
    Chileno Valley

Natural Resources Category
     Laguna de Santa Rosa
     Sonoma Creek watershed
     Mark West Creek watershed
     Mayacamas Mountains

Greenbelts Category
     Napa/Sonoma Mountains
     Taylor/Sonoma Mountain
     Santa Rosa/Rohnert Park
     Sonoma Valley
     Cloverdale

Recreation Category
     Taylor Mountain
     Sonoma Mountain
     Sonoma Coast
     Russian River
     Valley of the Moon

Marketing Focus Areas
*identifying key partners to facilitate outreach *use district newsletter as marketing tool *advisory committee assistance in marketing and outreach *direct mailings

Specific marketing techniques identified for each category.

The following are possible projects in the initial phase: * = focus area

Agriculture Greenbelt
     *Arrowhead Atchison
     *Azevedo *Cook
     *Bianchi *Balletto II
     *Roblar Ranch Gambonini North
     Riebli
     *Glen Oaks
     Scott *Grossi
     *Tresch Ranch
     *Hackenburg
     *Tunzi Hamfler
     *Hudson
     Lane Ranch
     *Morelli
     *Poncia
     *St. Francis II

Natural Resources Recreation
     *Altenburg *Barkela
     *Balletto II
     *Carrington
     Brumm
     *Chanslor Ranch
     Camp Gualala
     *Hamilton
     *Cresta
     *SDC - Area 3
     Cooley
     *SDC - Area 4
     *Desmond Shurtleff
     Dewar/Turner
     *Sunset Beach
     Fischer
     *Indian Valley
     *McCullough
     *Modini Ranch
     R Ranch
     *Santa Maria
     *Todd Ranch
     *T-T Vineyards
     Van Hoosear

END Staff Report


SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY
34. Fisheries Enhancement Program
Resolution approving Work Plan for 00/01 Program including Grants totaling $165,123.

Authorize General Manager/Chief Engineer to execute cooperative agreements with public and private agencies up to $30,000 and purchase materials and supplies as necessary to carry out work plan.

Staff Report: Background

Purpose of FEP:
1) work cooperatively and in conjunction with other agencies to preserve, enhance and restore aquatic habitats and resources;

2) develop research programs to study the fisheries within affected watersheds;

3) assist the Environmental Compliance Section of the Agency in the assessment of impacts, writing environmental documents and permit compliance for Agency projects.

Work plans have been submitted annually since 1996. In January 2000 the RFP was submitted to over 115 organizations. 20 proposals were received.

Fisheries Enhancement Programs + Grant Amounts 2000-2001

*Palmer Creek Road Sediment Reduction, $23,000 Implement erosion control, storm proofing at 27 sites along 2.5 miles of Palmer Creek Road. Problems were identified in '97. Project will reshape, grade and curve run-off ditches in the roadway and resurface with blue shale. Culvert repair and placement, construction of rolling dips to enhance road drainage, improvement of road inslope and outslope, elimination of grader berms, improvement of inboard ditch and construction of stilling basins at culvert outfalls. Streams: Palmer and Mill Creeks
Construction will take place in summer and fall of 2000. '97-'98 grant funded similar improvements. Sotoyome RCD and Palmer Creek Fire District obtained $77,200 on the remaining 2.5 miles of road.

*Gold Ridge Stewardship Program, $8,842 w/ Gold Ridge RCD obtaining $7,400 for this project. Agency will provide $8,842 Promote implementation of watershed groups for community members through education, outreach and ID of priority watershed issues. Streams: Green Valley, Dutch Bill, Willow, Laguna de Santa Rosa Watersheds. Timetable: Aug 2000 - April 2001.

*Gold Ridge Creek Clean-ups, $5,445 provided by Agency, with Gold Ridge RCD
Purpose: Minimize pollution and obstructions to fish, improve creek aesthetics and distribution of educational materials. Clean-ups in Green Valley and Dutch Bill Creeks watersheds with local watershed groups, schools, other groups and agencies. Distribute educational materials to landowners. Gold Ridge RCD has obtained $3,850 in matching and in-kind funds.

Russian River Clean-up, $8,500 provided by Agency. Funded by the Sequoia Paddling Club for 11 years, the club decided to make this a stand alone organization. 300 volunteers from Cloverdale to Jenner, 53 miles, July through October.

Lytton Creek Riparian Restoration and Education Project; $27,936 provided by Agency.
Cooperating entities: Circuit Riders and Clos du Bois. Restoration of riparian habitat and environmental educational program for high school students. Will restore a minimum of 15 acres along a salmonid tributary to the Russian River. Will incorporate students, landowners, the community in planning, design, implementation and monitoring of the project. August 2000 - June 2001. Circuit Riders has obtained $30,096 in matching and in-kind funds.

