2012 2022 Stream Maintenance Program Manual · The 2012 – 2022 Stream Maintenance Program (SMP)...
Transcript of 2012 2022 Stream Maintenance Program Manual · The 2012 – 2022 Stream Maintenance Program (SMP)...
SunnyWilliams
SCVWD
1/1/2012
20122022StreamMaintenanceProgramManual
20122022STREAMMAINTENANCEPROGRAMMANUAL
PreparedbySunnyWilliams,EnvironmentalPlanner
BillSmith LindaSpahrDevinMody LisaPorcellaDougPadley MarkWanderJanellHillman MelissaMooreJoeChavez MichaelSanchez
JohnChapman RickAustinJudyIngols ScottKatric
KristenOKane SuzanneRemien
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TableofContents
1. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................2
2. VEGETATIONMANAGEMENT...................................................................................26
2.1. WOODYVEGETATIONMANAGEMENT..............................................................28
2.1.1. RoutinePruning............................................................................................28
2.1.2. CorrectivePruning.........................................................................................31
2.1.3. Coppicing......................................................................................................33
2.1.4. HandRemoval...............................................................................................35
2.1.5. InvasivePlantManagementPlan(IPMP).......................................................41
2.1.6. LargeWoodyDebris(LWD)...........................................................................42
2.2. HERBICIDEandMECHANICAL............................................................................44
2.2.1. Herbicide.......................................................................................................45
2.2.2. Mowing.........................................................................................................49
2.2.3. Discing...........................................................................................................51
2.2.4. Flaming.........................................................................................................52
2.2.5. Grazing..........................................................................................................53
3. SEDIMENTREMOVAL...............................................................................................55
4. BANKSTABILIZATION...............................................................................................59
5. MANAGEMENTofANIMALCONFLICTS....................................................................70
6. MINORMAINTENANCEACTIVITIES..........................................................................81
7. CANALMAINTENANCE.............................................................................................84ATTACHMENTSAttachmentA BankStabilizationMethodsAttachmentB MitigationFeasibilityAssessment(MFA)AttachmentC TreeScoringforRemovalofTreesandShrubs612dbhAttachmentD InvasivePlantManagementPlanAttachmentE ManagementofLargeWoodyDebrisinSantaClaraCountyStreamsAttachmentF BestManagementPractices(BMPs)AttachmentG SedimentCharacterizationPlansAttachmentH WaterQualityMonitoringPlans
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1. INTRODUCTION
The20122022StreamMaintenanceProgram(SMP)ProgramManualdescribestheauthorizedworkactivities,calendartimingfortheactivities,BestManagementPracticestobeimplementedwhileperformingthework,workspecificexclusions,andadescriptionforcalculatinganynecessarymitigation.
1.1. Purpose
TheStreamMaintenanceProgram(SMP/Program)establishesanongoingmaintenanceprogramfortheSantaClaraValleyWaterDistricts(District/SCVWD)streams,canals,andstreamgauges.TheSMPwasfirstapprovedin2001.ThoughtheSMPiswrittenasalongtermprogram,italsoallowsforperiodicupdatesasnecessarytomeetnewconditionsormaintenanceneedsoftheDistrict.Thisdocumentdescribesthe20122022SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictsStreamMaintenanceProgram.Thisisanupdatefromthe2001Programwithmoredetaileddescriptionsforworklocationsandassessment,updatedmappingtoolsandspecieslistings.TheSMPandFinalEnvironmentalImpactReportadoptedin2001(2001FEIR),useda20yearplanningtimeframetoevaluatecumulativeimpacts.ThisProgramdocumentcoversthesecond10yearperiodandwhollyreplacesdocumentsthatguidedtheSMPfromitsinceptionin2001until2012.The2012FEIRwillbethestandaloneenvironmentaldocumentfortheupdatedprogram.
ProgramGoals
TheSMPworkactivitiesaredevelopedtomeettwoprogramgoals.
1. Maintainthedesignflowconveyancecapacity(ortheappropriatecapacitywhennodesigncapacityexists)ofDistrictfacilities,and
2. MaintainthestructuralandfunctionalintegrityofDistrictfacilities.
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ProgramObjectives
Thefollowingobjectiveswillbeusedtomeetthesegoals:
1. Removesedimenttomaintainthehydraulic,safety,andhabitatfunctionsofthecreeksystems;
2. Managevegetationtomaintainthehydraulic,safety,andhabitatfunctionsofthecreeksystems,andtoallowforleveeinspectionsandmaintenanceaccess;
3. Stabilizebedsandbanksofcreeksandcanalstoprotectexistinginfrastructure,maintainpublicsafety,reducesedimentloading,protectwaterquality,andprotecthabitatvalues;and
4. Avoid,minimize,ormitigateimpactsontheenvironmentbyincorporatingstreamstewardshipmeasuresintomaintenanceactivities.
1.2. SMPPrinciples
Theseprincipleshavebeendevelopedtoensurethatnaturalresourcesareprotectedtothefurthestextentpossibleduringroutinestreammaintenanceprojects.BMPshavebeendevelopedtoimplementtheseprinciples.TheBMPsareincludedasTable212,DSEIRProjectDescription.TheprinciplesintheSMPhavebeendevelopedtoguidedecisionmakingforstreammaintenanceactivitiesandprojects.PrinciplesarebasedontheSMPobjectivesandareameanstotheDistrict'sEndsPolicies(December15,2009).
Principle1: TheDistrictwillprocessallroutinestreammaintenanceactivitiesaccordingtotheprocessandprotocolsestablishedintheProgram.
Principle2: Decisionsregardingthenecessityofroutinesedimentremovaland
vegetationmanagementactivities(torestorechannelflowcapacities)willbemadefollowingthethresholdsestablishedintheMaintenanceGuidelines.
Principle3: TheDistrictwillimplementmeasurestoavoidandminimize
impactstonativespeciesandhabitat.Principle4: Allmaintenanceactivitieswillbeperformedinamannerthathas
theleastimpacttothenaturalflora,faunaandaquaticresourceswhilemeetingtheprojectobjectives.
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EndsPoliciesBoardofDirectorsEstablished
E1 MissionandGeneralPrinciples
ThemissionoftheDistrictisahealthy,safe,andenhancedqualityoflivinginSantaClaraCountythroughwatershedstewardshipandcomprehensivemanagementofwaterresourcesinapractical,costeffective,andenvironmentallysensitivemannerforcurrentandfuturegenerations.
MaintenanceofthecreeksundertheSMPisanintegralpartofthemission,whichcombinesworkneededforcomprehensiveandefficientmanagementwithinthecontextofenvironmentalrequirements.
E2 WaterSupply:Thereisareliable,cleanwatersupplyforcurrentandfuturegenerations.
Goal2.1 Currentandfuturewatersupplyformunicipalities,industries,agricultureandtheenvironmentisreliable
Objective2.1.1 Aggressivelyprotectgroundwaterbasinsfromthethreatofcontaminationandmaintainthegroundwaterbasinsforreliability.
Objective2.1.2 Protect,maintainanddeveloplocalwater.
E3 NaturalFloodProtection:Thereisahealthyandsafeenvironmentforresidents,businessesandvisitors,aswellasforfuturegenerations.
Goal3.1 Naturalfloodprotectionforresidents,businessesandvisitors.
Objective3.1.1 Balanceenvironmentalqualityandprotectionfromfloodinginacosteffectivemanner.
Objective3.1.2 Preservefloodconveyancecapacity.
TheSMPisintendedtoauthorizeroutineworkneededtopreservefloodconveyancecapacity.
E4 WaterResourcesStewardship:ThereiswaterresourcesstewardshiptoprotectandenhancewatershedsandnaturalresourcesandtoimprovethequalityoflifeinSantaClaraCounty.
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Goal4.1 HealthycreekandbayecosystemsObjective4.1.1 Balancewatersupply,floodprotectionand
environmentalstewardshipfunctions.Objective4.1.2 Improvewatersheds,streams,andnaturalresources.Objective4.1.3 Promoteawarenessofcreekandbayecosystem
functions.
Goal4.2 Clean,safewaterincreeksandbay.Objective4.2.1 Preserveorimprovesurfaceandgroundwaterquality
forbeneficialuses.Objective4.2.2 Promoteawarenessofwaterqualityandstream
stewardship.
Goal4.3 ImprovedqualityoflifeinSantaClaraCountythroughtrails,openspaceandwaterresourcesmanagement.
Objective4.3.1 Supportadditionaltrails,parksandopenspacealongcreeksandinthewatershedswhenreasonableandappropriate.
Objective4.3.2 Reducegreenhousegasemissionswhenreasonableandappropriate.
TheSMPintegratestheprincipalofresourcemanagementintothework.
Programelementsaredesignedtoavoid,minimizeormitigatepotentialimpactsinbalancewiththeneedtoconductworkinstreamstocarryouttheDistrictsmission.
1.3. GeneralApplicability
TheSMPappliestoalloftheDistrictsroutinestreamandcanalmaintenanceactivitiesthatcanbegroupedintofivecategories:vegetationmanagement,sedimentremoval,bankstabilization,managementofanimalconflicts,andminormaintenanceactivities.Routinemaintenanceisdefinedastheworkactivitiesdescribedinthisplanthatoccurinthecourseofstandardmaintenanceworkorproceduresandareperformedregularly,andoftenrepeated.TheseactivitiescanoccurwithintheSMPprogramareabelowthe1000footelevationcontour,andalongapproximately800milesofcreek,41milesof11canals,andrelatedfacilities.StreamgaugemaintenanceactivitiesarecoveredintheSMPthroughtheappropriateworkactivityprojections.
Futuremaintenanceworkprojectionsfortheprogramperiod20122022weredevelopedbyaninterdisciplinaryteamfamiliarwithandresponsibleforconveyancerequirementsofthecreeks.Workprojectionsweremadetodescribetheestimated
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locationandworkareapercentageforProgramworkactivities.Theseprojectionswereusedtoperformtheenvironmentalimpactsanalysisinthe2012SMPFEIR.MaintenanceactivitiesarepermittedthroughouttheprogramareaaslongastheydonotresultinsignificantenvironmentaleffectssubstantiallydifferentthanthoseevaluatedfortheProgramasawhole.Workthatisconductedinareasnotoriginallyprojectedin2002,willrequiremitigationasdescribedintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixC,2012SMPFSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPhasbeenmitigatedforinperpetuity.
1.4. GeneralExclusion
TheSMPdoesnotincludethefollowingactivities(2012SMPFEIR):1. Emergencyrepairwork;2. Workthatwouldincreasetheflowconveyanceorwatersupplycapacityofa
facility;3. Maintenanceworkinstreamreachesthatareabovethe1,000footelevation
contour(areastypicallyabovethereservoirs);4. Maintenanceworkofdams,reservoirsandotherwatersupplyfacilities,such
aspipelinesoutsideofstreamcorridors,groundwaterpercolationponds,andinstreamsummerdams;
5. Installationofnewormajormodificationoffishladders;6. Hazardtreeremovals;7. Workconductedonprivatepropertybyownersorotheragencies;8. Workperformedbyotheragencies;9. Largeconstructionprojectsorcapitalimprovementprojects;10.Areawide,intensivemaintenance,orrehabilitationoflarge[>0.05acre]
mitigationprojectsinstalledaspartofCapitalImprovementProjectsandwhichhavepersistedbeyondtheEstablishmentPeriod;and
11.Continuedimplementationofthe2002SMPmitigation,monitoringandreportingprogram,and
12.WorkactivitiesspecificallyexcludedintheProgram.
1.5. CapitalImprovementProjects
LargeconstructionprojectsandCapitalImprovementProjects(CIP)arenotconsideredroutinestreammaintenanceandarenotaddressedthroughtheSMP.FutureCIPswillanalyzeandaccountforlongtermmaintenanceimpactsundertheirownenvironmentalreviewdocuments.TheanalysisoflongtermmaintenanceforaCIPisexpectedtofollowasystematicprocess,evaluatingthedesignfortheleastamountof
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maintenanceandthendeterminingwhethertheneededmaintenanceisalreadyincludedintheSMP.
Step1:ComparenewprojectmaintenanceneedstoPermanentMitigation.AnalyzetherequiredfuturemaintenanceofthenewprojectagainstthePermanent
MitigationAreas(PMA)(definedasthe2002projectionsplusanychangesmadesince2002:addingCIPreaches,swappingoutworkneverconductedin20022012toprovideunaccountedformitigationthatisnowavailabletoapplytowardotherworkactivities,andnewworkareasthathaveprovidedmitigationinperpetuity).
AnyenvironmentaleffectsfromofrequirednewfuturemaintenanceofCIPsorother
newprojectswillbecomparedtothePermanentMitigationAreasforthatreachofcreek.MitigationforCIPswillonlyberequirediftherearefuturemaintenanceneedsfromthecapitalprojectthatarenotinthePermanentMitigationAreas.ItispresumedthatsomeofthemaintenanceneedswillbeprojectedinthePermanentMitigationAreas,butnotnecessarilytothescalethatwillbeneededoncetheCIPsarecomplete.
IfallofthefuturemaintenanceneedsarenotinthePermanentMitigationAreas,
thenproceedtoStep2.Step2:IncludenewprojectmaintenanceneedsnotinPermanentMitigationAreas
intothenewprojectenvironmentaldocument.Totheextentthatfuturemaintenanceworkrequirementsarenotcoveredbythe
PermanentMitigationAreasofthe2002SMPandincorporatedprojects,thelongtermincrementalmaintenanceneeds,includingthescaleandfrequencyofworkneeded,mustbeanalyzedandaccountedforundertheCIP/othernewproject.ThemitigationrequiredforthoseimpactsmustbeincludedintheCIPenvironmentaldocumentandwillneedtoprovideupfrontpermanentmitigationforrepeatedmaintenanceimpactsinperpetuity.OnlythenwillthoseincrementalfuturemaintenanceactivitiesbeaddedtotheSMPPermanentMitigationAreaprojections.
1.6. WorkProjections
1. ManagementTheroutinemaintenanceactivitiesconductedbytheDistrictanddescribedinthisManualexhibitconsistentattributesandpatterns.However,projectionsoffuturestreammaintenanceactivitiesfortheSMPandProgramFEIRcannotrepresenttheexactextentofworkthatwilloccur.Actualstreammaintenanceactivitiescanvaryfromyeartoyear.
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Therefore,workprojectionsweremadetodescribetheestimatedlocationandworkareapercentageforProgramactivitiesforthe20122022period.Theseprojectionswereusedtoperformtheenvironmentalimpactsanalysisinthe2012SMPFEIR;andtherebydeterminepotentialimpacts,andthenecessaryassociatedBestManagementPractices(BMPs)andmitigationmeasures.MaintenanceactivitiesarepermittedthroughouttheprogramareaaslongastheydonotresultinsignificantenvironmentaleffectssubstantiallydifferentthanthoseevaluatedfortheProgramasawhole.WorkisconsideredincludedintheSMPiftheworkisconsistentwiththeDistrict'sMaintenanceGuidelinesortheworkisneededtomaintaintheflowconveyancecapacityofafacilitybutdoesnotincreasethedesignflowconveyancecapacity.WorkareasmustbemanagedfortheentireProgramareatoensurethatthemaximumworkcoveredbytheProgram,FEIRandregulatorypermits,isnotexceeded.Workactivityimpactsinareasnotprojectedin2002arecalculatedonanannualbasis,inconjunctionwithanyresultingrequiredmitigation.Workareasprojectedinthe2002SMPhavebeenmitigatedforinperpetuity,willcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.Inaddition,theProgramsupportssitespecificassessmentstodeterminethemosteffectivemethodtoachievethemaintenancegoal.Ifitisdeterminedthatalowerimpactworkactivitymethodisviableforthesite,thenewworkactivitywillbeproposedthrougheithertheNoticeofProposedWork(NPW)processorinconsultationwiththeregulatoryagenciesinvolved.Thiswillsupportanassessmentforworkactivitymodificationthatcouldresultinamorebenignmethodbeingusedthanwasoriginallyprojected.PermanentMitigationAreasMaintenanceareasthathavededicatedmitigationprovidedinperpetuitywillbereferredtoasPermanentMitigationAreas(PMAs).ThePMAswillbeasetofworkareasthataremitigatedforinperpetuity.Theseareaswillgrowasnewworkareasaremitigatedthroughthelandacquisitionandenhancementprocess.Whenmitigationlandsareacquired,theDistrictwillidentifywhichofthenewworkareasnowidentifiedunderthe2012SMPwouldbemitigatedfor(inperpetuity)bytheacquiredlands.Similartoprovidingmitigationfornewworkareas,thissameprocessofacquiringlandstobeappliedasmitigationcanbeusedtoprovidemitigationforotherworkareasthatwerenotprojected.Suchnotprojectedbutworkedareasfromthe20022012periodcanbeaddedto
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thepoolofPermanentMitigationAreas(PMAs)thataremitigatedforinperpetuity,ifappropriatemitigationlandsareacquiredandtheyprovideagoodmatchforsuchlands.Additionally,someareasmayberemovedfromthePMAifworkhasneverbeenperformedinthatarea,andnoneedforfutureworkinthatareaisanticipated.Undersuchascenario,theprojectedworkarea(anditsimpacts)thatarenolongernecessarywouldberemovedfromthePMAprogram.Thecompensatorymitigationthathadalreadybeenprovidedwouldremain,butwouldnolongerbeallocatedtowardsaparticularworkactivityandlocation.Workareasandactivitiesthatarenotpreviouslycovered,asbeingincludedinthePMA,canbeaddedtothePMAbyapplyingthisunallocatedmitigation.Inthisway,unallocatedmitigationinperpetuityfromthe2002Programmaynowbeappliedtoalternativeworkareas.AnyinclusionofsuchworkareasintothePMApoolofworkareasmitigatedforinperpetuitywouldbereviewedbyparticipatingregulatoryagencies.2. OwnershipTheDistrictperformsworkwhereitownspropertyinfeetitleorhasaneasement.TheBoardofDirectorsmayalsoapproveworktobeperformedonprivatepropertyifitisdeterminedthattheerosion,scourorothermaintenanceneedsarenegativelyaffectingtheflowconveyanceandbankstabilityofthecreeksystem.Duetotheskillandknowledgenecessarytomaintainthefunctionofthecreeksystem,itmaybecomenecessaryfortheDistricttoworkonprivatepropertyinordertoprovidegeneralpublicsafety.TheDistricthasalsoprojectedworkforareaswheretherearenotcurrentfeeoreasementpropertyrights,butwhereitisdeterminedthattheremaybemaintenanceneedsoverthelifeofthisProgram.TheDistrictmayacquirenewpropertyrightsthroughpurchaseinfeetitleoreasementto:providecreekaccess,preventencroachmentofdevelopmentintofloodplains,andmeetthegoalsandobjectivesofthisProgram.3. Locations Workisidentifiedbyworkactivityandlocation.Locationidentificationbeginsatthecenterofthecreekandextendsoutward.Crosssectionalareasinclude:instreamandbank/bench,whichmayincludeamaintenanceroad;and
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wherethereisalevee,leveeinboardtopofleveeleveeoutboard.
1.7. DescriptionperWorkActivity
1. VegetationManagementVegetationworkimpactsinnewareasareassessedannually,calculatingnecessarymitigationpertherequirementsintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIR.Treeandshrubremovals612inchesdiameteratbreastheight(dbh)mayoccuronaprojectspecificbasisperthecriterionandmitigationdescribedinAttachmentCthismanual.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPhasbeenmitigatedforinperpetuity,willcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.
2. SedimentRemoval
Sedimentremovalimpactsinnewareasareassessedannually,calculatingnecessarymitigationpertherequirementsintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPhasbeenmitigatedforinperpetuity,willcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.SedimentremovalcanbeperformedinanystreamwithintheSMPprogramarea.
3. BankStabilization
BankstabilizationworkcanbeperformedinanycreekunderDistrictjurisdiction(feetitle,easement,ordirectedbytheBoardofDirectors)unlessspecificallyexcludedbythisProgram.Bankstabilizationworkisassessedperprojectsiteasitcannotbepredeterminedwhereasitewillneedrepair.TheDistricthasmadeacommitmentthatnomorethanhalfofthebankrepairswillconsistofimpervioushardscapebankstabilizationwork(allwatershedscombined)eachyear.
4. ManagementofAnimalConflicts
TheDistrictmanagesanimaldamageandconflictsinDistrictcreeksandcanals.AnimalsmaydamageDistrictfacilitiesbyburrowingintolevees,banksandalongcanals,forageonmitigationsites,andinterferewithworkactivities.
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ToavoidcompromisingDistrictfacilitiesandtoreduceconflictswithspecieslivinginorprotectingsiteswhereworkisneeded,themanagementofanimalconflictsmaybeundertaken.
5. MinorMaintenance
MinorMaintenanceactivities(fencerepair,graffitiremoval,accessroadmaintenance,etc.)arenotaprojectedworkactivitiesandmayoccuranywherewithintheSMPprogramarea.
6. CanalMaintenance
TheprimaryfunctionofDistrictcanalsaretoserveaswatersupplytransportfacilities,thoughtheyalsoprovideincidentalfloodprotectionbycapturingsurfacerunoff.Canalmaintenanceactivitiesincludealltheworkactivitiesdiscussedabove.
1.8. WorkWindow
A. WorkWindowExtensions
RequestsforworkwindowextensionsmustbesubmittedtotheregulatoryagenciesbyOctober1st,listingthecreeknamesandreacheswhereaworkextensionwilloccur.Workextensionsvaryperworkactivity.Theagencieswillprovideasingleresponsewithinoneweek.SignificantrainfallappliesafterOctober15.
B. VegetationManagement
WoodyVegetationManagementactivitiesmayoccurbasedonthefollowing:
1. Instream(wettedarea)handpruningandhandremovalmayoccuryearround,except:
a) wheremechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality,or
b) insteelheadcreeks,whereworkisonlypermitteduntilDecember31oruntillocalrainfallof0.5inchesorgreaterfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whichevertranspiresfirst.
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2. Vegetationmanagementoutsidethebankfullchannel(seesection2.1.6fordefinition)maybeperformedyearround.
a) Yearroundworkopportunitiesdonotapplytoareaswheremechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality.
3. Duetoseparateprojectpermitsand/orCEQA/NEPArequirements,individualsitesmayhaveadditionallimitationsonworktypesandworkwindows.WherethesemodifiedconditionsoccurtheywillbeincorporatedintotheSMP.
HerbicideVegetationManagementactivitiesmayoccurbasedonthefollowingandpertheMSDSandlabel:
1. Instreamherbicideuseisaprojectedworkactivityandmayoccurbetween
June15October15.2. InstreamworkmaycontinueuntilDecember31oruntillocalrainfallgreater
than0.5inchesfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whicheveroccursfirst.
3. Noninstream(bank/bench)herbicideworkmayoccuryearround,weatherpermitting.
C. SedimentRemoval
SedimentremovalmayoccurduringtheworkwindowofJune15October15.WaterqualitymonitoringshallbeperformedpertheWaterQualityMonitoringPlanandallexcavatedsedimentshallbetestedpertheSedimentCharacterizationPlan.
