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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06201995 - D4 WC1 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.