To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Park
Staff Name and Phone Number: Minona Heaviland, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Shiloh Ranch Regional Park Riparian Restoration Project Bid Award
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Award a construction contract for the Shiloh Ranch Regional Park Riparian Restoration Project to Wylatti Resource Management, Inc., in the amount of $913,106, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute the construction contract;
B) Authorize the Director of Regional Parks (or their designee) to make as-needed minor changes to the project, conduct any agency approvals, and other project changes so long at the total does not exceed 10% of the total project costs, in a form approved by Counsel.
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. 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 pond at Shiloh 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 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 will be restored to its natural channel; (2) around the pond a rutted trail that runs along its southern end will be decommissioned and a new footbridge will be installed over the spillway ; and (3) the upper reach consisting of the sediment basin, stream channel and gully will 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.
The County has already invested in project design and project management and will continue to support the project administratively. 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 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. 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 and planted to create a small wetland and 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 North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has analyzed the project and determined on July 20, 2023, it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 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. The Board reviewed and approved of the CEQA in August 2023.
On September 26, 2023, Sonoma County Regional Parks entered into a grant agreement with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to stabilize and restore riparian habitat in the Project area around the pond at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park. The grant agreement, amended on April 4, 2024, is for Project expenses up to $1,342,713, and will fully cover the project costs. The project was designed and permitted over the last two years.
On February 14, 2024, the project bid documents were posted to the Sonoma County Purchasing portal. On February 15 and 26, the project was advertised in the Press Democrat. On March 8, a mandatory pre-bid meeting was held at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park to review the project scope to contractors interested in bidding. The on-site pre-bid meeting was attended by representatives from 15 different construction companies. Five companies submitted bids. Addenda to the bid project documents were made on February 27 and March 25, 2024, with final bid documents due prior to bid opening on April 4, 2024 Upon review, one bidder was found to be non-responsive. Wylatti Resource Management was deemed the lowest responsive bidder, and selected for this contract.
The contract is for $913,106. Contractor shall achieve substantial completion of the contract work within sixty (60) working days (approximately 3 months) from the date when the contract time commences, and fully completed contract work within one-hundred twenty (120) working days (approximately 6 months) from the date when the contract time commences. Per the permits, in-stream work can only be conducted from June 15 to October 30, so the majority of the project will be complete by October. Planting, irrigation, benches, fencing, signage, or other minor improvements to the park may be completed into the winter months.
Permits from the Regional Water Quality Control Board and Department of Fish and Wildlife have been issued, and project work can begin after June 15, 2024.
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:
On August 1, 2023, the Board approved resolution number 23-0381, approving the acceptance of funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for this project, and determining concurrence with CEQA determination of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for categorical exemption Section 15333 for small habitat restoration projects.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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$913,106 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
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$913,106 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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$913,106 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
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$913,106 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Grant funds from California Department of Fish and Wildlife will fully cover this agreement and are included in the FY 2024-25 budget.
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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:
Contract
Bid Tabulation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Plans
Grant Amendment