HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04122011 - C.15RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Chief Engineer, Flood Control and Water Conservation
District, or designee, to apply to the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for ecosystem
restoration of Rheem and Rodeo Creeks under Section 1135 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986, as amended, North Richmond and Rodeo areas. (75% Federal
Funds and 25% Flood Control District Funds)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost will be approximately $1000 per year for staff time to monitor the Corps’
processing of the request for 1135 Program assistance. Funded by Drainage Area 127
(Rheem Creek) and Flood Control Zone 8 (Rodeo Creek). Federal funding covers 100% of
the first $100,000 of federal project costs to perform a reconnaissance-level study of each
creek. Upon Corps’ determination that the projects are feasible, the Contra Costa County
Flood Control and Water Conservation District (FC District) will be required to enter into a
cost sharing agreement with the Corps. The 1135 program requires local cost sharing of
50% of the feasibility study cost after the first $100,000 in federal expenditures and 25% of
the project implementation costs if a feasible plan
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 04/12/2011 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
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Paul R. Detjens (925)
313-2394
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: April 12, 2011
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Carrie Del Bonta, Deputy
cc: R.M. Avalon, Deputy Chief Engineer, P. Detjens, Flood Control, C. Windham, Flood Control
C.15
To:Contra Costa County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors
From:Julia R. Bueren, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:April 12, 2011
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Application for US Army Corps of Engineers assistance for ecosystem restoration of Rheem and Rodeo
Creeks. Project No. 7563-6D8237 and No. 7530-6D8238
FISCAL IMPACT: (CONT'D)
is identified. The 1135 program is capped at $5,000,000 (planning and implementation) for
each project. The maximum FC District share would be approximately $1,600,000 for each
project, and the FC District would seek state grants to partially cover the local share of the
project.
BACKGROUND:
The Corps has assisted many local entities like the FC District in channelizing creeks to
provide enhanced levels of flood protection. These systems have performed their flood
protection function admirably, but typically have severely degraded habitat values.
Recognizing this, the federal government (in Section 1135 of the 1986 Water Resources
Development Act) created an ecosystem restoration program for the Corps to restore habitat
values to creeks previously impacted by Corps channelization projects. The FC District has
previously partnered with the Corps under this Section 1135 ecosystem restoration program
on Wildcat and Pinole Creeks, and those projects are currently in the planning phase.
Two additional Corps-constructed creek channels in western Contra Costa County could
benefit from participation in this program: Rheem Creek and Rodeo Creek. Both were
constructed in the early 1960s and are stark, straight channels with poor quality habitat.
Rheem Creek passes through the Bruener Marsh, which was recently acquired by the East
Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). Ecosystem restoration in this portion of Rheem Creek
should be very compatible with EBRPD’s parks plans.
Rodeo Creek flows through downtown Rodeo and is a combination of earthen trapezoidal
channel and concrete channel. Improving wildlife habitat values in Rodeo Creek was
identified as a priority by community members in the recently completed Rodeo Creek
Watershed Vision Plan.
Both of these projects need to go through a significant planning process by the Corps to
better determine the feasibility of ecosystem restoration in these creeks. The first $100,000
of this process determines this feasibility and is 100% federally funded. If a project is found
to be feasible, then the FC District and the community would need to identify the local cost
share to implement the study and build the project.
Federal funding availability is based on the adopted Federal budget at the time a Federal
Cost Share Agreement is signed.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Corps of Engineers will not study nor implement ecosystem restoration projects on
Rodeo or Rheem Creeks.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable.