Martinez Reservoir Spillway Vegetation Management Project

Martinez Reservoir Spillway Vegetation Management Project

The Project will consist of annual vegetation management maintenance activities within the earthen spillway channel (Peyton Creek) of the Martinez Reservoir between the concrete portion of the spillway and Pacheco Blvd in Martinez, CA. Performing vegetation management activities to create and maintain an unobstructed outfall channel for the Martinez Reservoir is a safety requirement required by the California Division of Safety of Dams. Without this annual vegetation management, vegetation within the spillway channel would become dense and overgrown, impeding the transport capacity and function of the emergency spillway. This Project consists of the following vegetation management activities within the Martinez Reservoir spillway: • Mowing and trimming vegetation on the banks of the channel • Mowing and trimming emergent vegetation within the channel • Removing trimmed vegetative debris from the stream bed and banks • Application of EPA-registered herbicides above the water line, as needed • Removing overhanging branches, as needed Project activities are expected to occur once annually between April 15 and October 31 for a duration of up to 14 days. Equipment laydown and vehicle staging will occur in the gravel parking lot and road east of the spillway on CCWD property, away from the Peyton Creek top of bank. The following types of equipment are expected to be present at the project site: heavy equipment (e.g. excavator, backhoe), hand tools (e.g. string trimmers, weed whackers), and crew trucks. The environmental impacts of the Project are minimal and temporary. The spillway is channelized for the reservoir, has been previously disturbed and is surrounded by developed areas, including industrial buildings, roads, suburban residential housing, and the Martinez Reservoir. Many nonnative plant species are present within the earthen spillway, including a variety of non-native annual grasses and invasive plants such as giant reed (Arundo donax). Project activities are expected to temporarily impact up to 0.873 acres within the spillway to the top of bank. See Figure 2 for a map of the Project area and specific estimates of areas that may be impacted. These routine vegetation management activities have occurred on a long-term regular basis for over 20 years under a series of CDFW Routine Maintenance Agreements obtained by CCWD. When these vegetation management activities first occurred at the spillway, CCWD provided compensation for the initial loss of habitat. No additional habitat loss will occur from continued maintenance within the same project footprint. No tree removal will occur, and no heavy equipment will enter the wetted spillway channel. A qualified biologist will conduct pre-activity biological surveys for special status species and monitor all vegetation management activities. The Project is not anticipated to adversely affect natural resources or areas of known cultural or historic resources. CCWD will use the following standard CCWD Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect the environment: 1. Pre-Activity Biological Training Program - A qualified biologist will provide a worker environmental training program to everyone employed at the site prior to the start of maintenance every year. This training program will include species identification, natural history, habitat, and protection methods. 2. Nesting Bird Survey and Buffers - For Project activities occurring during the nesting season (February 15 to September 15), nesting bird surveys will be conducted at the project site by a qualified biologist prior to the start of work. If any active nests are discovered before or during construction, the biologist will establish a protective buffer around the nest and monitor the nest for signs of disturbance. 3. Pre-Activity Special Status Wildlife Species Surveys -A qualified biologist will conduct preactivity surveys for California red-legged frog (CRLF) and western pond turtle (WPT) prior to the start of work each year. 4. Pre-Activity Special Status Plant Surveys- A qualified biologist will conduct a pre-activity survey for special status plant species prior to the start of work each year. If any special status plant species are found, they will be flagged and avoided during project activities. 5. Daily Biological Clearance Surveys and Monitoring-A qualified biologist will conduct daily pre-clearance surveys for the presence of sensitive species in work areas and staging areas prior to the start of any work activity or equipment operation. The qualified biologist will monitor all project activities. 6. Staging Areas - Staging and storage areas for equipment, materials, fuels, lubricants and solvents, shall be located outside of waters, stream banks, and riparian areas and within paved or gravel-lined sites. 7. Erosion Control Best Management Practices (BM Ps) - All exposed soils within the work area shall be stabilized following completion of earthmoving activities to prevent erosion into the stream channel. Erosion control BMPs, such as silt fences, straw hay bales, straw wattles, gravel or rock lined ditches, and water check bars shall be used. 8. Trash - All trash will be properly contained, removed from the work site, and disposed of daily. 9. Hazardous Materials - The storage and handling of hazardous materials within the Project site is prohibited and any unused or leftover hazardous products shall be properly contained and disposed of off-site .

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