Critical Coastal Areas Program

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Critical Coastal Areas Program

• James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Pilot Watershed
  Characterization and Assessment Project,
• Phase I Update
• San Mateo County
• Kathleen Van Velsor, Association of Bay Area
  Governments
• In partnership with the San Francisco Estuary
  Institute
• James Fitzgerald Reserve Pilot CCA Workshop
  February 7, 2007

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Overview

• We encourage you to review the maps and posters
  for Phase I CCA.
• Project consultants can assist with
  interpretation.
• This presentation will help you interpret the
  maps and posters.
• Phase I II represent an opportunity to
  consider many factors influencing water decline.
• Phase I and Phase II represent an opportunity to
  combine elements to improve water quality.

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The Challenges During Ph. I

• Identify and assess conditions in multiple
  MidCoast watersheds that contribute to pollution
  of coastal water bodies.
• Identify measures and practices to reduce
  pollutant loadings.
• Begin to evaluate the efficacy of existing
  methods used here.
• Begin to develop tools and planning mechanisms
  that help government and other partners.

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Assessing Land based Sources of Marine Pollution
and Coastal Influences

• In order to identify pollutant load reduction
  opportunities we need to understand baseline
  conditions, and the origins, transport,
  interaction and fate of priority pollutants.
• We also need to understand both natural forces
  and human activities in the MidCoastside.

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An Interplay of Factors

• There is a close interplay among coastal
  processes, coastal species, and human uses of the
  land and sea.
• This means there are many variables to consider
  in the Phase I and Phase II watershed
  assessments, and during Action Plan development.

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Maps/Poster Display

• Todays maps and posters help illustrate coastal
  geology and waters, coastal land uses, coastal
  vegetation and natural hazards that may
  contribute to sedimentation, accumulations of
  pathogens, and nutrient problems in watersheds
  and near shore areas. Topics
• Flooding creeks
• Soil conditions
• Terrain
• Fire hazards and post-fire erosion potential
• Landslide potential
• Water conditions
• Tsunamis inundation zones
• Principal uses of the land
• Projections of growth

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Other Significant Coastal Influences (not
illustrated in maps)

• Sea level rise
• Offshore sediment transport
• Near shore and offshore currents
• Wind and wave action
• Storm events
• Surface water transport
• Wetlands creation
• Groundwater accumulation
• Cliff retreat
• Uplifting (coastal faults)

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Review of Current Practices in FMR Critical
Coastal Area

• Even with the best of intentions, human endeavors
  can present challenges to human and ecological
  health in the coastal environment.

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• CURRENT PRACTICES
• Addition of hard surfaces to an otherwise
  permeable landscape in the MidCoastside
• associated with
• Roads/highways/parking
• Homes/businesses
• Aviation facilities
• Storage areas
• Areas that function like impermeable surfaces
  (e.g. plastic crop covers or building sites)
• Cultivation and grading of the soil
• Stabling of farm animals
• Storm drainage and sewage disposal
• Water channeling and impoundments
• Dumpsites and other disposal areas
• The creation of shoreline structures

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Factors may combine to create declines in water
quality in FMR CCA

• There is a strong relationship between sediments
  and pathogens, for example.
• Runoff from a combination of urban and rural
  sources can yield turbidity in creeks, and other
  pollutants.
• Near shore circulation patterns and structures
  relate to the transport and fate of land-based
  pollutants.
• Water pumping and stream/groundwater conditions.
• Clay soils can accelerate run-off -- adding to
  accelerated runoff from urban areas.

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Factors Can Combine to Attenuate Pollutant
Effects in FMR CCA

• Protecting riparian vegetation when building
  offers environmental and real estate values
• Downspout programs can enhance urban design.
• Creek and culvert cleanouts enhance property
  values/reduce risks.
• Vegetated swales and catchments can slow floods
  while treating rural and urban runoff.
• Mulching, crop cover and cultivation techniques
  reduce soil erosion in vulnerable areas.
• Site grading in dry weather to avoid aggravating
  slide areas.
• Siting critical pollutant control facilities,
  landfills away from tsunami and flood inundation
  zones.
• Zoning to protect streams and groundwater basins
  offers landscape level values, risk reduction and
  enhanced property values.

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Map and Poster Acknowledgments

• San Mateo County planning, parks, airports and
  public works agency staff
• Coastal Commission staff
• SF Estuary Institute staff
• ABAG MTC staff
• USGS publications
• State Water Resources Control Board staff
• GreenInfo Network consultants
• Surfrider Foundation
• Regional Water Quality Control Board
• Resource Conservation District staff
• NRCS staff