STATE OF CALIFORNIA Budget Change Proposal - Cover Sheet DF-46 (REV 08/16)

^ s c a l Year Business Unit Department Priority No. | p 7 - 1 8 3860 Water Resources

Budget Request Name Program Subprogram 3860-005-BCP-2017-A1 3230

Budget Request Description Proposition 13 San Joaquin River Fish Population Enhancement

Budget Request Summary This proposal requests $21 million from Proposition 13, Water Code Chapter 9, Article 3, Section 79190(d)(2)(b)(iii) for the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to construct facilities to improve fish populations in the San Joaquin River Watershed. The funding will support four existing positions over five years. Fiscal Years (FY) 2017-18 through 2021-22 ($3.73 M in FY 17-18, $4.12M in FY 18-19, $4.31 M in FY 19-20, $4.42M in FY 20-21 and 21-22).

^ tequi res Legislation

W Y O S K NO

Code Section(s) to be Added/Amended/Repealed

Does this BCP contain information technology (IT) components? • Yes ^ No

If yes, departmental Chief Information Officer must sign.

Department CIO Date

For IT requests, specify the project number, the most recent project approval document (FSR, SPR, S1BA, S2AA, S3SD, S4PRA), and the approval date.

Project No. Project Approval Document: Approval Date:

If proposal affects another department, does other department concur with proposal? • Yes • No Attach comments of affected department, signed and dated by the department director or designee.

Prepared By Date Reviewed By Date Stefan Lorenzato 2/2/17 Duard McFarland 3/20/17

Department Director Date Agency Secretary Date Kathie Kishaba for William Croyle 3/20/17 Patrick Kemp 3/22/17

Department of Finance Use Only

Additional Review: • Capital Outlay • ITCU • FSCU • OSAE • CALSTARS • Dept. of Technology

Hip Type: • Policy • Workload Budget per Government Code 13308.05

PPBA Original Signed by

Amanda Martin

Date submitted to the Legislature

BCP Title: Prop 13 SJR River Fish - submitted

Budget Request Summary

Salaries and Wages Earnings - Permanent

Total Salaries and Wages

Total Staff Benefits Total Personal Services

Operating Expenses and Equipment 5301 - General Expense 5304 - Communications 5320 - Travel: In-State 5322 - Training 5340 - Consulting and Professional Services

External 5340 - Consulting and Professional Services

Interdepartmental Total Operating Expenses and Equipment

Total Budget Request

Fund Summary Fund Source - State Operations

6026 Bay-Delta Multipurpose Water Management Subaccount

Total State Operations Expenditures

Total All Funds

Program Summary Program Funding

Continuing Formulation of the • California Water Plan

Total All Programs

BCP Fiscal Detail Sheet ^ BR Name: 3860-005-BCP-2017-A1

FY17 CY BY BY+1 BY+2 BY+3 BY+4

0 79 232 312 356 356 $0 $79 $232 $312 $356 $356

0 37 105 141 162 162 $0 $116 $337 $453 $518 $518

0 102 271 345 390 390 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 3 3 3 3 3

0 3,500 3,500 3,500 3,500 3,500

0 5 5 5 5 5

$0 $3,614 $3,783 $3,857 $3,902 $3,902

$0 $3,730 $4,120 $4,310 $4,420 $4,420

0 3,730 4,120 4,310 4,420 4,420

$0 $3,730 $4,120 $4,310 $4,420 $4,420

$0 $3,730 $4,120 $4,310 $4,420 $4,420

0 3,730 4,120 4,310 4,420 4,420

$0 $3,730 $4,120 $4,310 $4,420 $4,420

BCP Title: Prop 13 SJR River Fish - submitted

Personal Services Details

BR Name: 3860-005-BCP-2017-A1

Salary Information Positions Min Mid Max CY BY BY+1 BY+2 BY+3 BY+4

_ . - _ o Environmental Scientist (Eff. 07-01-- 2018)

Sr Envirnal Scientist (Spec) (Eff. 07-" ^ ^^ ' 01-2017)

Engr- Water Resources (Eff. 07-01-^^^^ " 2019) 3261 - Sr Engr (Eff. 07-01-2018)

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 _ . - _ o Environmental Scientist (Eff. 07-01-- 2018)

Sr Envirnal Scientist (Spec) (Eff. 07-" ^ ^^ ' 01-2017)

