2012 2022 stream maintenance program manual · the 2012 – 2022 stream maintenance program (smp)...

SunnyWilliams

SCVWD

1/1/2012

20122022StreamMaintenanceProgramManual

20122022STREAMMAINTENANCEPROGRAMMANUAL

PreparedbySunnyWilliams,EnvironmentalPlanner

BillSmith LindaSpahrDevinMody LisaPorcellaDougPadley MarkWanderJanellHillman MelissaMooreJoeChavez MichaelSanchez

JohnChapman RickAustinJudyIngols ScottKatric

KristenOKane SuzanneRemien

2012 Stream Maintenance Program Manual

TableofContents i July2011

TableofContents

1. INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................2

2. VEGETATIONMANAGEMENT...................................................................................26

2.1. WOODYVEGETATIONMANAGEMENT..............................................................28

2.1.1. RoutinePruning............................................................................................28

2.1.2. CorrectivePruning.........................................................................................31

2.1.3. Coppicing......................................................................................................33

2.1.4. HandRemoval...............................................................................................35

2.1.5. InvasivePlantManagementPlan(IPMP).......................................................41

2.1.6. LargeWoodyDebris(LWD)...........................................................................42

2.2. HERBICIDEandMECHANICAL............................................................................44

2.2.1. Herbicide.......................................................................................................45

2.2.2. Mowing.........................................................................................................49

2.2.3. Discing...........................................................................................................51

2.2.4. Flaming.........................................................................................................52

2.2.5. Grazing..........................................................................................................53

3. SEDIMENTREMOVAL...............................................................................................55

4. BANKSTABILIZATION...............................................................................................59

5. MANAGEMENTofANIMALCONFLICTS....................................................................70

6. MINORMAINTENANCEACTIVITIES..........................................................................81

7. CANALMAINTENANCE.............................................................................................84ATTACHMENTSAttachmentA BankStabilizationMethodsAttachmentB MitigationFeasibilityAssessment(MFA)AttachmentC TreeScoringforRemovalofTreesandShrubs612dbhAttachmentD InvasivePlantManagementPlanAttachmentE ManagementofLargeWoodyDebrisinSantaClaraCountyStreamsAttachmentF BestManagementPractices(BMPs)AttachmentG SedimentCharacterizationPlansAttachmentH WaterQualityMonitoringPlans


Introduction 2 July2011

1. INTRODUCTION

The20122022StreamMaintenanceProgram(SMP)ProgramManualdescribestheauthorizedworkactivities,calendartimingfortheactivities,BestManagementPracticestobeimplementedwhileperformingthework,workspecificexclusions,andadescriptionforcalculatinganynecessarymitigation.

1.1. Purpose

TheStreamMaintenanceProgram(SMP/Program)establishesanongoingmaintenanceprogramfortheSantaClaraValleyWaterDistricts(District/SCVWD)streams,canals,andstreamgauges.TheSMPwasfirstapprovedin2001.ThoughtheSMPiswrittenasalongtermprogram,italsoallowsforperiodicupdatesasnecessarytomeetnewconditionsormaintenanceneedsoftheDistrict.Thisdocumentdescribesthe20122022SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrictsStreamMaintenanceProgram.Thisisanupdatefromthe2001Programwithmoredetaileddescriptionsforworklocationsandassessment,updatedmappingtoolsandspecieslistings.TheSMPandFinalEnvironmentalImpactReportadoptedin2001(2001FEIR),useda20yearplanningtimeframetoevaluatecumulativeimpacts.ThisProgramdocumentcoversthesecond10yearperiodandwhollyreplacesdocumentsthatguidedtheSMPfromitsinceptionin2001until2012.The2012FEIRwillbethestandaloneenvironmentaldocumentfortheupdatedprogram.

ProgramGoals

TheSMPworkactivitiesaredevelopedtomeettwoprogramgoals.

1. Maintainthedesignflowconveyancecapacity(ortheappropriatecapacitywhennodesigncapacityexists)ofDistrictfacilities,and

2. MaintainthestructuralandfunctionalintegrityofDistrictfacilities.



ProgramObjectives

Thefollowingobjectiveswillbeusedtomeetthesegoals:

1. Removesedimenttomaintainthehydraulic,safety,andhabitatfunctionsofthecreeksystems;

2. Managevegetationtomaintainthehydraulic,safety,andhabitatfunctionsofthecreeksystems,andtoallowforleveeinspectionsandmaintenanceaccess;

3. Stabilizebedsandbanksofcreeksandcanalstoprotectexistinginfrastructure,maintainpublicsafety,reducesedimentloading,protectwaterquality,andprotecthabitatvalues;and

4. Avoid,minimize,ormitigateimpactsontheenvironmentbyincorporatingstreamstewardshipmeasuresintomaintenanceactivities.

1.2. SMPPrinciples

Theseprincipleshavebeendevelopedtoensurethatnaturalresourcesareprotectedtothefurthestextentpossibleduringroutinestreammaintenanceprojects.BMPshavebeendevelopedtoimplementtheseprinciples.TheBMPsareincludedasTable212,DSEIRProjectDescription.TheprinciplesintheSMPhavebeendevelopedtoguidedecisionmakingforstreammaintenanceactivitiesandprojects.PrinciplesarebasedontheSMPobjectivesandareameanstotheDistrict'sEndsPolicies(December15,2009).

Principle1: TheDistrictwillprocessallroutinestreammaintenanceactivitiesaccordingtotheprocessandprotocolsestablishedintheProgram.

Principle2: Decisionsregardingthenecessityofroutinesedimentremovaland

vegetationmanagementactivities(torestorechannelflowcapacities)willbemadefollowingthethresholdsestablishedintheMaintenanceGuidelines.

Principle3: TheDistrictwillimplementmeasurestoavoidandminimize

impactstonativespeciesandhabitat.Principle4: Allmaintenanceactivitieswillbeperformedinamannerthathas

theleastimpacttothenaturalflora,faunaandaquaticresourceswhilemeetingtheprojectobjectives.



EndsPoliciesBoardofDirectorsEstablished

E1 MissionandGeneralPrinciples

ThemissionoftheDistrictisahealthy,safe,andenhancedqualityoflivinginSantaClaraCountythroughwatershedstewardshipandcomprehensivemanagementofwaterresourcesinapractical,costeffective,andenvironmentallysensitivemannerforcurrentandfuturegenerations.

MaintenanceofthecreeksundertheSMPisanintegralpartofthemission,whichcombinesworkneededforcomprehensiveandefficientmanagementwithinthecontextofenvironmentalrequirements.

E2 WaterSupply:Thereisareliable,cleanwatersupplyforcurrentandfuturegenerations.

Goal2.1 Currentandfuturewatersupplyformunicipalities,industries,agricultureandtheenvironmentisreliable

Objective2.1.1 Aggressivelyprotectgroundwaterbasinsfromthethreatofcontaminationandmaintainthegroundwaterbasinsforreliability.

Objective2.1.2 Protect,maintainanddeveloplocalwater.

E3 NaturalFloodProtection:Thereisahealthyandsafeenvironmentforresidents,businessesandvisitors,aswellasforfuturegenerations.

Goal3.1 Naturalfloodprotectionforresidents,businessesandvisitors.

Objective3.1.1 Balanceenvironmentalqualityandprotectionfromfloodinginacosteffectivemanner.

Objective3.1.2 Preservefloodconveyancecapacity.

TheSMPisintendedtoauthorizeroutineworkneededtopreservefloodconveyancecapacity.

E4 WaterResourcesStewardship:ThereiswaterresourcesstewardshiptoprotectandenhancewatershedsandnaturalresourcesandtoimprovethequalityoflifeinSantaClaraCounty.



Goal4.1 HealthycreekandbayecosystemsObjective4.1.1 Balancewatersupply,floodprotectionand

environmentalstewardshipfunctions.Objective4.1.2 Improvewatersheds,streams,andnaturalresources.Objective4.1.3 Promoteawarenessofcreekandbayecosystem

functions.

Goal4.2 Clean,safewaterincreeksandbay.Objective4.2.1 Preserveorimprovesurfaceandgroundwaterquality

forbeneficialuses.Objective4.2.2 Promoteawarenessofwaterqualityandstream

stewardship.

Goal4.3 ImprovedqualityoflifeinSantaClaraCountythroughtrails,openspaceandwaterresourcesmanagement.

Objective4.3.1 Supportadditionaltrails,parksandopenspacealongcreeksandinthewatershedswhenreasonableandappropriate.

Objective4.3.2 Reducegreenhousegasemissionswhenreasonableandappropriate.

TheSMPintegratestheprincipalofresourcemanagementintothework.

Programelementsaredesignedtoavoid,minimizeormitigatepotentialimpactsinbalancewiththeneedtoconductworkinstreamstocarryouttheDistrictsmission.

1.3. GeneralApplicability

TheSMPappliestoalloftheDistrictsroutinestreamandcanalmaintenanceactivitiesthatcanbegroupedintofivecategories:vegetationmanagement,sedimentremoval,bankstabilization,managementofanimalconflicts,andminormaintenanceactivities.Routinemaintenanceisdefinedastheworkactivitiesdescribedinthisplanthatoccurinthecourseofstandardmaintenanceworkorproceduresandareperformedregularly,andoftenrepeated.TheseactivitiescanoccurwithintheSMPprogramareabelowthe1000footelevationcontour,andalongapproximately800milesofcreek,41milesof11canals,andrelatedfacilities.StreamgaugemaintenanceactivitiesarecoveredintheSMPthroughtheappropriateworkactivityprojections.

Futuremaintenanceworkprojectionsfortheprogramperiod20122022weredevelopedbyaninterdisciplinaryteamfamiliarwithandresponsibleforconveyancerequirementsofthecreeks.Workprojectionsweremadetodescribetheestimated



locationandworkareapercentageforProgramworkactivities.Theseprojectionswereusedtoperformtheenvironmentalimpactsanalysisinthe2012SMPFEIR.MaintenanceactivitiesarepermittedthroughouttheprogramareaaslongastheydonotresultinsignificantenvironmentaleffectssubstantiallydifferentthanthoseevaluatedfortheProgramasawhole.Workthatisconductedinareasnotoriginallyprojectedin2002,willrequiremitigationasdescribedintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixC,2012SMPFSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPhasbeenmitigatedforinperpetuity.

1.4. GeneralExclusion

TheSMPdoesnotincludethefollowingactivities(2012SMPFEIR):1. Emergencyrepairwork;2. Workthatwouldincreasetheflowconveyanceorwatersupplycapacityofa

facility;3. Maintenanceworkinstreamreachesthatareabovethe1,000footelevation

contour(areastypicallyabovethereservoirs);4. Maintenanceworkofdams,reservoirsandotherwatersupplyfacilities,such

aspipelinesoutsideofstreamcorridors,groundwaterpercolationponds,andinstreamsummerdams;

5. Installationofnewormajormodificationoffishladders;6. Hazardtreeremovals;7. Workconductedonprivatepropertybyownersorotheragencies;8. Workperformedbyotheragencies;9. Largeconstructionprojectsorcapitalimprovementprojects;10.Areawide,intensivemaintenance,orrehabilitationoflarge[>0.05acre]

mitigationprojectsinstalledaspartofCapitalImprovementProjectsandwhichhavepersistedbeyondtheEstablishmentPeriod;and

11.Continuedimplementationofthe2002SMPmitigation,monitoringandreportingprogram,and

12.WorkactivitiesspecificallyexcludedintheProgram.

