Subject: STATE AND FEDERAL PURCHASE
OF SALT PONDS IN SOUTH BAY
COUNCIL DISTRICT: 4
SNI: N/A
Receive verbal
presentation from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the status of the State and
Federal salt pond acquisition and restoration process in the South Bay.
BACKGROUND
On March 6, 2003, State and Federal agencies completed the purchase of 16,500 acres of South Bay salt ponds from Cargill. Approximately 6,000 acres of those acquired are located within the City of San José’s boundaries. Under the lead of the California Coastal Conservancy, the agencies are currently planning for the ultimate restoration of these salt ponds to tidal wetlands.
This is the largest wetlands restoration undertaken in California history, involving the participation of Federal, State, philanthropic foundations and Cargill officials. The public and non-profit agencies involved are providing $100 million for purchase of the 16,500 acres with an additional $35 million over five years to begin the restoration process.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been presenting information on the progress of this effort to cities and the public within the Bay Area. This presentation, by Clyde Morris of FWS, is intended to provide an update to Council on the acquisition, interim pond management planning, and restoration planning.
Approximately 6,000 acres of the proposed 16,500 acre Cargill salt pond purchase are located within the city limits of the City of San José and many of these salt ponds are located in close proximity to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. Ideally, the City will play an active role in the stakeholder process to restore the salt ponds to ensure that a range of City issues is considered in the process. Among these are flooding concerns for Alviso and habitat protection requirements included in the Plant’s NPDES discharge permit.
It is important to the City that the State and Federal restoration effort leads to and is based on an understanding that all wetlands types are critical to a functioning ecosystem. Riparian, fresh, brackish and salt marsh wetlands are all essential elements of a properly functioning system. Efforts to protect habitat in the past have too often focused on the preservation or restoration of a particular type of habitat due to an emphasis on one or two endangered species.
As a result of permit requirements to protect salt marsh habitat, we have studied the unique and sensitive South Bay environment extensively, including water quality, habitat, and endangered species issues in this area. The City provided co-funding with other agencies for the purchase and restoration of the Baumberg Tract near Fremont in 1995 and Bair Island near Redwood City in 1998 to meet salt marsh mitigation requirements.
Activities that the City could consider with respect to the planning process include sharing data with the understanding that the City’s technical experts would be able to review decisions based on such data, and participation on technical and planning stakeholder groups.
Not applicable.
This memo has been coordinated with the City Manager’s
Office, City Attorney’s Office and the Office of Intergovernmental Relations.
No cost to the City of San Jose.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
CARL W. MOSHER
Director, Environmental Services Department