Mumford Dam Fish Passage and Riparian Restoration, $60,000 Simon Partnership, landowner is a cooperating agency. Purpose is to improve fish passage over the dam, 60' wide and 8' high near Redwood Valley. Dam is used to divert flows for vineyard irrigation and frost protection. Located in West Branch of Russian River. Agency will work with Simon Partnership for this important project.

Green Valley Creek Restoration, Site 1, $1,465 provided by Agency. Cooperating Entity: Dragonfly Stream Enhancement obtained $4,759 in matching and in-kind funds for implementation of the project. Purpose: Increase the amount of pool habitat in Green Valley Creek. This is one of the few Russian River tributaries to contain a small population of coho.

[BW Comment: However, they crashed in '99. Maybe they'll come back in 2000. Covered at Section 7 Conference in Ukiah, Entrix Study, 5/19]

DFG stream surveys found that Green Valley Creek lacks pool habitat and cover. The project will address this through installation of large woody debris habitat structures.

Green Valley Creek Restoration, Site 2, $1,610: Agency will provide. Dragonfly Stream Enhancement $5,896 in kind and matching funds Purpose: Reduce input of fine sediment into Green Valley Creek; improve spawning and rearing habitat. Project will repair '30 feet of eroding stream banks with rocks and biotechnical structures. August '00 - September '01.

Green Valley Creek Restoration, Site 3, Cost $6,053 Agency provides. Dragonfly Stream; increase pool habitat by installing 9 habitat structures including large woody debris structures and vortex weirs. Dragonfly will provide $17,029 in matching in-kind funds.

Green Valley Creek Restoration, Site 4, $l,370 provided by Agency. Reduce input of fine sediment into Green Valley Creek. Dragonfly obtained $1,500 in matching and in-kind funds.

Green Valley Creek Restoration, Site 5, $2,280 Reduce input of fine sediment into creek. Repair an eroding streambank by recontouring the bank; stabilize with rocks and biotechnical structures and native plants. Agency costs: $2,280. Dragonfly obtained $10,285 in matching and in-kind funds.

Hood Mountain Fish Passage, $7,685 Agency Purpose: facilitate fish passage of a rural road stream crossing. Santa Rosa and Millington Creeks. Project will construct a series of rock weirs. Dutch Bill Creek Restoration $1,192 Increase pools and cover habitat. Dragonfly has gotten $10,573 matching and in-kind funds.

Maacama Creek Instream Habitat Enhancement: $2,450 provided by Agency. Increase pools and cover habitat. Installation of woody debris. Dragonfly provides $2,550 in matching and in-kind funds.

Contingency Fund, $5,000
Total $165,123

Cooperating Agency: Schools, Neighborhood Associations and non-profit groups.

Purpose: This project will provide a source of expertise and materials for smaller projects not included in 00-01 FEP.

Examples of Projects: Russian River Watershed Restoration. Agency would provide assistance and will administer the fund, technical expertise or help with coordination. Habitat and restoration materials provided by Agency.

Cost: $5,000 for 1 year period.
Status: ongoing project.
[There is more to the staff report. A large number of other projects are listed. This handout is entitled, *Fisheries Enhancement Program Plan for July 2000-June 2001.* You can find it behind Item 35 in the Regular Calendar Notebook. Then you can request a copy if interested.]

SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY
10:00 [BW Comment: this usually indicates a hearing, but nothing is said about a hearing.]

35. Fisheries Activities Update and Request for Future Direction Approve Agency assistance to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), CA Dept. of Fish and Game (DFG) and other public agencies in 1) preparing Recovery Plans for 3 listed species encompassing Sonoma County and portions of Marin and Mendocino counties and 2) investigating the feasibility of developing a conservation -based hatchery program

Authorize General Manager to negotiate the following contracts and amendments (for later board approval) relating to Recovery Plans and investigation of the feasibility of developing a conservation- based hatchery program.

(1) Amendment of existing MOU with US Army Corps and NMFS to include assistance in developing and implementing Recovery Plans

(2) Amendment of existing agreement with NCRWQCB for integration of Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act issues to provide oversight for preparation of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Klamath Resource Information System (KRIS) data for the Recovery Plan area

(3) Agreements with consultants to develop GIS and KRIS data for the Recovery Plan area

(4) Amendment of existing agreements with Entrix, Inc. and/or negotiate agreements with other consultants to provide information, data, and technical support for the Recovery Plans and conservation-based hatchery program feasibility investigation

Authorize General Manager to request funding and in-kind support from local public entities in Marin and Mendocino counties to assist in fisheries conservation and recovery planning efforts

Explanation: Will return to board for approval of costs for individual agreements or agreement amendments. Range of costs for work over next 3 to 4 years is estimated to total $1 to $3 million.

[BW Comment: There is a lot of background information on this issue, but I don't have time to read it. Maybe I can include it in the BOS NOTES. I notice the use of the word "conservation" a lot and more studies.]

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