1.5. CapitalImprovementProjects

LargeconstructionprojectsandCapitalImprovementProjects(CIP)arenotconsideredroutinestreammaintenanceandarenotaddressedthroughtheSMP.FutureCIPswillanalyzeandaccountforlongtermmaintenanceimpactsundertheirownenvironmentalreviewdocuments.TheanalysisoflongtermmaintenanceforaCIPisexpectedtofollowasystematicprocess,evaluatingthedesignfortheleastamountof



maintenanceandthendeterminingwhethertheneededmaintenanceisalreadyincludedintheSMP.

Step1:ComparenewprojectmaintenanceneedstoPermanentMitigation.AnalyzetherequiredfuturemaintenanceofthenewprojectagainstthePermanent

MitigationAreas(PMA)(definedasthe2002projectionsplusanychangesmadesince2002:addingCIPreaches,swappingoutworkneverconductedin20022012toprovideunaccountedformitigationthatisnowavailabletoapplytowardotherworkactivities,andnewworkareasthathaveprovidedmitigationinperpetuity).

AnyenvironmentaleffectsfromofrequirednewfuturemaintenanceofCIPsorother

newprojectswillbecomparedtothePermanentMitigationAreasforthatreachofcreek.MitigationforCIPswillonlyberequirediftherearefuturemaintenanceneedsfromthecapitalprojectthatarenotinthePermanentMitigationAreas.ItispresumedthatsomeofthemaintenanceneedswillbeprojectedinthePermanentMitigationAreas,butnotnecessarilytothescalethatwillbeneededoncetheCIPsarecomplete.

IfallofthefuturemaintenanceneedsarenotinthePermanentMitigationAreas,

thenproceedtoStep2.Step2:IncludenewprojectmaintenanceneedsnotinPermanentMitigationAreas

intothenewprojectenvironmentaldocument.Totheextentthatfuturemaintenanceworkrequirementsarenotcoveredbythe

PermanentMitigationAreasofthe2002SMPandincorporatedprojects,thelongtermincrementalmaintenanceneeds,includingthescaleandfrequencyofworkneeded,mustbeanalyzedandaccountedforundertheCIP/othernewproject.ThemitigationrequiredforthoseimpactsmustbeincludedintheCIPenvironmentaldocumentandwillneedtoprovideupfrontpermanentmitigationforrepeatedmaintenanceimpactsinperpetuity.OnlythenwillthoseincrementalfuturemaintenanceactivitiesbeaddedtotheSMPPermanentMitigationAreaprojections.

1.6. WorkProjections

1. ManagementTheroutinemaintenanceactivitiesconductedbytheDistrictanddescribedinthisManualexhibitconsistentattributesandpatterns.However,projectionsoffuturestreammaintenanceactivitiesfortheSMPandProgramFEIRcannotrepresenttheexactextentofworkthatwilloccur.Actualstreammaintenanceactivitiescanvaryfromyeartoyear.



Therefore,workprojectionsweremadetodescribetheestimatedlocationandworkareapercentageforProgramactivitiesforthe20122022period.Theseprojectionswereusedtoperformtheenvironmentalimpactsanalysisinthe2012SMPFEIR;andtherebydeterminepotentialimpacts,andthenecessaryassociatedBestManagementPractices(BMPs)andmitigationmeasures.MaintenanceactivitiesarepermittedthroughouttheprogramareaaslongastheydonotresultinsignificantenvironmentaleffectssubstantiallydifferentthanthoseevaluatedfortheProgramasawhole.WorkisconsideredincludedintheSMPiftheworkisconsistentwiththeDistrict'sMaintenanceGuidelinesortheworkisneededtomaintaintheflowconveyancecapacityofafacilitybutdoesnotincreasethedesignflowconveyancecapacity.WorkareasmustbemanagedfortheentireProgramareatoensurethatthemaximumworkcoveredbytheProgram,FEIRandregulatorypermits,isnotexceeded.Workactivityimpactsinareasnotprojectedin2002arecalculatedonanannualbasis,inconjunctionwithanyresultingrequiredmitigation.Workareasprojectedinthe2002SMPhavebeenmitigatedforinperpetuity,willcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.Inaddition,theProgramsupportssitespecificassessmentstodeterminethemosteffectivemethodtoachievethemaintenancegoal.Ifitisdeterminedthatalowerimpactworkactivitymethodisviableforthesite,thenewworkactivitywillbeproposedthrougheithertheNoticeofProposedWork(NPW)processorinconsultationwiththeregulatoryagenciesinvolved.Thiswillsupportanassessmentforworkactivitymodificationthatcouldresultinamorebenignmethodbeingusedthanwasoriginallyprojected.PermanentMitigationAreasMaintenanceareasthathavededicatedmitigationprovidedinperpetuitywillbereferredtoasPermanentMitigationAreas(PMAs).ThePMAswillbeasetofworkareasthataremitigatedforinperpetuity.Theseareaswillgrowasnewworkareasaremitigatedthroughthelandacquisitionandenhancementprocess.Whenmitigationlandsareacquired,theDistrictwillidentifywhichofthenewworkareasnowidentifiedunderthe2012SMPwouldbemitigatedfor(inperpetuity)bytheacquiredlands.Similartoprovidingmitigationfornewworkareas,thissameprocessofacquiringlandstobeappliedasmitigationcanbeusedtoprovidemitigationforotherworkareasthatwerenotprojected.Suchnotprojectedbutworkedareasfromthe20022012periodcanbeaddedto



thepoolofPermanentMitigationAreas(PMAs)thataremitigatedforinperpetuity,ifappropriatemitigationlandsareacquiredandtheyprovideagoodmatchforsuchlands.Additionally,someareasmayberemovedfromthePMAifworkhasneverbeenperformedinthatarea,andnoneedforfutureworkinthatareaisanticipated.Undersuchascenario,theprojectedworkarea(anditsimpacts)thatarenolongernecessarywouldberemovedfromthePMAprogram.Thecompensatorymitigationthathadalreadybeenprovidedwouldremain,butwouldnolongerbeallocatedtowardsaparticularworkactivityandlocation.Workareasandactivitiesthatarenotpreviouslycovered,asbeingincludedinthePMA,canbeaddedtothePMAbyapplyingthisunallocatedmitigation.Inthisway,unallocatedmitigationinperpetuityfromthe2002Programmaynowbeappliedtoalternativeworkareas.AnyinclusionofsuchworkareasintothePMApoolofworkareasmitigatedforinperpetuitywouldbereviewedbyparticipatingregulatoryagencies.2. OwnershipTheDistrictperformsworkwhereitownspropertyinfeetitleorhasaneasement.TheBoardofDirectorsmayalsoapproveworktobeperformedonprivatepropertyifitisdeterminedthattheerosion,scourorothermaintenanceneedsarenegativelyaffectingtheflowconveyanceandbankstabilityofthecreeksystem.Duetotheskillandknowledgenecessarytomaintainthefunctionofthecreeksystem,itmaybecomenecessaryfortheDistricttoworkonprivatepropertyinordertoprovidegeneralpublicsafety.TheDistricthasalsoprojectedworkforareaswheretherearenotcurrentfeeoreasementpropertyrights,butwhereitisdeterminedthattheremaybemaintenanceneedsoverthelifeofthisProgram.TheDistrictmayacquirenewpropertyrightsthroughpurchaseinfeetitleoreasementto:providecreekaccess,preventencroachmentofdevelopmentintofloodplains,andmeetthegoalsandobjectivesofthisProgram.3. Locations Workisidentifiedbyworkactivityandlocation.Locationidentificationbeginsatthecenterofthecreekandextendsoutward.Crosssectionalareasinclude:instreamandbank/bench,whichmayincludeamaintenanceroad;and



wherethereisalevee,leveeinboardtopofleveeleveeoutboard.

1.7. DescriptionperWorkActivity

1. VegetationManagementVegetationworkimpactsinnewareasareassessedannually,calculatingnecessarymitigationpertherequirementsintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIR.Treeandshrubremovals612inchesdiameteratbreastheight(dbh)mayoccuronaprojectspecificbasisperthecriterionandmitigationdescribedinAttachmentCthismanual.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPhasbeenmitigatedforinperpetuity,willcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.

2. SedimentRemoval

Sedimentremovalimpactsinnewareasareassessedannually,calculatingnecessarymitigationpertherequirementsintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPhasbeenmitigatedforinperpetuity,willcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.SedimentremovalcanbeperformedinanystreamwithintheSMPprogramarea.

3. BankStabilization

BankstabilizationworkcanbeperformedinanycreekunderDistrictjurisdiction(feetitle,easement,ordirectedbytheBoardofDirectors)unlessspecificallyexcludedbythisProgram.Bankstabilizationworkisassessedperprojectsiteasitcannotbepredeterminedwhereasitewillneedrepair.TheDistricthasmadeacommitmentthatnomorethanhalfofthebankrepairswillconsistofimpervioushardscapebankstabilizationwork(allwatershedscombined)eachyear.

4. ManagementofAnimalConflicts

TheDistrictmanagesanimaldamageandconflictsinDistrictcreeksandcanals.AnimalsmaydamageDistrictfacilitiesbyburrowingintolevees,banksandalongcanals,forageonmitigationsites,andinterferewithworkactivities.



ToavoidcompromisingDistrictfacilitiesandtoreduceconflictswithspecieslivinginorprotectingsiteswhereworkisneeded,themanagementofanimalconflictsmaybeundertaken.

5. MinorMaintenance

MinorMaintenanceactivities(fencerepair,graffitiremoval,accessroadmaintenance,etc.)arenotaprojectedworkactivitiesandmayoccuranywherewithintheSMPprogramarea.

6. CanalMaintenance

TheprimaryfunctionofDistrictcanalsaretoserveaswatersupplytransportfacilities,thoughtheyalsoprovideincidentalfloodprotectionbycapturingsurfacerunoff.Canalmaintenanceactivitiesincludealltheworkactivitiesdiscussedabove.

1.8. WorkWindow

A. WorkWindowExtensions

RequestsforworkwindowextensionsmustbesubmittedtotheregulatoryagenciesbyOctober1st,listingthecreeknamesandreacheswhereaworkextensionwilloccur.Workextensionsvaryperworkactivity.Theagencieswillprovideasingleresponsewithinoneweek.SignificantrainfallappliesafterOctober15.

B. VegetationManagement

WoodyVegetationManagementactivitiesmayoccurbasedonthefollowing:

1. Instream(wettedarea)handpruningandhandremovalmayoccuryearround,except:

a) wheremechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality,or

b) insteelheadcreeks,whereworkisonlypermitteduntilDecember31oruntillocalrainfallof0.5inchesorgreaterfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whichevertranspiresfirst.



2. Vegetationmanagementoutsidethebankfullchannel(seesection2.1.6fordefinition)maybeperformedyearround.

a) Yearroundworkopportunitiesdonotapplytoareaswheremechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality.

3. Duetoseparateprojectpermitsand/orCEQA/NEPArequirements,individualsitesmayhaveadditionallimitationsonworktypesandworkwindows.WherethesemodifiedconditionsoccurtheywillbeincorporatedintotheSMP.

HerbicideVegetationManagementactivitiesmayoccurbasedonthefollowingandpertheMSDSandlabel:

1. Instreamherbicideuseisaprojectedworkactivityandmayoccurbetween

June15October15.2. InstreamworkmaycontinueuntilDecember31oruntillocalrainfallgreater

than0.5inchesfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whicheveroccursfirst.

