Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Conservation Plan

Project Overview

The City provides a range of essential public services that may adversely effect the life history and habitat of federally threatened steelhead and state and federally endangered coho. As such, the City has developed an Anadromous Salmonid Habitat Conservation Plan in partnership with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife so we may minimize these effects and contribute toward the recovery of these species. The ASHCP and associated permits provide coverage for "take" of coho and steelhead while conducting otherwise legal activities involved in municipal operations. This will, in turn, provide regulatory certainty and facilitate other permitting processes for City operations. Additionally, the HCP will help support other City HCPs such as the "Operations and Maintenance Habitat Conservation Plan" - which regards other special-status species, and also reinforce existing, broader watershed protection efforts related to drinking water source protection under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Coho salmon and steelhead trout

Young-of-the-year coho salmon (left) and steelhead trout (right) in Liddell Creek, Santa Cruz, CA. Picture courtesy of Jessica Martinez - McKinney.

Summary of Covered Activities

The following summarizes the activities that will be covered under the Habitat Conservation Plan.

Water diversion for provision of municipal drinking water
Water diversion sediment, fish ladder and fish screen management
Rehabilitation and maintenance of water diversion structures and pipeline reaches
Newell Creek Reservoir (aka Loch Lomond) operations
Dewatering of creeks for infrastructure maintenance and repairs
Flood control maintenance
Stormwater maintenance
Open space management
Habitat restoration
Biological monitoring
Emergency response

Project Area

Map of project area

Non-Flow Conservation Fund

While the City has avoided and minimized most of the effects of its operations on coho and steelhead by changing its operations, there are remaining effects that are being offset through the implementation of restoration projects funded through a Non-Flow Conservation Fund (NFCF). The City is working in close partnership with the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County and other partners to improve habitat for these species in the City's drinking water source protection watersheds as well as in other neighboring watersheds ranging from San Gregorio in the north to Aptos in the south. Projects are selected by a multi-agency technical advisory panel based on their potential for contributing to the recovery of these species, linkage to the City's remaining effects, potential for success and related metrics. Effectiveness monitoring is a significant component of this work to ensure that projects are achieving desired outcomes. Most recently, the San Vicente Creek Instream and Riparian Restoration Project - Phase 1 was completed. Other projects that are anticipated to be supported by this fund include, but are not limited to, Branciforte and San Lorenzo River mainstem passage improvements, Laguna Creek floodplain restoration and San Lorenzo River riparian restoration.

Monitoring

The City is heavily invested in monitoring these species as well. Not only is NFCF project effectiveness important, but understanding the status of habitat, fish populations and permit compliance are all fundamental for ensuring the success of the ASHCP. You can learn more about these efforts at the links below.

San Lorenzo River juvenile salmonid and stream habitat monitoring