Alex Kahl, Gallinas Watershed Council & Liz Lewis, Marin County Public WorksAlex Kahl, Gallinas Watershed Council & Liz Lewis, Marin County Public Works

How Can Watershed Planning Support Community Enhancement?

Overview• Gallinas and Miller Creek: a look back and

forward • What can your community do to maintain our

healthy creeks? • How will future developments impact our

creeks? • Dredging Las Gallinas Creek for recreation • What are our flood control issues?

Joint map mc and lgc watersheds

Miller Creek and Las Gallinas Creek watersheds

Las Gallinas Creek- circa 1915

http://www.nbwatershed.org/millercreek

Miller Creek Timeline

Lower Las Gallinas Creek 1914

Marin Historical Society-c 1953

A Tale of Two Creeks

Steelhead Salmon

Stepping through the Gallinas Creek watershed

Diversity in the WatershedDiversity in the Watershed

Special Status Species in the Gallinas Creek Special Status Species in the Gallinas Creek WatershedWatershed

Gallinas Watershed CouncilGallinas Watershed Council

Who Are We? Who Are We? Local community members interested in improving Local community members interested in improving

the ecological conditions in the Gallinas Creek the ecological conditions in the Gallinas Creek watershedwatershed

Project Partners:Project Partners:

*MarinLink*MarinLink

*STRAW*STRAW

*MCSTPPP and Marin County Public Works*MCSTPPP and Marin County Public Works

*LGVSD – MMWD – MSS – NSRCR – and more!*LGVSD – MMWD – MSS – NSRCR – and more!

Gallinas Watershed CouncilGallinas Watershed CouncilGWC Mission:GWC Mission:

To connect the people who To connect the people who live and work in Las Gallinas live and work in Las Gallinas Valley with their watershed.Valley with their watershed.

To educate the community To educate the community regarding the ecological, regarding the ecological, financial and social benefits financial and social benefits of watershed stewardshipof watershed stewardship

To help each other take responsibility for our To help each other take responsibility for our impact on the watershed through protection, impact on the watershed through protection, restoration and education.restoration and education.

To advance conservation action and to protect, To advance conservation action and to protect, restore and enhance the natural resources in restore and enhance the natural resources in the Gallinas Creek watershedthe Gallinas Creek watershed

Gallinas Watershed CouncilGallinas Watershed CouncilOur Watershed Vision: Our Watershed Vision:

Restoration/Enhancement from open Restoration/Enhancement from open space headwaters to the bayspace headwaters to the bay

A watershed-aware community supported A watershed-aware community supported by local schools and homeownersby local schools and homeowners

A A creek-focusedcreek-focused greenbelt park along greenbelt park along Freitas Parkway - Freitas Parkway - “Ditch the Ditch” “Ditch the Ditch”

ProblemsProblems

• No In-Stream Habitat

• No Riparian Habitat

• Excess Freshwater Discharges

• Poor Water Quality

• Excessive Algal Growth

• Trash

• Creek & Community Disconnected

Discovered Illegal Creekside Discovered Illegal Creekside DumpDump

North Fork Gallinas Creek

Dumpsite Cleared!Dumpsite Cleared!

Benefits of an Enhanced Gallinas Creek

• Creek focused corridors that connect the community with Gallinas Creek and the surrounding town areas

• Maintain and enhance economic vitality

• Infrastructure planning will improve our opportunities to seek funding

What is GWC Doing?What is GWC Doing?• Biannual Trash pick up days• Meetings with San Rafael City Manager and DPW• Advocating for Las Gallinas Watershed Program• Neighborhood Watershed Awareness

Informational meetings• Educational booths at community events

Current Road and Ditch Arrangement

•Concrete channel in median of road

•No floodplain area, small pocket parks

•Sidewalks next to road

Possible Road and Channel Arrangement

•Channel on one side of road and widens downstream

•Floodplain and park created within existing right of way

•New foot and bike pathway next to channel where space is sufficient

Marin Watershed Programwww.marinwatersheds.org

Why A Watershed Approach?

• Why now? We have momentum and support from our partners and the County.

• The issues identified by the community aren’t going away; this program allows us to be ready when the economy recovers and new funding programs come on line.

• Supports and guides protection and enhancement of significant natural resources

• Leverages funding to attract State and Federal sources

• Sea Level Rise adaptive management strategies would be transferable to other San Rafael shoreline areas

What are the goals of the watershed program?

• Flood Protection• Reduce on-going maintenance costs and

impacts• Responsive to sea level rise • Supports multiple benefit projects i.e flood

protection and water quality improvements• Incorporates ecological benefits• Meets multiple partner agency objectives • Attractive to funders

Policy Advisory Committee: •BOS FC District Rep•City Council Reps•Flood Zone Advisory Board Reps•Water and Sanitary Board Reps

Technical Working Group:•Municipal Directors •Local, State & Federal Agency Reps •Watershed Groups •Homeowner’s Association Reps

Operations and Finance Committee: •City Managers & County DPW Director

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Board of SupervisorsFlood Control and Water Conservation District

Tools for Watershed Planning

Computerized models to evaluate flood flows & sediment transportComputerized models to evaluate flood flows & sediment transport

Mapping creeks, wetlands, and flood protection facilitiesCoyote Creek watershed-Tamalpais Valley

• Dredging slide

Development and Water Quality Impacts

Managing Stormwater as a ResourceManaging Stormwater as a Resource

• Stay disconnectedStay disconnected• Use permeable Use permeable

pavementspavements• Limit paved surfacesLimit paved surfaces• Detain and retain runoff Detain and retain runoff

throughout the sitethroughout the site• Use drainage as a Use drainage as a

design elementdesign element

Slow It, Spread It, Sink It

• Site design mimics natural drainage

• Disperse runoff to landscape or use permeable surfaces

• To learn more go to http://www.sscrcd.org/rainwater

Wolf Creek RestorationGrass Valley, CA

•Restoration and trail development

•Recreation, economic and community building potential

First Step: Master Plan

Guides: Creek restorationTrail linkagesCreek access points

Santa Rosa Creek: Prince Memorial Greenway

Prince Memorial GreenwayPrince Memorial Greenway, Santa Rosa, CA

What is the status of a Gallinas/Miller Watershed Program?

County of Marin, Flood Zone 6, CSA 6 and the Las Gallinas Sanitary District have committed to implement the watershed approach

Meetings ongoing with City of San Rafael and Flood Zone 7 Advisory Board

Proposed budget for Gallinas/Miller Creek Watershed Program

Expenditures CostHydrology and Hydraulics Model $270,000Geomorphic/Sediment Study $70,000Staffing $52,500Total $392,500

RevenueCounty of Marin $80,000City of San Rafael (proposed) $80,000Flood Zone 6 $12,500Flood Zone 7 (proposed) $80,000CSA 6 $60,000Las Gallinas Sanitary District $80,000Total $392,500

Protecting Watersheds: Protecting Watersheds: What You Can Do EverydayWhat You Can Do Everyday

Simple Ways to Protect Your WatershedSimple Ways to Protect Your Watershed• Don’t Dump or LitterDon’t Dump or Litter• Water and Landscape WiselyWater and Landscape Wisely• Control the FlowControl the Flow• Pick up After RoverPick up After Rover• Fix that LeakFix that Leak• Participate in a CleanupParticipate in a Cleanup• Break up cement; create areas for water to soak Break up cement; create areas for water to soak

into the groundinto the ground• Join Gallinas Watershed CouncilJoin Gallinas Watershed Council

and help us restore the creek!and help us restore the creek!

www.marinwatersheds.org

www.gallinaswatershed.org