HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06222010 - C.44RECOMMENDATION(S):
SUPPORT H.R. 5061, The San Francisco Bay Improvement Act of 2010, introduced by
Congressmember Jackie Speier, a bill that would provide the Bay Area with access to the
federal resources to improve the water quality in and around the Bay and restore wetlands,
as recommended by Supervisor John Gioia.
AUTHORIZE Chair of the Board to sign a letter requesting that Senator Dianne Feinstein
introduce Senate companion legislation to H.R. 5061.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The San Francisco Bay Improvement Act of 2010 would provide access to the resources
necessary to start making significant strides in improving the health of the Bay.
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2021.
BACKGROUND:
The health of San Francisco Bay is essential to the economic and ecological vitality of the
San Francisco Bay area. Nearly 7.4 million residents of the Bay Area rely on the
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 06/22/2010 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
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
ABSENT:Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Contact: L. DeLaney,
925-335-1097
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: June 22, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: , Deputy
cc:
C. 44
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Supervisor John Gioia
Date:June 22, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:SUPPORT for H.R. 5061 (Speier), The San Francisco Bay Improvement Act of 2010
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Bay for such basic services as sewage treatment and disposal, flood protection,
moderation of climate change, and for commerce. Dozens of wastewater treatment plants
serving over one hundred cities discharge directly into the Bay or its tributaries and rely
on the daily exchange of the tides to mix and dissipate treated wastewater. The Bay’s
marshes and rocky shoreline mitigate the impacts of flooding during storms. Energy
demand throughout the region is relatively modest due in large part to the Bay’s influence
on our microclimate. The Bay serves as a fertile nursery for a multitude of fish and
shellfish, including commercially valuable species such as Dungeness crab and herring.
And last, but certainly not least, the San Francisco Bay is an unsurpassed international
tourist attraction, drawing millions to its shores every year and supporting a vibrant
regional economy.
All of these benefits to society are at risk of being substantially diminished as a result of
the deteriorating ecological condition of San Francisco Bay. It has been listed by the
federal Environmental Protection Agency as an impaired water body, compromised by
pollutants from numerous sources, including mercury, PCBs and dioxin. Ninety-one
percent of its original historical marshes (more than 100,000 acres) have been either
filled or drained, further compromising the Bay’s ability to clean itself, and dramatically
reducing the populations of aquatic species that rely on those marshes during all or part of
their life cycles. Today, these marshes lie desiccated and undeveloped, ready to be
restored relatively quickly and economically. However, water quality improvement
projects and wetland restoration projects have been slow to materialize due to inadequate
funding levels.
The San Francisco Bay Improvement Act of 2010 would provide access to the resources
necessary to start making significant strides in improving the health of the Bay. The Act
is consistent with other large regional watershed programs around the country, such as the
Great Lakes Program, which has delivered significant federal resources focused on
restoring some of our nation’s most important natural resources. (See Attachment for text
of bill.)
Supervisor Gioia testified in support of this bill in April on behalf of local government
before the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure. Senator Feinstein is being requested to introduce a
companion bill in the Senate to H.R. 5061. (See Attached letter.)
ATTACHMENTS
Letter to Senator Feinstein
The Board of Supervisors
County Administration Building
651 Pine Street, Room 106
Martinez, California 94553
John Gioia, 1st District
Gayle B. Uilkema, 2nd District
Mary N. Piepho, 3rd District
Susan A. Bonilla, 4th District
Federal D. Glover, 5th District
June 16, 2010
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Contra
Costa
County
David Twa
Clerk of the Board
and
County Administrator
(925) 335-1900
RE: Senate Companion Legislation to Congresswoman Speier’s Bill, HR 5061
Dear Senator Feinstein:
As the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works moves closer to considering
several important regional watershed authorization bills, I respectfully ask that you introduce
Senate companion legislation to Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s bill, HR 5061, the San
Francisco Bay Improvement Act of 2010 (the “Act”). The Act will provide the Bay Area with
access to the federal resources it needs to improve the water quality in and around the Bay
and to directly restore thousands of acres of Bay Area wetlands, generating multiple benefits to
the ecology and economy of the region. I had the privilege of testifying in April on behalf of
local government in support of HR 5061 before the House Water Resources and Environment
Subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
As you know all too well, the health of San Francisco Bay is essential to the economic and
ecological vitality of the San Francisco Bay area. Nearly 7.4 million residents of the Bay Area
rely on the Bay for such basic services as sewage treatment and disposal, flood protection,
moderation of climate change, and for commerce. Dozens of wastewater treatment plants
serving over one hundred cities discharge directly into the Bay or its tributaries and rely on the
daily exchange of the tides to mix and dissipate treated wastewater. The Bay’s marshes and
rocky shoreline mitigate the impacts of flooding during storms. Energy demand throughout the
region is relatively modest due in large part to the Bay’s influence on our microclimate. The
Bay serves as a fertile nursery for a multitude of fish and shellfish, including commercially
valuable species such as Dungeness crab and herring. And last, but certainly not least, the
San Francisco Bay is an unsurpassed international tourist attraction, drawing millions to its
shores every year and supporting a vibrant regional economy.
All of these benefits to society are at risk of being substantially diminished as a result of the
deteriorating ecological condition of San Francisco Bay. It has been listed by the federal
Environmental Protection Agency as an impaired water body, compromised by pollutants from
numerous sources, including mercury, PCBs and dioxin. Ninety-one percent of its original
historical marshes (more than 100,000 acres) have been either filled or drained, further
Senator Feinstein
June 16, 2010
compromising the Bay’s ability to clean itself, and dramatically reducing the populations of
aquatic species that rely on those marshes during all or part of their life cycles. Today, these
marshes lie desiccated and undeveloped, ready to be restored relatively quickly and
economically. However, water quality improvement projects and wetland restoration projects
have been slow to materialize due to inadequate funding levels.
The San Francisco Bay Improvement Act of 2010 would provide access to the resources
necessary to start making significant strides in improving the health of the Bay. The Act is
consistent with other large regional watershed programs around the country, such as the Great
Lakes Program, which has delivered significant federal resources focused on restoring some
of our Nation’s most important natural resources.
Creating a San Francisco Bay restoration program will rightfully raise this treasure to the same
level of national significance and will help to improve water quality and increase fresh-water
inflow to the Bay, its tributaries, and surrounding wetlands. These improvements will result in
significant benefits to aquatic life, endangered species, migratory and resident bird species,
and to the millions of people who live and recreate in and around the Bay.
For all of these reasons, I ask for you to introduce a Senate companion bill to Congresswoman
Speier’s House bill that authorizes and provides access to financial support for a Bay Area-
wide program of restoration and innovative watershed management strategies to revitalize the
Bay and surrounding watershed lands.
I would like to thank you for your all your strong and longstanding support through the
appropriations to the San Francisco Bay and for all your service to Contra Costa County and
the state of California. Thank you for your serious consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
JOHN GIOIA
Chair, Board of Supervisors
cc: Cpntra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Paul Schlesinger, Alcalde and Fay
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