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Home My WebLink About05/02/2000, C10 - AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORT FROM THE SALMON AND STEELHEAD TROUT RESTORATION ACCOUNT (SSTRA) council �/ oa j aGEnaa nEpoin ®N-ti0 CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Ken Hampian,Assistant City Administrative Officer,' Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager Al.* SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORT FROM THE SALMON AND STEELHEAD TROUT RESTORATION ACCOUNT (SSTRA) CAO RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution authorizing application to the State Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Trust Account(SSTRA)for grant fiords in amount of$370,000 in support of removal of the defunct City- owned dam on upper San Luis Obispo Creek and associated in-stream habitat improvements. DISCUSSION In recent months the City of San Luis Obispohas participated in a consortium of local_agencies lobbying the State Resources Agency to provide funding for programs designed to improve in- stream habitat for steelhead and other salmonid fish species. Recognizing the economic and regulatory affects of the listing of salmonid populations as "threatened" or "endangered", and further recognizing the'urgent need to implement restoration work to prevent continued decline of salmonid populations, these agencies joined together seeking state and federal funding for salmon protection and recovery. That effort became known as the Pacific Coast Sahnon Conservation and Recovery Initiative. Federal funds are expected to be available to California(through the Fish and Game Department) and to other West Coast states for this effort. Although there is a possibility that certain "discretionary" funds already available may be allocated to the City of San Luis Obispo, it now appears that the consortium's efforts have failed and we will need to formally apply for grant support. Staff had previously identified the removal of the upper San Luis Obispo Creek dam and habitat enhancements to the creek above that location as the project most likely to receive funding support,and is recommending another attempt at obtaining fielding for that project. The upper San Luis Obispo Creek dam is a non-fimctional water diversion structure built by the City in the late 1800's or early 1900's as part of the City's water supply. It is located along Stagecoach Road just above its intersection with Highway 101 (see attached map). This facility captured water from San Luis Obispo Creek and diverted it into a pipeline, which conducted that water plus water from the nearby Hansen and Gularte Creeks to the reservoirs at Fox Hollow Road and the Miossi property. This system was abandoned in the 1950's or early 1960's for a variety of reasons, and has not functioned since that time. The dam, which is approximately 13 feet high, is filled with sediment and today constitutes a major barrier to the movement of steelhead and other native fishes in this area- City staff has in recent years looked at the possibility of the removal of this-lam and the restoration of the ability of steelhead to migrate beyond this point. This has been perceived as a relatively expensive project and until now funding sources have not been identified. C10-1 Council Agenda Report-Authorization of Application for Grant Funds Page 2 The cost of the project (including dam removal, sediment removal upstream of the dam, revegetation of the slopes of the restored creek bed, and the habitat improvements on the upstream Ahem property)is estimated to be in the range of$410,000,including design work. Because of the apparent failure of the "fast-tracked" effort, staff is recommending that Council authorize a more standard application through the existing Fish and Game Department program. FISCAL IMPACT If successful, this grant will have a beneficial fiscal effect by providing outside funding support for an identified City enhancement project. Minor costs of obtaining permits can be absorbed within the existing Natural Resource Protection Program budget. Funding availability for projects of this type is improving, and that finding is being targeted to projects without funding support; however, having some local match is expected to make the project more competitive. Staff,has therefore anticipated allocation of$40,000 to the project to provide such a match. This would need to be allocated for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, staff will include such an allocation from the City's Water Fund in the budget proposal for that period. CONCURRENCES The Utilities Department,which administers the property on which the dam is located, supports this effort, as removal of the dam is seen as a clear benefit to fishery within San Luis Obispo Creek. ALTERNATIVE The Council could decide to not authorize the application. This is not recommended, as the application itself does not constitute a commitment on the part of the City. Attachment Resolution Location Map C10-2 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS UPPER PREFUMO CREEK FISH BARRIER REMOVAL WHEREAS, the California Department of Fish and Game ("Department') has requested proposals for fishery restoration work throughout the State of California, WHEREAS, the Department has stated in its request for proposals that projects intended to particularly benefit salmonid resources of the State will receive highest priority for funding; and WHEREAS, The City of San Luis Obispo maintains a strong interest in the potential for improvement of salmonid habitat within San Luis Obispo Creek and its tributaries: and WHEREAS, City staff have identified several projects on San Luis Obispo Creek and its tributaries which could improve salmonid habitat on said streams. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo hereby: 1. Authorizes the filing of an application for grant funds from the California Salmon and Steelhead Trout Restoration Account for the project known as Upper San Luis Obispo Creek Dam Removal; and 2. Appoints the City Administrative Officer as agent of the City to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. Approved and adopted this 2nd day of May, 2000. On motion of , seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of , 1998. Allen K. Settle, Mayor C10-3 ATTEST: Lee Price, City Clerk APPROVED A$'TO FORM: ey G. Jorgensen CIO-4 ::;'p �. �\ • ;� i it I ` . \ . I, . .� �� (1�`� �'� �`� :la' :lt � �8 .I llll,.i '.1 /IS �,; .\; �•`\�\��I( \�• \` : /.mill IA _ ,\ f �� t `fib � . I n •\\ -j� ��/({`` •111) 4j .A_!�� y = ✓,: I !1 r �\`C L ., � �� E��. \V.. 1t.. :;;Irn`;r�"i \\ ATION � t5 nv `\ .• > l IS' •'I Z377 ti \ _ �• 'ori. Ing; `,_ ,/ / •.' \ .o �` .\ .ti:. _X12 �, ;�� j� ��f /rrl�`. .. f��,�'��--,\ aQ7 `�� ss=a' 8'iQ26 \o �� 1� / ♦ '`� e e. � ( �rr_� \ �` J�=� �� N•= I l �, `�1, �•, p / ,;�• �� I �.�, , Project Site .,;,j,ti / •� 4 �, �`` • ; �� :'� '�� art} r-�G� ` sb < I' . x ?55_�F4 1 18 3 1 6. � , X95,. I \.1 •5`Q � ,'/ - i�i�%i��\S� it III\ `^`\..r`I( -• .L..1Z S ng Project Location Map City of San Luis Obispo UPPER SAN LUIS OBISPO CREEK DAM REMOVAL PROJECT San Luis Obispo, CA. U. S. G. S. Quadrangle: Lopez Mountain I"- 2,000' C10-5Z