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TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra.�
Costa
FROM: WATER COMMITTEE �1 � /
Supervisor Gayle Bishop, Chair `''� "1
Supervisor Tom Torlakson
DATE: June 20, 1995
SUBJECT: REPORT ON CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT FISH SCREEN
AND BIODIVERSITY FUNDING ISSUES
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Authorize Chair to sign letters to relevant legislators in support of federal funding for Contra
Costa Water District to construct a fish screen at Rock Slough.
2. Authorize the transference of $20,000 of previously authorized Keller Canyon Open Space
Mitigation funds, initially allocated for wetlands projects, to be used to complete a Biodiversity
Pilot project in the east County area.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval will entail only the transference of funding initially slated for wetlands projects, to be utilized
for the larger-scope Biodiversity project.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): / 1 �
Supervisor Gayle Bishop, hair Supervisor Tom Torlakson
ACTION OF BOARD ON LgQS APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED ✓ OTHER
VO/TE OF SUPERVISORS
✓ UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
AYES: NOES: • CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact: Roberta Goulart (510) 646-2071 ATTESTED L, 10 . ( 9 9.S
cc: Community Development Department PHILJBATCHELOA, CLERK OF THE
County Administrator's Office BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND
County Auditor COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY: , DEPUTY
RG:rw
Board Order
Report on CCWD Fish Screen &
Biodiversity Funding Issues
June 20, 1995
- Page 2 -
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND
1. Federal Law requires that a fish screen be constructed to protect fish at the Contra Costa
Water District's (CCWD) Rock Slough intake. Federal Law also allows for cost sharing, with
a federal obligation of 75%. As no federal funding for this purpose is included in the
President's 1996 Budget, CCWD is requesting the County's help in communicating our support
of federal funding for this purpose to the Hon. John Myers and Hon. Pete Domenici, Chairs of
Energy and Water Subcommittees for the House and Senate, respectively.
2. In Fiscal Year 1993/94, the Board approved $50,000 of Keller Canyon Open Space Mitigation
funds to be allocated for wetlands programs. In FY 1994/95, $15,000 was allocated in order
to initiate wetlands enhancement and wetlands banking programs within the County. The
Board's Water Committee in early 1994 and again in 1995, during reviews and prioritization
of Water Agency projects has elected not to recommend or pursue wetlands programs at this
time, for a number of reasons, including lack of staffing and adequate funds.
However,the 6-agency, two-County Biodiversity Working Group is moving forward with a pilot
project which covers a large portion of the east county areas, also including wetlands. Due
to time delays in receipt of potential grants, $20,000 is needed to complete this first-phase
pilot project. The Water Committee recommends use of these funds for this purpose.
RG:rw
RRG3:6-20wc1.6bd
CONTRA COSTA
wri WATER DISTRICT
1331 Concord Avenue
P.O.Box H2O
Concord,CA 94524
(510)674-8000 FAX(510)674-8122
May 9, 1995
Directors The Hon. Gayle Bishop
Joseph L.Campbell Chair
President Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Elizabeth R.Anello 18 Crow Canyon Court, Suite 120
Vice President San Ramon,CA 94583
Bette Boatmun
Donald P Freitas Dear Supervisor Bishop:
James Pretti
Walter J.Bishop Federal law requires that the Contra Costa Water District's primary intake, on the Contra
General Manager Costa Canal at Rock Slough,be screened to prevent the destruction of fish. The Federal
directives require this project be completed by October 1998. Although Federal law (PL
102-575) stipulates that 75 percent of the cost of this project is a Federal obligation, to date
the Federal agencies responsible have not requested any funding for this project. As a
result the District has requested that the Congress provide initial funding for the project in
the FY 1996 Federal budget.
To that end, the District encourages your agency to consider writing to the chairs of the two
congressional appropriations subcommittees expressing your support for funding this
important facility for the 400,000 people who rely on the Contra Costa Water District. The
District estimates that the fish screen will cost between$2 million and$10 million,
depending on the outcome of fish monitoring studies currently under way. While the
requested FY 96 funding will not complete the project, it is an appropriate request since it is
approximately equal to CCWD's annual contribution to the Central Valley Project
Restoration Fund, a fund that is designed to pay for fish screens and other environmental
protection facilities.
If you choose to support the District's request for$1.33 million in the FY 1996 Bureau of
Reclamation budget,letters of support should be directed to:
The Hon. John T. Myers, Chair The Hon. Pete Domenici, Chair
Subcoir wduee of Energy and vVater Senate Energy and Water Development Subcommittee
2372 Rayburn House Office Building SD 131 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510
Should you have any additional questions you may contact me or the staff person assigned
to this project, Al Donner at(510) 674-8194. If you choose to support this request, the
District would very much appreciate receiving a copy of your letter.
Sin r y,
Joseph . Camp ell
Presiden
Board of Directors
JLC/AJD
cc: Board of Directors
1
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
TO: WATER COMMITTEE
Supervisor Gayle Bishop, Chair
Supervisor Tom Torlakson
FROM: Roberta Goulart, Staff
DATE: May 30, 1995
SUBJECT: NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
The Biodiversity Working Group was formed for education purposes,
as well as identification and consolidation of information related
to Biodiversity, and to formulate a regional Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy on a cooperative basis . An adequate
information base is necessary in order to facilitate planning
decisions which include consideration of plant and animal species
as part of an overall planning strategy, thereby reducing the
listing of species .
As you know, the Biodiversity Working Group is comprised of public
agencies, non-profits, community organizations, universities,
private landowners and citizens . Co-sponsors include the
California Department of Fish and Game, Contra Costa and Alameda
Counties, East Bay Regional Park District, East Bay Municipal
Utility District and the Contra Costa Water District.
The final product of the Biodiversity Group will be a report and
series of GIS maps for the two-county area, detailing species
locations and needs (particularly threatened species) and a
conservation strategy for protection on a cooperative, rather than
punitive basis . This will reduce or eliminate future listing of
species as well as resultant project time delay and cost, and will
enable a better-informed planning process, with cooperative
solutions to these issues .
FUNDING REQUEST
The Biodiversity Working Group is in need of $20,000 to complete a
pilot project for the east County area. Other funding, including
grant opportunities, have not yet materialized. Staff is proposing
that $20,000 of unused funds specified for wetlands activities in
the Water Agency budget be used to complete this study. The
Biodiversity pilot study is located in the east County area, and
will encompass wetlands areas as well as upland areas in the
larger, ecosystem management context. Currently, Jones and Stokes
Associates is embarking on the study at a cost of $61,000 . The
Biodiversity Steering Committee has, to date raised $41,000 for
this effort, $20,000 from the East Bay Regional Park District,
$20,000 from the County Keller Mitigation Fund, and $1,000 from the
California Trails and Greenways Foundation.