1. ExtendedWorkWindow.
a. Creekssupportinganadromousfish:AnextendedworkwindowmayoccurfromOctober15throughOctober31,oruntillocalrainfallof0.5inchesorgreaterfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whicheveroccursfirst.
b. Creeksnotsupportinganadromousfish:AnextendedworkwindowmayoccurfromOctober15throughNovember30th,oruntillocalrainfallof0.5inchesorgreaterfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whicheveroccursfirst.
2. ExtendedWorkWindowinLowerQualityAreas:
a. WorkmayoccuruntilDecember31.b. WorkareaswillbeincludedintheannualNPW.
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c. WorkwillonlyoccurwithinBerryessaCreek(088+80;232+70236+00;284+30288+00),LowerSilverCreek(Reach3betweenStations37+40and381+19)),ThompsonCreek(0+0010+00),CanoasCreek(0+00390+00),RossCreek(0+0086+30),CalabazasCreek(35+00105+00),andSanTomasAquinoCreek(80+00100+00),if:1) apreconstructionbiologicalsurveyisperformedandclearance
provided,2) siteconditionsaredryandaccessforallconstructionequipment
andvehicleswillnotimpactroadways,3) waterdiversionswillnotbeallowed,4) allworkwillstopifanyrainfalleventisforecastthree(3)daysinto
thefuture,and5) sitesmustbemaintainedinawinterizedstate.(Seesection4.Bank
Stabilization,I.foradefinitionofwinterization.)d. Workmayoccurafterasignificantrainfalleventbutnolaterthan
December31.
D. BankStabilization
BankstabilizationworkisallowedduringtheworkwindowofJune15October15.Ifaworkextensionisgranted,itmaycontinueuntiltheapproveddatestatedbelow,oruntilthefirst72hourforecastthatincludessignificantrainfall.Significantrainfallislocalrainfall0.5inchesorgreaterthatfallswithina24hourperiodinthesubjectwatershed.
1. InCreeksSupportingAnadromousFish
AnextendedworkwindowmayoccuruntilOctober31stforbankstabilizationprojectsthatwillbe50%completebyOctober15th.
2. InCreeksNotSupportingAnadromousFisha. AnextendedworkwindowmayoccuruntilNovember30thforprojects
thatwillbe50%completebyOctober15thoruntilsignificantrainfall.b. AnextendedworkwindowmayoccuruntilNovember30thfornewbank
stabilizationprojectsthatwillbecompletedinfive(5)daysorless,oruntilsignificantrainfall.
E. ManagementofAnimalConflicts
Managementofanimalconflictsmayoccuryearround.Themethodofcontrolusedwillbebasedontheseasonalefficacyoftheanimalslifecyclesandincompliancewiththeprotectionofspecialstatusspecies.
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F. MinorMaintenance
MinorMaintenanceactivitiesmaybeperformedyearroundorwithintheWorkWindowforspecifiedWorkActivities.MinorsedimentorvegetationworkmustcomplywiththeWorkWindowsspecifictothoseworkactivities,evenwhentheyareMinorMaintenanceactivities.
G. CanalMaintenance
CanalMaintenanceactivitiesmaybeperformedasdefinedbytheworkactivityandperthedescriptionofannualworkmaximumsintheCanalMaintenancesectionofthisManual.
1.8.1 WorkWindowTables
InstreamWorkWindowInCreeksSupportingAnadromousFish
WorkActivity June15 Oct15 Oct15 Oct31Noworkonce
significantrainfall(0.5within24hrwithinwatershed)
Oct15 Dec31Noworkonce
significantrainfall(0.5within24hrwithinwatershed)
Instreamhandpruning
X X
Instreamhandremoval
X X
Herbicide X1,2 X1,2
SedimentRemoval X XBankStabilization X X,ifatleast50%
completeonOctober15
1Surfactantuseonthe14steelheadstreamsispermittedwhenthestreamisdryin
theimmediateworklocationandnorainisforecastforthenext24hours.2AquaticherbicidecanonlybeusedinCaliforniaredleggedfrogandCaliforniatiger
salamanderSMPmappedareaswhenthecreekisdryandnorainisforecastforthenext48hours.
AfterOctober15th,seventytwohourlookaheadweatherforecastsfromthe
NationalWeatherService(orlocalvendorsuchastheWesternWeatherGroup)are
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consultedtoprepareforpossiblewinterizationmeasures.Ifasignificantrainfallisforecastwithinthecoming72hrforecastwindow,thenmaintenanceworkthatmayresultinsedimentrunofftothestreamshallbestopped,toallowadequatetimetocompleteerosioncontrolmeasures.Winterizationmaterialswillbeavailableandonsitewhenrainfalls.
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InstreamWorkWindowInCreeksNotSupportingAnadromousFish
WorkActivity
June15Oct15
Oct15Nov30
Noworkoncesignificantrainfall(0.5within24hr
withinwatershed)
Oct15Dec31
Noworkoncesignificantrainfall(0.5within24hr
withinwatershed)
June15Dec31
Workevenaftersignificantrainfall(0.5within24hr
withinwatershed)
YearRound,except
wheremechanizedequipmentcrossesacreekorotherwiseaffecting
waterqualityInstreamhandpruning
X X
Instreamhandremoval
X X
Herbicide X X SedimentRemoval
X X X,specificreachesofBerryessa,LowerSilver,Thompson,Canoas,Ross,Calabazas,SanTomasAquino
BankStabilization
X Xa)ifatleast50%completeonOctober15b)newprojectsthatwillbecompletedinfive(5)daysorless
SignificantrainfallappliesafterOctober15.AfterOctober15th,seventytwohour
lookaheadweatherforecastsfromtheNationalWeatherService(orlocalvendorsuchastheWesternWeatherGroup)areconsultedtoprepareforpossible
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winterizationmeasures.Ifasignificantrainfallisforecastwithinthecoming72hrforecastwindow,thenmaintenanceworkthatmayresultinsedimentrunofftothestreamshallbestopped,toallowadequatetimetocompleteerosioncontrolmeasures.Winterizationmaterialswillbeavailableandonsitewhenrainfalls.NonInstreamWorkWindow
WorkActivity YearRound,exceptwhere
mechanizedequipmentcrossesacreekor
otherwiseaffectingwaterquality
TimeSpecific
VegetationManagement
X
Herbicide XperMSDSlabel
LargeWoodyDebris XSeeManagementofLWD
guidelines
Mowing Feb1Nov30
Discing
Feb1Oct15
Flaming X
Grazing
X
ManagementofAnimalConflicts
XPerspecialstatusspeciesandpesticiderequirements
MinorMaintenance
XInstreamworkfollowsactivityspecificwork
windows
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1.9. BestManagementPractices(BMPs)
BestManagementPractices(BMPs)havebeenincorporatedintotheprojectactivitiestoavoidandminimizeenvironmentalimpacts.GeneralBMPsapplytoallwork.OtherBMPsareapplicabletospecificworkactivities.SeeTable212,DSEIRProjectDescription.
1.10. ProcessOverview
1.DistrictWorkProcess
TheDistrict'sstreammaintenanceplanning,implementation,andreportingprocessoccursinthreephases:1)programdevelopmentanddocumentation;2)implementationofannualroutinestreammaintenancework;and3)annualreporting.MaintenanceworkcanbeproposedeitheraspartoftheAnnualWorkPlanthroughtheNoticeofProposedWork(NPW)orasotheridentifiedworkthroughouttheyearviaindividualworkorders.AllstreammaintenanceactivitieswillfollowtheResourceProtectionProtocolsasdescribedbelow.
TheDistrictusesworkorderstodescribeandimplementstreammaintenance
projects.Workordersprovideadescriptionoftheproject,scheduleofimplementation,estimatedcosts,permitrequirementsandotherspecialconditions.Workorderswillcontinuetobetheprimaryvehiclefortheimplementationofmaintenanceprojects.
Asmaintenanceworkisproposed,itwillbeevaluatedtodetermineifthe
workisaddressedundertheSMP.Ifnot,theworkwillfollowtheappropriateprojectdevelopmentprocess,whichmayincludeindividualCEQAreviewandindividualregulatorypermitsorclearances.Anexampleofthistypeofworkwouldbetheremovalofadropstructureinastream.
Theproposedworkisalsoevaluatedundertherequirementsoftheindividual
creekMaintenanceGuidelinestoensurethatthemaintenanceactivitymeetspreestablishedengineeringrequirements.Forexample,ifasedimentremovalprojectisproposed,theMaintenanceGuidelinesprovidetheinformationontheallowabledepthofsedimentforareachthatwillstillprovidethedesignedflowconveyance.MaintenanceGuidelinesareupdatedasnewCIPsarecompleted,asbettermaintenancemethodsaredeveloped,orasrefinementsaremadetothelevelofmaintenancerequiredinareachofcreek.
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2. SMPComplianceVerification
WorkisproposedintheAnnualWorkPlanthroughtheNoticeofProposedWorkorasindividualworkordersidentifiedthroughouttheyear.WorkwillbeevaluatedforcompliancewiththeProgram.WorkthatdoesnotmeettherequirementsandparametersoftheSMPcannotbecovered.Inthesecases,otherCEQAandregulatorycoveragewillneedtobeobtained.
WorkthatmaybecoveredbytheProgramwillbereviewedtoverifythatitis
coveredunderthelongtermregulatoryclearancesprovidedinconjunctionwiththeStreamMaintenanceProgram.AppropriateresourceprotectionmeasuresandBMPswillbeidentifiedandaddedtotheworkorderpackage.Preworkconferenceswillbeheldwithstaffnecessarytoperformthework,includingtheappropriatestafffromWatershedProgramSupportUnits,FieldOperations,VegetationManagementandStreamStewardshiptodiscusssitespecificrequirements,environmentalconstraints,andBMPs.
WorkorderrequestswillfollowtheDistrictsQEMSdocumentWQ75101
FieldOperationsWorkOrderProcess.AclearinghouseofexperiencedandSMPcompetentstaffwillassess,develop,andauthorizework,compliantwiththe20122022SMP,BMPs,requiredmitigation,andothernaturalresourceprotectionprotocols.
1.11. ProcessforProgramImprovement
Anannual"LessonsLearned"meetingbetweentheDistrictandregulatoryagencystaffwilloccur,usuallyinFebruary,toevaluatetheeffectivenessofbothresourceprotectionandmaintenancemethodsusedintheprecedingmaintenanceyear.TheinformationandassessmentswillbeusedtoupdateBMPs,andStreamMaintenanceProgramprocessestocreateagreaterunderstandingofhowtoaccomplishenvironmentallysensitive,fiscallysoundmaintenancework.
1.12. RegulatoryFramework
TheSMPappliestoallworknecessaryforthe:maintenanceofflowconveyancecapacityofthecanals,creeksandrivers;protectionofthebanksadjacenttothosefacilities;properoperationofstreamgauges;andtopromotetheecologicalstewardshipoftheripariansystem.ItmaybenecessarytoobtainadditionalpermitsorauthorizationsforworkwithintheSMPareathatisnotcoveredbythisProgram.
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Introduction 20 July2011
RegulatoryagencieswithjurisdictionalauthorityintheSMPareaandfromwhichpermitsareobtainedincludethe:BayConservationandDevelopmentCommission(BCDC),CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame(CDFG),U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(USACE),NationalOceanicAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)NationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS),U.S.FishandWildlifeService(FWS)andtheRegionalWaterQualityControlBoards(RWQCBs)SanFranciscoBayandCentralCoast).ThefollowingisadescriptionofeachregulatoryagencyandtheirjurisdictionwithintheSMP.
