HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02232010 - C.14RECOMMENDATION(S):
Approve the Statements of Understanding from the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), an informal and non-binding document that outlines the development of a
Steelhead Recovery Plan, and authorize the Chief Engineer of the County Flood Control
and Water Conservation District to execute the Statements of Understanding.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None to the County General Fund. Some Flood Control District staff time will be involved
in providing information to NMFS. The cost of District staff time will be offset by the
benefits of being a partner in developing the Steelhead Recovery Plan.
BACKGROUND:
NMFS has the legal responsibility to develop Recovery Plans for certain endangered and
threatened species. NMFS is developing a Recovery Plan for Steelhead in the Bay Area to
improve habitat and remove migration barriers to help the species recover. Traditionally,
NMFS developed Recovery Plans exclusively with Service staff and then submitted the plan
for public comment. The approach that NMFS is taking with this Recovery Plan is to be
more inclusive and invite local
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 02/23/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Mitch Avalon
313-2203
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 23, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy
cc: David Twa, Sharon Anderson, Mitch Avalon, Greg Connaughton, Cece Sellgren, Leigh Chavez, John Kopchik, Roberta Goulart
C.14
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Julia R. Bueren, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:February 23, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Approve the Statement of Understanding from the National Marine Fisheries Service/Authorize the Chief
Engineer of the Flood Control District to sign
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
agencies to participate in developing the plan. Agency participation, generally, is
providing local information to NMFS and providing information on agency projects
within the recovery area.
In order to participate in developing the plan, local agencies must sign NMFS’s
Statements of Understanding (SOU). Several Bay Area agencies have already signed onto
the SOU. One advantage for local agencies is the Recovery Plan will have input from the
partner local agency on their projects within the recovery area. This will allow for better
competition for project grants later on when the local agency can point to the Recovery
Plan and indicate their projects are consistent with the Recovery Plan. Recovery Plans are
not regulatory in nature, however, other State regulators often develop mitigation based
upon the Recovery Plans in the project area. Participating in developing the plan and
providing a local perspective on our operational needs, constraints and challenges,
therefore, would help the County in mitigation requirements being more practicable and
realistic for our projects.
The Recovery Plan and SOU were discussed at the last Bay Area Flood Protection
Agencies Association (BAFPAA) meeting. BAFPAA members all supported the SOU
and several counties are currently processing approval through their Board of
Supervisors/Directors.
Staff recommends the Board approve the SOU and authorize the Chief Engineer to
execute it. A copy of the SOU is attached.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County would not be able to participate in developing the Bay Area Steelhead
Recovery Plan, which would not include County projects and likely result in more costly
project mitigation and more difficulty in acquiring grant funds.
ATTACHMENTS
SOU