Preparing the documents for this Program was funded 100% by American Rivers, with minor District and Department of Conservation and Development staff costs for review and processing. This Program does not authorize any future expenditures of District or County funds.
The Program is a creek restoration and flood risk reduction program proposed by the District and American Rivers, a national nonprofit organization that protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers, and conserves clean water for people and nature. Implementation of the proposed Program will result in: 1) improved habitat conditions for fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians by providing a mosaic of riparian, floodplain, wetland, and aquatic habitat types for these species to utilize, 2) expanded creek flow capacity to meet or exceed flood standards, 3) improved local water quality by shading the creek and reducing mobilization of fine sediments, and 4) improved public recreational opportunities. This Program will also complement three existing conservation planning efforts: the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP), the District’s 50 Year Plan: Channel to Creeks (2009), and American Rivers’ Lower Marsh Creek Stream Corridor Master Plan (2015) (Master Plan).
The goal of the Program is to incentivize willing landowners and developers to work with the District and other local partners to transition the existing 75-foot creek setbacks on Marsh Creek and 50-foot creek setbacks on Deer and Sand creeks, as required by the HCP/NCCP for parcels and development activities subject to compliance with the HCP/NCCP, into ecologically functioning riparian habitat corridors. As such, the CEQA document was developed to put in place the environmental compliance mechanism necessary to alleviate uncertainty and complexity associated with implementing creek restoration projects, which would further incentivize landowners and developers to participate.
If the Program is not approved Marsh Creek restoration project planning opportunities and grant funding could be lost.