Engr- Water Resources (Eff. 07-01-^^^^ " 2019) 3261 - Sr Engr (Eff. 07-01-2018)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

1.0

1.0

_ . - _ o Environmental Scientist (Eff. 07-01-- 2018)

Sr Envirnal Scientist (Spec) (Eff. 07-" ^ ^^ ' 01-2017)

Engr- Water Resources (Eff. 07-01-^^^^ " 2019) 3261 - Sr Engr (Eff. 07-01-2018) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0

Total Positions 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0

Salaries and Wages CY BY BY+1 BY+2 BY+3 BY+4 _ . 7 „ _ Environmental Scientist (Eff. 07-01-^ '^ '^ ' 2018)

Sr Envirnal Scientist (Spec) (Eff. 07-- 01-2017)

^ . ^ Engr - Water Resources (Eff. 07-01-' 2019)

3261 - Sr Engr (Eff. 07-01-2018)

0 0 34 69 69 69 _ . 7 „ _ Environmental Scientist (Eff. 07-01-^ '^ '^ ' 2018)

Sr Envirnal Scientist (Spec) (Eff. 07-- 01-2017)

^ . ^ Engr - Water Resources (Eff. 07-01-' 2019)

3261 - Sr Engr (Eff. 07-01-2018)

0

0

0

79

0

0

79

0

119

79

45

119

79

89

119

79

89

119 Total Salaries and Wages $0 $79 $232 $312 $356 $356

Staff Benefits 5150350 - Health Insurance 0 18 48 66 76 76 5150600 - Retirement - General 0 19 57 75 86 86 Total Staff Benefits $0 $37 $105 $141 $162 $162

Total Personal Services $0 $116 $337 $453 $518 $518

Analysis of Problem

Budget Request Summary

This proposal requests $21 million from Proposition 13, Chapter 9, Article 3, Section 79190(d)(2)(b)(iii) for DWR to construct facilities to improve fish populations in the San Joaquin River Watershed. The funding will support four existing positions over 5 years, FY 2017-18 through 2021-22 ($3.73 M in FY 17-18, $4.12M in FY 18-19, $4.31 M in FY 19-20, $4.42M in FY 20-21 and 21-22). Facilities to be constructed or modified would need to meet project-eligibility requirements expressed in Water Code Section 79190(d)(2)(b)(iii) and potentially include green infrastructure and involve the bed, banks and floodways of the San Joaquin River and its tributaries. Projects to be supported may include, but would not be limited to, projects identified in any voluntary agreements that arise out of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan update intended to support, in whole or in part, improvements to the San Joaquin River Watershed ecosystem and its fish populations. This request provides for technical and financial assistance to local, State, or federal government entities or to private land owners operating in concert with government entities providing improved ecological performance on public or private lands, subject to the normal requirement to ensure public benefits and to avoid a gift of public funds. Where financial assistance is provided, funding recipients would need independent authority to construct or modify these facilities.

Background/History

Proposition 13: Proposition 13 includes the Bay-Delta Multipurpose Water Management Program (Section 79190 et seq.). This program provides financial resources for six program elements, one of which is to construct or modify facilities for the State Water Project or Central Valley Project intakes in that south delta or other facilities that reduce losses of any life stage of fish to water diversion in the San Joaquin River consistent with Section C of Chapter 4 of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) 1995 Water Quality Control Plan for the Bay/Delta. Section C includes among other things, item 12, "Implement actions needed to restore and preserve marsh, riparian, and upland habitat in and upstream of the Delta".

Proposition 13 also requires conformity with aspects of the CalFed program, one of which is to improve the viability of fish populations in the San Joaquin River watershed, including its tributary streams and rivers. The CalFed program was developed as a dynamic program in pursuit of its four primary goals, but flexible and evolving in the specific actions required to attain those goals. The work in this proposal is consistent with those features of the CalFed program and reflect the most contemporary understanding of actions that will benefit fish populations and reduce vulnerabilities to climate change.

CalFed Conformity: The Proposition 13 funds are to be expended consistent with the CalFed Programmatic Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (CalFed EIR). The CalFed EIR states that the Preferred Program Alternative presented will not, in itself, enact any changes in law, regulation, or policy nor allow project construction. Instead, the Preferred Program Alternative describes programmatic actions that set the long-term, overall direction of the program. Any subsequent actions or facility construction stemming from the programmatic actions in the Preferred Program Alternative must be developed in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and other applicable laws and regulatory processes. Adaptive management is vital in guiding efforts to improve ecosystem quality.

