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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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Department of Parks
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DATE:
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April 28, 2008
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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May 20, 2008
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks
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SUBJECT:
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Acceptance of a $250,000 Grant from the California Department of Fish and Game for the Pescadero Creek Riparian Habitat Improvement Project
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution 1) authorizing the County of San Mateo to accept a California Department of Fish and Game grant award in the amount of $250,000 for the Pescadero Creek Riparian Habitat Improvement Project; and 2) authorizing the Director of the Department of Parks or his designee to execute in the name of the County of San Mateo all necessary applications, contracts, agreements, amendments and payment requests hereto for the purposes specified in the grant application.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.
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Goals 14 and 15: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.
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The project contributes to the stated commitment and goals as it entails removing a seasonal diversion dam, stairway and retaining wall to enhance threatened steelhead and endangered coho habitat and migration along the reaches of Pescadero Creek, reduce reliance on diversions from Pescadero Creek and supplement groundwater as Memorial Park’s drinking water source for park visitors.
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BACKGROUND:
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Pescadero Creek has one of the largest watersheds in Central California with over 95 miles of blue line streams supporting federally listed fish species. It is one of three creeks south of San Francisco Bay that still has viable steelhead trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) populations. Due to former and current land uses, salmonid habitat within Pescadero Creek has been degraded. Water quality, hydrology, excessive sediment, and barriers have significantly reduced spawning and rearing habitats. Sedimentation behind dam structures further impairs bed conditions, contributes to higher water temperatures, and reduces creek characteristics that support juvenile fish.
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Every Memorial County Park recreational amenity provided for park visitors depends on the availability of year-round drinking water. Visitors that hike, horseback ride, picnic or camp on a one day basis or for a longer period of time require a plentiful fresh source of water for drinking, cooking and bathing. San Mateo County has water rights for the use of water from Pescadero Creek. Aside from water diversion from Pescadero Creek and well projects, the Parks does not have another alternative water source for Park visitors.
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The project will improve access to approximately 62.3 miles of spawning habitat for adult salmonids and rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids by removing a water diversion dam that serves as a fish barrier. It will also reduce reliance on diversions from Pescadero Creek by supplementing ground water as an additional drinking water source for the Park.
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DISCUSSION:
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The project will improve fish passage for steelhead in Pescadero Creek as it will eliminate problems that are negatively impacting coho and steelhead habitat in Memorial County Park along reaches of Pescadero Creek, educate Park visitors about this fishes natural lifecycle as well as maintain the Park’s water rights that provide drinking water to Park visitors that use the campgrounds, trails, picnic areas and other park amenities.
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The design and planning phase of the project includes the development of a full set of construction documents, specifications and permits. The implementation phase of the project includes removal of all remaining human-made structures in the creek to improve sediment flow through this reach of Pescadero Creek, resulting in additional spawning and rearing habitat as well as removing migration and emigration barriers. In addition, implementation of a drinking water well adjacent to the existing water treatment facility will help maintain the Park’s right in addition to reducing the costs of treatment inherent with utilizing surface water as a drinking source. Interpretive signs will educate park visitors about efforts to preserve and enhance coho and steelhead habitat.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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This Department of Fish and Game grant of $250,000 will be matched with other state or federal grants to fully fund the project. There will be no impact on the County General Fund.
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