Salmonid Protection Proposal

Swanton Pacific Ranch Salmonid Protection Proposal

Completed By:

Task Force Leader: Cole Deblock Sarah Cusack Kevin White

Alex Youngberg

Applicant Organization: Cal Poly Corporation Authorized By: Santa Cruz County

Proposed Starting Date: May 2016

Project Duration: 7 years Project Cost: Estimated $240,000

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………….…….........3 Introduction…………………………………………………………...……………….…………....4 Problem Statement………………………………………………………………………………...6 Alternatives………………………………………………………………………..………………..7 Objectives and Tasks…………………………………………………………………………..…..8 Methods and Procedures…………………………………………………………………....…….9 Project Management…………………………………………………………………………...…10 Budget Statement……………………………………………………………………………..…..12 Budget Matrix…………………………………………………………………………..……….…13 Operating Budget………………………………………………………………………………....14 Task Force Flowchart……………………………………………………………………….…....15 Project Flowchart………………………………………………………………………….……...16 Support Facilities and Staff……………………………………………………………...…....….17 Task Force Resumes………………………………………………………………………….....18 Appendices……………………………………………………………...…………………….…..23

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PREFACE

The following document is a proposal to assess the potential impacts to anadromous salmonid species within the Scotts Creek Watershed due to the construction of the new Learning Center within Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport, CA. The intent of the proposed assessment is to monitor numbers of salmonids in identified locations and measure potential impacts. This document establishes a problem statement, develops objectives to consider the potential environmental impacts, and discusses how this project would be managed to achieve established objectives. The budget for this document organizes the financial aspect of the potential assessment.

This proposal is prepared for the Natural Resource Management Department at Cal Poly, and is a prerequisite to completing the NR 416 course. In formulating this document, the Task Force gains comprehension of the proposal writing process and meets all course requirements.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This document details our proposal for addressing impacts to salmonid species in Scotts

Creek Watershed in Davenport, CA. Within this document are management objectives that will direct the project managers in the implementation of an Environmental Assessment for this project. The purpose of this proposal is to protect populations of Salmonids establishing in the area. It will also serve as a learning opportunity for Cal Poly graduate students, and will help maintain the integrity of Swanton Pacific Ranch and its riparian ecosystem.

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INTRODUCTION

Arrangement of Sections

Each section will be discussed in the following order: - Background Information - Project Location - Project Description - Purpose and Need for Action

Background information

Swanton Pacific Ranch is owned by the Cal Poly Corporation and lies on the west coast of Central California. This majestic 3200 acres is a valuable educational resource for the school, especially for students and faculty involved in forestry, livestock, and agriculture. When Al Smith donated this land to Cal Poly, his intent was for students to connect with the natural environment in an educational setting. The ranch itself has provided projects for research and ‘learn by doing’ opportunities to undergraduates and graduates alike. Its growing popularity is noted by the increasing number of students involved in research and courses taken there each year.

The landscape is defined by dense redwood forests, lush riverine ecosystems, and expansive coastal grasslands overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The abundance of resources has led to an extremely high biodiversity in the area creating a home for rare, threatened, and endangered species such as the Coho salmon, Steelhead Trout, red-legged frog, tidewater goby, San Francisco garter snake, Townsend’s big-eared bat, coastal redwood, white alder, and Douglas-fir. Scotts Creek watershed is the southernmost watershed in California with conditions notable for Coho Salmon survival. This reason alone provides incentive to protect and preserve the Scotts Creek watershed ecosystems especially when concerned with riparian quality. Lower Scotts Creek expands into a depositional estuary, where every winter, salmonid pre-smolts and other species require a breach in the lagoon sandbar in order to complete their life cycle. Changes to the landscape by past land uses like agriculture and logging have had significant long term watershed impacts. Any land management or development is carefully scrutinized in order to limit any further impact to riparian ecosystems that support the wide array of endangered and threatened species.