Projects supported by Section 79190 funds must be included in the CalFed Stage 1 actions. The Stage 1 actions were those initiated in the first 7 years of the program, but include many things still in process. CalFed established 20 Stage 1 ecosystem actions that promote recovery of species including the following which are relevant to this request:

• Develop and implement an outreach, coordination, and partnering program • Conduct project level environmental documentation and permitting • Implement large-scale, restoration projects on select rivers

- 1 -

Analysis of Problem

• Acquire flood plain easements, consistent with ecosystem and flood control needs along the San Joaquin River

• Continue high priority actions that reduce direct mortality to fishes • Continue gravel management; e.g., isolate gravel pits on San Joaquin River tributaries • Provide incremental improvements in ecosystem values throughout the BayDelta system • Implement projects on selected streams to provide additional upstream fishery habitat by

removing or modifying barriers

CalFed documentation states that the Stage 1 actions are subject to revision, including modification, deletion, or addition of individual actions, based upon information developed during program implementation; available resources, including funding and personnel; and logistical considerations. Additional actions were envisioned to be implemented as the program progressed in Stage 1. The Proposition 13 requirement for projects to be included in Stage 1 of CalFed, therefore allows for current science and circumstances to be incorporated into project design and implementation, provided the goals of CalFed are being addressed.

Central Vallev Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP): The CVFPP includes the Central Valley Flood System Fish Migration Improvement Opportunities Report (FMIO). FMIO describes preliminary fish migration assessments of facilities that are part of the State Plan of Flood Control and identifies when the facilities are complete or partial barriers to fish migration. FMIO does not address other facilities that fall outside of the State Plan of Flood Control. FMIO includes a number of facilities in the San Joaquin River watershed. The information in the FMIO report can be a starting point for projects supported through this request.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Endangered Species Management: The resource agencies responsible for identifying and protecting threatened and endangered species have also targeted the San Joaquin River and its tributaries. The NOAA has adopted the California Central Valley Salmon & Steelhead Recovery Plan (Recovery Plan). The Recovery Plan describes the corrective measures for the upper and lower San Joaquin River and its major tributaries. In general, these provisions focus on removing or modifying impediments to salmonid migration, including but not limited to improved salmon outmigration survival, implementing ecologically based flow and temperature regimes, remediating wastewater and stormwater discharges that lead to water quality standards violations, and increasing salmonid access to floodplain habitat.

Riverine Stewardship Program: The Riverine Stewardship Program in DWR was initiated through a FY 2016/17 Budget Change Proposal and combined the expertise of the existing Fish Passage Improvement Program with the Urban Streams Restoration Program and new emphasis on riparian habitats and multi-benefit projects. The Riverine Stewardship Program is supported by a combination of bond funds (Propositions 13, 50, and 84) and reimbursable authority. Implementing the program is planned as a phased process transitioning from existing commitments to new partnership led projects.

The Riverine Stewardship Program builds partnerships with local entities and enlists the support of State and federal agencies. The projects undertaken require securing permits for working in the rivers and streams and compliance with CEOA and NEPA environmental assessments. Riverine Stewardship Program staff serves as design experts, project coordinators, technical assistants, and construction advisors on projects that are owned and operated by others. The Riverine Stewardship Program provides the technical expertise to complete environmental and permitting requirements, and to design and oversee construction for removal and/or replacement of facilities that are barriers to fish migration. The current year appropriation for the Riverine Stewardship is $1.9M of which $800,000 is local assistance and $250,000 is reimbursement authority. The program is scheduled to receive $5M in the Budget Year of which $3.4M is reimbursement authority.

-2-

Analysis of Problem

State Level Considerations

The SWRCB is updating the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, which is a multi-phase process to update a subset of water quality requirements for salinity in the southern Delta, aimed at protecting farming operations, and water flows in major tributaries to the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers, aimed at providing habitat for fish and wildlife upstream of the Delta. Ultimately, the SWRCB will need to balance the needs of the beneficial uses of water, drinking, irrigation, and fishery, and ensure all are protected and supported.