1. BayConservationandDevelopmentCommission(BCDC)
BCDChasregulatoryresponsibilityoverdevelopmentinSanFranciscoBayand
alongtheBay'sninecountyshoreline.BCDCworkswithitsfederal,stateandlocalpartnersintheLongTermManagementStrategy(LTMS)forthePlacementofDredgedMaterialintheSanFranciscoBayRegiontomanagedredginganddisposalactivitiesintheBayArea.Formedin1990,theLTMSProgramisacollaborativepartnershipinvolvingtheregulatoryagencies,resourceagenciesandstakeholdersworkingtogethertomaximizebeneficialreuseofdredgedmaterialandminimizedisposalintheBay.
ItisnecessarytoobtainaBCDCpermitpriortoundertakingmostworkinthe
Bayorwithin100feetoftheshoreline,includingfilling,dredging,shorelinedevelopmentandotherwork.
2. CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame
a) LakeandStreambedAlterationprogram
TheDepartmentofFishandGame(DFG)isresponsibleforconserving,
protecting,andmanagingCaliforniasfish,wildlife,andnativeplantresources.Tomeetthisresponsibility,theFishandGameCode(Section1602)requiresanentitytonotifyDFGofanyproposedactivitythatmaysubstantiallymodifyariver,stream,orlake.
Notificationisrequiredbyanyperson,business,stateorlocal
governmentagency,orpublicutilitythatproposesanactivitythatwill:
1) substantiallydivertorobstructthenaturalflowofanyriver,streamorlake;
2) substantiallychangeoruseanymaterialfromthebed,channel,orbankof,anyriver,stream,orlake;or
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Introduction 21 July2011
3) depositordisposeofdebris,waste,orothermaterialcontainingcrumbled,flaked,orgroundpavementwhereitmaypassintoanyriver,stream,orlake.
IfDFGdeterminesthattheactivitymaysubstantiallyadverselyaffect
fishandwildliferesources,aLakeorStreambedAlterationAgreementwillbeprepared.TheAgreementincludesreasonableconditionsnecessarytoprotectthoseresourcesandmustcomplywiththeCaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct(CEQA).
b) CaliforniaEndangeredSpeciesAct
TheCaliforniaEndangeredSpeciesAct(CESA)allowsDFGtoauthorize
projectproponentstotakestatelistedthreatened,endangered,orcandidatespeciesifcertainconditionsaremet.DFGadministerstheincidentaltakeprovisionsofCESAtoensureregulatorycomplianceandstatewideconsistency.
Thisactaimstoprotectspeciesoffish,wildlife,andplantsthatarein
dangerof,orthreatenedwith,extinctionbecausetheirhabitatsarethreatenedwithdestruction,adversemodification,orseverecurtailment,orbecauseofoverexploitation,disease,predation,orotherfactors.
3. U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers404Permit
Section404oftheCleanWaterActregulatesthedischargeofdredged,
excavated,orfillmaterialinwetlands,streams,rivers,andotherU.S.waters.TheUSACEisthefederalagencyauthorizedtoissueSection404PermitsforcertainactivitiesconductedinwetlandsorotherU.S.waters.Dependingonthescopeoftheprojectandmethodofconstruction,certainfarmingactivitiesmayrequirethispermit.Examplesincludeponds,embankments,andstreamchannelization.
a) Jurisdiction
1) TidalWatersoftheU.S.Thelandwardlimitsofjurisdictionintidal
waters:Extendstothehightideline,orwhenadjacentnontidalwatersoftheUnitedStatesarepresent,thejurisdictionextendstothelimitsidentifiedforNonTidalWatersoftheU.S.
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Introduction 22 July2011
2) NonTidalWatersoftheUnitedStates.Thelimitsofjurisdictioninnontidalwaters:Intheabsenceofadjacentwetlands,thejurisdictionextendstotheordinaryhighwatermark,orwhenadjacentwetlandsarepresent,thejurisdictionextendsbeyondtheordinaryhighwatermarktothelimitoftheadjacentwetlands.WhenthewateroftheUnitedStatesconsistsonlyofwetlandsthejurisdictionextendstothelimitofthewetland.
b) Section10oftheRiversandHarborsActof1899(33U.S.C.403)
prohibitstheobstructionoralterationofnavigablewatersoftheUnitedStateswithoutapermitfromtheCorpsofEngineers.AllStructuresandWorkdredging,marinas,piers,wharves,floats,intake/outtakepipes,pilings,bulkheads,ramps,fills,overheadtransmissionlines,etc.
4. U.SEnvironmentalProtectionAgency
TheUSACEjointlyadministersSection404authoritywiththeUSEPA,the
administeringagencyfortheentireCWA,andreceivesoversightsupportfromtheUSFWS.UnderaMemorandumofAgreement(MOA)betweentheUSEPAandtheDepartmentofDefense(DOD),theUSACEisgivensoleresponsibilityformakingfinalpermitdecisionspursuanttoSection404and,"conductsjurisdictionaldelineationsassociatedwiththedaytodayadministrationoftheSection404program"(U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture1996).TheUSEPAretainstheauthoritytoenforcecompliancewithSection404andmaintainsthepowertooverruleUSACEdecisionsontheissuanceordenialofpermits(U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency1995).Ifthereisadisputeaboutwhetheranareacanberegulated,theUSEPAhastheultimateauthoritytodeterminetheactualgeographicscopeofwatersoftheUnitedStatessubjecttojurisdictionunderallsectionsoftheCWA,includingtheSection404regulatoryprogram(U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture1996).
5. NOAANMFS
CWASection404.TheActprovidesNOAAauthoritytocommentonpermitapplicationsforthepurposeofavoiding,minimizing,andmitigatingthedestructionanddegradationofaquaticresources,includingwetlands.
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EndangeredSpeciesAct(ESA).TheESAprovidesforthedesignationandprotectionofinvertebrates,wildlife,fish,andplantspeciesthatareindangerofbecomingextinctandconservestheecosystemsonwhichsuchspeciesdepend.TheNationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS)dealswithactionsaffectingmarinespecies.Section7oftheESArequiresFederalagenciestoconsultwithNMFStoinsurethatanyactionauthorized,funded,orcarriedoutbysuchagencyisnotlikelytojeopardizethecontinuedexistenceofanyendangeredspeciesorthreatenedspeciesoradverselymodifyordestroydesignatedcriticalhabitat.FollowingconsultationunderSection7,abiologicalopinionisissued.TheMagnusonStevensFisheryConservationandManagementAct(MSA).The1996amendmentstotheMSAestablishedanewmandatefortheNMFS,regionalfisherymanagementcouncils(FMC),andotherFederalagenciestoidentifyandprotectimportantmarineandanadromousfishhabitat(EssentialFishHabitatorEFH),includingwetlands.TheEFHprovisionsoftheMSAsupportoneoftheNationsoverallmarineresourcemanagementgoalsmaintainingsustainablefisheries.Federalactionagencieswhichfund,permit,orcarryoutactivitiesthatmayadverselyimpactEFHarerequiredtoconsultwithNMFSregardingthepotentialeffectsoftheiractionsonEFH.WhenNMFSfindsthatanactionmayadverselyaffectEFH,NMFSisrequiredtoprovidetheactionagencywithconservationrecommendationstoprotectEFH.
6. USFishandWildlifeService(FWS)
TheESAprovidesforthedesignationandprotectionofinvertebrates,wildlife,
fish,andplantspeciesthatareindangerofbecomingextinctandconservestheecosystemsonwhichsuchspeciesdepend.ESASection7requiresFederalagenciestoinsurethatanyactionauthorized,fundedorcarriedoutbythemisnotlikelytojeopardizethecontinuedexistenceoflistedspeciesormodifytheircriticalhabitat.
MigratoryBirdTreatyAct(MBTA).TheMBTAprovidesthatitisunlawfulto
pursue,hunt,take,capture,kill,possess,sell,purchase,barter,import,export,ortransportanymigratorybird,oranypart,nest,oreggoranysuchbird,unlessauthorizedunderapermitissuedbytheSecretaryoftheInterior.Someregulatoryexceptionsapply.Takeisdefinedinregulationsas:pursue,hunt,shoot,wound,kill,trap,capture,orcollect,orattempttopursue,hunt,shoot,
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wound,kill,trap,capture,orcollect.TheMBTAprotectsover800speciesofbirdsthatoccurintheU.S.
BaldandGoldenEagleProtectionAct(1940)protectseaglesfromcommercial
exploitationandsafeguardstheircontinuedsurvivalintheUnitedStates.Thislawprovidesfortheprotectionofthebaldeagle(thenationalemblem)andthegoldeneaglebyprohibiting,exceptundercertainspecifiedconditions,thetaking,possessionandcommerceofsuchbirds.
7. RegionalWaterQualityControlBoard(RWQCB)
TheWaterBoardisaStateagencywithregionaljurisdictionoverthebedand
banksofstreamchannels,theirripariancorridorsandthebeneficialuses.SantaClaraCountyisunderthejurisdictionoftheSanFranciscoBayandCentralCoastRegions.TheRWQCBspurposeistoprotectandimprovethequalityofthenaturalwaterresourcesintheregion.RegionalresourcesincludeSanFranciscoandTomalesBays,theOcean,streamsthatflowintotheBaysandOcean,andgroundwaterthroughouttheregion.Protectingwaterqualityisachievedbyregulatingdischargestothewatersandbyrequiringcleanupsofunplannedorillegaldischarges.Theregulatingofdischargesisdonethroughavarietyofpermits.PermitsissuedbytheWaterBoardputrestrictionsondischargesofwastes,suchasconcentrationsofcertainpollutants,ortheamountofflow.Permitscanalsorequiredischargerstotakecertainkindsofactions;forexample,installingcertaintechnologiestotreatorcontainwastes,orimplementingpracticestomanagestormwater.
ThePorterCologneActalsoassignsresponsibilityforimplementingCWA
Sections303,401,and402totheSWRCBandRWQCBs.UnderSection303,theRWQCBs,inconjunctionwithUSEPA,areresponsiblefordevelopingandimplementingTMDLstoaddresswaterqualityimpairments.
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1.13. ReferenceDocuments
DetailedinformationoftheSMPandpermitconditionscanbefoundinthefollowingdocuments:
1. FinalEnvironmentalImpactReport(FEIR)forthe2012StreamMaintenance
Program,date.2. SanFranciscoBayRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard(RWQCBSF)Order
specifyingWasteDischargeRequirementsandCleanWaterActSection401WaterQualityCertificationdated.
3. CentralCoastRegionRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard(RWQCBCC)OrderspecifyingWasteDischargeRequirementandCleanWaterActSection401WaterQualityCertificationdated.
4. 2012StreamMaintenanceProgramBiologicalAssessment,SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrict,date.
5. SedimentCharacterizationPlanfortheSanFranciscoBayRegion2012StreamMaintenanceProgram,date.
6. WaterQualitySamplingPlanFortheSanFranciscoBayAreaRegion,2012StreamMaintenanceProgram,date.
7. SedimentCharacterizationPlanfortheCentralCoastRegion2012StreamMaintenanceProgram,date.
8. WaterQualitySamplingPlanforCentralCoastRegion,2012StreamMaintenanceProgram,date.
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VegetationManagement 26 July2011
2. VEGETATIONMANAGEMENT
TheVegetationManagementProgramisdesignedtomaintainthehydraulicandsafetyfunctionsoftheDistrictscreekandcanalsystems,andstreamgauges;throughthecontrolandmanagementofvegetation,whileimprovingcreekecosystems.(PleaseseetheCanalMaintenancechapterforthedescriptionofadditionalworkincanals.)