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Project Location

The project location is Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport, CA on the west coast of central California. For over two decades, Cal Poly has built a work ethic of informed land management, education, and continued research on the land for forestry, agricultural, and biological applications within the Scotts Creek Watershed. In continuing this legacy, a new learning center is under proposal for construction. The projected site location is midway up the Little Creek sub-basin, next to existing facilities associated with the Swanton Pacific Ranch educational program. For the site area border with nearby waterways and identified measuring and monitoring locations, see Figure 2 in the Appendix.

Project Description

The project proposed for assessment involves the construction of a learning center approximately 10 acres in size. The learning center will include 12 student bedroom units with laundry rooms, restrooms and lounge areas as well as two staff duplexes and a large amphitheater. The existing Al Smith House will be expanded to include a large dining hall suitable for dozens of students and staff. There will be multiple new roads constructed as well. The Learning Center is positioned in the westernmost area of the Little Creek Watershed and is split between range and forested regions of the watershed. There is a paved road as well as multiple horse trails surrounding the Learning Center, with two seperate class I watercourses within 800ft of the projected work site.

Identifying the boundary of the project site, obtaining appropriate permits, gaining support from the public, involving all agencies with jurisdiction, and receiving funding will all be necessary before establishing a starting date. The addition of a new learning center will be a long term investment to the students and faculty involved in the natural resources and environmental sciences department and will bring more value to the school as a whole. Purpose and Need for Action

The topic of focus for this project will be anadromous salmonid protection. The preservation of these species depends upon mitigating for erosion and maintaining existing water quality characteristics necessary for salmonid habitat. As resource managers, the objective is to organize and manage a team of environmental professionals to assess threats and evaluate impacts over time.

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PROBLEM STATEMENT

Scotts Creek watershed is the southernmost watershed with conditions notable

for Coho Salmon survival. Threats to anadromous salmonid species’ habitat, including stream temperatures, oxygen levels, nutrients and food, inputs of large woody debris, and diversity of pool or riffle habitats, could occur as a result of the construction of the learning center.Cal Poly’s approach to managing a project that does not hinder the continued growth of the salmonid populations will determine the approval of the project. Salmonid species population densities, rearing, and spawning locations must be clearly identified, and potential impacts to this habitat thoroughly examined, in order to safely implement the construction of the new learning center.

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ALTERNATIVES

Alternatives to the proposed project:

1. Change the project site to a different location. This could be an area farther away from fish bearing streams and road networks with known erosional patterns. This could also be elsewhere in the watersheds where steep slopes do not facilitate sedimentation into watercourses and disruption of proper functioning riparian systems.

2. Decline the proposed construction of a new Learning Center. This would be the extreme solution if the assessment returned results that reveal significant impacts to salmonid populations. The biological importance of the Coho populations is such that this response is a possibility. Significant impacts to Coho populations in the Scotts Creek watershed would counteract the mission of Swanton Pacific Ranch and their current research and stream restoration projects.

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OBJECTIVES & TASKS

Objective 1: Research historical records in identified locations

Task A. Identify spawning habitat locations in Little Creek and Scotts Creek Task B. Research historic numbers of Salmonids in identified locations Task C. Count numbers of salmonids in identified locations Task D. Monitor number of salmonids in identified locations at 1-year for 7 years

Objective 2: Conduct scientific research in identified areas Task A. Identify water quality threats Task B. Identify erosion impacts Task C. Identify mass wasting risks

Objective 3: Review project findings

Task A. Collaboration between scientists, graduate students, faculty from Cal Poly, and Staff from Swanton Pacific Ranch