The SWRCB is in the process of working through Phases I and II of the update process: Phase 1 addresses the San Joaquin and its tributaries, the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Rivers; and Phase 2 addresses the Sacramento River and its 22 tributaries, and the Delta. The SWRCB has released a draft environmental document for Phase I, which includes analysis of a range of flow objectives based on percentages of unimpaired flows on the San Joaquin and its three major tributaries, during the February through June timeframe. However, the draft flow proposal does not require rigid adherence to a fixed percent of unimpaired flow, but rather treats it as a water budget, or block of water, that could be shaped or shifted in time to best align instream flows with the needs offish and wildlife throughout the water year (aka 'functional flows'). The analysis recognizes the vital role upsteam water flows provide for habitat and migratory signals for threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead. The draft also proposes the use of various fish survival and population metrics to evaluate the new flow standards, including population abundance, spatial extent, distribution, structure, genetic and life history diversity, and productivity. The draft proposal also recognizes the importance of implementing non-flow measures, that could reduce the flows needed, to achieve reasonable fish and wildlife protection goals. A draft scientific basis report for Phase II was released last year. The draft environmental document is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2017. The SWRCB's schedule anticipates completion of Phases I and II in 2018. Phase 3, the apportionment of responsibility for meeting the new flow objectives, would begin subsequently and is scheduled to take some number of years to complete.

Given this protracted schedule, and the dire conditions in the Bay-Delta watershed for fish and wildlife, the SWRCB recognizes that voluntary settlement agreements could help inform and expedite the implementation of water quality objectives, and provide more durable solutions in the Delta watershed. In addition, the SWRCB believes that suitable voluntary agreements can provide reasonable protections for fish and wildlife and provide a faster and more durable implementation route if done correctly. As a result, the SWRCB has encouraged stakeholders to work together to reach voluntary agreements incorporating a mix of flow and non-flow measures that meet or exceed the proposed objectives and protect fish and wildlife uses. Recognizing this policy, the Natural Resources Agency has launched an initiative to develop voluntary agreements to improve ecological conditions in the Bay/Delta and upstream watersheds. The initiative is endorsed by the California Water Action Plan, which states:

"The administration, with the involvement of stakeholders, will build on the work in tributaries to the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, analyze the many voluntary and regulatory proceedings underway related to flow criteria, and make recommendations on how to achieve the salmon and steelhead and ecological flow needs for the state's natural resources through an integrated, multi-pronged approach."

The initiative targets the lower San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced and Sacramento Rivers and its primary and secondary tributaries. The initiative recognizes the State has committed to integrating regulatory and voluntary efforts to achieve ecological flows, and that voluntary agreements can expedite attainment of standards, and require clear documented commitments within partnerships.

The Natural Resources Agency intends to work with interested stakeholders to achieve voluntary agreements in 2017, so that the SWRCB may accept the settlements as an alternative method of implementation of the flow objectives, and allow for implementation to begin shortly thereafter.

-3-

Analysis of Problem

The Governor's Executive Order B-30-15 identifies vulnerabilities and associated risks to biodiversity and habitat from California's changing climate. The order states in part:

• State agencies shall take climate change into account in their planning and investment decisions, and employ full life-cycle cost accounting to evaluate and compare infrastructure investments and alternatives.

• State agencies' planning and investment shall be guided by the following principles o Priority should be given to actions that both build climate preparedness and reduce

greenhouse gas emissions; o Where possible, flexible and adaptive approaches should be taken to prepare for

uncertain climate impacts; o Actions should protect the State's most vulnerable populations; and o Natural infrastructure solutions should be prioritized.

In addition to this emphasis on green infrastructure, existing State law (Water Codes 7048, 9603, 9612, 9616, 9622, 9624 and 79732) together with the California Water Action Plan create obligations to resolve barriers to anadromous fish migration, protect threatened and endangered runs of these fish, reduce flood risk, and increase environmental restoration. Taken together these mandates require an integrated approach that is aware of and responsive to potential climate impacts.

Justification

The funds requested through this proposal are specifically targeted by the bond for improvements to the populations offish in the San Joaquin River (taken here to include major tributaries) and the delta. Chief among the fish species of concern are the salmon (spring run salmon listed as threatened under State and federal law, and fall run salmon listed as a species of special concern under federal law) and steelhead (listed as threatened under federal law).

