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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWildlife Conservation Board's Preliminary Agenda - Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Water Recirculation and Wetland Restoration Project & Oroville Wildlife Area Public Access Improvements BUTTL CC)UNTY ADMINISTRA110N Edmund G.Brown Jr.,Governor NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY FEB 0 V20% DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD 0t�OVILLE,CALIFORMA Malling Address: 1416 V1 Street,Room 1266 C Sacramento,California 95814 Stateof Piiforriia WWW.WGb.ca.giov tl Wildlife Conservation Board Fax((916)445323-0280-8448 916) 'JAN KI Butte County Board of Supervisors 25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 Oroville, California 95965 Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Water Recirculation and Wetland Restoration Project Butte County Project ID: 2017144 Dear Board Members: The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), in addition to other responsibilities, carries out a program that includes the enhancement or restoration of fish and wildllife habitat. At this time and in response to a request from California Waterfowl Association, the WCB proposes to consider the enhancement and restoration of waterfowl habitat resources and constructing water conveyance infrastructure at the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in Butte County. This proposal is presently scheduled for the February 22, 2018, Board meeting. This proposal is presently scheduled for the February 22, 2018, Board meeting, You will find enclosed a copy of the preliminary meeting Agenda for your review. A more complete description of each proposal will be conitainedl in the final meeting Agenda, which will be available at www.wcb.ca.,qov beginning on February 12, 2018. If you have any questions about this proposal or need additional information, please feel free to contact me at (916) 445-0137. Sincerely, John P. Donnelly Executive Director Enclosure cc: The Honorable Jim Nielsen The Honorable James Gallagher Tina Bartlett, Regional Manager CDFW, North Central Region EDMUND G.BROWN Jr.,Governor NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE WILDLIFE CGNSERVATION BOARD CB Mailing Address: 1416 91h Street,Room 1266 Sacramento,California 95814-5515 s e of California www.wcb.ca.gov tat" Wildlife Conservation Board (916)445-8448 Fax(916)323-0280 JAN 3 0 2018 Butte County Board of Supervisors 25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 Orovifle, CA 95965 Orovifle Wildlife Area Public Access Improvements Butte County Project ID 2018003 Dear Board Members: The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), in addition to other responsibilities, carries out a program that includes the development of public access facilities for hunting, fishing or other wildlife-oriented recreational uses. At this time and in response to a request from the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency, the WCB proposes to consider a project to provide public access improvements, including a new earthen canal crossing, a new kayak/river access, public parking and restroom improvements in Butte County. This proposal is presently scheduled for the February 22, 2018 Board meeting, You will find enclosed a copy of the preliminary meeting Agenda for your review. A more complete description of each proposal will be contained in the final meeting Agenda, which will be available at www.wcb.ca.gov beginning on February 12, 2018, If you have any questions about this proposal or need additional information, please feel free to contact me at (916) 445-0137. Sincerely, I? ohn P. Donnelly Executive Director Enclosure cc: The Honorable Jim Nielsen The Honorable Member James Gallagher Tina Barlett, Regional Manager CDFVV—North Central Region Chris Fritz, PE Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency EDMUND G. BROWN Jr., Governor NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CQ WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD U Mailing Address: 1416 91h Street, Room 1266 YWstialdhe of CaIifornia Sacramento, California 95814 ife Conservation Board www.wcb.ca.gov (916)445-8448 Fax(916)323-0280 Notice of Meeting WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD February 22, 2018 10:00 a.m. Natural Resources Building, First Floor Auditorium 1416 9o' Street Sacramento, California 95814 Preliminary Agenda Items Item Number 1. Roil Call 2. Funding Status— Informational 3. Proposed Consent Calendar(Items 4 — 10) *4. Approval of Minutes *5. Recovery of Funds *Proposed Consent Calendar 1 Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, February 22, 2018 *6. Dry Creek Forest Restoration Project Nevada County $350,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to the National Forest Foundation for a cooperative project with United States Forest Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board to thin 140± acres of forest, located within the Tahoe National Forest 10 miles northeast of Truckee in Nevada County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for forest conservation and protection projects in order to promote the ecological integrity and economic stability of California's diverse native forests through forest conservation, preservation and restoration of productive managed forest lands, forest reserve areas, redwood forests and other forest types, including the conservation of water resources and natural habitats for native fish, wildlife and plants found on these lands. [Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006 (Proposition 84), Public Resources Code Section 75055(x)]. *7. East Contra Costa County HCPINCCP (Roddy Ranch Golf Course) Contra Costa County $1,065,250 To consider the allocation for a grant to the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy (ECCCHC) and the acceptance of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition grant, and the approval to sub-grant these federal funds to the ECCCHC for a cooperative project with the East Bay Regional Park District to acquire 230± acres of land for the protection and preservation of existing regional wildlife linkages, including annual grassland and grassland habitat types within the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan. The project is located in the city of Antioch, Contra Costa County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the proposed funding source that allows for the acquisition and