COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

October 3, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 18, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Acceptance of Grant Award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in a Maximum Amount of $146,900 for the Replacement of the Failing Culvert on McGarvey Gulch in Huddart Park and Authorization of Execution of a Grant Contract

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution accepting a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in the maximum amount of $146,900 and authorizing execution of a grant contract with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goal 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship.

The grant funds contribute to this goal through the replacement of a failing culvert, which will improve steelhead migration and spawning conditions in McGarvey Gulch, reduce seasonal flooding and provide improved access for fire and other vehicles to the Phleger Estate. The project also includes a public education component.

BACKGROUND:

As part of the permit requirements for mitigation to offset impacts to salmonids and their habitats associated with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span Seismic Safety Project, the California Department of Transportation provided $3,500,000 on or about August 17, 2004 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for the establishment of the San Francisco Bay Salmonid Habitat Restoration Fund (SF Bay Salmon Fund).

The San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation (Foundation), as part of their contract with the County, submitted a grant proposal to NFWF requesting $365,856 for the replacement of the West Union Creek bridge and a failing culvert in McGarvey Gulch, both located in Huddart Park.

DISCUSSION:

Of the $365,856 applied for by the County, NFWF has only awarded a maximum amount of $146,900 for the replacement of the McGarvey Gulch culvert. The grant will provide the funds needed to complete the culvert replacement project.

This project will improve steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) migration and spawning conditions in McGarvey Gulch, a tributary to West Union Creek and San Francisquito Creek through the replacement of the Richards Road Trail culvert with a stream-simulated design using a pipe arch culvert.

NFWF is now prepared to award the grant and requires the County’s approval of the contract documents. County Counsel has reviewed the contract documents as to form and content.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The McGarvey Gulch culvert replacement project will be entirely funded by the NFWF grant funds and has been budgeted in the Parks Acquisition, Conservation and Development Fund. There is no Net County Cost associated with the project.