Vegetationmanagementisnecessarytoachievevariousfacilitymanagementgoals.
Specifically,vegetationhastheabilityto:restricthydrauliccapacityandimpedeflowconveyance,negativelyimpactwaterquality,andcreatefirehazardsduetohighfuelloads.Nonnativevegetationmayalsohavenegativeecologicalimpactsasitcanoutcompetemoredesirablenativespecies,resultinginhabitatalterationandreducedbiodiversity.TheDistrictusesanintegratedapproachforvegetationmanagementtoensurethemosteffectivetechniqueisusedinamannerthatminimizesimpactstotheenvironment.
Thischapterdescribesspecifictypesofvegetationmanagementthatareconsidered
toberoutinemaintenanceactivities.Theprogramisseparatedbetweenwoodyandherbaceousvegetationmanagement,thoughthereareoverlaps.Forsimplicity,thewordswoodyandtreewillrefertobothtreesandshrubs.
Therearefiveprojectedvegetationmanagementactivitiesthataredescribedforthe
programperiod20122022.Theseincludepruning,handremoval,herbicide,mowing,anddiscingactivities.Multipleworkactivitiescanbeusedtoachieveanyonepurposeoftheprogramdependinguponthelocation,timeofseason,goaltobeaccomplished,andsensitivityoftheresources.
Workactivitiesarepermittedthroughouttheprogramarea.SMP2002projected
areashavebeenmitigatedforinperpetuity.Allothernewworkareaimpactswillbeassessedannually,calculatingthenecessarymitigationpertherequirementsintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIR.
TheVegetationManagementchapterhasthefollowingsubsections:2.1 WoodyVegetationManagement
2.1.1 RoutinePruning2.1.2 CorrectivePruning2.1.3 Coppicing2.1.4 HandRemoval2.1.5 InvasivePlantManagementPlan
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2.1.6 LargeWoodyDebris
2.2 HerbicideandMechanical2.2.1 Herbicide2.2.2 Mowing2.2.3 Discing2.2.4 Flaming2.2.5 Grazing
2012ProjectedVegetationManagementWorkTypebyWatershed(inmiles)
WatershedHand
Removal
Herbicide
Pruning
Mowing
Discing
SantaClaraBasin
LowerPeninsula
2.5 47.8 22.7 3.8 0
WestValley 3.2 146 61.7 32.6 0
Guadalupe 6.9 277.7 211.6 146.8 .4
Coyote 88.6 213.4 159.5 58.3 .5
PajaroBasin
Pajaro 49.7 162 156.6 45.9 .9
Total 150.9miles 846.9miles 612.1miles 287.4miles 1.8milesNote:1. Milesareshownforthetotalprojectionofeachworkactivitytype.Thisincludes
acreagesforoverlappingworkactivitiesatthesamelocation,sopotentialimpactsareoverrepresented.
2. Milesincorporatetheworkareapercentageestimatetoaccountforvaryingworkamountswithinareach.
ChannelAccessandStaging
Accesstomaintenancesiteswilloccurviaexisting,adjacentaccessroadswherepresent.MostSCVWDmaintainedchannelshaveatleastoneexistingaccessroadrunningalongthetopofbankononesideofthechannel.Somechannelshaveanaccessroadoneithersideofthechannel;andothersmayhavealowermaintenanceroadalongthelowerlevelbanks.Whenthechannelshape,bankheight,orthepresenceofmaturevegetationpreventstheuseofthetopofbankaccessroads,
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equipmentcanmovedownthechannelslopeviaexistingaccessramps,orforgeanewtemporaryaccessroute.Selectiveclearingofshrubsortreesmaybenecessaryonthebankstoprovideequipmentaccesstothechannelbed.
Accesstovegetationmaintenancesitestypicallyoccursviatheadjacentaccess
roadtothegenerallocation,ifpresent,andbyfootintothechannelorotherareaswithoutaccessroads.Stagingformaintenanceactivitieswilloccurtotheextentpossibleonadjacentaccessroadsandlands,ifavailable.
Revegetation
TheDistrictassesseseachrevegetationsitewithalongtermstrategyforselfsufficiency.Speciespalettes,soilconditions,wateravailability,aspect,etc.areincorporatedintotheplantingapproach.Thestructureofspeciesanddistancerelationshiptovariouscreekflowsguidestherevegetationspecialisttochoosethe
appropriatespeciesforthesite,consideringlongtermmaintenancerequirementsbothforthevegetationandforcreekcapacity.
2.1. WOODYVEGETATIONMANAGEMENT
2.1.1. RoutinePruning
A. PurposePruningoftreesandshrubsisaroutineactivitynecessarytoprovide
accesstoDistrictfacilities,improvevisibilitytoinspectDistrictfacilities,protectDistrictinfrastructure,andmaintainthedesignedhydrauliccapacityofthecreeksystems.PruningisalsousedtomaintainthefacilityperthefacilitiesO&MGuidelines.ProvidinganincreaseindesignflowcapacityisnotpermittedunderthisProgram.
Typicalwoodyvegetationpruningtakesplacealongmaintenance
roads,fencesandleveeslopes.TheDistrictmaytrimvegetationtoreduceorpreventfirehazards,incompliancewithlocalfirecodes.Treepruningmayincludethinningthecanopyofanindividualtreeorshrub.Forsimplicity,thetermtreeortreeswillrefertobothtreesandwoodyshrubs.
ROUTINEPRUNING
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VegetationManagement 29 July2011
Definitions
1. Pruningisthecuttingofabranch4indiameter.2. Herbaceousnonwoodyvegetationincludesgrasses,broadleaf
weeds,cattails,andbulrush;andannuals,biennials,andperennials.3. Shrubwoodyplantsmallerinheightthanatree(
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VegetationManagement 30 July2011
subjectwatershedwithin a 24hour period,whichever transpiresfirst.
2. Vegetation management outside the bankfull channel (see section2.1.6fordefinition)maybeperformedyearround.a) Year round work opportunities do not apply to areas where
mechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality.
3. Due to separate project permits and/or CEQA/NEPA requirements,individualsitesmayhaveadditionallimitationsonworktypesandworkwindows. Where these modified conditions occur they will beincorporatedintotheStreamMaintenanceProgram.
E. Requirements
Pruningcaninvigoratetreesandstimulatenewgrowth.Improperly
pruningatreeorshrubcancreatemoreworkthefollowingyear(s);e.g.aswhenmultiple,weaklyattachedstemssproutfromastubcut.
Thefollowingpruningstandardsshouldbeused:
1. Pruningwillbedonebyqualifiedstaffinamannerthatwillachievethemaintenancegoalsof the facilitywhilepreserving the shortand longtermhealthofthevegetation.
2. Pruning standards should be performed according to nationalAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 (Part 1) 2008Pruning, ANSI Z133.1 2000 Safety Requirements and InternationalSocietyofArboriculture(ISA)BestManagementPracticesTreePruning(revised2008)orthemostcurrentupdates.
3. Limbs 4 in diametermay be removed as routinework under theSMP.
4. Limbs > 4 may also require removal due to access for bankstabilizationandsedimentprojects,toreducedebrisaccumulation,andtominimizepotentialflooding.Thereareoccasionswherebyremovinglimbsfromafallentreemaybesufficienttomaintainflowconveyanceinlieuofcompletetreeremoval.a) Thefollowingcriteriawillbeusedforlateralpruning:
PruningwillbeprescribedandmarkedbyanISACertifiedArboristorthoseexperiencedandknowledgeableinISApruningstandards.
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5. When possible, pruning should be done during the winter whenvegetationisdormant.
F. ApplicableBMPs
VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisbasedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
2.1.2. CorrectivePruning
A. PurposeCorrectivepruningisperformedtopromotelongtermwoody
vegetationandtreehealth.Correctivepruningmayoccurtoaddressdefectsthatwouldeventuallyresultinwholetreefailuresuchas:codominantleaders;decayedordiseasedlimbs;extensivebranchdieback;incorrectpastpruning;orinjuryduetostormormechanicaldamage.Correctivepruningmayoccurwhereapotentialhazardexistsyetcompleteremovalofatreeisunwarranted.Itmayalsobeusedtoadheretoproperpruningstandards.Forexample,inordertoavoidleavingalargestubandpromotingunwantedresprouting,pruningalateralbranchawayfromamaintenanceroadmaybeextendedtothetrunkofthetree.Correctingandpruninglateralbranchesisalsoimportanttoreducetheriskofdebristrappinginthechannel,particularlyneartheactivebankfullchannel(seesection2.1.6fordefinition).
Correctivepruningshouldnotbeusedasjustificationtodomorework
thanisnecessaryorwouldotherwisebepermitted.Insomecases,cuttingalateralmidwaymaybeanappropriateplacetosupportorregenerategrowthupward.
B. WorkActivity
Correctivepruningisthepartialremovalofanyindividualplantand
includescuttingoftreebranches,woodyandherbaceousvegetation,andisconductedwithmechanizedandnonmechanizedhandtools.Unlikeroutinepruning,correctivepruningisstrivingtocorrectaninjury,disease,pastdamage,orpreventativemeasuresoffuturedamagetofacilities.
CORRECTIVEPRUNING
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Pruningmayoccurininstreamandalongbankbenchareas.
C. WorkProjectionsCorrectivepruningisnotaprojectedworkactivityandmayoccur
throughouttheSMPprogramarea;althoughallcorrectivepruningmustbeprescribedbyanISACertifiedArborist.
D. WorkWindow
Vegetationmanagementactivitiesmayoccur:1. Instream (wetted area) hand pruning and hand removalmay occur
yearround,except:a) Wheremechanized equipmentwould need to access the site by
crossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality,orb) Insteelheadstreams,whereworkisonlypermitteduntilDecember
31oruntilsignificantrainfallgreaterthan0.5inchesfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithin a 24hour period,whichever transpiresfirst.
2. Vegetation management outside the bankfull channel (see section2.1.6fordefinition)maybeperformedyearround.a) Year round work opportunities do not apply to areas where
mechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality.
3. Due to separate project permits and/or CEQA/NEPA requirements,individualsitesmayhaveadditionallimitationsonworktypesandworkwindows. Where these modified conditions occur they will beincorporatedintotheStreamMaintenanceProgram.
E. Requirements
1. All corrective pruning is performed according to national ANSI A300
(Part 1) 2008 Pruning,ANSI Z133.1 2000 SafetyRequirements andInternationalSocietyofArboriculture(ISA)BestManagementPracticesTreePruning(revised2008)orthemostcurrentupdates.
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2. Correctivepruningwillbeprescribedandmarkedbyan ISACertifiedArborist or those experienced and knowledgeable in ISA pruningstandardsandsuccessfulcorrectivepruning.
3. Ingeneral,nomorethan25%ofan individualtreewouldberemovedinoneseason.Rarecasesmayoccur,however,suchastheremovalofacodominantleader.
4. Removal of limbs greater than 4 diametermay be necessary, andarboriculturaljustificationwillbeprovided.
5. Whenever possible, corrective pruning should be done during thewinterwhenvegetationisdormant.
F. ApplicableBMPs
VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPs
mayberevisedonanannualbasisbasedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
2.1.3. Coppicing
A. CoppicingPurpose
Coppicingcreatesannualsuckergrowththatmaybedesirableascuttingmaterialfordirectinstallationinmitigationprojects.Willowspecies,mulefatandcoyotebrusharetypicallychosen.Thetreesthatarechosenaretreesthatwouldnormallybetargetedforcompleteremoval.Aftercuttingthetreebacktotheground,ratherthantreattheremainingstumpwithherbicide,thetreeisinsteadlefttoresproutandprovideanongoingcuttingsourceforindividualwatersheds.Selectindividualswithineachofthemajorwatershedscanbededicatedtothisactivity.
