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File #: 2023-0786   
Type: Consent Calendar Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 6/7/2023 In control: Regional Parks
On agenda: 7/11/2023 Final action:
Title: Grant Application to Wildlife Conservation Board for Mark West Creek Restoration Planning Project
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Attachments: 1. Summary Report, 2. Resolution

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: Majority

Supervisorial District(s): First, Fourth

 

Title:

Title

Grant Application to Wildlife Conservation Board for Mark West Creek Restoration Planning Project

End

 

Recommended Action:

Recommended action

Adopt a resolution approving the application by Sonoma County Regional Parks for a grant in the amount of $1,062,928 to plan and design habitat restoration implementation projects at Mark West Creek Regional Park to benefit the health and function of the Mark West Creek watershed, and authorize the Regional Parks Director and/or Deputy Director to execute all documents necessary to carry out and administer the grant. (First and Fourth Districts)

end

 

Executive Summary:

The Mark West Creek Restoration Planning Project will create designs for restoration projects that, if approved and completed, would benefit the health and function of the Mark West Creek watershed through improved water quality, enhanced streamflow, improved fish passage, and enhanced habitat for salmonids, including endangered coho salmon.

Mark West Creek Regional Park is currently undergoing a Master Plan to prepare for opening this new 1,192-acre park to the public, and the restoration plans and interpretation developed through this project will be incorporated into the final Master Plan for the park.

 

Discussion:

Mark West Creek has been identified by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) as critical to the recovery of Central California Coast coho salmon. This planning project will accelerate recovery by advancing designs for over 12-acres of wetland and creek restoration projects within Mark West Creek Regional Park and Open Space Preserve.

 

In 2022, Regional Parks assessed riparian areas on the property and identified over twenty locations to enhance salmonid habitat and stream flow in the park. This project will develop implementation ready restoration, fish passage, and stormwater management projects, as well as develop education and interpretation programs to protect, restore, and enhance habitat for coho salmon in the Mark West Creek watershed.

 

Upon grant award, Regional Parks staff will begin procuring services for contractors to conduct surveys, data collection, design, and engineering services.

 

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

 Expenditures

FY 23-24 Adopted

FY 24-25 Projected

FY 25-26 Projected

Budgeted Expenses

 

 

 

Additional Appropriation Requested

 

 

 

Total Expenditures

 

 

 

Funding Sources

 

 

 

General Fund/WA GF

 

 

 

State/Federal

 

 

 

Fees/Other

 

 

 

Use of Fund Balance

 

 

 

Contingencies

 

 

 

Total Sources

0

0

0

 

Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:

Currently, there are no fiscal impacts to the County.  Regional Parks anticipates There are no fiscal impacts to the County. If the grant is awarded, the revenue and expenditure appropriations will be added to the FY2023-24 budget in an upcoming Quarterly Consolidated Budget Adjustment item.

 

Staffing Impacts:

 

 

 

Position Title (Payroll Classification)

Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step)

Additions (Number)

Deletions (Number)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):

None

 

Attachments:

Resolution

 

Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:

None