In order to retain wild populations of these fish, it is necessary to eliminate barriers to their migration, tq provide them with access to natural spawning grounds, to protect their habitats from further degradation, and to integrate our land and water management with their biological needs. To advance specific projects, scientists and engineers working together are needed and their skills are best applied in those situations where the priorities of the resource management agencies are aligned with local land owner and facility operator cooperation. The Riverine Stewardship Program is designed to work in this specific arena and maintains the needed, scientific, engineering, and public decision making expertise to successfully advance projects to improve fish populations in the San Joaquin River watershed. This program was established in the FY 2016-17 Riverine Technical Assistance Budget Change Proposal.

This proposal seeks to establish partnerships that implement projects that address physical limitations to salmonid migration in the San Joaquin River including its tributaries. This proposal broadly interprets the term facilities to include physical habitat structures that have been modified to provide water delivery or flood water routing. Specific projects to be supported may include augmentation of the Dos Rios project at the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin Rivers, and the removal of passage barriers in the Calaveras River and Mormon Slough. Other projects will be pursued where partnerships can be developed. Where feasible, funds requested in this proposal will be combined with other funds directed to DWR and funds of partner organizations, to leverage the ability for individual programs to take on projects. Projects to be supported by this proposal may include, but are not limited to, projects identified in any settlement agreements that arise out of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan update intended to support, in whole or in part, improvements to the San Joaquin River watershed ecosystem.

The workload includes:

• Assessing potential fish migration barriers

• Developing partnerships with project proponents

• Creating project concepts and designs

Analysis of Problem

• Assisting with obtaining permits and completing environmental documentation

• Assisting with or supervising construction and implementation

• Coordinating and facilitating the partnerships

• Developing and managing contracts

This request furthers three of DWR's strategic business areas; Managing for Resiliency, Flood/River Basin Management, and Regional Sustainability.

This proposal will fund 4 existing positions. The workload analysis for these positions is as follows:

Senior Environmental Scientist 1.0 existing position 1,778 hours

Serve as lead biologist and primary point of contact for public entities. Serve on interagency technical teams, participate in various forums, make presentations and provide technical information to agencies and the public. Organize and direct project assessments and environmental reviews. Provide biological information to design teams and serve as a member of project design and construction oversight teams. Lead workgroups and interagency project teams. Provide advice and information to DWR staff.

Senior Engineer, Water Resources 1.0 existing position 1,778 hours

Implement fish passage engineering studies of in-stream structures and diversions that may impede anadromous fish from natural migration pathways and assist in the development of appropriate fish passage solutions. Inventory and assess potential fish passage barriers. Conduct topographic surveys of in-stream structures and surrounding topography, using standard surveying techniques and tools. Develop and evaluate fish passage design alternatives and work with Division of Engineering staff to assess costs, material and equipment needs, and proposed construction methods. Construct and run hydraulic models (e.g. HEC-RAS, FishXing) to evaluate fish passage alternatives or determine a project's potential flood impact. Use computer aided drafting systems and other tools to create design drawings for fish passage barrier remediation projects. Develop and manage contracts.

Environmental Scientist (Range 0) 1.0 existing position 1,778 hours

Assist the Senior Environmental Scientist. Coordinate projects and contribute to project development. Provide assistance to the Department of Fish and Wildlife and others on assessments off ish passage improvement options for potential ecological benefits or impacts. Assist with prioritizing potential projects using the prioritization criteria developed through the Fish Passage Forum Prioritization Technical Group and other available priority lists. Contribute to feasibility studies for individual barrier or habitat enhancement projects coordinating with program and stakeholder biologists and engineers. Conduct watershed, habitat and barrier surveys. Support the program website and barrier database. Conduct public outreach and education efforts, facilitate public meetings, and ensure public information is available for DWR and partners. Provide Geographic Information System (GIS) data, analyses, and mapping products. Develop and manage contracts.

Engineer, Water Resources 1.0 existing position 1,778 hours

Assist the Senior Engineer, Water Resources. Provide design assistance for channel and floodplain facilities and features that alleviate barriers to anadromous fish migration. Evaluate hydrology and local flow conditions for purposes of project design. Apply flood and fish migration models, including ID, 2D, and 3D applications to specific sites. Prepare model products for use of design teams, interagency work groups, local partnership groups, and others. Provide GIS data and products. Develop and manage contracts.

