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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 10141997 - C61 L_•�. Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS costa County FROM: FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE x ++++ DATE: OCTOBER 14, 1997 �osT--------- SUBJECT: - --SUBJECT: LETTER TO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON GRAZING PRACTICES ON THE UPLANDS SURROUNDING THE SHELL MARSH IN THE MARTINEZ AREA SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPT report from the Fish and Wildlife Committee; and AUTHORIZE the Chair to send a letter to the East Bay Regional Park District recommending that they discontinue year-round grazing on the uplands surrounding the Shell Marsh in the Martinez Area to reduce negative impacts on waterfowl nesting. FISCAL IMPACT None. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The Shell Marsh is a wetland located in the Martinez area just east of Interstate 680 near the Marina Vista exit. Both the marsh and the uplands which surround it were purchased with settlement funds from the Shell Oil following a spill in the marsh, and both are now owned by the East Bay Regional Park District. The Fish and Wildlife Committee has addressed grazing and other issues related to Shell Marsh at a number of recent meetings, and discussed specific grazing practices on the Shell Marsh uplands with a representative of the East Bay Regional Park District. The Fish and Wildlife Committee is concerned that the grazing practices in this area CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: 4" CA ' COq-For (nomas K. Studley, Chair �Ish and Wildlife Committee _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR — RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE _ OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON Oatober 14, 1997ApPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT - TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: John Kopchik, CDD (335-1227) ATTESTED Cl_tober 14, 1997 Orig: Community Development Department PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF cc: CAO, attn: Claude Van Marter THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Clerk of the Board, attn: Maddy Book /AND �COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY DEPUTY h:\jkopc\john-old\f&wboshl.grz PALM TRACT MITIGATION PROJECT October 14, 1997 Page 2 may interfere with the nesting of waterbirds that are attracted by Shell Marsh. The Fish and Wildlife Committee understands that grazing can, in some instances, be a valuable tool for controlling fire risk and weedy species, and it recognizes that the District has improved resource values by excluding cattle from the majority of the wetlands (the entire area was grazed previously), and it but argues that the Shell Marsh uplands have a unique biological function which is impaired by year-round grazing. These uplands complement the function of the adjacent marsh by providing nesting habitat for the birds which use the wetland (presumably, this was the justification for using funds from the Shell oil spill settlement to purchase the uplands along with the marsh itself), a function that is diminished when the activity of cattle and shorter grass disrupt or prevent waterfowl nesting. The East Bay Regional Park District contends that regulations of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District force it to manage the uplands to reduce fire risk, and the District believes grazing is the best option for doing so. The District further contends that grazing is a valuable tool to increase plant diversity and control weeds which reflects their goal to maximize the resource value of the area for all species. The Fish and Wildlife Committee understand the District's argument, but generally have a different view of the matter. The Committee Chair, as well as Community Development Department staff, believe that further consideration of this matter is needed to determine the management practices which best protect resource values and fulfill fire mitigation requirements. A majority of the members (the vote was five in favor, one opposed) conclude that the uplands are a unique resource, that current grazing practices run counter to protecting or enhancing these defining characteristics of the area, and that the property can be managed in a way which better protects the critical resource values of the uplands (in association with the wetlands), perhaps by discing fire breaks and limiting grazing to a period from July to December to minimize interference with ground nesting of wetland species, which may nest anywhere in the uplands. h:\jkopc\john-old\f&wboshl.grz h:\\cdadpool\jkopc\f&wboshl.grz CONSIDER WITH - Contra Costa County Community Development Department Date: October 13, 1997 To: Suzanne Strisower, Supervisor Uilkema's Office From: Kopchik, Community Development Department Re: Clarification on an October 14 Board Order from the Fish and Wildlife Committee re: grazing on the Shell Marsh uplands(agenda item C.61) As you