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C. 61

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	June 16, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Local Matching Funds for the United States Army Corps of Engineers

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/16/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Ryan Hernandez (925)674-7824

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: June 16, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE expenditure of $134,215.67 from restricted Suisun Bay/New York Slough Assessment District revenues to fund the Contra Costa County Water Agency match to a Federal Army Corps of Engineers grant to conduct various studies related to the San Francisco-to-Stockton Navigation Improvement Study.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No impact to the General Fund. $134,215.67 will come from the Suisun Bay/New York Slough Assessment District.

BACKGROUND:

The San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Study (Study) is part of a long-term effort to improve deep draft navigation from the San Francisco Bay to Stockton, California. The Port of Stockton (Port) is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE's) non-federal sponsor for the Study. Contra Costa County and the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), including its member refineries, are contributing partners to the Port. The proposed navigation improvements are composed of two reaches: the Western Reach, which spans from the West Richmond Channel (east of Tiburon) to the Avon Terminal (east of the Benicia/Martinez Bridge) in Contra Costa County, and the Eastern Reach, which spans from the Avon Terminal to the Port of Stockton in San Joaquin County. Both reaches are currently maintained to a depth of 35 feet as measured at a specified tide level (mean lower low water or MLLW). The Study will determine the economic and environmental feasibility of dredging both reaches to a deeper depth.

As a part of the Study, throughout 2013 and early 2014, the local sponsors and partners held focused briefings with 25 organizations (e.g. permitting agencies and special districts) with interest in channel deepening and facilitated two technical expert groups related to impacts and mitigation measures for the deepening activities. The full scope of the channel deepening activities has been presented to the multiple agencies and stakeholders who have been consulting with the local sponsors and USACE over the past two years. The Study has received $6,354,370 of federal funding through fiscal year 2014 and the County has previously contributed to the cost of the planning studies. The non-federal matching funds required for this installment of the Study are $372,647. Contra Costa County’s match is equal to one-third of the non-federal sum or $124,215.67; WSPA and the Port will pay the remaining non-federal portion. A sum of $10,000 from the local partners was added to the non-federal contribution to cover the estimated $30,000 cost of additional salinity modeling to be conducted by the Local Sponsors to supplement the Environmental Impact Report. As such, the County's contribution is equal to $134,215.67.

To continue the advancement of the Study, including preparation of an Environmental Impact Report and a Director’s Report, the County is being asked to remit matching funds as it did in April 2012 and September 2014 when it paid $89,000 and $125,000. The Department of Conservation and Development proposes to contribute the County's share from the Suisun Bay/New York Slough Assessment District funds, which were collected from the organizations that benefit from the ship channel for use in dredging-related work, including studies.

The Contra Costa County Water Agency and the Port of Stockton have a long history of working together on various phases of the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Study, and the Conservation and Development Director recommends the Board of Supervisors authorize the commitment of $134,215.67 in matching funds as described above.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the County, along with other agencies, does not provide the required 25% in matching funds, the Army Corps of Engineers may appropriate the funds to other projects and this project will not move forward.