COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

June 18, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 9, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Amendment of an Agreement - Biological Oversight and Monitoring - Colma Creek Flood Control Project

Recommendation

Acting as the Governing Board of the San Mateo County Flood Control District, adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an amendment to the agreement with EIP Associates for Biological Oversight Services in conjunction with wetland mitigation for the Colma Creek Flood Control Project.

Previous Board Action

Adopted an overall flood control project for Colma Creek which extends from the mouth of the Creek to approximately "A" Street in Colma.

Certified a Mitigated Negative Declaration for improvements in the lower reaches of Colma Creek (Project).

Retained EIP Associates to prepare a conceptual and final mitigation plan that had to be submitted with permit applications to the various regulatory agencies for the Project.

Key Facts

EIP was hired through a RFP process to prepare a Section 404 Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Delineation for the Colma Creek Flood Control Project Study Area together with conceptual and final mitigation plans which were submitted with the Project's regulatory agency permit applications.

Replacement of existing wetlands, biological oversight and monitoring is a required condition of the permits that we received for the Project.

EIP is qualified to do the biological monitoring and oversight and has submitted a proposal to do the work to satisfy the regulatory conditions of the permits.

Discussion

Permit applications and mitigation plans submitted to the regulatory agencies in conjunction with the Project have been reviewed and approved conditioned on the replacement wetlands being established in the lower reaches of the Creek to replace wetland areas that will need to be removed to construct the flood control facilities. In addition the following conditions are also required:

·

Surveys to determine the presence of specific endangered species prior to construction of both the replacement wetland and flood control improvements.

·

Biological oversight during grading and planting of the replacement wetland.

·

Biological observation for the presence of nesting Clapper Rails while the replacement wetland is under construction.

·

A five-year maintenance, monitoring and reporting period on the progress and success of the completed replacement wetland.

EIP's proposal for amending the agreement will provide the services necessary to meet the biological oversight and monitoring permit conditions.

Vision Alignment

We believe out recommendation is consistent with the Shared Commitment to "preserve and provide people access to our natural environment" and Goal Number 14 "important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship" as the proposed agreement will allow us to move forward with the flood control facilities to protect property in the Colma Creek Watershed while recreating areas of saltwater wetlands and native vegetation along Colma Creek and San Francisco Bay.

Fiscal Impact

The "not to exceed" cost of the proposed biological monitoring and oversight is $45,000. The cost of constructing the replacement wetland is estimated at $250,000 and the cost the flood control improvements that necessitate the replacement wetland is estimated at $15,000,000. Constructing the replacement wetland the flood control improvements will be the subject of separate reports to your Board.

The cost of all the associated Project work is proposed to be financed from funds of the Colma Creek Flood Control Zone. There is no impact on the General Fund

A form of resolution and agreement has been approved by County Counsel and the consultant has executed the agreement.