Ross Valley Watershed Program Update

Ross Valley Watershed Program Update

Increasing our community’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to natural disasters are key functions of government and a focus for my office particularly around the threats of flood and fire. With this E-News, I provide an update on two significant Ross Valley flood risk reduction projects currently undergoing environmental review and if approved, targeted for construction by 2020. Concurrently, the towns of Fairfax, San Anselmo and Ross are pursuing bridge replacement projects that will provide localized flood benefit. In addition to these projects, programs aimed at reducing localized flooding such as creek cleaning, storm prep programs, flood response and warning systems continue at the local community level. All these efforts are part of the larger Ross Valley Flood Protection and Watershed Program made possible through stormwater fees paid by property owners throughout the Ross Valley in combination with regional, state and federal grant programs.

 

With regards to fire risk reduction and emergency preparedness – Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber, who is leading the county’s “Lesson’s Learned” task force, provided initial recommendations on fire prevention, readiness, and response coming out of the task force at our budget hearings this week. Those initial recommendations include expanded vegetation management/fuel reduction on public lands, enforcement of defensible space requirements on residential properties, increased support for Firewise and neighborhood “get ready” programs, and improvements for emergency communications technology, messaging and evacuation protocol. A final report and recommendations will be released in the coming weeks and I’ll provide a full update at that time.

 

San Anselmo (and Fairfax) Flood Risk Reduction Project

The proposed San Anselmo Flood Risk Reduction project couples a flood diversion and temporary storm water storage basin at the former Sunnyside Nursery site in Fairfax (unincorporated) with the removal of a commercial building located over the creek in downtown San Anselmo (634-636 San Anselmo Avenue) where its foundation envelops and constricts the creek flow causing flooding during major storm events. In addition to providing flood risk benefit to hundreds of parcels in Fairfax, San Anselmo and Ross, the project would include expansion and improvements to Creek park.

 

The Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) has entered into an option to purchase this building. Purchase is contingent upon the project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) being certified by the Flood District/Board of Supervisors. The draft EIR is expected to be released in April when it will be circulated for public review and comment for a 45 day period. During the public review the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on May 8 (date tentative)  to take comments from the public on the EIR. Staff anticipates a final hearing before the District/BOS for consideration of certification of the EIR for August 2018.

 

The EIR analyzes potential environmental impacts of the proposed project and three alternatives including a “no basin” project alternative. Throughout the process, the District in partnership with Town of San Anselmo has conducted meetings, neighborhood and community outreach, and will continue to do so during formal approval and project design phases. Please note that businesses at 634-636 San Anselmo Avenue remain open for business. Should the EIR be certified, funding is in place to support relocation of tenant businesses.

 

Click here for more information and to sign up for regular updates on the San Anselmo project. If the project EIR is certified and the Board recommends moving forward with a project, construction will begin summer 2019 with construction completed by December 2020. The project is being funded with a California Department of Water Resources grant (retained grant funding from Memorial Park detention basin funding) and local funds collected through the Ross Valley Watershed fee assessment.

 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Corte Madera Creek Flood Risk Management Project (Phase 1)

The proposed Army Corps Phase 1 project consists of the removal of the notorious “fish ladder” located at the upstream end of the concrete channel in Ross; removal of parts of the concrete channel just downstream of the fish ladder adjacent to Allen Park; and redesign and construction of Allen Park to accommodate flood flow, environmental improvements and recreational elements including the much loved and much used Corte Madera Creek multi-use path. The project as conceived also includes floodwalls or berms in Granton Park neighborhood in Kentfield and adjacent to several properties on the Sir Francis Drake side of Corte Madera Creek in lower Ross. Initial modeling shows that approximately 321 parcels would see a reduction in floodwater level during the 25-year flow event (Click here and scroll down to project name to learn more about modeling and benefits).

 

The project is currently being evaluated as part of the Army Corps Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report process, with the Flood Control District, in close collaboration with the Town of Ross, leading local outreach and project development. Since September 2017, there have been over 50 individual and community stakeholder meetings to explain the project, gather feedback, and explore alternatives. The Draft EIR/EIS is expected to be circulated for public comment and review in Spring 2018.

 

Click here for more information and to sign up for updates. If the project moves forward, it will be constructed in 2020 and be funded through a California Department of Water Resources grant  and Ross Valley Flood Zone 9 stormwater fees. This project also provides an opportunity to leverage state funds to offset the requirements established by the Army Corps for local funding share of design and construction of the project. This would reduce the local funding obligation for the subsequent phase of the project that would be constructed by USACE (Phase 2).

 

You can read the Staff Report from the March 20, 2018 Flood Zone Nine Advisory Board meeting for information on additional projects, including updates on the Corte Madera Creek Project (Phase 2), Morningside/Sleepy Hollow Creek Study, Creek maintenance activities, Lower Corte Madera Creek Geomorphic Dredge and more.

 

 

Contact Info:

Supervisor Katie Rice

415-473-7825

krice@marincounty.org

www.facebook.com/D2KatieRice

 

District 2 Aides:

Nancy Vernon

415-473-7351

nvernon@marincounty.org

 

Jen Gauna

415-473-6159

jgauna@marincounty.org