Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jim Eggemeyer, Director, Office of Sustainability
Subject: Agreement with San Mateo Resource Conservation District for implementation of the Butano Channel Restoration and Resilience Project
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with San Mateo Resource Conservation District for implementation of the Butano Channel Restoration and Resilience Project for the term of March 12, 2019 through March 1, 2022, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000.
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BACKGROUND:
Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve is the most significant outer coast estuary within 150 miles of coastline between Elkhorn Slough in Monterey County and Tomales Bay in Marin County. It is home to many state and federally listed threatened and endangered species.
Historical land use in the Butano Creek watershed has accelerated sedimentation and flooding in Pescadero, and the watershed is listed under the Clean Water Act as impaired by sediment. The historic channel of lower Butano Creek has completely filled in with sediment to the top of its banks within the marsh, and fish passage is blocked between the marsh and Butano Creek Watershed.
Under current conditions, Butano Creek cannot provide quality spawning and rearing habitat for fish, including threatened steelhead trout and Central California Coast Coho salmon. The community of Pescadero shares the pressing need to address sediment overwhelming the health of the marsh and increase the community's resilience to flood hazard and extreme weather events, which are increasing due to climate change.
DISCUSSION:
The Butano Channel Restoration and Resiliency Project (Project) will reduce flood risk for Pescadero while improving survival for native salmon and steelhead. The Project will restore the connectivity of Butano Creek to Pescadero lagoon to re-establish severely impaired fish passage between the mar...
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