B. WorkActivity
Coppicingoftreesorshrubsentailsseverelypruningan
COPPICING
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VegetationManagement 34 July2011
entirewoodyplantnearthegroundtopromotemultistemmedregrowth.Thisactionwillchangetheplantformfromatreetoashrub,thus,increasingvariabilityofcanopyarchitectureandage.Coppicingtypicallyuseshandheldandsmallmechanicaltools.Largerequipmentmaybenecessarytoremovethevegetationfromthechannel,tothenbehauledaway.
C. WorkProjections
Coppicingisnotaprojectedactivityandmayoccurthroughoutthe
programarea.
D. WorkWindowVegetationmanagementactivitiesmayoccur:
1. Instream (wetted area) hand pruning and hand removalmay occuryearround,except:a) Wheremechanized equipmentwould need to access the site by
crossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality,orb) Insteelheadstreams,whereworkisonlypermitteduntilDecember
31oruntilsignificantrainfallgreaterthan0.5inchesfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithin a 24hour period,whichever transpiresfirst.
2. Vegetation management outside the bankfull channel (see section2.1.6fordefinition)maybeperformedyearround.a) Year round work opportunities do not apply to areas where
mechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality.
3. Due to separate project permits and/or CEQA/NEPA requirements,individualsitesmayhaveadditionallimitationsonworktypesandworkwindows. Where these modified conditions occur they will beincorporatedintotheStreamMaintenanceProgram.
E. Requirements
Treesthatwouldotherwiseneedtoberemovedmaybegoodcandidatestobecoppiced.Allworkisdoneafterappropriatepre
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VegetationManagement 35 July2011
constructionbiologicalsurveyshavebeenperformedandappropriateregulatoryclearancesobtained.
F. ApplicableBMPs
VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPs
mayberevisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
2.1.4. HandRemoval
A. PurposeLive,standingtreesandshrubsmayberemovedfromDistrictfacilities
tomeetoneofthefollowingprogramobjectives:maintaindesignflowconveyancecapacity,providefacilityinspectionandaccess,maintainthestructuralintegrityofDistrictfacilities,andtopromoteoverallecologicalhealth.Forsimplicity,thetermtreeortreeswillrefertobothtreesandwoodyshrubs.
Treeremovalsmayoccuranywhereinthecreekcrosssection,
includingbutnotlimitedto,streamsandtheirimmediateoverstory,streambanks,canals,levees,accessroadsandpedestrianpaths,outboardareasandatbridgesandculverts.
StumptreatmentofremovedtreesisincludedunderHandRemoval
andisnotdefinedasHerbicidework.Alltreeremovalswillassumeastumptreatmentwithherbicide,unlessotherwisenotedintheProgramdocument.BiologicalclearanceswillassumeherbicidetreatmentunlessotherwisenotedontheWorkOrder.
1. Maintenance.Treeremovalsmaybenecessarytoretain
design flow conveyance capacity and tomaintain creek channels.This conditionusuallyoccurswhen treeson thebankhave falleninto the stream or moved in such a way that the trees neworientation impedes flowsor causesdebrisblockages, resulting inan increased flood risk. Fallen trees also can divert streamflowsintotheoppositestreambankincreasingtheerosionandfloodrisk.Although locations of downed trees is not predictable, thiswork
HANDREMOVAL
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VegetationManagement 36 July2011
shouldbe considered anticipateddue to itsnaturaland regularoccurrence.
Treesalsoexistinlocationswheretheirrootsorbranchesmay
interferewithorunderminetheintegrityofDistrictfacilities.Thesefacilitiesinclude,butarenotlimitedtoconcretelinings,concretewingwalls,gabions,sackedconcretewalls,streamflowgauges,stormdrainoutfalls,culverts,andpipes.Treesremovedintheseareaswouldlikelybestumptreatedwithherbicidetopreventrecoveryandreestablishment.
Trees
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TreeremovalswillfollowtherequirementsintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIRandsummarizedabove.Treesandshrubs612dbhwillbeassessedonaprojectspecificbasisperapayasyougoprogram.(SeeAttachmentC,TreeScoringforRemovalofTreesandShrubs612dbhApril,2011)
3. EcologicalHealth/Stewardship. In the interestofstreamand land
stewardship,effortsmaybemadeto improvethehealthandvigorof trees on District properties through proper arboricultural andvegetation management techniques. Early detection of plantdiseases and pathogens such as SuddenOakDeath andWesternbark beetles, supported by BMPs that prevent movement ofinfected materials to additional locations, will be implementedthroughthisProgram.Removalofinfectedtreesmaybenecessarytoguaranteetheecologicalhealthofthegreaterarea.
Treesmayberemovedorprunedtoimprovebothaquaticand
terrestrialhabitatqualitybyachievingthefollowingobjectives:
Topromotewaterresourcesstewardship,effortswillbemadetoimprovetheecologicalhealthofripariananduplandwoodlandsonDistrictfacilities.Treeswithstructuraldefects,insectinfestation,orpathogensthatthreatentheecologicalhealthofthetreeorwoodlandmayberemoved.Woodlandswithstuntedgrowthasaresultofcompetitionforresourcesmaybethinnedtofacilitatenormalgrowth.Priortoremovalorstandthinningoftrees,anassessmentoftheecologicalhealthoftheriparianand/oruplandwoodlandswillbeconductedanddocumentedwithwrittenrecommendationsbybiologicalorexperiencedecologicalstaffformanagement.
B. WorkActivity
Completeremovalofabovegroundportionsofanyindividualplant
usingmechanizedornonmechanizedhandtools.Thiscategoryincludesherbicidestumptreatment,called'cutstump'whichisfollowupworkfromtheremovalofvegetation.CutstumptreatmentisapairedactivitytoHandRemoval.Stumptreatmentisassumedtooccurunlessnotedotherwiseontheworkorder.
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HandRemovalmayoccurwhereherbicidetreatmentshavebeenappliedtowoodyvegetation.
Handremovalusessmallhandtoolsormechanizedtoolssuchas
chainsawstocutvegetation.Cutvegetationwillbetransportedfromthechannelbedtotheaccessroadbyhandorbymechanicalequipmentsuchasanexcavatororloader.Vegetationischippedonsiteandhauledawayindumptrucks/compactors.Theherbicideapplicationportionofthisworkactivityisperformedusingtoolssuchasdripcans,aspraybottle,orapaintbrushtodoatopicaltreatment.
C. WorkWindow
Vegetationmanagementactivitiesmayoccur:
1. Instream (wetted area) hand pruning and hand removalmay occuryearround,except:a) Wheremechanized equipmentwould need to access the site by
crossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality,orb) Insteelheadstreams,whereworkisonlypermitteduntilDecember
31 or until local rainfall greater than 0.5 inches falls within thesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whicheveroccursfirst.
2. Vegetation management outside the bankfull channel (see section
2.1.6fordefinition)maybeperformedyearround.a) Year round work opportunities do not apply to areas where
mechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality.
b) Except mowing, which may occur between February 1 andNovember 30, and discingwhichmay occur between February 1andOctober15.
3. Due to separate project permits and/or CEQA/NEPA requirements,
individualsitesmayhaveadditionallimitationsonworktypesandworkwindows. Where these modified conditions occur they will beincorporatedintotheStreamMaintenanceProgram.
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D. Requirements1. All tree removals requireabiologicalsurveyandmustbeverified for
compliance by the watershed environmental planner. In certaincircumstances, the workmay need to be supervised by a qualifiedhorticulturalspecialistorCertifiedArborist.
2. TreeremovalsmustmeetoneofthepurposesstatedaboveinIII,A,1.
3. Alltreeremovalsmustbecoordinatedwithlocaltreeordinances.
E. RemovalCriteriaCriteriaforremovaloftreesisnotbasedsolelyonwhethertheyare
native,nonnative,orinvasive.Nonnativetrees,includinginvasives,oftenprovidevaluablehabitatfunctionsintheabsenceofmoredesirablenativevegetation.Removalofanyofthesetreeswouldbeevaluatedusingthefollowingcriteria.PleaserefertoAttachmentC,TreeScoringforRemovalofTreesandShrubs612dbhforimplementation.
1. Presenceorabsenceofadjacentvegetationofsimilarstatureproviding
equivalenthabitat functions suchas roosting,nesting,perching,SRA,etc. Retentionofnonnatives (invasiveornot)willbegivenahigherpriority if other vegetation is not available to provide alternativehabitat.
2. Currentordocumentableusebywildlifethat isunlikelytobeoffset ifthe vegetation is removed. Such use would include raptor nests,evidenceofusebycavitynestingspecies,evidenceofa rookery,andsimilarwildlifeuses.
3. Instances where the tree is providing vegetative structure (rootsystem)toastreambankthatislikelytoresultinerosionifthetreeisremovedwillbe considered forpruningor thinning to retain the soilstabilityfunction.
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F. ApplicableBMPs
VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
G. Requirements
Treeremovalsarearegularworkoccurrenceandarenecessaryto
maintaintheproperfunctionofDistrictfacilities,maintainconveyancecapacity,removedebrisaccumulationandimprovetheripariansystem.Therearealsodifferentcriteriafortreeremovalsbasedonspeciestypeandlocationwithinthecreeksystems.
Nativetreesaregivenahigherlevelofconsiderationforpreservation
thannonnativetrees.Nativetreespeciesaremoredesirableandtheirpresenceisencouragedovernonnativespecies.Nonnativespeciesandinvasivenonnativesespecially,arelessdesirable.(PleaseseetheInvasivePlantRemovalsectionforadescriptionofaprogramdesignedtocomprehensivelyaddressthesespecies.)Trees,nativeornonnative,locatedwithinacreekchannel,channelbank,orleveemayrequireremovalifflowconveyancecapacityisreduced,thestructuralintegrityiscompromised,andwhereneededforvisualinspectionoflevees.
Treesmayberemovedandaccountedforonaprojectspecific,payas
yougobasis.Trees
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1. Trees
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functionofthehabitat.Mitigationcreditfrominvasiveplantremovalcanbeusedtocompensateforlossofnativeplantspeciesduringroutinemaintenanceactivities.
Removalofherbaceousinvasivespecieswillbequantifiedasacreageorarea
removed,whereasremovalofwoodytreeorshrubspecieswillbedeterminedbaseduponthenumberofstems,diameterrank(class),invasivenessoftargetspecies,andtheecologicalvalueprovidedbytargetspeciesattheproposedworklocation.
SeetheIPMPAttachmentDofthisManualfordetailedinformation.
2.1.6. LargeWoodyDebris(LWD)
Largewoodydebrisisrecruitedtothestreamchannelthroughouttheyearbyavarietyofnaturalprocessesincludingbankerosion,landslides,windstorms,andtreemortality.TheLWDevaluationandimplementationprogramincludesanassessmentoftheecological,geomorphicandhydrauliceffects(creek,canalandstreamgaugefunctions)ofLWDinthecreeksofSantaClaraCounty.Theevaluationandimplementationprogramwillbalancefloodprotectionobjectiveswhilemaintainingtheecologicalintegrityofourlocalstreams.
TheLWDprogrampertainstotheinstreamareawhichisdefinedasthestream
channelwithinordinaryhighwaterdischargedemarcations.ThetermordinaryhighwaterisdefinedbytheACOEasthatlineontheshoreestablishedbythefluctuationsofwaterandindicatedbyphysicalcharacteristicssuchasclear,naturallineimpressedonthebank,shelving,changesinthecharacterofsoil,destructionofterrestrialvegetation,thepresenceoflitteranddebris,orotherappropriatemeansthatconsiderthecharacteristicsofthesurroundingareas.
