To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Minona Heaviland, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First and Third Districts
Title:
Title
Acceptance of Grant Funds from Point Blue Conservation Science for the Taylor Mountain Wetland and Riparian Restoration Project
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution authorizing Regional Parks to apply for and accept grant funds from Point Blue Conservation Science in the amount of $426,475 to implement the Taylor Mountain Wetland and Riparian Restoration Project and authorizing the Director to execute all documents necessary to implement and administer the grant;
B) Find the proposed scope of work is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under guidelines Title 14, Section 15162(b) of the California Code of Regulations.
end
Executive Summary:
Point Blue Conservation Science has received a block grant from the State of California Wildlife Conservation Board in the amount of $26 million to be used to regrant for projects that build wildlife-friendly resilience and equity on California’s working landscapes. Regional Parks was selected for a grant award in March 2024. The Taylor Mountain Wetland and Riparian Restoration Project will restore wetland hydrology, control invasive weeds, and plant native plants and engage diverse audiences to enhance mountain meadow wetland and riparian habitats at Taylor Mountain Regional Park over the course of the three-year grant project.
Discussion:
The Taylor Mountain project includes three major elements: 1) riparian and wetland restoration; 2) rehabilitation of livestock watering systems and 3) park visitor education and engagement.
The project will restore wetland hydrology, control invasive weeds, and plant native plants to enhance mountain meadow wetland and riparian habitats at Taylor Mountain Regional Park. Restoration of wetlands and riparian areas will be conducted by addressing erosion, incised channels, and headcuts improving stormwater retention and habitat benefits of wetlands and seeps. The project includes revegetation with native plants to provide cover and forage for wildlife.
Improving management of seasonal grazing at Taylor Mountain will also enhance habitat for native species and support vegetation management by renovating existing trough and water systems. Renovating these systems will provide water to grazing animals that will remove livestock from sensitive wetland and creek areas, thus enhancing habitat for native species. Additional project outcomes will include enhancing the upper watershed function of Colgan Creek and Todd Creek, reducing sediment pollution and flooding in the City of Santa Rosa and Laguna de Santa Rosa, managing vegetation to reduce fire risk to the City of Santa Rosa, and providing educational and recreational opportunities to diverse residents of Sonoma County. Project outcomes include restoration of over 1,350 linear feet of upper watershed ephemeral channels, and restoration of over 1.6 acres of upper watershed wetlands.
Through this project, Regional Parks will implement restoration and natural resources management actions identified in the Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve Master Plan (2012) that will enhance the dispersal habitat for California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) and other wetland dependent species. The project is within the scope of the CEQA document completed for the Master Plan, Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration, 2012. No new information or substantial changes will lead to significant environmental effects, and pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15162(b), no further documentation is required.
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 1: Continue to invest in wildfire preparedness and resiliency strategies
Objective: Objective 3: Leverage grant funding to support sustainable vegetation management program.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
October 9, 2012 - Concurrent action of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District and the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration and approved the Master Plan for Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve.
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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$213,238 |
$213,237 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
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$213,238 |
$213,237 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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$213,238 |
$213,237 |
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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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$213,238 |
$213,237 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Grant funds will be spent over the next two fiscal years on project expenses. Budgetary adjustments for revenue and expenditure appropriations for this project will be made to the FY24/25 budget as part of the consolidated budget adjustment process.
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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
Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None