HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/1999, C6 - AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORT FROM THE PACIFIC COAST SALMON CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY INITIATIVE council "-°ii 13 -95
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C ITY OF SAN LUI S O B I S P O
FROM: Ken Hampian,Assistant City Administrative Officer
Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Managei
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORT FROM THE PACIFIC COAST
SALMON CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY INITIATIVE
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to participate in the various actions anticipated by a
coalition of cities, counties, and special districts along the coast of California to seek state and
federal funding for a variety of projects designed to restore or enhance spawning and rearing habitat
for steelhead trout and other salmonid species which are utilizing coastal streams along the
California Pacific Coast.
DISCUSSION
Recognizing the economic and regulatory affects of the listing of salmonid population as
"threatened" or "endangered", and fii Cher recognizing the urgent need to implement restoration
work to prevent continued decline of salmonid populations, several agencies have joined together
seeking state and federal funding for salmon protection and recovery. This effort has become
known as the Pacific Coast Salmon Conservation and Recovery Initiative. Representatives from
the 13 counties ranging from Ventura County to Del Norte County, plus numerous representatives
of cities and special districts have been in collaboration to reach a consensus for requesting the
distribution of approximately $10 million dollars in combined- federal and state funds to the 13
counties and their subdivisions. This would provide approximately $750,000 to each county
region. The City of San Luis Obispo has participated in this effort. The intent of this resolution,
which would be combined with resolutions by other affected agencies, is to urge the support of the
State in directing these combined funds to the projects identified by the numerous agencies
involved. In the case of the City of San Luis Obispo, the identified projects are the removal of the
upper San Luis Obispo Creek dam and habitat enhancements to the creek above that location.
The upper San Luis Obispo creek dam is a non-functional water diversion structure built by the
City of San Luis Obispo in the late 1800's or early 1900's as part of the cities water supply. 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 have in recent years looked at the
possibility of the removal of this dam and the restoration of the ability of steelhead to migrate
beyond this point. However, funding sources have not been identified and it has appeared to be a
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Council Agenda Report-Authorization of Application for Grant Funds
Page 2
relatively expensive project. In addition,there have been some discussions with landowner Dennis
Ahem to install enhancements, primarily boulder clusters and large woody debris (mainly, large
logs and tree stumps) which would diversify the in-stream habitat and improve its quality for
rearing of juvenile steelhead.
The cost of dam removal, sediment removal upstream of the dam,revegetation of the slopes of the
restored creek bed, and the habitat improvements on the Ahem property are estimated to be in the
range of$350,000, including design work For these reasons,this project has been selected by City
staff as the most promising candidate for a funding support from the Initiative.
The Sonoma County Water Agency, which is taking a leading role in assembling the various
resolutions and cover materials for the participating agencies, have asked that material be sent to
them no later than January 7,2000.
FISCAL IMPACT
If successful, this grant will have a beneficial fiscal effect by providing outside funding support for
an identified City enhancement project Minor ancillary costs of obtaining permits can be absorbed
within the existing natural resource program budget.
CONCURRENCES
The Utilities Department supports this effort and has provided pertinent information to other
participating City staff and to the Sonoma County Water Agency. Removal of the dam is seen as a
clear benefit to the natural resources of 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
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RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TO
PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS ACTIONS TO SUPPORT SALMON CONSERVATION AND
RECOVERY ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST,INCLUDING PURSUING GRANT FUNDS
FROM THE PACIFIC COAST SALMON CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, the decline of salmon and steelhead populations along the Pacific Coast region
from California to Alaska over the last decade has led to listing by National Marie Fisheries Service of
salmonid populations as"threatened"or"endangered",pursuant to the Endangered Species Act; and
WHEREAS, numerous watersheds that are tributaries to the Pacific Ocean are significantly
impacted by these listings, and;
WHEREAS, in April of 1998, representatives from counties within the states of Alaska,
California, Oregon and Washington, began meeting to consider a joint effort to seek federal funding
for salmonid restoration projects; and
WHEREAS, outreach for this effort was expanded to include representatives from other cities,
special districts, tribal and other interest groups; and
WHEREAS, all those participating shared common interests of similar resource enhancement
needs, recognition of the economic and regulatory effects of the listing or potential listing of salmonids
with their region, and urgent need to implement restoration work to prevent further decline of salmonid
populations despite limited local funding resources; and
WHEREAS, by consensus, the local governing bodies and treaty tribes of Alaska, California,
Oregon and Washington, established the historic Pacific Coastal Salmonid Conservation and
Restoration Initiative and agreed to work together to acquire federal funding for the recovery of Pacific
coastal salmon and steelhead trout; and
WHEREAS, in September of 1998, the Secretary of the California Resources Agency was
solicited to urge state leadership to support and advocate for federal funding for salmonid recovery;
and
WHEREAS, in October 1998, the governors of Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington
requested of Vice President Gore a commitment in the President's budget for the Fiscal Year 2000, for
$200 million per year, $50 million per state, for six years to fund the four-state initiative; and.