3. Noninstream(bank/bench)herbicideworkmayoccuryearround,weatherpermitting.

C. SedimentRemoval

SedimentremovalmayoccurduringtheworkwindowofJune15October15.WaterqualitymonitoringshallbeperformedpertheWaterQualityMonitoringPlanandallexcavatedsedimentshallbetestedpertheSedimentCharacterizationPlan.

1. ExtendedWorkWindow.

a. Creekssupportinganadromousfish:AnextendedworkwindowmayoccurfromOctober15throughOctober31,oruntillocalrainfallof0.5inchesorgreaterfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whicheveroccursfirst.

b. Creeksnotsupportinganadromousfish:AnextendedworkwindowmayoccurfromOctober15throughNovember30th,oruntillocalrainfallof0.5inchesorgreaterfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whicheveroccursfirst.

2. ExtendedWorkWindowinLowerQualityAreas:

a. WorkmayoccuruntilDecember31.b. WorkareaswillbeincludedintheannualNPW.



c. WorkwillonlyoccurwithinBerryessaCreek(088+80;232+70236+00;284+30288+00),LowerSilverCreek(Reach3betweenStations37+40and381+19)),ThompsonCreek(0+0010+00),CanoasCreek(0+00390+00),RossCreek(0+0086+30),CalabazasCreek(35+00105+00),andSanTomasAquinoCreek(80+00100+00),if:1) apreconstructionbiologicalsurveyisperformedandclearance

provided,2) siteconditionsaredryandaccessforallconstructionequipment

andvehicleswillnotimpactroadways,3) waterdiversionswillnotbeallowed,4) allworkwillstopifanyrainfalleventisforecastthree(3)daysinto

thefuture,and5) sitesmustbemaintainedinawinterizedstate.(Seesection4.Bank

Stabilization,I.foradefinitionofwinterization.)d. Workmayoccurafterasignificantrainfalleventbutnolaterthan

December31.

D. BankStabilization

BankstabilizationworkisallowedduringtheworkwindowofJune15October15.Ifaworkextensionisgranted,itmaycontinueuntiltheapproveddatestatedbelow,oruntilthefirst72hourforecastthatincludessignificantrainfall.Significantrainfallislocalrainfall0.5inchesorgreaterthatfallswithina24hourperiodinthesubjectwatershed.

1. InCreeksSupportingAnadromousFish

AnextendedworkwindowmayoccuruntilOctober31stforbankstabilizationprojectsthatwillbe50%completebyOctober15th.

2. InCreeksNotSupportingAnadromousFisha. AnextendedworkwindowmayoccuruntilNovember30thforprojects

thatwillbe50%completebyOctober15thoruntilsignificantrainfall.b. AnextendedworkwindowmayoccuruntilNovember30thfornewbank

stabilizationprojectsthatwillbecompletedinfive(5)daysorless,oruntilsignificantrainfall.

E. ManagementofAnimalConflicts

Managementofanimalconflictsmayoccuryearround.Themethodofcontrolusedwillbebasedontheseasonalefficacyoftheanimalslifecyclesandincompliancewiththeprotectionofspecialstatusspecies.



F. MinorMaintenance

MinorMaintenanceactivitiesmaybeperformedyearroundorwithintheWorkWindowforspecifiedWorkActivities.MinorsedimentorvegetationworkmustcomplywiththeWorkWindowsspecifictothoseworkactivities,evenwhentheyareMinorMaintenanceactivities.

G. CanalMaintenance

CanalMaintenanceactivitiesmaybeperformedasdefinedbytheworkactivityandperthedescriptionofannualworkmaximumsintheCanalMaintenancesectionofthisManual.

1.8.1 WorkWindowTables

InstreamWorkWindowInCreeksSupportingAnadromousFish

WorkActivity June15 Oct15 Oct15 Oct31Noworkonce

significantrainfall(0.5within24hrwithinwatershed)

Oct15 Dec31Noworkonce

significantrainfall(0.5within24hrwithinwatershed)

Instreamhandpruning

X X

Instreamhandremoval

X X

Herbicide X1,2 X1,2

SedimentRemoval X XBankStabilization X X,ifatleast50%

completeonOctober15

1Surfactantuseonthe14steelheadstreamsispermittedwhenthestreamisdryin

theimmediateworklocationandnorainisforecastforthenext24hours.2AquaticherbicidecanonlybeusedinCaliforniaredleggedfrogandCaliforniatiger

salamanderSMPmappedareaswhenthecreekisdryandnorainisforecastforthenext48hours.

AfterOctober15th,seventytwohourlookaheadweatherforecastsfromthe

NationalWeatherService(orlocalvendorsuchastheWesternWeatherGroup)are



consultedtoprepareforpossiblewinterizationmeasures.Ifasignificantrainfallisforecastwithinthecoming72hrforecastwindow,thenmaintenanceworkthatmayresultinsedimentrunofftothestreamshallbestopped,toallowadequatetimetocompleteerosioncontrolmeasures.Winterizationmaterialswillbeavailableandonsitewhenrainfalls.



InstreamWorkWindowInCreeksNotSupportingAnadromousFish

WorkActivity

June15Oct15

Oct15Nov30

Noworkoncesignificantrainfall(0.5within24hr

withinwatershed)

Oct15Dec31

Noworkoncesignificantrainfall(0.5within24hr

withinwatershed)

June15Dec31

Workevenaftersignificantrainfall(0.5within24hr

withinwatershed)

YearRound,except

wheremechanizedequipmentcrossesacreekorotherwiseaffecting

waterqualityInstreamhandpruning

X X

Instreamhandremoval

X X

Herbicide X X SedimentRemoval

X X X,specificreachesofBerryessa,LowerSilver,Thompson,Canoas,Ross,Calabazas,SanTomasAquino

BankStabilization

X Xa)ifatleast50%completeonOctober15b)newprojectsthatwillbecompletedinfive(5)daysorless

SignificantrainfallappliesafterOctober15.AfterOctober15th,seventytwohour

lookaheadweatherforecastsfromtheNationalWeatherService(orlocalvendorsuchastheWesternWeatherGroup)areconsultedtoprepareforpossible



winterizationmeasures.Ifasignificantrainfallisforecastwithinthecoming72hrforecastwindow,thenmaintenanceworkthatmayresultinsedimentrunofftothestreamshallbestopped,toallowadequatetimetocompleteerosioncontrolmeasures.Winterizationmaterialswillbeavailableandonsitewhenrainfalls.NonInstreamWorkWindow

WorkActivity YearRound,exceptwhere

mechanizedequipmentcrossesacreekor

otherwiseaffectingwaterquality

TimeSpecific

VegetationManagement

X

Herbicide XperMSDSlabel

LargeWoodyDebris XSeeManagementofLWD

guidelines

Mowing Feb1Nov30

Discing

Feb1Oct15

Flaming X

Grazing

X

ManagementofAnimalConflicts

XPerspecialstatusspeciesandpesticiderequirements

MinorMaintenance

XInstreamworkfollowsactivityspecificwork

windows



1.9. BestManagementPractices(BMPs)

BestManagementPractices(BMPs)havebeenincorporatedintotheprojectactivitiestoavoidandminimizeenvironmentalimpacts.GeneralBMPsapplytoallwork.OtherBMPsareapplicabletospecificworkactivities.SeeTable212,DSEIRProjectDescription.

1.10. ProcessOverview

1.DistrictWorkProcess

TheDistrict'sstreammaintenanceplanning,implementation,andreportingprocessoccursinthreephases:1)programdevelopmentanddocumentation;2)implementationofannualroutinestreammaintenancework;and3)annualreporting.MaintenanceworkcanbeproposedeitheraspartoftheAnnualWorkPlanthroughtheNoticeofProposedWork(NPW)orasotheridentifiedworkthroughouttheyearviaindividualworkorders.AllstreammaintenanceactivitieswillfollowtheResourceProtectionProtocolsasdescribedbelow.

TheDistrictusesworkorderstodescribeandimplementstreammaintenance

projects.Workordersprovideadescriptionoftheproject,scheduleofimplementation,estimatedcosts,permitrequirementsandotherspecialconditions.Workorderswillcontinuetobetheprimaryvehiclefortheimplementationofmaintenanceprojects.

Asmaintenanceworkisproposed,itwillbeevaluatedtodetermineifthe

workisaddressedundertheSMP.Ifnot,theworkwillfollowtheappropriateprojectdevelopmentprocess,whichmayincludeindividualCEQAreviewandindividualregulatorypermitsorclearances.Anexampleofthistypeofworkwouldbetheremovalofadropstructureinastream.

Theproposedworkisalsoevaluatedundertherequirementsoftheindividual

creekMaintenanceGuidelinestoensurethatthemaintenanceactivitymeetspreestablishedengineeringrequirements.Forexample,ifasedimentremovalprojectisproposed,theMaintenanceGuidelinesprovidetheinformationontheallowabledepthofsedimentforareachthatwillstillprovidethedesignedflowconveyance.MaintenanceGuidelinesareupdatedasnewCIPsarecompleted,asbettermaintenancemethodsaredeveloped,orasrefinementsaremadetothelevelofmaintenancerequiredinareachofcreek.



2. SMPComplianceVerification

WorkisproposedintheAnnualWorkPlanthroughtheNoticeofProposedWorkorasindividualworkordersidentifiedthroughouttheyear.WorkwillbeevaluatedforcompliancewiththeProgram.WorkthatdoesnotmeettherequirementsandparametersoftheSMPcannotbecovered.Inthesecases,otherCEQAandregulatorycoveragewillneedtobeobtained.

WorkthatmaybecoveredbytheProgramwillbereviewedtoverifythatitis

coveredunderthelongtermregulatoryclearancesprovidedinconjunctionwiththeStreamMaintenanceProgram.AppropriateresourceprotectionmeasuresandBMPswillbeidentifiedandaddedtotheworkorderpackage.Preworkconferenceswillbeheldwithstaffnecessarytoperformthework,includingtheappropriatestafffromWatershedProgramSupportUnits,FieldOperations,VegetationManagementandStreamStewardshiptodiscusssitespecificrequirements,environmentalconstraints,andBMPs.

WorkorderrequestswillfollowtheDistrictsQEMSdocumentWQ75101

FieldOperationsWorkOrderProcess.AclearinghouseofexperiencedandSMPcompetentstaffwillassess,develop,andauthorizework,compliantwiththe20122022SMP,BMPs,requiredmitigation,andothernaturalresourceprotectionprotocols.

1.11. ProcessforProgramImprovement

Anannual"LessonsLearned"meetingbetweentheDistrictandregulatoryagencystaffwilloccur,usuallyinFebruary,toevaluatetheeffectivenessofbothresourceprotectionandmaintenancemethodsusedintheprecedingmaintenanceyear.TheinformationandassessmentswillbeusedtoupdateBMPs,andStreamMaintenanceProgramprocessestocreateagreaterunderstandingofhowtoaccomplishenvironmentallysensitive,fiscallysoundmaintenancework.

1.12. RegulatoryFramework

TheSMPappliestoallworknecessaryforthe:maintenanceofflowconveyancecapacityofthecanals,creeksandrivers;protectionofthebanksadjacenttothosefacilities;properoperationofstreamgauges;andtopromotetheecologicalstewardshipoftheripariansystem.ItmaybenecessarytoobtainadditionalpermitsorauthorizationsforworkwithintheSMPareathatisnotcoveredbythisProgram.



