On March 17, 2016 (St Patty's Day!) we convened a Gathering with 4 water agencies to talk about land stewardship, drought, and partnerships. More info over at: http://openspacecouncil.org/community-events/gatherings/
Where the Water and Land Meet: Managing Resources Holistically
1. Where the Water and Land Meet
Norma Camacho
Interim Chief Executive Officer
March 17, 2016
BAY AREA OPEN SPACE COUNCIL
DAVID BROWER CENTER, BERKELEY, CA
4. Our Watersheds
4
5 major watersheds
2 million people
780 square miles
275 miles of streams
10 dams and surface
water reservoirs
400 acres of recharge
ponds
10. Drought: Impacts on Trees
District has 10,802 acres of
Fee Title- ½ is estimated as
acres with tree populations
(2.8 trees/acre infected
USFS)
District has potentially
15,000 impacted trees
$5,000 average cost per tree
(removal only)
Not all trees have to be
removed, however costs will
be significant
Estimated cost to remove
hazard trees $50 to $75 mil
Thompson
Creek
Greystone
Creek
Los Gatos
Creek
Attachment 1
Page 10 of 17
11. Impacts on Trees – Cost Analysis Saratoga Creek
Los Gatos
Creek
Attachment 1
Page 11 of 17
• Survey completed on Saratoga
Creek between Cox and
Prospect of impacted trees
• Total trees in the area 400
• 30 trees identified as dead
• 10 trees identified as high risk
• 40 trees need to be removed
• Estimated cost to remove
trees in the creek section
$300,000
3,000 ft section of Saratoga Creek estimated to cost $300,000
Mostly large (40) trees, access issues
13. ONE WATER: Water for the Future
Watershed
Stewardship
Flood
Protection
Water
Supply
ONE
WATER
14. Looking forward: Integrated goals
14
Manage rainwater
to improve flood
protection, water
supply and local
ecosystems
Enhance the
quantity and
quality of water to
support beneficial
uses
Establish and
sustain healthy
and resilient
stream ecosystems
Work in
partnership with an
engaged
community to
champion wise
decisions on water
resources
Protect, enhance
and sustain
healthy and
resilient baylands
ecosystems and
infrastructure
Valued Rain
Healthful and
Plentiful Water
Ecologically
Effective
Watersheds
Resilient Baylands
Community
Collaboration
15. From Vision to Projects
15
Projects &
Programs
(Where)
Objectives
(What)
Strategies
(How)
Integrated
Goals
(Why)
Water
Resources
Vision
15
E. Expanded
& Protected
Floodplains
J. Community
& Tribal
Engagement
A. Reliable
Water Supply
I. Emergency
Prep
C. Surface &
GW Quality
G. Resilient
Habitats
H. Climate
Change
B.
Sustainable
Ground-
water
D. Flood Risk
Reduction
1. Valued and
Respected Rain
Manage rainwater
to improve flood
protection, water
supply, and
ecosystem
benefits
2. Healthful and
Reliable Water
Enhance the
quantity and quality
of water to support
beneficial uses
3. Ecologically
Sustainable
Streams/
Watersheds
Protect, enhance
and sustain healthy
and resilient stream
ecosystems
5. Community
Collaboration
Work in
partnership with
an engaged
community to
champion wise
decisions on water
resources
F. Supportive
Stream Flows
The District manages water resources holistically
and sustainably to benefit people and the environment in a way
that is informed by community values.
Goal - A general direction-setter expressed
as an ideal future related to the end. A goal
may be abstract in nature and expressed as
a general state. It is generally not
quantifiable or time-dependant
Objective – An intermediate step toward
attaining a goal(s). It may pertain to one
particular aspect of a goal(s) or be one of
several successive steps toward a goal(s).
Targets – SMART targets are associated
with each objective.
Strategy - A particular course of action that
describes the means to support objectives
and achieve targets.
Projects and Programs
4. Resilient
Baylands
Protect, enhance
and sustain healthy
and resilient
baylands
ecosystems and
infrastructure
Briefly introduce yourself, if the moderator has not already.
Brief introduction about the water district and our mission, touching on these three areas.