A. Purpose
LWDprovidesanimportantecologicalroleinSantaClaraCounty
creeks.Itcanalsocreateareasofdebrisaccumulationifnotproperlymanaged.ALWDprogramwillbepreparedtoretainwoodydebrisin
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streamsthroughoutSantaClaraCountyinordertopreservethephysicalandbiologicalprocessesassociatedwiththenaturalrecruitmentofwoodtowaterways.ThisprocesswillalterurbanstreamssothattheirbehaviorcorrespondsascloselyaspossiblewiththatofnaturalstreamswhileretainingtheDistrictsabilitytoprovidefloodprotection.
B. WorkActivity
Inordertoeffectivelymanagelargewoodydebrisinstreamswithinthe
urbanlandscapeofSantaClaraCounty,theDistrictwilluseafourtiered,multidisciplinedapproachforaddressingLWD.Thefourtiersare:1)RetainLWDinthechannel,2)modifyLWD,3)removeLWDandreplace,and4)removeLWD.LWDmanagementmayuseanexcavator,materialhandler,and/orcranetomodifyplacement.
C. WorkProjections
Largewoodydebrisisnotaprojectedworkactivity.
D. WorkWindowLWDmanagementwillfollowthesameworkwindowsasfor
vegetationmanagement.ModificationoftheserequirementsmaybemadethroughtheBiologicalOpinionoftheNationalMarineFisheriesService.
E. Requirements
ThefullrequirementsaredescribedintheLWDProgramdocument,
AttachmentEandtheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIR.Pleaserefertothosedocumentsforimplementation.Onceadeterminationismadeandimplemented,theLWDwillbetaggedandmonitored.ThisinformationwillbeinputtedandtrackedintheDistrictdatabase.MitigationforLWDisonlyrequiredincreeksthatsupportanadromousfish;thoughmanagementofLWDisdesiredinallSantaClaracreeks.
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F. ApplicableBMPs
VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisbasedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
2.2. HERBICIDEandMECHANICAL
TheDistrictsVegetationManagementProgramusesanintegratedapproachof
chemical,mechanical,cultural,andsomelimitedbiologicalmethodstomanagevegetationonitsfacilities.Herbicidesareusedinconjunctionwithmechanicalandhandvegetationsuppressiontosupporthydraulic,firesafety,andecosystemfunctions.Herbicidesareusedinamannerthatisleastdisruptivetoexistingorpotentialbiologicalresources.
ControlofherbaceousvegetationintheSMPareaisdoneformanyofthesame
reasonsasmanagementofwoodyspecies.Herbaceousvegetationhastheabilitytoimpedeflowconveyance,andcreatefirehazardsinnoninstreamareasoutsideofthechannelbottom.Herbaceousvegetationmayalsohavenegativeecologicalimpactsasitcanoutcompetemoredesirablenativespecies,resultinginhabitatdegradation.ForthepurposesoftheSMP,herbaceousvegetationisnonwoodyvegetationwhichincludesgrasses,broadleafweeds,cattails,andbulrush.Herbaceousvegetationincludesannual,biennial,andperennialplanttypes.
Herbaceousvegetationcontrolisperformedtolimitweedgrowth,seedingand
expansionintonewareas,toreduceweedsinareasofspecialmanagement(mitigationsites),maintainroadrightofwaysandfirebreaksalongtopofbank,preventvegetationencroachmentbyherbaceousplants,maintainvegetationfreeareasasbuffers,andtoprovidelocalizedtreatmentsneededtoprotectfacilitiesandresources.
GuidingPrinciples
ThegoalofSMPvegetationmanagementistoachievethedesiredcontrolwhilebalancingenvironmentalandeconomicconsiderations.Herbicides,whileoftenthemosteffectiveeconomically,areroutinelydismissedforsomeapplicationsduetootherfactorsthatmaketheiruseinagivensituationinappropriate.Inthesamecontext,herbicidesusedappropriatelyare,inmanycases,themostenvironmentallydesirablemethodforachievingthedesiredlevelofvegetationcontrol.Theselectionofanapprovedherbicide,coupledwiththeuseofanappropriatesurfactantper
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labelrecommendationscanprovideahigherlevelofcontrolwhichmayreducethefrequencyneededtoserviceanarea,whilealsominimizingphysicalimpactstothesite.Targeteduseofherbicidesmayeliminatetheneedtobringinheavymowingequipmentorlargehandcrewsthatcanbemoredisruptivetoonsitebiologicalresources.Forexample,ratherthancominginannuallytocontrolaspecificarea,youmaybeabletoreducethereturntimetoeverytwoyears.
2.2.1. Herbicide
A. PurposeHerbicidesareappliedinareaswherethepresenceoftheherbaceous
vegetationisinconflictwiththemaintenancestandardsofthefacility.HerbicidesarealsoroutinelyusedtotreatcutstumpsafterHandRemovalactivitiestopreventresprouting(describedabove).TheuseofherbicideforcutstumptreatmentisapairedactivitywithHandRemoval.Postemergentherbicidesareappliedtomanagefirebreaksinareasatthetopofbank.
B. WorkActivity
Theapplicationofherbicide
occursinstreamandonbankbenchareasaswellasonmaintenanceroads,outboardleveeslopes,andsimilarnoninstreamareas.Herbicidedescribesaworkactivityandnottheformulationused.Thisactivityconsistsofusingherbicideastheprimaryabatementtooltokillvegetationandprovidesubsequentfollowupforhandremovalactivities.
Allherbicideapplicationsareperformedusingequipmentappropriate
tothespecificapplicationtype.Instreamherbicideapplicationmayuseahoseandhandgunwithadirectedstream,orabackpackunitforsmallerisolatedareas.
Onunpavedaccessroads,herbicideswouldbesprayedfromatruck
mountedboomtocontrolweedsinordertoallowmaintenanceaccess
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andprovidefirebreaks.Theboomshavemultiplenozzlesthatarespecificallycalibratedtoprovidethedosageandspraypatternappropriatetothearea.Theapplicationismanagedfromanonboardcomputermountedineachsprayrig.Duringtheapplication,roadsarepostedclosedtonotifythepublicoftheapplicationandremainsountiltheapplicationdriestoreducetheriskofincidentalexposure.
HandRemovalcutstumpapplicationsaretopicalherbicide
applicationsasafollowupactivitytoHandRemovalandareconsideredpairedactivities.Therefore,cutstumpapplicationsarenotdefinedasHerbicide.Cutstumpapplicationsareappliedusingtopicalequipment,suchasaspraybottle,paintbrush,ordripbottle.HandRemovalmayoccurwhereherbicidetreatmentshavebeenappliedtowoodyvegetation.
C. WorkProjections
HerbicideusageisaprojectedworkactivityunderHerbicide.Hand
RemovalmayoccurwhereHerbicidetreatmentshavebeenappliedtowoodyvegetation.HandRemovalmaybesubstitutedinareaswhereHerbicidehasbeenprojected.Payasyougovegetationremovalisaccountedforseparately.
Workthatisconductedinareasnotoriginallyprojectedin2002,willrequiremitigationasdescribedintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixC,2012SMPFSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPhasbeenmitigatedforinperpetuity,willcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.
D. WorkWindow
1. InstreamherbicideuseisaprojectedworkactivityandmayoccurbetweenJune15October15.
2. Instreamworkmaycontinue fromOctober16untilDecember31oruntil local rainfall greater than 0.5 inches falls within the subjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whichevertranspiresfirst.
3. Bankbenchherbicideworkmayoccuryearround,weatherpermittingandpertheproductlabel.
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E. Requirements
1. Allherbicideusagemusthave theappropriatebiological surveysandclearances.
2. AllherbicideapplicationsmusthaveaPestControlRecommendationprovided by a California licensed Pest Control Advisor. Arecommendation isprovidedaftereachsite issurveyedandthemostappropriatecontrolmethodsforthesitearedetermined.
3. Foliar applications towoody vegetation are limited tounder two (2)
inchesdbhandtypicallylessthaneight(8)feetinheight.
4. Herbicideuseispermittedinnoninstream(bank/bench)areas.
5. Herbicideuse ispermittedyearroundon instreamconcretesections(e.g.weepholes,expansioncracks)indrychannels.
6. Unmodifiedstreams,asdefinedperthemapsinthisdocument,may
performthefollowingworkactivities:a) Preemergentherbicidesarepermittedinnoninstream
(bank/bench)areasoutsideofthechannelbanks.b) Postemergentherbicidesmaybeappliedinaquatichabitatsto
controlnonnativeandinvasiveplantspecies.c) Postemergentherbicidesmaybeappliedoutsidethewetted
channel(inboardslope,bankbench,andoutboardslope)tocontrolvegetationforfuelmanagement,maintenanceaccessandecologicalrequirements.
d) Additionalbiologicalandpestcontrolrecommendationsmayberequiredtoprotectsensitivespeciesandtheirhabitats.
7. Herbicidesmaybepermittedinserpentineareaswhenapprovedbya
qualifiedplantbiologistandwiththeincorporationofmeasurestoprotectsensitivebiologicalresources,asappropriate.
Considerationsforherbicideuseinserpentineareas:a) Maintainthedesignedfunctionofthefacility,b) Managementforcontrolofinvasiveandnonnativeplants,andc) Protectionofsensitivespeciesandhabitat.
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8. AquaticherbicidecanonlybeusedinCaliforniaredleggedfrogandCaliforniatigersalamanderSMPmappedareaswhenthecreekisdryandnorainisforecastforthenext48hours.
9. Theuseofsurfactantsonthe14steelheadstreamsarepermittedwhen:a. Thestreamisdryintheimmediateworklocationandnorainis
forecastforthenext24hours.b. Spotsprayingisnecessarytocontrolundesirablevegetation(eg.
invasivenonnativevegetationorvegetationthatfallsoutsidetheacceptablemaintenancedesignofthefacility).
c. Foliarsprayworkisamethodnecessarytomaintainchannelcapacitypertheengineeringstandardsforthefollowingfacilitiesandlocations:1) StevensCreekfromHighway101toLAvenidaAvenue2) GuadalupeRiver:
i. ReachGthruB(500downstreamUPRRbridgetoHighway101)
ii. BranhamLanetoGuadalupeCreek/AlamitosCreekconfluence
3) AlamitosCreek(GuadalupeRiverconfluencetoColemanRoad)4) LosGatosCreek(SouthBascomAvenueupstreamtoCamden;
andHwy85toLarkAvenue)5) UvasCreek(BloomfieldRdupstreamtoSantaTeresaBoulevard)6) LlagasCreek(confluencewiththePajaroRiverupstreamto
SantaTeresaBoulevard).
10.Surfactantsarepermittedadjacenttosteelheadstreamswhena20footbufferisestablishedbetweenthetreatmentareaandthewettedflowchannel.
F. ApplicableBMPs
VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPs
mayberevisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
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G. AquaticHerbicidesandSurfactantsOnlyherbicidesandsurfactantsthathavebeenapprovedforaquatic
usebytheEPAandareregisteredforusebytheCDPRwillbeusedforSMPaquaticvegetationcontrolwork.Thelowestrecommendedratetoachieveprojectobjectivesofbothherbicidesandsurfactantswillbeutilizedtoachievedesiredcontrol.Anindicatordyemaybeaddedtothetankmixtohelptheapplicatoridentifyareasthathavebeentreatedandbettermonitortheoverallapplication.