RegulatoryagencieswithjurisdictionalauthorityintheSMPareaandfromwhichpermitsareobtainedincludethe:BayConservationandDevelopmentCommission(BCDC),CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame(CDFG),U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(USACE),NationalOceanicAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)NationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS),U.S.FishandWildlifeService(FWS)andtheRegionalWaterQualityControlBoards(RWQCBs)SanFranciscoBayandCentralCoast).ThefollowingisadescriptionofeachregulatoryagencyandtheirjurisdictionwithintheSMP.

1. BayConservationandDevelopmentCommission(BCDC)

BCDChasregulatoryresponsibilityoverdevelopmentinSanFranciscoBayand

alongtheBay'sninecountyshoreline.BCDCworkswithitsfederal,stateandlocalpartnersintheLongTermManagementStrategy(LTMS)forthePlacementofDredgedMaterialintheSanFranciscoBayRegiontomanagedredginganddisposalactivitiesintheBayArea.Formedin1990,theLTMSProgramisacollaborativepartnershipinvolvingtheregulatoryagencies,resourceagenciesandstakeholdersworkingtogethertomaximizebeneficialreuseofdredgedmaterialandminimizedisposalintheBay.

ItisnecessarytoobtainaBCDCpermitpriortoundertakingmostworkinthe

Bayorwithin100feetoftheshoreline,includingfilling,dredging,shorelinedevelopmentandotherwork.

2. CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame

a) LakeandStreambedAlterationprogram

TheDepartmentofFishandGame(DFG)isresponsibleforconserving,

protecting,andmanagingCaliforniasfish,wildlife,andnativeplantresources.Tomeetthisresponsibility,theFishandGameCode(Section1602)requiresanentitytonotifyDFGofanyproposedactivitythatmaysubstantiallymodifyariver,stream,orlake.

Notificationisrequiredbyanyperson,business,stateorlocal

governmentagency,orpublicutilitythatproposesanactivitythatwill:

1) substantiallydivertorobstructthenaturalflowofanyriver,streamorlake;

2) substantiallychangeoruseanymaterialfromthebed,channel,orbankof,anyriver,stream,orlake;or



3) depositordisposeofdebris,waste,orothermaterialcontainingcrumbled,flaked,orgroundpavementwhereitmaypassintoanyriver,stream,orlake.

IfDFGdeterminesthattheactivitymaysubstantiallyadverselyaffect

fishandwildliferesources,aLakeorStreambedAlterationAgreementwillbeprepared.TheAgreementincludesreasonableconditionsnecessarytoprotectthoseresourcesandmustcomplywiththeCaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct(CEQA).

b) CaliforniaEndangeredSpeciesAct

TheCaliforniaEndangeredSpeciesAct(CESA)allowsDFGtoauthorize

projectproponentstotakestatelistedthreatened,endangered,orcandidatespeciesifcertainconditionsaremet.DFGadministerstheincidentaltakeprovisionsofCESAtoensureregulatorycomplianceandstatewideconsistency.

Thisactaimstoprotectspeciesoffish,wildlife,andplantsthatarein

dangerof,orthreatenedwith,extinctionbecausetheirhabitatsarethreatenedwithdestruction,adversemodification,orseverecurtailment,orbecauseofoverexploitation,disease,predation,orotherfactors.

3. U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers404Permit

Section404oftheCleanWaterActregulatesthedischargeofdredged,

excavated,orfillmaterialinwetlands,streams,rivers,andotherU.S.waters.TheUSACEisthefederalagencyauthorizedtoissueSection404PermitsforcertainactivitiesconductedinwetlandsorotherU.S.waters.Dependingonthescopeoftheprojectandmethodofconstruction,certainfarmingactivitiesmayrequirethispermit.Examplesincludeponds,embankments,andstreamchannelization.

a) Jurisdiction

1) TidalWatersoftheU.S.Thelandwardlimitsofjurisdictionintidal

waters:Extendstothehightideline,orwhenadjacentnontidalwatersoftheUnitedStatesarepresent,thejurisdictionextendstothelimitsidentifiedforNonTidalWatersoftheU.S.



2) NonTidalWatersoftheUnitedStates.Thelimitsofjurisdictioninnontidalwaters:Intheabsenceofadjacentwetlands,thejurisdictionextendstotheordinaryhighwatermark,orwhenadjacentwetlandsarepresent,thejurisdictionextendsbeyondtheordinaryhighwatermarktothelimitoftheadjacentwetlands.WhenthewateroftheUnitedStatesconsistsonlyofwetlandsthejurisdictionextendstothelimitofthewetland.

b) Section10oftheRiversandHarborsActof1899(33U.S.C.403)

prohibitstheobstructionoralterationofnavigablewatersoftheUnitedStateswithoutapermitfromtheCorpsofEngineers.AllStructuresandWorkdredging,marinas,piers,wharves,floats,intake/outtakepipes,pilings,bulkheads,ramps,fills,overheadtransmissionlines,etc.

4. U.SEnvironmentalProtectionAgency

TheUSACEjointlyadministersSection404authoritywiththeUSEPA,the

administeringagencyfortheentireCWA,andreceivesoversightsupportfromtheUSFWS.UnderaMemorandumofAgreement(MOA)betweentheUSEPAandtheDepartmentofDefense(DOD),theUSACEisgivensoleresponsibilityformakingfinalpermitdecisionspursuanttoSection404and,"conductsjurisdictionaldelineationsassociatedwiththedaytodayadministrationoftheSection404program"(U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture1996).TheUSEPAretainstheauthoritytoenforcecompliancewithSection404andmaintainsthepowertooverruleUSACEdecisionsontheissuanceordenialofpermits(U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency1995).Ifthereisadisputeaboutwhetheranareacanberegulated,theUSEPAhastheultimateauthoritytodeterminetheactualgeographicscopeofwatersoftheUnitedStatessubjecttojurisdictionunderallsectionsoftheCWA,includingtheSection404regulatoryprogram(U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture1996).

5. NOAANMFS

CWASection404.TheActprovidesNOAAauthoritytocommentonpermitapplicationsforthepurposeofavoiding,minimizing,andmitigatingthedestructionanddegradationofaquaticresources,includingwetlands.



EndangeredSpeciesAct(ESA).TheESAprovidesforthedesignationandprotectionofinvertebrates,wildlife,fish,andplantspeciesthatareindangerofbecomingextinctandconservestheecosystemsonwhichsuchspeciesdepend.TheNationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS)dealswithactionsaffectingmarinespecies.Section7oftheESArequiresFederalagenciestoconsultwithNMFStoinsurethatanyactionauthorized,funded,orcarriedoutbysuchagencyisnotlikelytojeopardizethecontinuedexistenceofanyendangeredspeciesorthreatenedspeciesoradverselymodifyordestroydesignatedcriticalhabitat.FollowingconsultationunderSection7,abiologicalopinionisissued.TheMagnusonStevensFisheryConservationandManagementAct(MSA).The1996amendmentstotheMSAestablishedanewmandatefortheNMFS,regionalfisherymanagementcouncils(FMC),andotherFederalagenciestoidentifyandprotectimportantmarineandanadromousfishhabitat(EssentialFishHabitatorEFH),includingwetlands.TheEFHprovisionsoftheMSAsupportoneoftheNationsoverallmarineresourcemanagementgoalsmaintainingsustainablefisheries.Federalactionagencieswhichfund,permit,orcarryoutactivitiesthatmayadverselyimpactEFHarerequiredtoconsultwithNMFSregardingthepotentialeffectsoftheiractionsonEFH.WhenNMFSfindsthatanactionmayadverselyaffectEFH,NMFSisrequiredtoprovidetheactionagencywithconservationrecommendationstoprotectEFH.

6. USFishandWildlifeService(FWS)

TheESAprovidesforthedesignationandprotectionofinvertebrates,wildlife,

fish,andplantspeciesthatareindangerofbecomingextinctandconservestheecosystemsonwhichsuchspeciesdepend.ESASection7requiresFederalagenciestoinsurethatanyactionauthorized,fundedorcarriedoutbythemisnotlikelytojeopardizethecontinuedexistenceoflistedspeciesormodifytheircriticalhabitat.

MigratoryBirdTreatyAct(MBTA).TheMBTAprovidesthatitisunlawfulto

pursue,hunt,take,capture,kill,possess,sell,purchase,barter,import,export,ortransportanymigratorybird,oranypart,nest,oreggoranysuchbird,unlessauthorizedunderapermitissuedbytheSecretaryoftheInterior.Someregulatoryexceptionsapply.Takeisdefinedinregulationsas:pursue,hunt,shoot,wound,kill,trap,capture,orcollect,orattempttopursue,hunt,shoot,



wound,kill,trap,capture,orcollect.TheMBTAprotectsover800speciesofbirdsthatoccurintheU.S.

BaldandGoldenEagleProtectionAct(1940)protectseaglesfromcommercial

exploitationandsafeguardstheircontinuedsurvivalintheUnitedStates.Thislawprovidesfortheprotectionofthebaldeagle(thenationalemblem)andthegoldeneaglebyprohibiting,exceptundercertainspecifiedconditions,thetaking,possessionandcommerceofsuchbirds.

7. RegionalWaterQualityControlBoard(RWQCB)

TheWaterBoardisaStateagencywithregionaljurisdictionoverthebedand

banksofstreamchannels,theirripariancorridorsandthebeneficialuses.SantaClaraCountyisunderthejurisdictionoftheSanFranciscoBayandCentralCoastRegions.TheRWQCBspurposeistoprotectandimprovethequalityofthenaturalwaterresourcesintheregion.RegionalresourcesincludeSanFranciscoandTomalesBays,theOcean,streamsthatflowintotheBaysandOcean,andgroundwaterthroughouttheregion.Protectingwaterqualityisachievedbyregulatingdischargestothewatersandbyrequiringcleanupsofunplannedorillegaldischarges.Theregulatingofdischargesisdonethroughavarietyofpermits.PermitsissuedbytheWaterBoardputrestrictionsondischargesofwastes,suchasconcentrationsofcertainpollutants,ortheamountofflow.Permitscanalsorequiredischargerstotakecertainkindsofactions;forexample,installingcertaintechnologiestotreatorcontainwastes,orimplementingpracticestomanagestormwater.

ThePorterCologneActalsoassignsresponsibilityforimplementingCWA

Sections303,401,and402totheSWRCBandRWQCBs.UnderSection303,theRWQCBs,inconjunctionwithUSEPA,areresponsiblefordevelopingandimplementingTMDLstoaddresswaterqualityimpairments.



1.13. ReferenceDocuments

DetailedinformationoftheSMPandpermitconditionscanbefoundinthefollowingdocuments:

1. FinalEnvironmentalImpactReport(FEIR)forthe2012StreamMaintenance

Program,date.2. SanFranciscoBayRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard(RWQCBSF)Order

specifyingWasteDischargeRequirementsandCleanWaterActSection401WaterQualityCertificationdated.

3. CentralCoastRegionRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard(RWQCBCC)OrderspecifyingWasteDischargeRequirementandCleanWaterActSection401WaterQualityCertificationdated.

4. 2012StreamMaintenanceProgramBiologicalAssessment,SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrict,date.

5. SedimentCharacterizationPlanfortheSanFranciscoBayRegion2012StreamMaintenanceProgram,date.

6. WaterQualitySamplingPlanFortheSanFranciscoBayAreaRegion,2012StreamMaintenanceProgram,date.

7. SedimentCharacterizationPlanfortheCentralCoastRegion2012StreamMaintenanceProgram,date.

8. WaterQualitySamplingPlanforCentralCoastRegion,2012StreamMaintenanceProgram,date.


VegetationManagement 26 July2011

2. VEGETATIONMANAGEMENT

TheVegetationManagementProgramisdesignedtomaintainthehydraulicandsafetyfunctionsoftheDistrictscreekandcanalsystems,andstreamgauges;throughthecontrolandmanagementofvegetation,whileimprovingcreekecosystems.(PleaseseetheCanalMaintenancechapterforthedescriptionofadditionalworkincanals.)