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METHODS & PROCEDURES

On May 16, 2016, 1 cold water ichthyologist, and 2 graduate students will be

hired along with a project director, project manager, and administrative assistant. During the next three months, this team will work together monitoring and researching the historical data of salmonid species in Little Creek and lower Scotts Creek. On June 16, a geologist and hydrologist (Cal Poly graduate prefered) will be hired to join the established team for the remaining monitoring period. On July 16, this team will compile their monitoring data and historical research into a report focusing on the four categories of concern: where spawning habitat locations are present in Little Creek and Scotts Creek, historic numbers of Salmonids in identified locations, numbers of salmonids in identified locations, and number of salmonids in identified locations in 1-year intervals. After review of this historical research report by the project director, the geologist, hydrologist, project director, project manager, and administrative assistant will continue research, focusing on the potential threats to water quality in the salmonid habitat locations established earlier. A report on threats to water quality from the proposed construction project will be completed by August 16. On September 16, the same team will complete a report on potential surface erosion impacts as well as potential risks of mass wasting from the construction project which will then be handed in to the project director for analysis. Over the course of the next month, all scientists, researchers, and graduate students who have been involved will meet up once every week for four hours. In these meetings, team members will collaborate and review their findings. They will determine the present state of the Little Creek and Scotts Creek stream channels regarding the salmonid species present, as well as possible threats to the possible salmonid habitats from the proposed construction project. October 16 will mark the end of these review meetings for all hired scientists and graduate students. For the next month, only the project director and project manager (with help from the administrative assistant) will continue to meet once a week for 4 hours to review all findings. Conclusions will be made from the previously completed reports and collaborative meetings in order to create a final proposal document. This final document will outline potential threats to salmonid species in Little Creek and Scotts Creek downstream from the proposed construction of the Swanton Pacific Ranch Learning Center. This document will due on November 16, 2016 marking the end of all methods and procedures outlined by this proposal.

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT

This assessment will be managed to meet all agency requirements and include

the public in determination of the best project design and construction plans for the learning center. Public involvement Perceived public response to the project includes concerns over traffic and construction noise, increased use and access to the surrounding land by students, wildlife and forest impacts, and water quality. A public meeting will be conducted by the project manager, administrative secretary, and some of the resource specialists at the beginning of the assessment process in order to gather a full array of public input and to fully cover any problems that may delay the construction project otherwise. These concerns raised by the public can be addressed directly in the meeting by informative discussions, or incorporated into research and evaluations, and communicated to the public in a follow-up meeting several months later. Regulatory compliance and collaboration NEPA compliance and agencies Species listed under the Endangered Species Act include coho salmon, steelhead trout, tidewater goby, and red-legged frog. All regulations and procedures established by the USFWS for the protection of habitat of these species will be addressed in research and assessment outcomes. Further, work will be conducted in collaboration with NOAA to protect salmonids from any potential impacts. NOAA has conducted extensive salmonid research and rehabilitation work in the watershed. Collaboration with NOAA will be approached by studying and supplementing their research and identification of salmonid rearing and spawning locations in the watershed, and comparing current populations to historic salmonid activity in the watershed. CEQA Compliance and agencies Further regulation of species listed as California endangered and sensitive species will be adhered to and considered in consultation with CDFW. Species of concern such as sensitive raptor species, and other birds like herons and marbled murrelets will be considered and protected by assessment procedures as well. Water quality and sediment effects from the construction of the learning center will be monitored by the Erosion Control Board and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality

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Control Board. All threats to regulations and limits regarding water quality will be assessed and the construction project will be adapted to comply to these standards. Project Timeline

The implementation of the proposed assessment will be organized chronologically according to project objectives. A project director, manager, and administrative secretary will organize and direct resource specialists and their research teams to carry out field assessment objectives. Facilitation of discussion and analysis of field assessments over the first two project objectives will then follow as objective three. For a more detailed layout of project tasks and management, please refer to the budget matrix below on page 11.

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BUDGET STATEMENT

The budget plan for the proposal is based on the first 6 months of the project

covering the technical and financial aspect of the proposal. During the middle of the 6-month period, the resource managers will evaluate the financial standing of the project to see where finances can be mitigated to improve cost efficiency of the project for the remainder of the operation period. The budget was structured from the goal and objectives of the proposal to meet three areas of interest (Physical, Biological, Evaluation).