may recall,we spoke last week about an October 14 Board Order from the Fish and Wildlife Committee which pertains to District H. The Board Order recommends that a letter be sent to the East Bay Regional Park District regarding grazing practices on the uplands surrounding Shell Marsh in the Martinez area. This memo is in response to your request that I clarify the staff view of this matter which is mentioned in the Board Order. I do not think the discrepancy between the staff view and the position endorsed by a 5 to 1 majority of the Fish and Wildlife Committee is substantial. My concern is that, in order to meet Fire Commission standards for controlling fire risk in the absence of year-round grazing, the amount of fire-break discing that will be required may be significant and may diminish the benefits obtained by curtailing grazing. I think the letter could better reflect this uncertainty. The Committee does not agree, and their position is, I believe, accurately described in the Board Order. This is not a major concern, and it should not dissuade the Board from sending the letter. If the Board thinks it appropriate and worth the effort, it could slightly modify the letter to reflect (somewhat)the uncertainty about discing by rewriting the first sentence in the third paragraph of the letter as follows: "The Board of Supervisors concurs in general with the Fish and Wildlife Committee regarding the need to minimize grazing,near Shell Marsh, and requests that the District consider other alternatives for managing and protecting the resources of this important area." I hope this is information responds to your request. Please call me at 335-1227 if you have any questions. cc: Members,Board of Supervisors(via facsimile) Clerk of the Board H:\\j kopc\john-o1d\f&wshe1J.upd 1 The Board of Supervisors Contra Cier'of 0*tBoaW and County Administration BuildingCOSta CountyAdnntstndor 651 Pine Street, Room 106 (510)335-1900 Martinez,California 94553-1293 County Arn Rogwa,1st District aE L Go*B.Monte,2nd District - Donna Garber,3rd District Mark DeSsulnier,4th District Joe CandmMUs.5th District 9,y, ems.• _. `40 Sr'q COl)T�� October 14, 1997 Mr. Pat O'Brien, General Manager East Bay Regional Parks District 2950 Peralta Oaks Court P.O. Box 5381 Oakland, CA 94605-0381 Re: Shell Marsh Dear Mr. O'Brien: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has authorized this letter to convey its concern with the management of the uplands surrounding the Shell Marsh in Martinez, a property which, as you know, is now owned by the East Bay Regional Park District. The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee, a committee appointed by the Board of Supervisors to provide information and advice on issues affecting the fish and wildlife resources of Contra Costa County, has advised us that the grazing practices in this area may interfere with the nesting of waterbirds that are attracted by Shell Marsh. The Fish and Wildlife Committee understands that grazing can,in some instances,be a valuable tool for controlling fire risk and weedy species,but argues that the Shell Marsh uplands have a unique biological function which is impaired by year-round grazing. These uplands complement the function of the adjacent marsh by providing nesting habitat for the birds which use the wetland(presumably,this was the justification for using funds from the Shell oil spill settlement to purchase the uplands along with the marsh itself), a function that is diminished when the activity of cattle and shorter grass disrupt or prevent waterfowl nesting. The Fish and Wildlife Committee understands that the District must address fire liability and it recognizes that the District has improved resource values by excluding cattle from the majority of the wetlands(the entire area was grazed previously). However, the Committee believes that the property can be managed in a way which better protects the critical resource values of the uplands (in association with the wetlands),perhaps by discing fire breaks and limiting grazing to a period from July to December to minimize interference with ground nesting of wetland species,which may nest anywhere in the uplands. The Board of Supervisors concurs with the recommendations of the Fish and Wildlife Committee and requests that the District consider other alternatives for managing and protecting the resources Mr. Pat O'Brien October 14, 1997 Page Two of Two of this important area. The Board has enjoyed a cooperative and productive relationship with the District on numerous projects over the years, and we and the Fish and Wildlife Committee are eager to work with the District to find a satisfactory resolution of this matter. Thank you for accepting the comments of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on this matter. Should you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact John Kopchik of our Community Development Department at(510) 335-1227. Sincerely, Mark DeSaulnier, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors MD:jk h:\\cdadpool\j kopc\f&wshelg.blt