Transcript Document

Marin County Watershed Stewardship Plan
Marin County Department of Public Works
Watershed Stewardship Program
Why a watershed approach?
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Supports and guides protection and enhancement of Marin
County’s significant natural resources.
Flooding of this magnitude requires exploring watershed wide
opportunities (i.e. detention, infiltration and channel
enhancements).
Complements integrated efforts to comply with Federal and
State environmental regulations (Clean Water & Endangered
Species Act) by incorporating environmental restoration elements
Identifies critical projects to streamline funding and permitting
process which can facilitate the flow of State and Federal funds
Working with natural systems is the most cost-effective way
to manage our streams and wetlands. Program needs to be both
ecologically and economically sustainable.
Encourages a coordinated planning process with City and local
agency staff to support development of watershed work plans.
Watershed Stewardship Program
Purpose of the Plan
 Compile information and tools to support staff in
selecting and prioritizing projects, policies and programs
 Engage staff, municipalities, agencies, and the public to
view issues and solutions from a watershed level
 Develop projects to be inclusive using a watershedbased approach
 Design integrated projects with multiple benefits
 Create planning tools to assist with funding, regulatory
compliance, prioritization, and assessment of watershed
needs
 Incorporate knowledge from existing planning efforts
including Ross Valley and San Geronimo
Watershed Stewardship Program
Approach to Planning
Website
Background Conditions and Concepts
Watershed Health Evaluations
Watershed Work Plans
Multiple Benefit Criteria
Watershed Stewardship Program
Existing Conditions Overview
Land Use-historical and existing
Water Management Strategies-flood protection, stormwater,
supply, water treatment and re-use
Physical Characteristics-hydrology, channel morphology,
erosion, climate change
Biological Resources-diversity & distribution of rare,
threatened and endangered species
Current Management & Enhancement Efforts
Summary of Identified Watershed Issues-synthesized from
personal interviews, NBWA planning processes and other
recent planning and assessment efforts
Watershed Stewardship Program
Watersheds
Watershed
Cities and Towns
Alder Creek
Bolinas
Corte Madera Creek
Larkspur, Greenbrae, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax
Easkoot Creek
Stinson Beach
Las Gallinas Creek
Santa Venetia and San Rafael
Inverness Creeks
Inverness and Inverness Park
Miller Creek
Lucas Valley and San Rafael
Novato Creek
Novato
Richardson Bay
Mill Valley, Tam Valley, Marin City, Bel Aire, Sausalito, and
Tiburon
San Antonio Creek
unincorporated Marin County
San Rafael Creek
San Rafael
West Marin
Estero Americano, Stemple Creek, Tomales Bay, Walker
Creek, Lagunitas Creek, smaller east and west tributaries to
Tomales Bay, Bolinas Lagoon and Pine Gulch, Webb, Lone
Tree, Cold Stream, Redwood, Tennessee Valley/Rodeo
Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore
Watershed Stewardship Program
Ecological regions of the watershed
Uplands
Valley floor
Baylands
Watershed Stewardship Program
Website
 www.marinwatersheds.org
 The Watershed Program website will
maintain background information for all
watersheds in Marin County
 References and resources will be linked
 The site will provide the context for
watershed-based planning
 The site will encourage interactivity and
visual representations of the background
information collected
 Alerts and news will be distributed online
Watershed Stewardship Program
Watershed Health - Framework
Watershed Regions
Uplands, Valley Bottom, Baylands
Stressors that Impact Ecologic Functioning
(i.e. Health) in these Regions
Assess Level of Impairment in each watershed
- process based with data support as available Develop Programmatic Goals and Recommendations
to Improve Ecologic Functioning
Monitoring Program Guidance for Effectiveness
- based on goals and programs -
Watershed Stewardship Program
Watershed Health Evaluation
Example
 What region?
 Bayland-valley transition
 Stressors
 Urban encroachment, stormwater
pollution, …
 Level of impairment
 Impervious area, channelization
extent, riparian canopy, …
 Programmatic goals
 Stormwater management actions,
LID implementation, channel
improvements, …
Watershed Stewardship Program
Multi-Benefit Guidelines and Criteria
 Guidelines to evaluate and
rank proposed projects
 Potential to: improve biotic
functioning, enhance
watershed health, implement
local and regional
environmental restoration
goals
 Promote integrated multiagency approach to problem
solving
 Links to watershed health as
a process to track
ecological enhancement
Watershed Stewardship Program
Watershed Work Plan
Financing
Programs
Partnerships
& Multi-benefit
Projects
Watershed
Health
Evaluations
Watershed Stewardship Program
Watershed
Specific
Work Plans
Environmental
Compliance
Strategies
Outreach
and Education
Stakeholder Outreach
Board of Supervisors of the Flood
Control and Water Conservation District
Policy Advisory Committee:
•BOS FC District rep
•City Council reps
•Flood Zone Advisory Board reps
•Water and Sanitary Board reps
Operations and Finance Committee:
City Managers & County PW director
Technical Working Group:
•Municipal Directors
•Local, State & Federal Agency reps
•Watershed Groups
•Homeowners Association reps
Watershed Stewardship Program
Recent Developments
 Meetings with water and sanitation districts
 Initial support and financial commitment from
the City of Mill Valley and we hope to gain
similar support from City of Novato, Novato
Sanitary District,
and North Marin
Water District
 Provide watershed
planning tools to
other watersheds
Watershed Stewardship Program
Next Steps
 Form technical work groups (TWG) to develop
and prioritize projects for Mill Valley and Novato
watersheds (anticipated for early 2009)
 Create a draft workplan to address issues
identified in the existing conditions report and by
TWG (to be completed by the end of 2009 for
Mill Valley and Novato)
 Determine how to provide interim support to
other watersheds (ongoing)
Watershed Stewardship Program
Website under construction
www.marinwatersheds.org
For more information contact:
Chris Choo, Senior Planner
[email protected]
499-7586
Liz Lewis, Principal Planner
[email protected]
499-7226
Watershed Stewardship Program