To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Elizabeth Tyree, (707) 565-2575
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Dutch Bill Creek Acquisition Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Application
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Regional Parks to apply for Land and Water Conservation Fund Program in the amount of $850,000 for acquisition of Dutch Bill Creek and authorizing the Director of Regional Parks to execute all documents which may be necessary to carry out and administer the grant. (Fifth District)
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Executive Summary:
Regional Parks is seeking $850,000 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund managed by State Parks for the Dutch Bill Creek acquisition project. This project will protect redwood forest and approximately one mile of Dutch Bill Creek. The property to be acquired is located adjacent to Monte Rio Recreation and Park District’s Creekside Park. Future construction will include 0.8 miles of planned bikeway and connecting riding and hiking trails. Appraised value of the property is $3.9 million and state and local funding including State Coastal Conservancy, Ag + Open Space, Parks for All Measure M, and Park Mitigation Fees has been identified to complete this acquisition.
Discussion:
Congress, under Public Law 88-578 has authorized the establishment of a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant-In-Aid program, providing matching funds to the State of California and its political subdivisions for acquiring lands and developing facilities for public outdoor recreation purpose. The California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for administration of the funds and the program.
Regional Parks is seeking funding to acquire approximately 515 acres of forested uplands and open space/ flood plain along Dutch Bill Creek to preserve habitat, protect water quality, and create a regional bikeway and connecting riding and hiking trails. This project is near Monte Rio.
This acquisition project is adjacent to public lands including Monte Rio Recreation and Park District’s Creekside Park and includes approximately 0.8 miles of the planned Dutch Bill Creek Bikeway. This Project and planned trails would benefit the local community and visitors. Monte Rio is a disadvantaged community in unincorporated Sonoma County, with an opioid death rate four times greater than any other area in Sonoma County and an unemployment rate at 6.5% (compared to the overall county unemployment rate of 2.4%). The property to be acquired and future trail projects will improve public access to other protected lands in Sonoma County and expand open space areas and inland trails that connect to the coast.
The Project will protect redwood forest and approximately one mile of Dutch Bill Creek, a tributary of the lower Russian River, and approximately 2 miles of tributary watercourses. The property includes nearly one quarter of the length of Dutch Bill Creek, which flows through the hills of west Sonoma County, from its headwaters near Occidental, north to its confluence with the Russian River at Monte Rio.
Negotiations are underway with the property owners, whose family has owned the property since 1960. The family has infrequently and selectively logged the property and hiked the property for family outings. The family reports that in recent years the family collectively recognized the community benefit for the property preservation as open space and public access/recreation.
Grant applications, including an authorizing resolution, are due the first Monday of February. For this grant application, the “project” is defined as acquiring approximately 515.45 acres of Dutch Bill Creek property as a new Regional Park and Open Space Preserve. The required dollar for dollar matching funding is planned with funding from the State Coastal Conservancy, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, and local Parks For All Measure M and Park Mitigation Fees.
Prior Board Actions:
June 11, 2019 received the County of Sonoma Capital Project Plan 2019-2024, including subject Dutch Bill Creek project.
Fiscal Summary
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FY 21-22 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is no fiscal impact to this item. If the grant application is approved, this funding and the related expenditures will be included in the FY 2019-2020 budget. Matching funds will be allocated from funds already recommended for or dedicated to this project. If the acquisition is successful, interim operations and maintenance costs are anticipated to be low due to the lack of infrastructure present on the property. Typical funding sources includes Measure M, and partner funding. Long-term operations and maintenance costs and associated funding sources will be identified as part of the master plan. Typical funding sources include fees, partners, and Measure M.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None