The physical category involved acquiring historical research and identifying areas necessary to count salmonids in both Little and Scotts Creek. This involved employment of a coldwater ichthyologist to perform said tasks, as well as the assistance from 2 graduate students per task. The biological category involved hiring consultants to identify and mitigate all potential negative impacts that threaten anadromous salmonids in the Scotts Creek Watershed. The project will require 2 separate hydrologists to assess water quality and surface erosion impacts, and a geologist to determine mass wasting risks. The last and final technical category covers the evaluation process that produces findings and interpretations. Scientists, project managers, students, and Cal Poly faculty and Swanton staff will all collaborate during the final month long period to establish key findings and ways to mitigate impact. During the entire process, the task force of resource managers will be advising the project managers and directors for appropriate actions to be taken.

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OPERATING BUDGET

Swanton Pacific Ranch Salmonid Protection Proposal

May 16th, 2016 to November 16th, 2016

A. PERSONNEL: SALARIES AND WAGES 1.Project Director, a. 310 hrs. @ $80 per hour (310 x $80) $24,800 2. Project Manager a. 360 hrs. @ $75 per hour (360 x $70) $25,200 3. Graduate Students a. 8 students @$15 per hour @70 hours each (8 x $15 x 70) $8,400

SUBTOTAL, SALARIES AND WAGES………….……………………...$58,400 B. FRINGE BENEFITS: 30% OF SALARIES AND WAGES…………………...$17,520 C. MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES 1. Field Work (water chemicals, traps, tests, maps, hand tools) $2,500 2. Office (graphic supplies, postage, etc.) $1,500 3. Computer Use (Software, laptops, etc.) $2,600

SUBTOTAL, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES………………………..…...$6,600 D. Travel 1. Rental Vehicles 4WD Pickups a. 2 Ford F-150 4-week: $1,350, for 5 months $13,500 2. Gas $2,000

SUBTOTAL, TRAVEL………………………………….………………….$15,500 E. Equipment 1. Survey Equipment $7,300 2. 2 Cal Poly Corporation owned ATV’s $0.00

SUBTOTAL, EQUIPMENT……………………………………………… $7,300

F. Services Hired Consultants a. Geologist- 110hrs. @$75 per hour $8,250 b. Water Quality Hydrologist- 310 hrs. @$75 per hour $23,250 c. Surface Erosion Hydrologist- 210 hrs. @$75 per hour $15,750 d. Ichthyologist- 140hrs. @$50 per hour $7,000 SUBTOTAL, SERVICES………………………………………………………...$54,250 TOTAL DIRECT COSTS……… ……………………………………………….$159,570 INDIRECT COSTS: 50% OVERHEAD………………………………………...$79,785 GRAND TOTAL…………………………………………………………………………$239,355

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SUPPORT FACILITIES & STAFF

1. Sarah Cusack a. GIS modeling skills b. HEC-HMS hydrologic modeling skills

2. Kevin White a. GIS modeling skills b. HEC-HMS hydrologic modelling skills

3. Cole Deblock a. HEC-HMS hydrologic modeling skills

4. Alex Youngberg a. GIS modeling skills

5. Consulting hydrologist 6. Consulting cold water ichthyologist 7. Consulting geologist 8. Project Manager 9. Project Director 10. Administrative Secretary 11. Graduate Students

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TASK FORCE RESUMES

C OLEMAN DEBLOCK 8500 Glen Arbor Road, Ben Lomond, CA 95005 – 831-440-6470

[email protected] - www.linkedin.com/in/colemandeblock

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND HYDROLOGY

Enthusiastic student looking for a meaningful opportunity related to water resources

and management. Utilizing education and background, I am looking to further

develop my skills and work towards professionalism. Through my superior work ethic,

I believe I have a positive influence anywhere I am placed. I hope to engage with a

team that will help guide my understanding and overall comprehension.