Surfactants
Surfactantsareaseparatecategoryofmaterialsthatareaddedtoherbicidemixturestoenhancetheirperformance.Thesurfactantmayassistwithspreadingoverthevegetation,stickingtothefoliage,penetratingthickcuticlesorotheractivitiesthatincreasetheefficacyoftheapplication.Mostaquaticherbicideseitherrequireorhighlyrecommendtheuseofasurfactanttoachievereasonablelevelsofcontrol.Ininstanceswheresurfactantsareabsentfromthetankmix,thelevelofcontrolisoftenreduced.Areductionincontrolcausesagreaterreturnfrequencywhichtranslatestomoreherbicidebeingusedinthesystemandmorefrequentdisturbancetothesite.
Surfactantusewillbelimitedtotheproductswhicharedocumented
tohavetheleasttoxicaffecttoaquaticlife.Currently,AgridexandHasten(alsoknownasCompetitor)aredocumentedastheleasttoxicintheNOAA2006SupplementalEnvironmentalAssessmentofNOAAFisheriesImplementationPlanfortheCommunityBasedRestorationProgram.(NOAARestorationCenter.SilverSprings,MD).Asnewtechnologiesandchemistrybecomesavailable,theDistrictwillevaluateitsprogramandadoptmaterialsthatachieveoptimumcontrolwhileaffordingthebestprotectiontoenvironmentalresources.TheDistricthasaseriesofQEMSDocuments,includingQ751D02ControlandOversightofPesticideUsethatdefinetheprocessesformodificationstotheHerbicideprogram.
2.2.2. Mowing
A. PurposeMowingprovidesvisualaccessforfacilityinspectionsandmaybe
requiredforflowconveyancecapacityandtomeetlocalfirecodes.Local
MOWING
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firecodescallforallweedsandgrassestobemaintainedbelow6inheightfor10horizontallyonbothsidesofaccessroutes.Vegetationmustbecutback30aroundanystructuresanda30firebreakmustbemaintained.Parcelsuptooneacreinsizemustbecompletelymowed.Allworkisperformedtoconformtolocalfirecoderequirements.Mowingistheareawidecuttingofabovegroundplantmaterialbymechanizedorhandheldequipment.Workprimarilyoccursinthebankbench/outboardareas;thoughmayalsobetidallyinfluencediftheareaisneartheBay.
B. WorkActivity
Areawidecuttingofabovegroundplantmaterialusingatractor
mountedflailmowerorhandheldequipment(weedeaters).Workprimarilyoccursinthebankbench/outboardareas;thoughmayalsobetidallyinfluencediftheareaisneartheBay.
C. WorkProjections
Mowingisaprojectedworkactivity.Areascurrentlymanagedby
discingmaybeaddedtothemowingprogramifdiscingisdeemedanundesirablemanagementmethod.Workthatisconductedinareasnotoriginallyprojectedin2002,willrequiremitigationasdescribedintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixC,2012FSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPispartoftheoriginalprogram,andwillcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.
D. WorkWindow
MowingmayoccurfromFebruary1sttoNovember30th.
E. Requirements
Allstandardproceduresforbiologicalclearancesapply.Sincemuchofthisworkisperformedbycontractors,annualBestManagementPractice(BMP)trainingisrequiredandBMPchecklistsshallbecompleteddailybythecontractor.
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F. ApplicableBMPs
BMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
2.2.3. Discing
A. Purpose
Discingisanothertoolusedforherbaceousvegetationcontrol.Discingistheareawideremovalofabovegroundherbaceousplantmaterialbytillingthesoilusingadisc.Allworkisperformedtoconformtolocalfirecoderequirements.
B. WorkActivity
Discingistheremovalofabovegroundherbaceousplant
materialinadefinedarea,bytillingthesoilusingatractordrawndiscorsimilarimplement.Discingisperformedinnoninstreamareas.
C. WorkProjectionsDiscingisaprojectedworkactivity.Workthatisconductedin
areasnotoriginallyprojectedasmowingin2002,willrequiremitigationasdescribedintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixC,2012SMPFSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPispartoftheoriginalProgram,andwillcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.
D. WorkWindow
DiscingmayoccurfromFebruary1October15.
DISCING
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E. Requirements
Allstandardproceduresforbiologicalclearancesapply.F. ApplicableBMPs
BMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmaybe
revisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
2.2.4. Flaming
A. Purpose
Ahandheldpropanegaspoweredflamermaybeusedtocontrolweedseedlings.Operationofaflamerisausefulalternativewhennontargetplantshaveknownsensitivitytoherbicidedrift.Itmayalsobeusefulindeterringannualexoticsfrominvadinganative,perennialhabitattype,aswhenpoisonhemlockorperennialpeppergrassseedlingsinvadeatemperatePacifictidalsaltorbrackishmarsh.
B. WorkActivity
Aflamerisagaspoweredhandheldwandthatdeliversa
directedtorchflamefueledbyapropanecanister.Anindividualwouldwalktheprojectsitecarryingtheflamer.Cellcontentsoftheweedexpandwiththeheatinafewseconds,burstingcellwalls,leavingtheplantwilted.Steam,notsmoke,isthebyproduct.Upright,broadleavedweedsfromto1inchtallaremosteffectivelycontrolledbythismethod;grassesorrosettesaremoredifficult.Ifthegroundsubstrateisflammable[e.g.woodmulch,leaflitter],itshouldbewetormoistwhenflamed.Nonflammablesubstratessuchasrockedmaintenanceroads,cellularconcretemat[CCM],driveways,sidewalks,concretefloodwallseams,gabions[checkthewiretolerance],gravelbars,marshes,weepholesandexpansionjointsinconcreteline
FLAMING
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creeks,canalsorspillways,etc.areidealforthistool.Smoothsubstratesallowevenapplicationofheat;roughsurfacesallowweedstoevadethetorcheffects.
C. WorkProjections
Useofaflamerisnotaprojectedworkactivityandispermitted
throughouttheprogramarea.
D. WorkWindow
Workmayoccuryearround,thoughusuallyoccursbetweenOctoberandFebruary,weatherpermitting.
E. Requirements
Allstandardproceduresforbiologicalclearancesapply.Flamers
shallbeusedonlybytrainedqualifiedstaffinstrictcompliancewithallapplicableregulations.Flamersshallnotbeusedduringperiodsofhighfiredangerorinareaswherefuelorclimateconditionscouldcauseanaccidentalfire.Localfiredistrictsmayrequestnotificationpriortouse.
F. ApplicableBMPs
BMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedon
anannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
2.2.5. Grazing
A. PurposeInlimitedcircumstances,grazingmaybeusedforherbaceousweed
controlonDistrictfacilities.Grazingusesvariousspeciesofdomesticanimalstoprovidenontargetedweedcontrol.Animalsincludegoats,sheepandotherappropriateanimals.LargerscalegrazingbycattleisnormallynotappropriateforDistrictfacilities.
GRAZING
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B. WorkActivity
Smallherdsareputonparcelsafterevaluationbybiologicalstafftoidentifysensitiveresources.Vegetationtobepreservedisfencedoffasaprotectivemeasure.Grazingisexcludedfromchannelsandotherwaterresources.Ifasensitivewaterbodyiswithinthegrazingarea,itwillbeexcludedwithfencing.
C. WorkProjections
Grazingisnotadistinctprojectedworkactivityasitispermittedwhere
mowing,discing,herbicide,ornoninstreamhandremovalisprojected.Grazingispermittedyearroundthoughitistypicallydoneinthespringandsummerwhenvegetationisyoungandstillpalatabletothelivestock.
D. WorkWindow
Workmayoccuryearround.
E. Requirements
Allstandardproceduresforbiologicalclearancesapply.
F. ApplicableBMPs
BMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisbasedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.
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3. SEDIMENTREMOVAL
A. PurposeSedimentremovalistheactofmechanicallyremovingsedimentdeposited
withinacreekorcanal.Sedimentremovalisnecessarywhenanaccumulationofsediment:(1)reducesflowconveyancecapacity;(2)preventsfacilitiesorappurtenantstructuresfromfunctioningasintended;or(3)impedesfishpassageandaccesstofishladders.TheDistrictspurposeinperformingsedimentremovalactivitiesistoensurethatacreekorcanalwillcontinuetoprovidefloodcapacityandthatappurtenantfacilitieswillfunctionasdesigned.
PleaserefertotheCanalMaintenancesectionforworkincanals.
B. WorkActivitySedimentmayberemovedfromcreekchannelbedsandcanalswithvarious
piecesofequipment,includingbutnotlimitedtoexcavators,longreachexcavators,bulldozers,scrapers,orfrontendloaders.Sedimentremovalisusuallyconductedfromthetopofbankusingoneormoreexcavators.Ifthechannelshapeorthepresenceofmaturevegetationalongthechannelbankspreventsworkingfromthetopofbank,thentheexcavatormaybepositionedloweronthechannelbanksorwithinthechannelbedusinganexistingaccessramp,ifavailable.Workingwithinthechannelmayrequiretheconstructionoftemporaryaccessramps.Wherepracticableandnecessary,smallerequipmentcanbelowereddirectlyintothechannelfromanearbystreamcrossingtominimizeimpactsassociatedwithsedimentremovaloperation.Forsmallerscalelocalizedsedimentremovalorculvertclearingprojectssmallloadersorexcavatorsmaybeusedwithintheculvert.Onceexcavated,sedimentistypicallyeitherplaceddirectlyintodumptrucksparkedontheaccessroadorstockpiledintocentrallocationsalongthechannel,whereanotheroperationsubsequentlyliftsthestockpiledmaterialintoadjacentdumptrucks.
ChannelAccessandStaging
Accesstomaintenancesiteswilloccurviaexisting,adjacentaccessroadswherepresent.MostSCVWDmaintainedchannelshaveatleastoneexistingaccessroadrunningalongthetopofbankononesideofthechannel.Somechannelshaveanaccessroadoneithersideofthechannel;andothersmayhavealowermaintenanceroadalongthelowerlevelbanks.Whenthechannelshape,bankheight,orthepresenceofmaturevegetationpreventstheuseofthe
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topofbankaccessroads,equipmentcanmovedownthechannelslopeviaexistingaccessramps,orforgeanewtemporaryaccessroute.Selectiveclearingofshrubsortreesmaybenecessaryonthebankstoprovideequipmentaccesstothechannelbed.
Intheeventthatworkwillbeperformedwithinthechannelbottom,allwork
willbeperformedindryconditionsorwithinanareadewateredbyastreamflowbypasssystem.
C. WorkProjections
Sedimentremovalisaprojectedworkactivity.Duringthefirstnineyearsof
theSMP(20022010),theDistrictremovedanaverageof42,088cubicyardsofsedimentintheSantaClaraBasinand1,376cubicyardsfromthePajaroBasineachyear.Thetotallinearextentofsedimentremovalactivity,includingrepeatedworkareas,was56.25milesofcreeks,with52.12milesofworkintheSantaClaraBasinand4.13milesinthePajaroBasinfrom20022009.
1. ProjectionEstimates
Sedimentremovalprojectionsforthe20122022workperiodarelistedbelowperwatershed.Itisprojectedthat35.4milesand7.4milesofsedimentremovalworkwilloccurintheSantaClaraandPajarobasinsrespectivelyduringthe20122022period.
SedimentRemovalProjectionsfor20122022
Watershed
20122022TotalProjected
SedimentRemoval(miles)*
NewWorkAreasfor20122022
(miles)
WorkAreasfrom20022012
NotProjectedfor20122022(miles)
SantaClaraBasin
LowerPeninsula 3.9 0.7 2.6
WestValley 3.8 0.9 8.3