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C. 9

To:	Contra Costa County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors
From:	Julia R. Bueren, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:	May 9, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Lower Walnut Creek Restoration — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund Grant. Project No. 7562-6B8285

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/09/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Paul Detjens, (925) 313-2394
cc:	Mike Carlson, Deputy Chief Engineer Paul Detjens, Flood Control Catherine Windham, Flood Control

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 9, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Chief Engineer, Flood Control and Water Conservation District (FC District), or designee, to apply for and/or accept federal assistance in the form of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund Grant in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000, for design, permitting, construction and monitoring of the Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Project, Martinez/Pacheco area.

FISCAL IMPACT:

50% County Match - funded by 36% California Department of Fish and Wildlife Proposition 1 Funds and 64% Flood Control District Zone 3B Funds

BACKGROUND:

The FC District owns and manages both Walnut Creek and Pacheco Creek, which were channelized by the Corps of Engineers in the 1960s. At the FC District’s request, Congress recently removed four miles of these creeks from the Corps’ system and returned them to local control. The FC District is currently conducting a community-based planning process that seeks to develop a project that can work more with nature to transform Lower Walnut Creek into a more sustainable system.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The U.S. EPA is seeking high-quality grant proposals for multibenefit ecosystem restoration and protection projects that lead to the restoration of important species and habitat, and a more resilient, sustainably managed water resources system.

The Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Project is a good match for the goals of the U.S. EPA San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund Grant, thus the FC District recommends applying for it.

The President has proposed a significant reduction in EPA funding that, if enacted, would likely mean the elimination of future rounds of this long-standing grant program. The FC District had planned to apply for this funding next year, but recommends applying now while this grant program is still in effect.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without the Board of Supervisors’ approval, the FC District will not be able to apply for the EPA grant program.