Transition: maintaining the environment is important to our water supply, flood protection and our watersheds. That’s why we make a concerted effort to protect wildlife habitat within our watersheds …
Much of our own work to protect habitat is the result of partnerships with other agencies on land management:
Through improving streams and wetlands
Through the Valley Habitat Plan, a years-long collaboration to protect land going forward
In considering flood protection projects
On water supply:
protecting watersheds through clean-ups with volunteers and of homeless encampments
On recreation:
Partnering with County Parks to use reservoirs for recreation, with other entities on trails
Coyote Watershed
Sixteen major creeks drain this 322 - square - mile area. The county's largest watershed, it extends from the urbanized valley floor upward to the vast natural areas of the Mt. Hamilton range. Coyote Creek, its main waterway, is the longest creek in the county.
Guadalupe Watershed
This 170 - square - mile area drains the Guadalupe River and its tributaries through downtown San Jose (see map and click to enlarge). Lexington Reservoir, one of the area's best-known landmarks, is located along the western border of this watershed.
Lower Peninsula
The Lower Peninsula Watershed is a 98-square-mile area whose many small-creek watersheds feed the tidal wetlands along the San Francisco Bay's southwest shoreline (see map and click to enlarge). Its San Francisquito and Stevens creeks in this watershed are among the last remaining viable steelhead trout runs in the county.
Uvas-Llagas
The Uvas-Llagas Watershed is a 104-square-mile region which is distinguished by its agricultural lands and natural areas. Part of the larger Pajaro River Watershed, the creeks in this watershed are the only waterways in Santa Clara County that flow southward
West Valley
The West Valley Watersheds are an 85-square-mile area of multiple small-creek watersheds (see map and click to enlarge). Characterized by the contrast between its channelized creeks on the valley floor and its more natural streams in the hillsides, this watershed is the county's smallest.
CA Tiger Salamander.
The Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan took years to develop, but is an example of the positive benefit for habitat and species that can come of collaboration between jurisdictions. It is a 50-year regional plan to protect endangered species and natural resources while allowing for future development in Santa Clara County. We partnered with the cities of Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San José, the County of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to develop and manage this plan, which is a habitat conservation plan and a natural communities conservation plan.
The plan would:
Protect at least 46,496 acres of land
Protect 100 miles and restore nearly 10 miles of streams
Restore 70 acres to 428 acres of riparian woodland and wetlands
Create 20 acres to 72 acres of ponds
The water district actively reviews proposed development projects and recommends preservation of streamside habitat and water quality improvements for fish and wildlife.
We also compensate for the impacts of our own flood protection and maintenance activities through creating wetlands and preserving watershed lands. In fact these flood protection projects incorporate objectives that include preserving and improving habitat for fish and wildlife.
Top message: The grazing of public and private lands above Santa Clara Valley Water District reservoirs or near streams in Santa Clara County can provide beneficial water quality outcomes when well managed or in some cases can have negative consequences to water quality and stewardship goals.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District operates 10 reservoirs, 5 of which have grazing activities taking place in the associated watersheds. (see list below)
Additionally four of the six creeks with listed steelhead habitat also have grazing activities taking place in the associated watersheds. (see list below)
The District has Water Resources Specialists who have been trained on the potential beneficial results of grazing operations that utilize a robust monitoring program in conjunction with planned grazing. These same staff are also subject matter experts (SME)s in geology, erosion prevention, sediment control and soil and grassland recovery. These SME’s work with and train with local and regional Open Space Authority, Park Management and Nature Conservancy staff on land management and water quality objectives for the watersheds. Staff address grazing as a tool to support the District’s efforts to promote our stewardship goals by increasing stormwater infiltration. Appropriate application of grazing can support perennial and annual plant growth, diversity, improve soil condition and plant root structures. Staff regularly meet in the field with landowners, cattle grazing operations and other regulatory agencies to develop solutions to cattle encroachment along reservoirs and creeks.
Regarding the District’s response to the drought, staff took an active role in meeting with ranchers and land owners in the field, offering assistance in the form of cattle troughs, feed barrels and even fencing to assist with the protection of sensitive areas. Staff attended several workshops with the Open Space Council, Elkhorn Slough Foundation, TomKat Ranch and Holistic Management International to better understand the challenges the drought presented to those making a living from the grasslands. District staff have been and continue to work with grazing operators through constructive conversations and meetings to address livestock related challenges. Staff is appreciative of the very professional dialogue from the grazing community.
