Agenda

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TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	10/09/2017
Subject: RECEIVE status report on the Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Project.
Submitted For:	Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Department:	Public Works
Referral No.:	7
Referral Name:	Monitor creek and watershed issues and seek funding for improvement projects related to these issues.
Presenter:	Paul R. Detjens, CCC Flood Control & Water Conservation District	Contact:	Paul R. Detjens (925)313-2394

Information

Referral History:

The Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Project encompasses the lowest four miles of Walnut Creek and Pacheco Creek. This reach was constructed by the Corps of Engineers in the 1960s and it has been plagued with excessive sediment deposition since its construction. The Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) worked with the Corps for ten years on a joint project to solve this problem, but that project stalled when federal funding was exhausted.

The District then contemplated removing the lowest four miles from the Corps’ system using a concept called “selective deauthorization.” The Transportation, Water & Infrastructure Committee (TWIC) learned about selective deauthorization on December 6, 2012, and referred the matter for the Board’s consideration on January, 15, 2013. The TWIC heard this item again on June 25, 2013. With help from Congressman Mike Thompson, language deauthorizing this portion of Walnut Creek was included in the 2014 Water Resources Reform and Development Act that was signed by then President Obama on June 10, 2014.

Since that time, the District has conducted a transparent and inclusive, community-based planning process, resulting in a preferred restoration alternative that proposes to restore over 100 acres of tidal marsh.

The Board received a status update on February 14, 2017, including the announcement of receipt of a $537,000 California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Proposition 1 Grant.

On May 9, 2017, the Board approved the application for $1.5 million in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund grant funds.

On August 15, 2017, the Board approved the CDFW grant agreement and accepted the $537,000 CDFW grant.

Referral Update:

Currently, the District is nearing completion of the planning phase of work, and later this fall, will embark on the next phase of work that includes California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, regulatory permitting, and design of the preferred restoration alternative.

This next phase of work is anticipated to take approximately 24 months to complete and will result in a “shovel-ready” project that is ready to advertise for construction and also potentially eligible for grant funding for project implementation.

The estimated cost of the CEQA, permitting, and design work is $1.1 million. The CDFW has committed $537,000 in Proposition 1 funding to assist in this work.

The U.S. EPA has granted the project $1.5 million of their San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement funds to assist in vegetation management, design, and partial implementation of restoration work in the South Reach of the project. The District is excited to have attracted over $2 million in state and federal funding to the project so far.

The District is working closely with a number of stakeholders to refine the restoration concept. Two stakeholders are worthy of recognition:

The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is planning on constructing a six-mile extension of the popular Iron Horse Trail through the Lower Walnut Creek restoration site. Levee modifications as part of the Lower Walnut Creek Restoration project are needed before EBRPD can construct their trail extension.

The John Muir Land Trust is planning on constructing an extensive trail network with bird-watching stations, benches, and interpretive signage at Pacheco Marsh (also known as the North Reach of the Lower Walnut Creek Restoration project).

The District is working closely with both of these stakeholders/partners to deliver a project that balances habitat restoration and enhanced public access.

At the TWIC meeting, District staff will present a short PowerPoint slide show highlighting the project restoration features.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

RECEIVE a status report on the Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Project, and DIRECT staff as appropriate.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

The Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Project is funded by a combination of Flood Control Zone 3B ad-valorem tax funds and state and federal grants.

Attachments
LWC PowerPoint