Vegetationmanagementisnecessarytoachievevariousfacilitymanagementgoals.

Specifically,vegetationhastheabilityto:restricthydrauliccapacityandimpedeflowconveyance,negativelyimpactwaterquality,andcreatefirehazardsduetohighfuelloads.Nonnativevegetationmayalsohavenegativeecologicalimpactsasitcanoutcompetemoredesirablenativespecies,resultinginhabitatalterationandreducedbiodiversity.TheDistrictusesanintegratedapproachforvegetationmanagementtoensurethemosteffectivetechniqueisusedinamannerthatminimizesimpactstotheenvironment.

Thischapterdescribesspecifictypesofvegetationmanagementthatareconsidered

toberoutinemaintenanceactivities.Theprogramisseparatedbetweenwoodyandherbaceousvegetationmanagement,thoughthereareoverlaps.Forsimplicity,thewordswoodyandtreewillrefertobothtreesandshrubs.

Therearefiveprojectedvegetationmanagementactivitiesthataredescribedforthe

programperiod20122022.Theseincludepruning,handremoval,herbicide,mowing,anddiscingactivities.Multipleworkactivitiescanbeusedtoachieveanyonepurposeoftheprogramdependinguponthelocation,timeofseason,goaltobeaccomplished,andsensitivityoftheresources.

Workactivitiesarepermittedthroughouttheprogramarea.SMP2002projected

areashavebeenmitigatedforinperpetuity.Allothernewworkareaimpactswillbeassessedannually,calculatingthenecessarymitigationpertherequirementsintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIR.

TheVegetationManagementchapterhasthefollowingsubsections:2.1 WoodyVegetationManagement

2.1.1 RoutinePruning2.1.2 CorrectivePruning2.1.3 Coppicing2.1.4 HandRemoval2.1.5 InvasivePlantManagementPlan



2.1.6 LargeWoodyDebris

2.2 HerbicideandMechanical2.2.1 Herbicide2.2.2 Mowing2.2.3 Discing2.2.4 Flaming2.2.5 Grazing

2012ProjectedVegetationManagementWorkTypebyWatershed(inmiles)

WatershedHand

Removal

Herbicide

Pruning

Mowing

Discing

SantaClaraBasin

LowerPeninsula

2.5 47.8 22.7 3.8 0

WestValley 3.2 146 61.7 32.6 0

Guadalupe 6.9 277.7 211.6 146.8 .4

Coyote 88.6 213.4 159.5 58.3 .5

PajaroBasin

Pajaro 49.7 162 156.6 45.9 .9

Total 150.9miles 846.9miles 612.1miles 287.4miles 1.8milesNote:1. Milesareshownforthetotalprojectionofeachworkactivitytype.Thisincludes

acreagesforoverlappingworkactivitiesatthesamelocation,sopotentialimpactsareoverrepresented.

2. Milesincorporatetheworkareapercentageestimatetoaccountforvaryingworkamountswithinareach.

ChannelAccessandStaging

Accesstomaintenancesiteswilloccurviaexisting,adjacentaccessroadswherepresent.MostSCVWDmaintainedchannelshaveatleastoneexistingaccessroadrunningalongthetopofbankononesideofthechannel.Somechannelshaveanaccessroadoneithersideofthechannel;andothersmayhavealowermaintenanceroadalongthelowerlevelbanks.Whenthechannelshape,bankheight,orthepresenceofmaturevegetationpreventstheuseofthetopofbankaccessroads,



equipmentcanmovedownthechannelslopeviaexistingaccessramps,orforgeanewtemporaryaccessroute.Selectiveclearingofshrubsortreesmaybenecessaryonthebankstoprovideequipmentaccesstothechannelbed.

Accesstovegetationmaintenancesitestypicallyoccursviatheadjacentaccess

roadtothegenerallocation,ifpresent,andbyfootintothechannelorotherareaswithoutaccessroads.Stagingformaintenanceactivitieswilloccurtotheextentpossibleonadjacentaccessroadsandlands,ifavailable.

Revegetation

TheDistrictassesseseachrevegetationsitewithalongtermstrategyforselfsufficiency.Speciespalettes,soilconditions,wateravailability,aspect,etc.areincorporatedintotheplantingapproach.Thestructureofspeciesanddistancerelationshiptovariouscreekflowsguidestherevegetationspecialisttochoosethe

appropriatespeciesforthesite,consideringlongtermmaintenancerequirementsbothforthevegetationandforcreekcapacity.

2.1. WOODYVEGETATIONMANAGEMENT

2.1.1. RoutinePruning

A. PurposePruningoftreesandshrubsisaroutineactivitynecessarytoprovide

accesstoDistrictfacilities,improvevisibilitytoinspectDistrictfacilities,protectDistrictinfrastructure,andmaintainthedesignedhydrauliccapacityofthecreeksystems.PruningisalsousedtomaintainthefacilityperthefacilitiesO&MGuidelines.ProvidinganincreaseindesignflowcapacityisnotpermittedunderthisProgram.

Typicalwoodyvegetationpruningtakesplacealongmaintenance

roads,fencesandleveeslopes.TheDistrictmaytrimvegetationtoreduceorpreventfirehazards,incompliancewithlocalfirecodes.Treepruningmayincludethinningthecanopyofanindividualtreeorshrub.Forsimplicity,thetermtreeortreeswillrefertobothtreesandwoodyshrubs.

ROUTINEPRUNING



Definitions

1. Pruningisthecuttingofabranch4indiameter.2. Herbaceousnonwoodyvegetationincludesgrasses,broadleaf

weeds,cattails,andbulrush;andannuals,biennials,andperennials.3. Shrubwoodyplantsmallerinheightthanatree(



subjectwatershedwithin a 24hour period,whichever transpiresfirst.

2. Vegetation management outside the bankfull channel (see section2.1.6fordefinition)maybeperformedyearround.a) Year round work opportunities do not apply to areas where

mechanizedequipmentwouldneedtoaccessthesitebycrossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality.

3. Due to separate project permits and/or CEQA/NEPA requirements,individualsitesmayhaveadditionallimitationsonworktypesandworkwindows. Where these modified conditions occur they will beincorporatedintotheStreamMaintenanceProgram.

E. Requirements

Pruningcaninvigoratetreesandstimulatenewgrowth.Improperly

pruningatreeorshrubcancreatemoreworkthefollowingyear(s);e.g.aswhenmultiple,weaklyattachedstemssproutfromastubcut.

Thefollowingpruningstandardsshouldbeused:

1. Pruningwillbedonebyqualifiedstaffinamannerthatwillachievethemaintenancegoalsof the facilitywhilepreserving the shortand longtermhealthofthevegetation.

2. Pruning standards should be performed according to nationalAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 (Part 1) 2008Pruning, ANSI Z133.1 2000 Safety Requirements and InternationalSocietyofArboriculture(ISA)BestManagementPracticesTreePruning(revised2008)orthemostcurrentupdates.

3. Limbs 4 in diametermay be removed as routinework under theSMP.

4. Limbs > 4 may also require removal due to access for bankstabilizationandsedimentprojects,toreducedebrisaccumulation,andtominimizepotentialflooding.Thereareoccasionswherebyremovinglimbsfromafallentreemaybesufficienttomaintainflowconveyanceinlieuofcompletetreeremoval.a) Thefollowingcriteriawillbeusedforlateralpruning:

PruningwillbeprescribedandmarkedbyanISACertifiedArboristorthoseexperiencedandknowledgeableinISApruningstandards.



5. When possible, pruning should be done during the winter whenvegetationisdormant.

F. ApplicableBMPs

VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisbasedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.

2.1.2. CorrectivePruning

A. PurposeCorrectivepruningisperformedtopromotelongtermwoody

vegetationandtreehealth.Correctivepruningmayoccurtoaddressdefectsthatwouldeventuallyresultinwholetreefailuresuchas:codominantleaders;decayedordiseasedlimbs;extensivebranchdieback;incorrectpastpruning;orinjuryduetostormormechanicaldamage.Correctivepruningmayoccurwhereapotentialhazardexistsyetcompleteremovalofatreeisunwarranted.Itmayalsobeusedtoadheretoproperpruningstandards.Forexample,inordertoavoidleavingalargestubandpromotingunwantedresprouting,pruningalateralbranchawayfromamaintenanceroadmaybeextendedtothetrunkofthetree.Correctingandpruninglateralbranchesisalsoimportanttoreducetheriskofdebristrappinginthechannel,particularlyneartheactivebankfullchannel(seesection2.1.6fordefinition).

Correctivepruningshouldnotbeusedasjustificationtodomorework

thanisnecessaryorwouldotherwisebepermitted.Insomecases,cuttingalateralmidwaymaybeanappropriateplacetosupportorregenerategrowthupward.

B. WorkActivity

Correctivepruningisthepartialremovalofanyindividualplantand

includescuttingoftreebranches,woodyandherbaceousvegetation,andisconductedwithmechanizedandnonmechanizedhandtools.Unlikeroutinepruning,correctivepruningisstrivingtocorrectaninjury,disease,pastdamage,orpreventativemeasuresoffuturedamagetofacilities.

CORRECTIVEPRUNING



Pruningmayoccurininstreamandalongbankbenchareas.

C. WorkProjectionsCorrectivepruningisnotaprojectedworkactivityandmayoccur

throughouttheSMPprogramarea;althoughallcorrectivepruningmustbeprescribedbyanISACertifiedArborist.

D. WorkWindow

Vegetationmanagementactivitiesmayoccur:1. Instream (wetted area) hand pruning and hand removalmay occur

yearround,except:a) Wheremechanized equipmentwould need to access the site by

crossingacreekorotherwiseaffectwaterquality,orb) Insteelheadstreams,whereworkisonlypermitteduntilDecember

31oruntilsignificantrainfallgreaterthan0.5inchesfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithin a 24hour period,whichever transpiresfirst.




E. Requirements

1. All corrective pruning is performed according to national ANSI A300

(Part 1) 2008 Pruning,ANSI Z133.1 2000 SafetyRequirements andInternationalSocietyofArboriculture(ISA)BestManagementPracticesTreePruning(revised2008)orthemostcurrentupdates.



2. Correctivepruningwillbeprescribedandmarkedbyan ISACertifiedArborist or those experienced and knowledgeable in ISA pruningstandardsandsuccessfulcorrectivepruning.

3. Ingeneral,nomorethan25%ofan individualtreewouldberemovedinoneseason.Rarecasesmayoccur,however,suchastheremovalofacodominantleader.

4. Removal of limbs greater than 4 diametermay be necessary, andarboriculturaljustificationwillbeprovided.

5. Whenever possible, corrective pruning should be done during thewinterwhenvegetationisdormant.

F. ApplicableBMPs

VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPs

mayberevisedonanannualbasisbasedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.

2.1.3. Coppicing

A. CoppicingPurpose

Coppicingcreatesannualsuckergrowththatmaybedesirableascuttingmaterialfordirectinstallationinmitigationprojects.Willowspecies,mulefatandcoyotebrusharetypicallychosen.Thetreesthatarechosenaretreesthatwouldnormallybetargetedforcompleteremoval.Aftercuttingthetreebacktotheground,ratherthantreattheremainingstumpwithherbicide,thetreeisinsteadlefttoresproutandprovideanongoingcuttingsourceforindividualwatersheds.Selectindividualswithineachofthemajorwatershedscanbededicatedtothisactivity.