Reservoirs that have grazing in their watersheds are listed below in red.
Coyote
Anderson
Calero
Uvas
Chesbro
Almaden
Guadalupe
Lexington
Stevens Creek
Vasona
Steelhead streams (those with grazing are listed in red)
Upper Penitencia Creek
Coyote Creek
San Francisquito Creek
Uvas-Llagas Creeks
Stevens Creek
Guadalupe River
The water district works with the cities and the community to keep our streams clean.
This includes:
volunteer clean ups like Coastal Cleanup Day and National River Cleanup Day
partnering with cities to clean up homeless encampments
Providing grants to communities for removing trash and improving wildlife habitat
Participating in the County Green Business Program and Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program to protect water quality
and reducing methyl mercury production in lake and reservoirs
The water district works with other entities to allow public access on some water district lands. While there already are many trails, there are many opportunities for more.
We allow trails to be developed, and other agencies take care of the maintenance. Just last year we awarded a total of $571,000 to trail projects. The money was given in three grants from our Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, passed by voters in 2012.
Our creeks, levees and reservoirs are conducive to trails and recreation, and we work with Santa Clara County Parks to allow recreation on our reservoirs.
Developed over 70 miles of trail in conjunction with partners.
2011- Study reset to concentrate on a high priority area Economic Impact Area 11 northern San Jose area
The purposes of this multi-objective study is:
Provide one-percent tidal flood protection (4 miles of shoreline)
Restore and enhance 2,900 acres of tidal marsh and related habitats
Provide recreational and public access opportunities for the Santa Clara County shoreline area
SCC: Restoration Project could not move forward without flood protection
USFWS: Inability to maintain existing dikes on properties acquired for flood protection
District: Need a long term solution to tidal flooding
USACE: Federal interest in protecting Silicon Valley, Senator Feinstein championing the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration effort
The Shoreline Study takes into consideration the potential need for adaption to sea level rise.
Economic Impact Area 11 is home to:
The Alviso community of 2,000 residents, 500 structures and 3,000 commuters who work and travel through the area each day.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which includes 3,000 acres for migratory birds and endangered species.
The San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility, which serves 1.4 million people and Silicon Valley businesses.
The Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center, which receives water from the Regional Wastewater Facility and produces up to 8 million gallons a day of highly purified water.
Study constraints:
No increase in flood risks through restoration activities
Restoration activities must no increase bioaccumulation of mercury
New recreational features are compatible with flood risk management and restoration objectives
Must protect groundwater quality
Comply with all applicable regulatory requirements
According to the US Forest Service aerial survey, conducted in April 2015, 12 million trees have died on 4.2 million acres of Southern California forests (2.8 trees/acre).
The district is experiencing similar tree mortality. Applying the U.S. Forest Service’s survey data ratio to our fee title acreage subtracting ponds, buildings and creeks with no trees, (approximately ½ of the total) 5,401 acres, indicates the potential for 15,000 infected trees on District property
According to the US Forest Service aerial survey, conducted in April 2015, 12 million trees have died on 4.2 million acres of Southern California forests (2.8 trees/acre).
The district is experiencing similar tree mortality. Applying the U.S. Forest Service’s survey data ratio to our fee title acreage subtracting ponds, buildings and creeks with no trees, (approximately ½ of the total) 5,401 acres, indicates the potential for 15,000 infected trees on District property
The District has seen a significant increase in participation in its landscape rebate program and
issued rebates for approximately 174,000 pieces of irrigation equipment and 4.0M square feet of turf
conversion in 2015.
Another 38,000 pieces of equipment and 3.0M square feet of turf conversion
has been approved and is considered “in-process”.
At this point the entire two-year budget of $22.8M has been allocated.
Staff is currently reviewing older applications that are past their due
date, which will likely free up additional money to fund projects on the wait list (the current estimate is
that there’s approximately $3.2M in projects on the wait list).
Water Supply + Flood Protection + Watershed Stewardship = managing water resources as ONE WATER
One Water Framework
1 vision, 5 integrated goals, 10 objectives, 63 strategies, plus Implementation Opportunities