COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Parks

DATE:

December 23, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 6, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Four-fifths

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

California Department of Park and Recreation Grant Agreement in the Amount of $112,532 for the Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project and Appropriation Transfer Request

RECOMMENDATION:

A)

Adopt a resolution authorizing:

1)

the acceptance of a California Department of Parks and Recreation grant agreement for a two year Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project, in the amount of $112,532; and

2)

the Director of the Department of Parks or his designee to execute all necessary contracts, agreements, amendments and payment requests to implement and carry out the purposes specified in the grant agreement.

B)

Adopt a resolution authorizing a transfer in the amount of $56,266 from State Aid to Fixed Assets to cover FY 2008-09 costs.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

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

Goal 14 and 15: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship and residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.

The project contributes to the preservation of natural resources at Memorial County Park. Garbage control improvements including animal proof bins and cans with associated concrete pads help prevent problems associated with human food waste on corvids, marbled murrelets, and other park wildlife. As a two-year project, funds are also provided for a project manager and seasonal interpretive employees to educate park visitors about proper food storage and impacts upon wildlife from human actions. This educational and maintenance project improves the park and recreational experiences of visitors and campers.

BACKGROUND:

The California Lands Commission worked with County Park staff to develop mutually agreeable projects to use funding from the Command Natural Resource Damage Account (Command Oil Spill) for restoration with a nexus to mitigation of the damage of natural resources by the Command Oil Spill. Through this process, the Corvid Management Project in Big Basin, Butano and Portola State Parks and Memorial County Park was developed.

This is the second two-year grant for the Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project. Work was completed on the first grant on December 31, 2007.

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of the Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project is the protection of the marbled murrelet, a threatened species of seabird that nests on branches of large trees within older coniferous forest in Pacific northwestern coastal areas, such as the trees found in Memorial County Park and other nearby State Parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Final Restoration Plan for the Command Oil Spill dated June 2004 states: “The Marbled Murrelet population in the Santa Cruz Mountains is small, isolated and declining. At present, their rate of reproduction is insufficient to sustain the population.”

Corvids, particularly ravens and jays, are the primary nest predators of marbled murrelets. There is substantial evidence that corvids associate people with food and are attracted to areas where people congregate, such as campgrounds, picnic areas and trails.

Administration of the Command Natural Resource Damage Account is by the California Department of Parks and Recreation through a standard agreement. A resolution from the Board is needed to authorize the County to execute the agreement. Under the agreement and using the grant funding, San Mateo County Parks will provide a project manager, seasonal interpretive employees and garbage control improvements for the Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project at Memorial County Park.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The referenced project will be fully funded by the grant funding of $112,532 for two years, and there will be no negative impact on the County’s net costs. The attached ATR will accept $56,266 (one-half) of the unanticipated revenue and appropriate the accompanying expenditures for year one of the grant (FY 2008-2009). The balance of the grant funds in the amount of $56,266 will be budgeted in year two of the project (FY 2009-2010).