B. WorkActivity

Coppicingoftreesorshrubsentailsseverelypruningan

COPPICING



entirewoodyplantnearthegroundtopromotemultistemmedregrowth.Thisactionwillchangetheplantformfromatreetoashrub,thus,increasingvariabilityofcanopyarchitectureandage.Coppicingtypicallyuseshandheldandsmallmechanicaltools.Largerequipmentmaybenecessarytoremovethevegetationfromthechannel,tothenbehauledaway.

C. WorkProjections

Coppicingisnotaprojectedactivityandmayoccurthroughoutthe

programarea.

D. WorkWindowVegetationmanagementactivitiesmayoccur:

1. Instream (wetted area) hand pruning and hand removalmay occuryearround,except:a) Wheremechanized equipmentwould need to access the site by


31oruntilsignificantrainfallgreaterthan0.5inchesfallswithinthesubjectwatershedwithin a 24hour period,whichever transpiresfirst.




E. Requirements

Treesthatwouldotherwiseneedtoberemovedmaybegoodcandidatestobecoppiced.Allworkisdoneafterappropriatepre



constructionbiologicalsurveyshavebeenperformedandappropriateregulatoryclearancesobtained.

F. ApplicableBMPs


mayberevisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.

2.1.4. HandRemoval

A. PurposeLive,standingtreesandshrubsmayberemovedfromDistrictfacilities

tomeetoneofthefollowingprogramobjectives:maintaindesignflowconveyancecapacity,providefacilityinspectionandaccess,maintainthestructuralintegrityofDistrictfacilities,andtopromoteoverallecologicalhealth.Forsimplicity,thetermtreeortreeswillrefertobothtreesandwoodyshrubs.

Treeremovalsmayoccuranywhereinthecreekcrosssection,

includingbutnotlimitedto,streamsandtheirimmediateoverstory,streambanks,canals,levees,accessroadsandpedestrianpaths,outboardareasandatbridgesandculverts.

StumptreatmentofremovedtreesisincludedunderHandRemoval

andisnotdefinedasHerbicidework.Alltreeremovalswillassumeastumptreatmentwithherbicide,unlessotherwisenotedintheProgramdocument.BiologicalclearanceswillassumeherbicidetreatmentunlessotherwisenotedontheWorkOrder.

1. Maintenance.Treeremovalsmaybenecessarytoretain

design flow conveyance capacity and tomaintain creek channels.This conditionusuallyoccurswhen treeson thebankhave falleninto the stream or moved in such a way that the trees neworientation impedes flowsor causesdebrisblockages, resulting inan increased flood risk. Fallen trees also can divert streamflowsintotheoppositestreambankincreasingtheerosionandfloodrisk.Although locations of downed trees is not predictable, thiswork

HANDREMOVAL



shouldbe considered anticipateddue to itsnaturaland regularoccurrence.

Treesalsoexistinlocationswheretheirrootsorbranchesmay

interferewithorunderminetheintegrityofDistrictfacilities.Thesefacilitiesinclude,butarenotlimitedtoconcretelinings,concretewingwalls,gabions,sackedconcretewalls,streamflowgauges,stormdrainoutfalls,culverts,andpipes.Treesremovedintheseareaswouldlikelybestumptreatedwithherbicidetopreventrecoveryandreestablishment.

Trees



TreeremovalswillfollowtherequirementsintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIRandsummarizedabove.Treesandshrubs612dbhwillbeassessedonaprojectspecificbasisperapayasyougoprogram.(SeeAttachmentC,TreeScoringforRemovalofTreesandShrubs612dbhApril,2011)

3. EcologicalHealth/Stewardship. In the interestofstreamand land

stewardship,effortsmaybemadeto improvethehealthandvigorof trees on District properties through proper arboricultural andvegetation management techniques. Early detection of plantdiseases and pathogens such as SuddenOakDeath andWesternbark beetles, supported by BMPs that prevent movement ofinfected materials to additional locations, will be implementedthroughthisProgram.Removalofinfectedtreesmaybenecessarytoguaranteetheecologicalhealthofthegreaterarea.

Treesmayberemovedorprunedtoimprovebothaquaticand

terrestrialhabitatqualitybyachievingthefollowingobjectives:

Topromotewaterresourcesstewardship,effortswillbemadetoimprovetheecologicalhealthofripariananduplandwoodlandsonDistrictfacilities.Treeswithstructuraldefects,insectinfestation,orpathogensthatthreatentheecologicalhealthofthetreeorwoodlandmayberemoved.Woodlandswithstuntedgrowthasaresultofcompetitionforresourcesmaybethinnedtofacilitatenormalgrowth.Priortoremovalorstandthinningoftrees,anassessmentoftheecologicalhealthoftheriparianand/oruplandwoodlandswillbeconductedanddocumentedwithwrittenrecommendationsbybiologicalorexperiencedecologicalstaffformanagement.

B. WorkActivity

Completeremovalofabovegroundportionsofanyindividualplant

usingmechanizedornonmechanizedhandtools.Thiscategoryincludesherbicidestumptreatment,called'cutstump'whichisfollowupworkfromtheremovalofvegetation.CutstumptreatmentisapairedactivitytoHandRemoval.Stumptreatmentisassumedtooccurunlessnotedotherwiseontheworkorder.



HandRemovalmayoccurwhereherbicidetreatmentshavebeenappliedtowoodyvegetation.

Handremovalusessmallhandtoolsormechanizedtoolssuchas

chainsawstocutvegetation.Cutvegetationwillbetransportedfromthechannelbedtotheaccessroadbyhandorbymechanicalequipmentsuchasanexcavatororloader.Vegetationischippedonsiteandhauledawayindumptrucks/compactors.Theherbicideapplicationportionofthisworkactivityisperformedusingtoolssuchasdripcans,aspraybottle,orapaintbrushtodoatopicaltreatment.

C. WorkWindow

Vegetationmanagementactivitiesmayoccur:

1. Instream (wetted area) hand pruning and hand removalmay occuryearround,except:a) Wheremechanized equipmentwould need to access the site by


31 or until local rainfall greater than 0.5 inches falls within thesubjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whicheveroccursfirst.

2. Vegetation management outside the bankfull channel (see section

2.1.6fordefinition)maybeperformedyearround.a) Year round work opportunities do not apply to areas where


b) Except mowing, which may occur between February 1 andNovember 30, and discingwhichmay occur between February 1andOctober15.

3. Due to separate project permits and/or CEQA/NEPA requirements,

individualsitesmayhaveadditionallimitationsonworktypesandworkwindows. Where these modified conditions occur they will beincorporatedintotheStreamMaintenanceProgram.



D. Requirements1. All tree removals requireabiologicalsurveyandmustbeverified for

compliance by the watershed environmental planner. In certaincircumstances, the workmay need to be supervised by a qualifiedhorticulturalspecialistorCertifiedArborist.

2. TreeremovalsmustmeetoneofthepurposesstatedaboveinIII,A,1.

3. Alltreeremovalsmustbecoordinatedwithlocaltreeordinances.

E. RemovalCriteriaCriteriaforremovaloftreesisnotbasedsolelyonwhethertheyare

native,nonnative,orinvasive.Nonnativetrees,includinginvasives,oftenprovidevaluablehabitatfunctionsintheabsenceofmoredesirablenativevegetation.Removalofanyofthesetreeswouldbeevaluatedusingthefollowingcriteria.PleaserefertoAttachmentC,TreeScoringforRemovalofTreesandShrubs612dbhforimplementation.

1. Presenceorabsenceofadjacentvegetationofsimilarstatureproviding

equivalenthabitat functions suchas roosting,nesting,perching,SRA,etc. Retentionofnonnatives (invasiveornot)willbegivenahigherpriority if other vegetation is not available to provide alternativehabitat.

2. Currentordocumentableusebywildlifethat isunlikelytobeoffset ifthe vegetation is removed. Such use would include raptor nests,evidenceofusebycavitynestingspecies,evidenceofa rookery,andsimilarwildlifeuses.

3. Instances where the tree is providing vegetative structure (rootsystem)toastreambankthatislikelytoresultinerosionifthetreeisremovedwillbe considered forpruningor thinning to retain the soilstabilityfunction.



F. ApplicableBMPs

VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.

G. Requirements

Treeremovalsarearegularworkoccurrenceandarenecessaryto

maintaintheproperfunctionofDistrictfacilities,maintainconveyancecapacity,removedebrisaccumulationandimprovetheripariansystem.Therearealsodifferentcriteriafortreeremovalsbasedonspeciestypeandlocationwithinthecreeksystems.

Nativetreesaregivenahigherlevelofconsiderationforpreservation

thannonnativetrees.Nativetreespeciesaremoredesirableandtheirpresenceisencouragedovernonnativespecies.Nonnativespeciesandinvasivenonnativesespecially,arelessdesirable.(PleaseseetheInvasivePlantRemovalsectionforadescriptionofaprogramdesignedtocomprehensivelyaddressthesespecies.)Trees,nativeornonnative,locatedwithinacreekchannel,channelbank,orleveemayrequireremovalifflowconveyancecapacityisreduced,thestructuralintegrityiscompromised,andwhereneededforvisualinspectionoflevees.

Treesmayberemovedandaccountedforonaprojectspecific,payas

yougobasis.Trees



1. Trees



functionofthehabitat.Mitigationcreditfrominvasiveplantremovalcanbeusedtocompensateforlossofnativeplantspeciesduringroutinemaintenanceactivities.

Removalofherbaceousinvasivespecieswillbequantifiedasacreageorarea

removed,whereasremovalofwoodytreeorshrubspecieswillbedeterminedbaseduponthenumberofstems,diameterrank(class),invasivenessoftargetspecies,andtheecologicalvalueprovidedbytargetspeciesattheproposedworklocation.

SeetheIPMPAttachmentDofthisManualfordetailedinformation.

2.1.6. LargeWoodyDebris(LWD)

Largewoodydebrisisrecruitedtothestreamchannelthroughouttheyearbyavarietyofnaturalprocessesincludingbankerosion,landslides,windstorms,andtreemortality.TheLWDevaluationandimplementationprogramincludesanassessmentoftheecological,geomorphicandhydrauliceffects(creek,canalandstreamgaugefunctions)ofLWDinthecreeksofSantaClaraCounty.Theevaluationandimplementationprogramwillbalancefloodprotectionobjectiveswhilemaintainingtheecologicalintegrityofourlocalstreams.

TheLWDprogrampertainstotheinstreamareawhichisdefinedasthestream

channelwithinordinaryhighwaterdischargedemarcations.ThetermordinaryhighwaterisdefinedbytheACOEasthatlineontheshoreestablishedbythefluctuationsofwaterandindicatedbyphysicalcharacteristicssuchasclear,naturallineimpressedonthebank,shelving,changesinthecharacterofsoil,destructionofterrestrialvegetation,thepresenceoflitteranddebris,orotherappropriatemeansthatconsiderthecharacteristicsofthesurroundingareas.

A. Purpose

LWDprovidesanimportantecologicalroleinSantaClaraCounty

creeks.Itcanalsocreateareasofdebrisaccumulationifnotproperlymanaged.ALWDprogramwillbepreparedtoretainwoodydebrisin



streamsthroughoutSantaClaraCountyinordertopreservethephysicalandbiologicalprocessesassociatedwiththenaturalrecruitmentofwoodtowaterways.ThisprocesswillalterurbanstreamssothattheirbehaviorcorrespondsascloselyaspossiblewiththatofnaturalstreamswhileretainingtheDistrictsabilitytoprovidefloodprotection.

