To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Minona Heaviland, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): First, Fourth
Title:
Title
Acceptance of Grant Funds from California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the Shiloh Ranch Regional Park Riparian Restoration Project
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a resolution authorizing Regional Parks to accept a grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in the amount of $905,792 to implement riparian and wetland habitat restoration at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park and authorizing the Director to execute all documents necessary to implement and administer the grant.
B) Adopt a resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2023/24 adopted budget to increase revenue and expenditure appropriations in the amount of $148,000 in support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife grant. The balance of the grant will be budgeted in future years (4/5th Vote required). Make finding that, consistent with analysis completed by North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, this project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to 14 CFR 15333.
(4/5th Vote Required) (First and Fourth Districts)
end
Executive Summary:
Shiloh Ranch Regional Park (Shiloh), located in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, is composed of canyons, meadows, grasslands, ridges, seasonal creeks, and a perennial pond. The Shiloh pond serves as a critical habitat feature and is in danger of failure from erosion. This restoration project (Project) will address an ongoing pattern of erosion around the pond by filling gullies, restoring wetland and riparian habitat both up- and down-stream of the pond; creating a new spillway and restoring the pond outlet and associated creek to a more natural hydrology.
Discussion:
The Shiloh pond provides critical habitat for wildlife and birds, as one of the only perennial water sources in the park. The channel below and above the pond are both severely entrenched and actively downcutting, which has resulted in loss of wetland habitat, disconnection from surrounding floodplains, and erosion of fine sediment into downstream creeks. This Project will stabilize and restore riparian and meadow habitat above, below, and around the pond creating new wildlife refugia and enhancing recreational opportunities for park visitors.
The Project can be defined in three distinct parts: (1) the lower reach situated downstream of the pond with a concrete spillway to be re-routed; (2) the pond itself together with a hiking trail that runs along its southern end to be decommissioned and replaced with additional benches and tables; and (3) the upper reach consisting of the sediment basin, stream channel and gully to be filled and restored. The project includes restoration of 2.56 acres, the enhancement of 0.24 acres of aquatic habitat, and stabilization of 1,100 feet of degraded stream channel.
Overall, the channel realignment will reconnect the creek with its floodplain, allowing for wet meadow restoration and more seasonal water retention in the headwaters to support the downstream creek and watershed. The grant will fully fund project construction. The County has already invested in project design and project management and will continue to support the project administratively.
The result will be a shallow meadow channel with a gentler slope to slow flow and spread water over a larger area downstream of the pond, better mimicking a stable headwater channel. A new rock-lined spillway will be built to mimic a step-pool channel, with many small drops and spaces for water to pool. All rock structures and channels will be planted with native plants to minimize visual impact, improve stability, and provide a connected wildlife corridor. Upstream, the sediment basin will be filled in to create a small wetland and a biotechnical log grade control will smooth and grade the upper gully.
The need for these improvements is both urgent in the short term and continuously evolving as the channel erodes. The tributary below the pond has signs of highly active gully incision, while the upper tributary has signs of moderately active gully erosion, both of which will be addressed by this Project.
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has analyzed the project and determined on July 20, 2023 that it is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15333 of the Code of California Regulations, Title 14, on the basis that it is a small habitat restoration project under five acres and to protect fish, plants, and wildlife and meeting all other requirements of such designation. Staff recommends the Board similarly find that this project is exempt from CEQA under 14 CFR 15333.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 5: Maximize opportunities for mitigation of climate change and adaptation through land conservation work and land use policies
Objective: Objective 2: Develop policies to maximize carbon sequestration and minimize loss of natural carbon sinks including old growth forests, the Laguna de Santa Rosa, and rangelands. Encourage agricultural and open space land management to maximize sequestration
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 23-24 Adopted |
FY 24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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$757,792.00 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$148,000.00 |
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Total Expenditures |
$148,000.00 |
$757,792.00 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$148,000.00 |
$757,792.00 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$148,000.00 |
$757,792.00 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
This item will increase revenue and expenditures appropriations by $148,000 for activities related to this grant as part of the Regional Parks FY 2023-24 annual budget. The remaining funds will be budgeted in FY 2024-25.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Resolution
Budget Resolution
Award Letter
Notice of Applicability
Notice of Exemption
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None