Marin Coastal Watersheds Permit Coordination Program Marin Resource Conservation District U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service Sustainable Conservation.

Marin Coastal Watersheds Permit Coordination Program

Marin Resource Conservation District U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service

Sustainable Conservation

Farmers and ranchers are refraining from Farmers and ranchers are refraining from performing conservation work because performing conservation work because

environmental compliance for these environmental compliance for these projects is too costly and complexprojects is too costly and complex

The Problem

Incentives and Disincentives for Voluntary Conservation

Landowner Landowner InterestInterest

IncentivesIncentives

Technical Assistance Cost-Sharing Peer Pressure Regulations

Implementation of Implementation of Conservation Conservation

PracticesPractices

Uncertainty Time and Cost of Practices Complex Regulatory Review Mistrust of Government

Disincentives

Need for Permit Coordination in Marin Coastal Watersheds

Degraded Waterways and Habitats +

Abundance of Protected Species

= A complex regulatory environment that makes permitting a significant obstacle for

landowners interested in doing conservation work on their lands

California red-legged frog Rana aurora draytonii

Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss

The tools of restoration ecology often resemble the tools of

development projects

Permits Required to Repair a Stream Bank

Local / County Local / County

Grading PermitGrading PermitCEQACEQA

Landowner

U. S. Army Corps ofU. S. Army Corps ofEngineersEngineers

CWA - 404 PermitCWA - 404 Permit

Regional Water QualityRegional Water QualityControl BoardControl Board

401 Certification401 CertificationPorter ColognePorter Cologne

CA DFGCA DFG

1603 Streambed 1603 Streambed Alteration AgreementAlteration Agreement

California CoastalCalifornia CoastalCommissionCommission

Coastal Zone ReviewCoastal Zone Review

National Marine Fisheries National Marine Fisheries ServiceService

ESA - Section 7 ConsultationESA - Section 7 Consultation

U. S. Fish and U. S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceWildlife Service

ESA -Section 7 ConsultationESA -Section 7 Consultation

The P.I.R. Solution

• Permit coordination program for conservation and restoration projects

• Regulatory agencies issue “umbrella” permits for proven conservation activities

• Relies on partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Resource Conservation District (RCD)

SusCon’s Partnership with NRCS and RCD

• Non-regulatory federal governmental agencies (NRCS)

• State/Local Agency(RCD)

• NRCS & RCD have long history of working with private landowning community

• Provide technical assistance and $

Facilitating Watershed-Based Approvals

U. S. Fish and WildlifeU. S. Fish and WildlifeService/ NMFSService/ NMFS

Section 7 ConsultationSection 7 Consultation

NRCS / RCD

U. S. Army Corps ofU. S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineers

404 Permit404 Permit

Local / CountyLocal / County

Exemption ofExemption ofGrading PermitGrading Permit

California DepartmentCalifornia Departmentof Fish and Gameof Fish and Game

Streambed Alteration Streambed Alteration AgreementAgreement

California Coastal California Coastal CommissionCommission

Coastal Zone ReviewCoastal Zone Review

Regional Water QualityRegional Water QualityControl BoardControl Board

401 Certification401 Certification

SusConSusCon

What Makes a Match for PIR

• Good NRCS/RCD Partners

• Landowners who want to do conservation work

• Permits the real problem?

• Worth the time

•Conservation/Restoration Activities• Providing local landowners with

Tech Assistance Cost-sharing

Building trust to make conservation happen

Working with Landowners in Marin County

Environmental Protection Under the Permit Coordination Program

•Utilizes NRCS’ proven conservation planning process

•Practices fully reviewed and permitted by the agencies

•Environmental protection measures built into projects

•Onsite monitoring during construction

•Follow up monitoring and reporting

•Cover conservation work on private lands when done in partnership with NRCS.

•Cover only specific conservation practices that have a net environmental beneficial impact.

•Have conditions established by each permitting agency that guide design and construction.

•Require additional oversight and reporting by the NRCS.

•Build on existing NRCS planning process.

PIR Programmatic Approvals

Project Conditions Developed in Coordination with Agencies to Ensure Protection of Natural Resources

1. Size Limitations on Conservation Practices

2. General Protection Measures for all Projects

• Temporal Limitations on Construction

• Limitations on Earthmoving and Vegetation Removal

• Limitations on Construction Equipment (particularly near waterways)

• Revegetation and Removal of Exotic Plants

• Erosion Control Measures During Construction

• Limitations on Work in Streams

• Limitations on Herbicide Use

• Species-specific protection measures

3. Additional Measures for Specific Conservation Practices

Protection measures for upland work

Protection measures for work in and around waterways

Protection measures for work in fish-bearing

streams

How the Permit Coordination Program Works for Landowners

• Landowner requests assistance from NRCS/RCD.

• NRCS/RCD develops conservation plan to meet landowner needs, enhance natural resources, and comply with Program permits.

• Landowner signs Cooperator Agreement to implement conservation plan.

• Project is covered by permitting agencies’ agreements and approvals.

• Site visits by regulatory agencies to confirm fit with permits

Access Road

Animal Trail

Before

During

After

Critical Area Planting

Before

During

After

Filter Strip

Fish Stream Improvement

Grade Stabilization Structure

Before After

Grade Stabilization Structure

Before After

Grassed Waterway

Before After

Lined Waterway

Before After

Pipeline

Sediment Basin

After

Before

Post Construction

Spring Development

Before After

Stream Bank Protection

Before

During

After

Stream Bank Protection

Before After

Stream Channel Stabilization1 2

3 4

Structure for Water Control

Before After

Underground Outlet

Water and Sediment Control Basin

After

Before

During