B. WorkActivity

Inordertoeffectivelymanagelargewoodydebrisinstreamswithinthe

urbanlandscapeofSantaClaraCounty,theDistrictwilluseafourtiered,multidisciplinedapproachforaddressingLWD.Thefourtiersare:1)RetainLWDinthechannel,2)modifyLWD,3)removeLWDandreplace,and4)removeLWD.LWDmanagementmayuseanexcavator,materialhandler,and/orcranetomodifyplacement.

C. WorkProjections

Largewoodydebrisisnotaprojectedworkactivity.

D. WorkWindowLWDmanagementwillfollowthesameworkwindowsasfor

vegetationmanagement.ModificationoftheserequirementsmaybemadethroughtheBiologicalOpinionoftheNationalMarineFisheriesService.

E. Requirements

ThefullrequirementsaredescribedintheLWDProgramdocument,

AttachmentEandtheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixCFSEIR.Pleaserefertothosedocumentsforimplementation.Onceadeterminationismadeandimplemented,theLWDwillbetaggedandmonitored.ThisinformationwillbeinputtedandtrackedintheDistrictdatabase.MitigationforLWDisonlyrequiredincreeksthatsupportanadromousfish;thoughmanagementofLWDisdesiredinallSantaClaracreeks.



F. ApplicableBMPs

VegetationManagementBMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisbasedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.

2.2. HERBICIDEandMECHANICAL

TheDistrictsVegetationManagementProgramusesanintegratedapproachof

chemical,mechanical,cultural,andsomelimitedbiologicalmethodstomanagevegetationonitsfacilities.Herbicidesareusedinconjunctionwithmechanicalandhandvegetationsuppressiontosupporthydraulic,firesafety,andecosystemfunctions.Herbicidesareusedinamannerthatisleastdisruptivetoexistingorpotentialbiologicalresources.

ControlofherbaceousvegetationintheSMPareaisdoneformanyofthesame

reasonsasmanagementofwoodyspecies.Herbaceousvegetationhastheabilitytoimpedeflowconveyance,andcreatefirehazardsinnoninstreamareasoutsideofthechannelbottom.Herbaceousvegetationmayalsohavenegativeecologicalimpactsasitcanoutcompetemoredesirablenativespecies,resultinginhabitatdegradation.ForthepurposesoftheSMP,herbaceousvegetationisnonwoodyvegetationwhichincludesgrasses,broadleafweeds,cattails,andbulrush.Herbaceousvegetationincludesannual,biennial,andperennialplanttypes.

Herbaceousvegetationcontrolisperformedtolimitweedgrowth,seedingand

expansionintonewareas,toreduceweedsinareasofspecialmanagement(mitigationsites),maintainroadrightofwaysandfirebreaksalongtopofbank,preventvegetationencroachmentbyherbaceousplants,maintainvegetationfreeareasasbuffers,andtoprovidelocalizedtreatmentsneededtoprotectfacilitiesandresources.

GuidingPrinciples

ThegoalofSMPvegetationmanagementistoachievethedesiredcontrolwhilebalancingenvironmentalandeconomicconsiderations.Herbicides,whileoftenthemosteffectiveeconomically,areroutinelydismissedforsomeapplicationsduetootherfactorsthatmaketheiruseinagivensituationinappropriate.Inthesamecontext,herbicidesusedappropriatelyare,inmanycases,themostenvironmentallydesirablemethodforachievingthedesiredlevelofvegetationcontrol.Theselectionofanapprovedherbicide,coupledwiththeuseofanappropriatesurfactantper



labelrecommendationscanprovideahigherlevelofcontrolwhichmayreducethefrequencyneededtoserviceanarea,whilealsominimizingphysicalimpactstothesite.Targeteduseofherbicidesmayeliminatetheneedtobringinheavymowingequipmentorlargehandcrewsthatcanbemoredisruptivetoonsitebiologicalresources.Forexample,ratherthancominginannuallytocontrolaspecificarea,youmaybeabletoreducethereturntimetoeverytwoyears.

2.2.1. Herbicide

A. PurposeHerbicidesareappliedinareaswherethepresenceoftheherbaceous

vegetationisinconflictwiththemaintenancestandardsofthefacility.HerbicidesarealsoroutinelyusedtotreatcutstumpsafterHandRemovalactivitiestopreventresprouting(describedabove).TheuseofherbicideforcutstumptreatmentisapairedactivitywithHandRemoval.Postemergentherbicidesareappliedtomanagefirebreaksinareasatthetopofbank.

B. WorkActivity

Theapplicationofherbicide

occursinstreamandonbankbenchareasaswellasonmaintenanceroads,outboardleveeslopes,andsimilarnoninstreamareas.Herbicidedescribesaworkactivityandnottheformulationused.Thisactivityconsistsofusingherbicideastheprimaryabatementtooltokillvegetationandprovidesubsequentfollowupforhandremovalactivities.

Allherbicideapplicationsareperformedusingequipmentappropriate

tothespecificapplicationtype.Instreamherbicideapplicationmayuseahoseandhandgunwithadirectedstream,orabackpackunitforsmallerisolatedareas.

Onunpavedaccessroads,herbicideswouldbesprayedfromatruck

mountedboomtocontrolweedsinordertoallowmaintenanceaccess



andprovidefirebreaks.Theboomshavemultiplenozzlesthatarespecificallycalibratedtoprovidethedosageandspraypatternappropriatetothearea.Theapplicationismanagedfromanonboardcomputermountedineachsprayrig.Duringtheapplication,roadsarepostedclosedtonotifythepublicoftheapplicationandremainsountiltheapplicationdriestoreducetheriskofincidentalexposure.

HandRemovalcutstumpapplicationsaretopicalherbicide

applicationsasafollowupactivitytoHandRemovalandareconsideredpairedactivities.Therefore,cutstumpapplicationsarenotdefinedasHerbicide.Cutstumpapplicationsareappliedusingtopicalequipment,suchasaspraybottle,paintbrush,ordripbottle.HandRemovalmayoccurwhereherbicidetreatmentshavebeenappliedtowoodyvegetation.

C. WorkProjections

HerbicideusageisaprojectedworkactivityunderHerbicide.Hand

RemovalmayoccurwhereHerbicidetreatmentshavebeenappliedtowoodyvegetation.HandRemovalmaybesubstitutedinareaswhereHerbicidehasbeenprojected.Payasyougovegetationremovalisaccountedforseparately.

Workthatisconductedinareasnotoriginallyprojectedin2002,willrequiremitigationasdescribedintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixC,2012SMPFSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPhasbeenmitigatedforinperpetuity,willcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.

D. WorkWindow

1. InstreamherbicideuseisaprojectedworkactivityandmayoccurbetweenJune15October15.

2. Instreamworkmaycontinue fromOctober16untilDecember31oruntil local rainfall greater than 0.5 inches falls within the subjectwatershedwithina24hourperiod,whichevertranspiresfirst.

3. Bankbenchherbicideworkmayoccuryearround,weatherpermittingandpertheproductlabel.



E. Requirements

1. Allherbicideusagemusthave theappropriatebiological surveysandclearances.

2. AllherbicideapplicationsmusthaveaPestControlRecommendationprovided by a California licensed Pest Control Advisor. Arecommendation isprovidedaftereachsite issurveyedandthemostappropriatecontrolmethodsforthesitearedetermined.

3. Foliar applications towoody vegetation are limited tounder two (2)

inchesdbhandtypicallylessthaneight(8)feetinheight.

4. Herbicideuseispermittedinnoninstream(bank/bench)areas.

5. Herbicideuse ispermittedyearroundon instreamconcretesections(e.g.weepholes,expansioncracks)indrychannels.

6. Unmodifiedstreams,asdefinedperthemapsinthisdocument,may

performthefollowingworkactivities:a) Preemergentherbicidesarepermittedinnoninstream

(bank/bench)areasoutsideofthechannelbanks.b) Postemergentherbicidesmaybeappliedinaquatichabitatsto

controlnonnativeandinvasiveplantspecies.c) Postemergentherbicidesmaybeappliedoutsidethewetted

channel(inboardslope,bankbench,andoutboardslope)tocontrolvegetationforfuelmanagement,maintenanceaccessandecologicalrequirements.

d) Additionalbiologicalandpestcontrolrecommendationsmayberequiredtoprotectsensitivespeciesandtheirhabitats.

7. Herbicidesmaybepermittedinserpentineareaswhenapprovedbya

qualifiedplantbiologistandwiththeincorporationofmeasurestoprotectsensitivebiologicalresources,asappropriate.

Considerationsforherbicideuseinserpentineareas:a) Maintainthedesignedfunctionofthefacility,b) Managementforcontrolofinvasiveandnonnativeplants,andc) Protectionofsensitivespeciesandhabitat.



8. AquaticherbicidecanonlybeusedinCaliforniaredleggedfrogandCaliforniatigersalamanderSMPmappedareaswhenthecreekisdryandnorainisforecastforthenext48hours.

9. Theuseofsurfactantsonthe14steelheadstreamsarepermittedwhen:a. Thestreamisdryintheimmediateworklocationandnorainis

forecastforthenext24hours.b. Spotsprayingisnecessarytocontrolundesirablevegetation(eg.

invasivenonnativevegetationorvegetationthatfallsoutsidetheacceptablemaintenancedesignofthefacility).

c. Foliarsprayworkisamethodnecessarytomaintainchannelcapacitypertheengineeringstandardsforthefollowingfacilitiesandlocations:1) StevensCreekfromHighway101toLAvenidaAvenue2) GuadalupeRiver:

i. ReachGthruB(500downstreamUPRRbridgetoHighway101)

ii. BranhamLanetoGuadalupeCreek/AlamitosCreekconfluence

3) AlamitosCreek(GuadalupeRiverconfluencetoColemanRoad)4) LosGatosCreek(SouthBascomAvenueupstreamtoCamden;

andHwy85toLarkAvenue)5) UvasCreek(BloomfieldRdupstreamtoSantaTeresaBoulevard)6) LlagasCreek(confluencewiththePajaroRiverupstreamto

SantaTeresaBoulevard).

10.Surfactantsarepermittedadjacenttosteelheadstreamswhena20footbufferisestablishedbetweenthetreatmentareaandthewettedflowchannel.

F. ApplicableBMPs


mayberevisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.



G. AquaticHerbicidesandSurfactantsOnlyherbicidesandsurfactantsthathavebeenapprovedforaquatic

usebytheEPAandareregisteredforusebytheCDPRwillbeusedforSMPaquaticvegetationcontrolwork.Thelowestrecommendedratetoachieveprojectobjectivesofbothherbicidesandsurfactantswillbeutilizedtoachievedesiredcontrol.Anindicatordyemaybeaddedtothetankmixtohelptheapplicatoridentifyareasthathavebeentreatedandbettermonitortheoverallapplication.

Surfactants

Surfactantsareaseparatecategoryofmaterialsthatareaddedtoherbicidemixturestoenhancetheirperformance.Thesurfactantmayassistwithspreadingoverthevegetation,stickingtothefoliage,penetratingthickcuticlesorotheractivitiesthatincreasetheefficacyoftheapplication.Mostaquaticherbicideseitherrequireorhighlyrecommendtheuseofasurfactanttoachievereasonablelevelsofcontrol.Ininstanceswheresurfactantsareabsentfromthetankmix,thelevelofcontrolisoftenreduced.Areductionincontrolcausesagreaterreturnfrequencywhichtranslatestomoreherbicidebeingusedinthesystemandmorefrequentdisturbancetothesite.

