COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

March 13, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 26, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Urban Streams Restoration Grant - Alpine Road, Los Trancos Woods Area

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution endorsing the Department of Public Works' application for an Urban Streams Restoration Grant to reduce sedimentation into Corte Madera Creek from the closed portion of Alpine Road, conditionally accepting the grant if offered, and designating the contract manager and fiscal agent.

Previous Board Action

1.

Authorized the joint application of a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) with the 20 cities in the County, which commits the County and the cities to reduce the pollutant loads in stormwater runoff.

2.

Adopted a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works to execute a similar agreement with the State of California, Department of Fish and Game for a Fishery Restoration Grant for the Rehabilitation of Upper Gazos Creek Road and other associated work to reduce sediment entering Gazos Creek.

Key Facts

1.

The rehabilitation of a portion of the unpaved section of Alpine Road is proposed to reduce pollutant loads in Corte Madera Creek, a tributary to San Francisquito Creek, in keeping with the County's NPDES permit.

2.

The State of California Department of Water Resources, in order to consider the project for funding, requires a resolution endorsing the application, conditionally accepting the grant if offered, and designating the contract manager and fiscal agent.

Discussion

San Francisquito Creek has been listed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board as "sediment impaired." The County, via the Department of Public Works, the Flood Control District and the Environmental Services Agency, are actively involved with a number of efforts to address the sediment impairment, flooding and steelhead trout habitat issues involving San Francisquito Creek and its tributaries.

A portion of Alpine Road parallels Corte Madera Creek and serves in part as a recreational trail through the Coal Creek Open Space Preserve. The Preserve is owned and managed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Trust. The road became impassable for vehicle traffic prior to 1990 because of a landslide, and there has not been an impetus to reopen the road due to its condition and the concern that motorists could increase the possibility of fires in this relatively isolated area. Erosion of the landslide face, scarp and debris continues to occur that results in relatively heavy sediment loads entering Corte Madera Creek. The unpaved road leading to the landslide may also be contributing sediment to the creek.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) issued a request for proposals for urban streams restoration projects in early 2002. We submitted a proposal entitled "Alpine Road Rehabilitation and Biotechnical Stabilization," which was conditionally accepted by the DWR pending adoption of the resolution endorsing the application. The proposed road rehabilitation work involves recontouring or grading the road to create an out-sloped drainage pattern. This pattern reduces the concentration of storm flows by sloping the road in the direction of the terrain to allow sheet flow of storm water; and the regrading will eliminate the majority of the inboard or uphill ditches. Roadside earthen berms and roadside culverts, which increase the sediment potential to the Creek, will also be removed; and other culverts will be replaced as necessary. The proposed biotechnical stabilization work involves the installation of vegetative structures (brush boxes, brush mattresses, live pole drains, and other suitable structures) near the toe of the landslide to capture sediments before they reach Corte Madera Creek. The proposal also includes revegetation of the landslide itself with drought tolerant native species.

DWR requires that a public agency have a community group designated as "cosponsor" to ensure a collaborative approach to funded projects. The San Francisquito Watershed Council, a non-profit community group representing the diverse interests in the watershed, signed the grant proposal as cosponsor, and has written a letter of support for the project to the DWR. The Executive Director of the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority also indicated support for the project.

We believe that the proposed project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as it will not involve work in the bed or banks of any stream. However, the project may require a Section 1601 Agreement with the Department of Fish and Game. We will also apply for a Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements from the Regional Water Quality Control Board once the plans for the work have been completed.

We are recommending that the Director of Public Works be authorized to sign the contract with the DWR for administration of the grant funds, if awarded, and to serve as Project Manager and Fiscal Agent to expedite the grant and grant payments.

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with Goal Number 14, "Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship," of the Shared Vision Commitment to "Preserve and Provide People Access to our Natural Environment" as the proposed project is expected to result in improved water quality in the San Francisquito watershed.

Fiscal Impact

The estimated cost of the Alpine Road Rehabilitation and Biotechnical Stabilization project is $322,000. The total amount requested in the Urban Streams Restoration Grant proposal is $264,400. The difference, $57,600, is proposed as the County's "in kind" contribution, or cost share. We will propose a budget item in the 2002-03 Road Fund Budget to finance the work if the grant is awarded.

There is no impact to the General Fund.

A form of resolution has been approved by County Counsel.