protection of habitats that are critical to the sustainability of threatened or endangered species. [Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006 (Proposition 84), Public Resources Code Section 75055(c)(SSJD-NCCP)] *8. Horse Valley Creek and Wetland Restoration Project Contra Costa County $350,000 To consider an allocation to the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy for a cooperative project with the California State Coastal Conservancy to enhance 3± acres of wetland, riparian, and upland habitat in Horse Valley, located approximately six miles south of the City of Antioch in Contra Costa County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for the development, rehabilitation, restoration, acquisition and protection of habitat that accomplishes one or more of the following objectives: promotes recovery of threatened and endangered species, protects habitat corridors, protects significant natural landscapes and ecosystems, or implements the recommendations of the California Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy. [Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006 (Proposition 84), Public Resources Code Section 75055(b)]. 2 Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, February 22, 2018 *9. Glen Deven Native Habitat Restoration Monterey County $255;000 To consider the allocation for a grant to Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT)for a cooperative project to remove 2.5± acres of Eucalyptus trees and revegetate with native plants, located at BSLT's Glen Deven Ranch approximately 15 miles south of Carmel in Monterey County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for the development, rehabilitation, restoration, acquisition and protection of habitat that accomplishes one or more of the following objectives: promotes recovery of threatened and endangered species, protects habitat corridors, protects significant natural landscapes and ecosystems, or implements the recommendations of the California Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy. [Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006 (Proposition 84), Public Resources Code Section 75055(b)]. *10. State Lands Lease-PRC 7629.9 Renewal - Morro Bay San Luis Obispo County $0 To consider a proposal to authorize the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to renew an existing lease with the California State Lands Commission for resource protection, conservation, and public access, located on Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County. 11. Hunter Ranch Humboldt County $3,030,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to the Northcoast Regional Land Trust to acquire a conservation easement on 15,586± acres of mixed conifer working forest lands, including diverse oaks and oak woodland habitat for conservation of the natural resources, preservation of wildlife habitat linkages and habitat areas for numerous wildlife species and to help sustain water quality. The project is located near the communities of Maple Creek and Bridgeville in Humboldt County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for forest conservation and protection projects in order to promote the ecological integrity and economic stability of California's diverse native forests through forest conservation, preservation and restoration of productive managed forest lands, forest reserve areas, redwood forests and other forest types, including the conservation of water resources and natural habitats for native fish, wildlife and plants found on these lands. [Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006 (Proposition 84), Public Resources Code Section 75055(a)] 12. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, Water Recirculation and Wetland Restoration Project Butte County $1,500,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to the California Waterfowl Association for a cooperative project with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to develop water conveyance infrastructure and enhance wetlands on CDFW's Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, located 7.5± miles southwest of the town of Gridley in Butte County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for the acquisition, enhancement or restoration of wetlands to protect or enhance a flood protection corridor or bypass in the Central Valley. [Habitat Conservation Fund (Proposition 117), Fish and Game Code Section 2786(d) (Proposition 1 E), Inland Wetlands Conservation Program]. 3 Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, February 22, 2018 13. Palisades Ranch, Mojave River San Bernardino County $1,270,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) and the acceptance of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Land Acquisition grant and the approval to subgrant these federal funds to the MDLT to acquire 1,640± acres of land for the protection and preservation of desert riparian and desert tortoise habitats and to protect other listed or protected species that may be present. The project is located near the community of Helendale in San Bernardino County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the proposed funding source that allows for the acquisition and protection of habitats that are critical to the sustainability of threatened or endangered species. [Habitat Conservation_ Fund (Proposition 117), Fish and Game Code Section 2786(blc)] 14. Big Tujunga Wash Los Angeles County $800,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for a cooperative project with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Los Angeles County to acquire in fee 111± acres of wildlife habitat, to maintain a migration corridor for the Big Tujunga Gorge mule deer sub-herd, to enhance wildlife linkages, and provide future wildlife oriented public use opportunities. The project is located near Sunland in Los Angeles County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the proposed funding source that allows for the acquisition and protection of deer and mountain lion habitat. [Habitat Conservation Fund (Proposition 117), Fish and Game Code Section 2786(a)] 15. Los Angeles River-Taylor Yard G2 Expansion 1 Los Angeles County $5,015,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to assist in a cooperative project with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to expand by up to 3± acres, a multipurpose easement at Taylor Yard of land for habitat restoration, open space preservation and to provide potential future wildlife-oriented public use opportunities located 4 miles north of downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the proposed funding source that allows for the development, rehabilitation, restoration, acquisition and protection of habitat that accomplishes one or more of the following objectives: promotes recovery of threatened and endangered species, protects habitat corridors, protects significant natural landscapes and ecosystems, or implements the recommendations of the California Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy. [Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Fund of 2006 (Proposition 84), Public Resources Code Section 75055(b)(LAR)]. Pursuant to WCB policy, an Independent Appraisal Review has been performed and is available at www.wcb.ca.gov. 16. Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Expansion 4(Crescent Shores) Riverside County $1,865,000 To consider the acquisition of 328± acres of land by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)for a cooperative project with United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to protect open space and promote the restoration of critical habitat adjacent to the Colorado 4 Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, February 22, 2018 River that supports threatened and endangered species and the preservation of a wildlife linkage and corridor from the Colorado River to the Colorado Desert. The project is located north of the city of Blythe in Riverside County and will provide future wildlife oriented public use opportunities. The purposes of this project are consistent with the proposed funding source that allows for the acquisition of habitat to protect rare, endangered, threatened or fully protected species. [Habitat Conservation Fund (Proposition 117), Section 2786(blc)] 17. Red Hill Bay Shallow Water Habitat, Augmentation Imperial County $1,493,000 To consider the allocation to augment an existing grant to the Imperial Irrigation District to restore 530± acres of shallow brackish water habitat in the Red Hill Bay area of the Salton Sea, located 15 miles NNW of Brawley in Imperial County. This augmentation will allow for the use of an underground pipeline to deliver water to the project site as opposed to the open channel, gravity fed design of the original project. The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for acquisition, grants or other activities that directly restore the Salton Sea and its transboundary watersheds. [Water Security, Clean Drinking Water, Coastal and Beach Protection Fund of 2002 (Proposition 50), Water Code Section 79565, Fish and Game Code Section 2932.21. Proposals Recommended for Approval Under the Competitive Public Access Program Staff will present an overview of the 2017 public access competitive grant program and recommend proposals for funding. One million dollars from the Wildlife Restoration Fund is available for award. Eleven proposals, totaling three million dollars of program request, were received and evaluated. Priority was given to proposals that aligned with the 2017 priorities: provide the public better access and deeper engagement to fishing, hunting, and wildlife oriented recreational opportunities focused on the following populations: youth/next generation, disadvantaged communities, and urban-focused communities. Staff recommends Items 18-20 for award and funding under the Public Access Program. 18. Oroville Wildlife Area Public Access Improvements Butte County $484,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency for a project to provide public access improvements, including a new earthen canal crossing, new kayak/river access, public parking and restroom improvements on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Oroville Wildlife Area, located five miles southwest of the City of Oroville in Butte County.The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for the development of public access facilities for hunting, fishing and other wildlife compatible recreational activities. [Wildlife Restoration Fund Local Assistance] 19. Point Isabel Water Access Improvements Contra Costa $200,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to East Bay Regional Park District for a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy to construct a new ADA- accessible non-motorized boat ramp, located in the City of Richmond in Contra Costa 5 Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting, February 22, 2018 County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for the development of public access facilities for hunting, fishing and other wildlife compatible recreational activities. (Wildlife Restoration Fund, Local Assistance] 20. Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve Amphitheater Improvements Monterey County $278,000 To consider the allocation for a grant to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, for a cooperative project with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)to redesign and repair the existing outdoor amphitheater at the CDFW's Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve, located eight miles south of the City of Watsonville in Monterey County. The purposes of this project are consistent with the authorized uses of the proposed funding source, which allows for the development of public access facilities for hunting, fishing and other wildlife compatible recreational activities. [Wildlife Restoration Fund, Local Assistance] 21. Wildlife Conservation Board Strategic Plan Informational 22. Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Informational Staff will present information and receive guidance by the WCB on proper guidelines necessary for the expenditure of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funding. PERSONS WITH DISABILITES Persons with disabilities needing reasonable accommodation to participate in public meetings or other CDFW activities are invited to contact the Department's EEO Officer at (916) 653-9089 or EEO wildlife.ca. ov. Accommodation requests for facility and/or meeting accessibility should be received by February 8, 2018. Requests for American Sign Language Interpreters should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event, and requests for Real-Time Captioners at least four weeks prior to the event. These timeframes are to help ensure that the requested accommodation is met. If a request for an accommodation has been submitted but is no longer needed, please contact the EEO Officer immediately. 6