Surfactantusewillbelimitedtotheproductswhicharedocumented

tohavetheleasttoxicaffecttoaquaticlife.Currently,AgridexandHasten(alsoknownasCompetitor)aredocumentedastheleasttoxicintheNOAA2006SupplementalEnvironmentalAssessmentofNOAAFisheriesImplementationPlanfortheCommunityBasedRestorationProgram.(NOAARestorationCenter.SilverSprings,MD).Asnewtechnologiesandchemistrybecomesavailable,theDistrictwillevaluateitsprogramandadoptmaterialsthatachieveoptimumcontrolwhileaffordingthebestprotectiontoenvironmentalresources.TheDistricthasaseriesofQEMSDocuments,includingQ751D02ControlandOversightofPesticideUsethatdefinetheprocessesformodificationstotheHerbicideprogram.

2.2.2. Mowing

A. PurposeMowingprovidesvisualaccessforfacilityinspectionsandmaybe

requiredforflowconveyancecapacityandtomeetlocalfirecodes.Local

MOWING



firecodescallforallweedsandgrassestobemaintainedbelow6inheightfor10horizontallyonbothsidesofaccessroutes.Vegetationmustbecutback30aroundanystructuresanda30firebreakmustbemaintained.Parcelsuptooneacreinsizemustbecompletelymowed.Allworkisperformedtoconformtolocalfirecoderequirements.Mowingistheareawidecuttingofabovegroundplantmaterialbymechanizedorhandheldequipment.Workprimarilyoccursinthebankbench/outboardareas;thoughmayalsobetidallyinfluencediftheareaisneartheBay.

B. WorkActivity

Areawidecuttingofabovegroundplantmaterialusingatractor

mountedflailmowerorhandheldequipment(weedeaters).Workprimarilyoccursinthebankbench/outboardareas;thoughmayalsobetidallyinfluencediftheareaisneartheBay.

C. WorkProjections

Mowingisaprojectedworkactivity.Areascurrentlymanagedby

discingmaybeaddedtothemowingprogramifdiscingisdeemedanundesirablemanagementmethod.Workthatisconductedinareasnotoriginallyprojectedin2002,willrequiremitigationasdescribedintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixC,2012FSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPispartoftheoriginalprogram,andwillcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.

D. WorkWindow

MowingmayoccurfromFebruary1sttoNovember30th.

E. Requirements

Allstandardproceduresforbiologicalclearancesapply.Sincemuchofthisworkisperformedbycontractors,annualBestManagementPractice(BMP)trainingisrequiredandBMPchecklistsshallbecompleteddailybythecontractor.



F. ApplicableBMPs

BMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.

2.2.3. Discing

A. Purpose

Discingisanothertoolusedforherbaceousvegetationcontrol.Discingistheareawideremovalofabovegroundherbaceousplantmaterialbytillingthesoilusingadisc.Allworkisperformedtoconformtolocalfirecoderequirements.

B. WorkActivity

Discingistheremovalofabovegroundherbaceousplant

materialinadefinedarea,bytillingthesoilusingatractordrawndiscorsimilarimplement.Discingisperformedinnoninstreamareas.

C. WorkProjectionsDiscingisaprojectedworkactivity.Workthatisconductedin

areasnotoriginallyprojectedasmowingin2002,willrequiremitigationasdescribedintheMitigationApproachMemorandum,AppendixC,2012SMPFSEIR.Workprojectedinthe2002SMPispartoftheoriginalProgram,andwillcontinuetohaveworkperformedintheseareas,andwillnotneedtocalculateimpactsannually.

D. WorkWindow

DiscingmayoccurfromFebruary1October15.

DISCING



E. Requirements

Allstandardproceduresforbiologicalclearancesapply.F. ApplicableBMPs

BMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmaybe

revisedonanannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.

2.2.4. Flaming

A. Purpose

Ahandheldpropanegaspoweredflamermaybeusedtocontrolweedseedlings.Operationofaflamerisausefulalternativewhennontargetplantshaveknownsensitivitytoherbicidedrift.Itmayalsobeusefulindeterringannualexoticsfrominvadinganative,perennialhabitattype,aswhenpoisonhemlockorperennialpeppergrassseedlingsinvadeatemperatePacifictidalsaltorbrackishmarsh.

B. WorkActivity

Aflamerisagaspoweredhandheldwandthatdeliversa

directedtorchflamefueledbyapropanecanister.Anindividualwouldwalktheprojectsitecarryingtheflamer.Cellcontentsoftheweedexpandwiththeheatinafewseconds,burstingcellwalls,leavingtheplantwilted.Steam,notsmoke,isthebyproduct.Upright,broadleavedweedsfromto1inchtallaremosteffectivelycontrolledbythismethod;grassesorrosettesaremoredifficult.Ifthegroundsubstrateisflammable[e.g.woodmulch,leaflitter],itshouldbewetormoistwhenflamed.Nonflammablesubstratessuchasrockedmaintenanceroads,cellularconcretemat[CCM],driveways,sidewalks,concretefloodwallseams,gabions[checkthewiretolerance],gravelbars,marshes,weepholesandexpansionjointsinconcreteline

FLAMING



creeks,canalsorspillways,etc.areidealforthistool.Smoothsubstratesallowevenapplicationofheat;roughsurfacesallowweedstoevadethetorcheffects.

C. WorkProjections

Useofaflamerisnotaprojectedworkactivityandispermitted

throughouttheprogramarea.

D. WorkWindow

Workmayoccuryearround,thoughusuallyoccursbetweenOctoberandFebruary,weatherpermitting.

E. Requirements

Allstandardproceduresforbiologicalclearancesapply.Flamers

shallbeusedonlybytrainedqualifiedstaffinstrictcompliancewithallapplicableregulations.Flamersshallnotbeusedduringperiodsofhighfiredangerorinareaswherefuelorclimateconditionscouldcauseanaccidentalfire.Localfiredistrictsmayrequestnotificationpriortouse.

F. ApplicableBMPs

BMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedon

anannualbasisthroughtheLessonsLearnedmeetings,basedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.

2.2.5. Grazing

A. PurposeInlimitedcircumstances,grazingmaybeusedforherbaceousweed

controlonDistrictfacilities.Grazingusesvariousspeciesofdomesticanimalstoprovidenontargetedweedcontrol.Animalsincludegoats,sheepandotherappropriateanimals.LargerscalegrazingbycattleisnormallynotappropriateforDistrictfacilities.

GRAZING



B. WorkActivity

Smallherdsareputonparcelsafterevaluationbybiologicalstafftoidentifysensitiveresources.Vegetationtobepreservedisfencedoffasaprotectivemeasure.Grazingisexcludedfromchannelsandotherwaterresources.Ifasensitivewaterbodyiswithinthegrazingarea,itwillbeexcludedwithfencing.

C. WorkProjections

Grazingisnotadistinctprojectedworkactivityasitispermittedwhere

mowing,discing,herbicide,ornoninstreamhandremovalisprojected.Grazingispermittedyearroundthoughitistypicallydoneinthespringandsummerwhenvegetationisyoungandstillpalatabletothelivestock.

D. WorkWindow

Workmayoccuryearround.

E. Requirements

Allstandardproceduresforbiologicalclearancesapply.

F. ApplicableBMPs

BMPsarelistedinAttachmentF.TheseBMPsmayberevisedonanannualbasisbasedonactualexperienceandsiteconditions.


SedimentRemoval 55 July2011

3. SEDIMENTREMOVAL

A. PurposeSedimentremovalistheactofmechanicallyremovingsedimentdeposited

withinacreekorcanal.Sedimentremovalisnecessarywhenanaccumulationofsediment:(1)reducesflowconveyancecapacity;(2)preventsfacilitiesorappurtenantstructuresfromfunctioningasintended;or(3)impedesfishpassageandaccesstofishladders.TheDistrictspurposeinperformingsedimentremovalactivitiesistoensurethatacreekorcanalwillcontinuetoprovidefloodcapacityandthatappurtenantfacilitieswillfunctionasdesigned.

PleaserefertotheCanalMaintenancesectionforworkincanals.

B. WorkActivitySedimentmayberemovedfromcreekchannelbedsandcanalswithvarious

piecesofequipment,includingbutnotlimitedtoexcavators,longreachexcavators,bulldozers,scrapers,orfrontendloaders.Sedimentremovalisusuallyconductedfromthetopofbankusingoneormoreexcavators.Ifthechannelshapeorthepresenceofmaturevegetationalongthechannelbankspreventsworkingfromthetopofbank,thentheexcavatormaybepositionedloweronthechannelbanksorwithinthechannelbedusinganexistingaccessramp,ifavailable.Workingwithinthechannelmayrequiretheconstructionoftemporaryaccessramps.Wherepracticableandnecessary,smallerequipmentcanbelowereddirectlyintothechannelfromanearbystreamcrossingtominimizeimpactsassociatedwithsedimentremovaloperation.Forsmallerscalelocalizedsedimentremovalorculvertclearingprojectssmallloadersorexcavatorsmaybeusedwithintheculvert.Onceexcavated,sedimentistypicallyeitherplaceddirectlyintodumptrucksparkedontheaccessroadorstockpiledintocentrallocationsalongthechannel,whereanotheroperationsubsequentlyliftsthestockpiledmaterialintoadjacentdumptrucks.

ChannelAccessandStaging

Accesstomaintenancesiteswilloccurviaexisting,adjacentaccessroadswherepresent.MostSCVWDmaintainedchannelshaveatleastoneexistingaccessroadrunningalongthetopofbankononesideofthechannel.Somechannelshaveanaccessroadoneithersideofthechannel;andothersmayhavealowermaintenanceroadalongthelowerlevelbanks.Whenthechannelshape,bankheight,orthepresenceofmaturevegetationpreventstheuseofthe


SedimentRemoval 56 July2011

topofbankaccessroads,equipmentcanmovedownthechannelslopeviaexistingaccessramps,orforgeanewtemporaryaccessroute.Selectiveclearingofshrubsortreesmaybenecessaryonthebankstoprovideequipmentaccesstothechannelbed.

Intheeventthatworkwillbeperformedwithinthechannelbottom,allwork

willbeperformedindryconditionsorwithinanareadewateredbyastreamflowbypasssystem.

C. WorkProjections

Sedimentremovalisaprojectedworkactivity.Duringthefirstnineyearsof

theSMP(20022010),theDistrictremovedanaverageof42,088cubicyardsofsedimentintheSantaClaraBasinand1,376cubicyardsfromthePajaroBasineachyear.Thetotallinearextentofsedimentremovalactivity,includingrepeatedworkareas,was56.25milesofcreeks,with52.12milesofworkintheSantaClaraBasinand4.13milesinthePajaroBasinfrom20022009.

1. ProjectionEstimates

Sedimentremovalprojectionsforthe20122022workperiodarelistedbelowperwatershed.Itisprojectedthat35.4milesand7.4milesofsedimentremovalworkwilloccurintheSantaClaraandPajarobasinsrespectivelyduringthe20122022period.

SedimentRemovalProjectionsfor20122022

Watershed

20122022TotalProjected

SedimentRemoval(miles)*

NewWorkAreasfor20122022

(miles)

WorkAreasfrom20022012

NotProjectedfor20122022(miles)

SantaClaraBasin

LowerPeninsula 3.9 0.7 2.6

WestValley 3.8 0.9 8.3