WHEREAS, this fimding would provide for restoration work such as reducing stream sediment,
improving water quality, and protecting spawning grounds; and
WHEREAS, regional and local elected officials, including representatives from the City of San
Luis Obispo worked cooperatively with the 13 California Pacific coast counties to gain support from
members of Congress for inclusion of $200 million in the President's budget for the Pacific Coast
Salmon Recovery and Restoration Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the collaboration of these efforts resulted in the $78 million Salmon Recovery
Fund in the Final Federal Budget for FY 2000; and
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WHEREAS,the State of Alaska is to receive$14 million,the State of California$9 million,the
State of Oregon $9 million, the State of Washington $18 million, and the affected treaty tribes $6
million, $2 million is allocated for Columbia River region, and $20 million for U.S./Canadian fishing
treaties; and
WHEREAS, the proposed fund requires an equal non-federal match and the cost of recovering
historic runs of salmon and steelhead will overwhelm the financial resources of City of San Luis
Obispo; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has spent time and effort securing support from
Senator Jack O'Connell and Assembly Member Abel Maldonado to secure matching funds for this
initiative through the California Water Bond, AB 564/SB 530 (Machado/Costa), in the amount of$20
million; and the Parks, Coastal, Recreational and Natural Resources Bond, SB 57 (Hayden), in the
amount of$25 million; and
WHEREAS, the total amount of federal and state dollars available for restoration of historic
runs of salmon for California is$54 million; and
WHEREAS, distribution of the federal funds to the State of California requires an
accountability mechanism to ensure effective expenditure of funds for a regional approach to salmon
recovery, and subsequently the California Coastal Salmon Conservation and Recovery Act, SB 291
(Chesbro), was introduced designating the California Resources Agency as the responsible State
Agency for allocating the federal funds; and
WHEREAS, the 13 county regions from Ventura to Del Norte have collaborated to reach a
consensus for requesting distribution of approximately $10 million of the combined federal and state
funds in FY 2000 to this region, and have agreed that each county region request approximately
$750,000; and
WHEREAS, all participating county regions have agreed that an additional $10 million of
federal and state funds in FY 2000 be set aside for non-governmental organizations and other entities
to utilize for restoration work with review and approval by the California Resources Agency; and
WHEREAS, it was a consensus that each region would use the funds for local, science-based
salmonid recovery projects, funding "ready to go" and "on the ground" projects that can help achieve
immediate results in habitat protection and restoration to maximize the benefit of this historic program;
and
WHEREAS, in the City of San Luis Obispo it is our intent to use the Federal funds for such
important purposes as the below listed specific projects that are considered beneficial by California
Department of Fish and Game and National Marine Fisheries Service:
• Upper San Luis Obispo Creek Dam Removal, $300,000, in design phase; and
• Upper San Luis Obispo Creek Habitat Improvements, $50,000,in design phase
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
hereby finds,determines, and declares as follows:
1. All of the above recitals are true and correct;
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2. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed.to sign a joint effort letter to the Secretary of
the Resources Agency requesting distribution of$750,000 of federal and state funds from
the President's Salmon Recovery Fund to each respective County region for these
specifically identified projects;
3. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to actively continue support of SB 291
(Chesbro), California Salmon Recovery Fund, which will provide a mechanism for the
future distribution of federal and state funds that will maximize federal and state dollars
allocated for actual restoration projects; and
4. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to actively continue support of the Pacific
Coastal Salmonid Conservation and Restoration Initiative for continued federal funding
upwards of $50 million per year/per state over at least the next six years for restoration
work.
Approved and adopted this 13th day of December, 1999.
On motion of , seconded by and on the following
roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 11999.
Allen K. Settle,Mayor
ATTEST:
Lee Price,City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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