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C. 12

To:	Contra Costa County Flood Control District Board of Supervisors
From:	Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:	June 11, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

ADOPT Resolution for Grant Application and Acceptance with California Dept. of Water Resources Urban Streams Restoration Program for Wildcat Creek.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/11/2019

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:	Gus Amirzehni, (925) 313-2128
cc:	Laura Strobel, County Administrator's Office Allison Knapp, Deputy Chief Engineer Tim Jensen, Flood Control Paul Detjens, Flood Control Gus Amirzehni, 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: June 11, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution No. 2019/189 authorizing the Chief Engineer, Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (Flood Control District), or designee, to apply, accept, and execute grant agreements and related amendments with the California Department of Water Resources for the Wildcat Creek Fish Passage and Community Engagement project, North Richmond area.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The grant application and agreement (if awarded) with the California Department of Water Resources Urban Streams Restoration Program (USRP) will provide funding up to $1,000,000 for the Flood Control District’s proposed Wildcat Creek Fish Passage and Community Engagement project. Because of the project’s location in a disadvantaged community, the grant program specifically does not require local matching funds.

BACKGROUND:

Staff is seeking grant funding for the proposed Wildcat Creek Fish Passage and Community Engagement project from the USRP. This program is funded by Propositions 84 and 68.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The Wildcat Creek flood control channel was constructed in the 1990s by the Flood Control District and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to reduce flood risk and improve economic vitality in the North Richmond community. The project included a low-flow channel and fish ladder to facilitate fish passage. However, the fish ladder has not functioned as designed due to excessive debris and sediment accumulation. The USACE has studied the fish ladder structure extensively under their Section 1135 program and has produced a preliminary retrofit design to improve fish passage consistent with current fish passage criteria.

The Flood Control District and local partners studied the options for either proceeding further under the Corps’ Section 1135 program or proceeding with other available nonfederal grant funding. The answer became clear that other nonfederal grant funding, such as the USRP, would provide a more efficient and cost-effective path to possible project implementation.

As such, the Flood Control District in partnership with the John Muir Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit organization, is planning to apply for a USRP grant to fund the development of construction and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) documents and solicitation of regulatory permits for the retrofit design. Additionally, as requested by the City of San Pablo, the grant will include a minor physical modification to an existing weir structure in Wildcat Creek at the upstream limit of the USACE project to provide better flow conditions to a nearby storm drain outfall and reduce flood risk to the surrounding area. The grant will also include other community access and recreational enhancements.

The USRP grant requires that the governing board of the applicant approve a resolution authorizing the application, acceptance, execution, and designation of staff to sign and execute grant agreements and related documents (if selected for funding) for and on behalf of the Flood Control District. This request is made in response to that grant requirement.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without the Board’s approval, staff will not be able to apply for, or obtain, state funding under the USRP.