Analysis of Problem

E. Outcomes and Accountability

Projected Outcomes Workload Measure CY BY BY+1 BY+2 BY+3 BY+4

Habitat/Barrier assessments 2 4 3 3 1 1

Establish Project Partnership 2 1 1 1 0 0

Develop Project Concepts 0 2 1 1 1 0

Design - Preliminary/Full 0 1 1 1 1 1

Obtain Project Permits/CEQA 0 1 1 1 1 1 Construction/Environmental

Compliance support 0 0 1 1 1 2

Cost Share Agreements 0 1 1 1 2 0 Coordinating Teams and

Forums participation 3 4 6 6 6 5

F. Analysis of All Feasible Alternatives

1. Approve the request: This alternative would provide the resources for addressing fish population problems in the San Joaquin River watershed.

Pro: This option would create the most significant incentive for local entities to pursue projects that enhance fish populations and it would tend to expedite projects compared to other alternatives. The quality of individual projects would not likely be different under this alternative or alternative 2. This alternative would provide the State with the greatest ability to respond to willing partners and promote the mix of needs and interests present at the State level. This alternative would be the most responsive' to climate change and provide the greatest ability to implement climate adaptive strategies. This alternative would likely also result in the greatest fish population response, providing direct natural resource benefit and likely easing regulatory constraints on the water and flood systems and in regards to local land use decisions. Approving the request would:

• Increase the number and fitness offish in the San Joaquin River watershed. Salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon (all listed under the Endangered Species Act) would experience the greatest benefits

Implement policy and program expectations imbedded within Proposition 13

Improve the performance of the State and Federal water projects

Infuse funding into the California economy by implement discrete fisheries enhancement projects in the San Joaquin Valley

Generate a suite of ancillary benefits associated with the enhancement projects

Achieve progress towards achieving the co-equal goals for the Delta

Stimulate additional multi-benefit projects in the San Joaquin Valley and elsewhere

Cultivate additional public-private partnerships and build a network of entities acting on common interests that enhance the natural heritage of California.

Con: This would increase administrative costs and debt service associated with the bond sales need to support the work.

-6-

Analysis of Problem

Partially implement the proposal: A lesser amount of bond funding could be provided at this time with the intention of appropriating the remaining funds at a later date.

Pro: This would phase the work in over time as partnerships develop and projects are conceived and designed. This option may have relatively minor impacts on State debt service.

Con: A smaller allocation may not provide the same intensity of incentive for project proponents to enter into partnerships and voluntary agreements. A corollary impact could be slowing progress on projects while future requests for funds work their way through the approval process. Longer wait times to access funding could stress partnerships leading to missed opportunities. Ultimately the quality of projects would not likely be different between a partial implementation and full implementation. But the pace would likely be slower than full implementation, and capitalizing on current willingness to pursue collaborative projects might be missed if financial markets change markedly between now and future appropriations.

No action.

Pro: This would reduce State debt service to the extent that the bonds would not be sold.

Con: This alternative would prevent Proposition 13 resources being used for the intended purpose. No action would continue the current precarious state of threatened anadromous fish in the San Joaquin River watershed, with potential consequences of further limiting water use, transfers, and timing of releases in the future to accommodate fish populations that continue to decline over time.

Implementation Plan

Initially the funds would be used to support two fledgling partnerships currently being developed by the Riverine Stewardship Program. One is on the Calaveras River where fish passage barriers continue to limit the productivity of this river system. A partnership has been formed that includes regulatory agencies, DWR, Stockton East Water District, The Fisheries Foundation of California and the Central California Traction Railroad. Currently, the partnership is focused on one particular barrier to fish passage, but the scope of the project could be expanded to address other channel issues. The Second project enhances work of River Partners, a not for profit corporation, that is restoring marginal farm lands at the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin Rivers to riparian and floodplain habitat. This project is titled the Dos Rios Restoration and involves re-contouring banks and floodplains, revegetating with native plants, and removing hazards to fish. The project is underway and partially funded. Funds from this proposal could complete the project.

In general, the progress on projects would follow a pattern of initiating the partnership, conceptualizing the project, designing specific features, obtaining required permits, implementation and construction, and follow-up work. In many cases, pieces of this progression will already be in play, and particularly where voluntary partnerships exist, the program will focus more on design and construction, ensuring that projects reflect the latest understanding of optimum fish benefits. The estimated workload presented assumes that the program proceeds through all stages of every project and that the request can support a total of five projects over the five-year planning period. If the program engages with existing efforts, it is possible that many of the steps will be complete and therefore more projects could be supported.

Riverine Stewardship staff will provide regular ancillary support, and other experts throughout DWR may be recruited to assist with projects as needed.

Supplemental Information

Not applicable.

Recommendation