Technical Skills:

Excel–GIS–Word–PowerPoint

E D U C AT I O N

CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY– San Luis Obispo, CA Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management & Protection

Concentration: Watershed Management & Hydrology Degree Conferred: December 2016

SCOTTS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL – Scotts Valley, CA, 2009-2012

National Honors Society

R E L E V A N T C O U R S E W O R K

Advanced Watershed Hydrology (GIS / HEC-HMS) – Calculus II – GIS –

Physics – NR Economics and Valuation – Measurements and Interpretation – Organic

Chemistry – Soil Science – Geology – Geomorphology – Ecology & Habitat Management –

Biology – Environmental Impact & Analysis

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W O R K E X P E R I E N C E

CAMP REDWOOD GLEN, SALVATION ARMY – Scotts Valley, CA April 2012 – Present

Maintenance – Irrigation, Watershed, Landscape, Infrastructure ◆ Collaborate with team to prepare camp infrastructure for incoming clients ◆ Investigate and implement solutions to subsurface drip irrigation ◆ Communicate closely with conference leaders and management to meet all group demands ◆ Ensure camp accreditation safety standards are met or exceeded

COASTAL WATERSHED COUNCIL– Santa Cruz, CA June 2015 – September 2015

Stewardship Coordinating Intern ◆ Compiled Excel data related to water quality and use within the San Lorenzo

watershed

◆ Conducted a water quality monitoring project along the San Lorenzo watershed

◆ Contributed towards R&D of Santa Cruz County Mobile Ranger Eco-tour smartphone

application

◆ Facilitated environmental education of watershed functions

P R O J E C T S

PROPOSAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Jan 2016 Team Manager

◆ Addressed potential impacts to Salmonid species associated with construction of a new learning center on Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport, CA ◆ Collaborated with colleagues to identify areas for measurement ◆ Met with ranch directors to visualize scope of project under CEQA guidelines ◆ Conducted cost analysis

SCOTTS CREEK WATERSHED ASSESSMENT & CONCEPTUAL RESTORATION PLAN Jan 2016 – present

◆ Compile technical watershed resource assessments for Scotts Creek, Swanton Pacific Ranch, Davenport, CA ◆ Synthesize and interpret key findings to meet water quality and aquatic habitat goals ◆ Develop comprehensive presentation of Scotts Creek watershed assessment and conceptual restoration plan

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Resume Sarah Cusack Phone: (916) 295-8535 Email: [email protected] Address: 1354 Peach St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Education: Third year Environmental Management and Protection major with a concentration in Hydrology and Watershed Management at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, working towards a B.S. with minors in Soil Science, Land Rehabilitation, and Water Science.

Work Experience: · Current: Part time employee at Mr. Pickles Sandwich Shop. Employed for 7 months thus far. Supervisor: Eric Eberiling. · Participated in NR 475- Sustainable Forestry summer class at Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport, CA. Participated in fieldwork including calculations of watercourse discharge and writing a Timber Harvest Plan for a 10-acre area of Scotts Creek Watershed. · Completed an independent senior project- writing a Cumulative Impacts Report for the Timber Harvest Plan written for Scotts Creek Watershed. · Part time shift leader at Tacos To Go Grill on the Cal Poly campus. Experience with customer service, and leading a team. Employed for one year. Supervisor: Julio De Los Santos. · Volunteer at the Oyster Festival 2013: worked with the Zero Waste Club to sort trash into recyclable and compostable materials, making the event completely zero waste. Worked cooperatively with my club and with the event coordinators. Educated attendees about compostable and recyclable materials. Technical Skills: · Microsoft programs: Word, PowerPoint, Excel. · ArcMap GIS software · HEC-HMS hydrologic modeling software References: · Eric Eberiling. Supervisor at Mr. Pickles Sandwich Shop. Phone: (714) 271-9469 · Brian Swenson. Supervisor at Tacos to Go Grill. Email: [email protected] Phone: (209) 658- 1070 · Julio De Los Santos. Supervisor at Tacos to Go Grill. Email: [email protected] Phone: (805) 264-9268 · Lisa Andreano. I constructed educational posters to be used in teaching her Dendrology class. Email: [email protected]

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APPENDICES

Figure 1. Map of the project location in the western corner of Little Creek within Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport, CA.

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Figure 2. Map showing the locations of salmonid monitoring locations to be used in Objective 1, Task D.