Restoration Feasibility Study: Site Report Mcinnis Marsh, Marin County, California
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Restoration Feasibility Study: Site Report McInnis Marsh, Marin County, California PREPARED FOR: Marin County Parks and The California Coastal Conservancy BY: Kamman Hydrology & Engineering, Inc. 7 Mt. Lassen Drive, Suite B-250 San Rafael, CA 94903 (415) 491-9600 IN ASSOCIATION WITH: Avocet Research Associates M. Carbiener, Fisheries Biologist Demgen Aquatic Biology Peter Baye, PhD., Wetland Ecologist June 1, 2015 Services provided pursuant to this Agreement are intended for the use and benefit of Marin County Parks and the California Coastal Conservancy. No other person or entity shall be entitled to rely on the services, opinions, recommendations, plans or specifications provided without express written consent of Kamman Hydrology & Engineering, Inc., 7 Mt. Lassen Drive, Suite B-250, San Rafael, CA 94903. Contributors: Rachel Kamman, Principal Engineer, KHE Inc. Corey Hayes, Engineer, KHE Inc. Greg Kamman, Principal Hydrologist, KHE Inc. Jules Evens, Wildlife Biology - Avocet Research Associates Michael Carbiener, Fisheries Biologist Patrick Furtado, Biologist, KHE Associated Consultant Francesca Demgen, Wetland Ecologist Demgen Aquatic Biology Elise Holland, Planner, KHE Associated Consultant Peter Baye, Ph.D., Wetland Ecologist Analysis of Site Conditions McInnis Marsh Restoration Feasibility Study Table of Contents 1 Purpose and Scope ......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Lead Agency and Project Partners ............................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Site Location and Setting .......................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Restoration Project Vision ......................................................................................... 1-1 2 Existing Conditions: Physical and Hydrologic .................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Jurisdictional Setting ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.1 Land Ownership ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.2 Access and Utility Easements ............................................................................ 2-2 2.1.3 Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................................................ 2-3 2.2 Land Use and Planning ............................................................................................. 2-5 2.2.1 Ownership of McInnis Marsh and Adjacent Parcels ........................................... 2-5 2.2.2 Vegetation Management .................................................................................... 2-5 2.2.3 Facility Maintenance .......................................................................................... 2-6 2.2.4 Public Access and Recreation ........................................................................... 2-6 2.3 Historical Conditions ................................................................................................. 2-6 2.4 Geology and Soils ..................................................................................................... 2-6 2.5 Topography, Drainages and Ground Control............................................................. 2-9 2.5.1 Topography ....................................................................................................... 2-9 2.5.2 Tibutary Drainages and Annual Rainfall ............................................................. 2-9 2.5.3 Ground Control and Surveys ............................................................................ 2-13 2.5.4 Gallinas and Miller Creek Channel Surveys ..................................................... 2-14 2.5.5 Topographic Transects .................................................................................... 2-15 2.6 Tidal Datums and Sea Level Rise ........................................................................... 2-20 2.7 Levee Crest Elevations ........................................................................................... 2-24 2.8 Existing Levee Fill Volumes and Upland Areas ....................................................... 2-27 2.9 Stage Area, Stage Volume and Tidal Prism Relationship ........................................ 2-30 2.10 Hydrologic Monitoring ............................................................................................. 2-38 2.10.1 Hydrologic Monitoring Results ......................................................................... 2-39 2.10.1.1 Gallinas Creek Tidegate Monitoring at TG-1 ............................................. 2-39 2.10.1.2 PZ-1 Monitoring ........................................................................................ 2-40 2.10.1.3 Groundwater Levels – Point Readings ...................................................... 2-41 2.11 Miller Creek Hydrology and Hydraulics ................................................................... 2-45 2.11.1 Water Level Monitoring in Miller Creek ............................................................. 2-46 2.11.1.1 Monitoring Results .................................................................................... 2-47 2.11.2 Hydraulic Analysis ........................................................................................... 2-50 2.11.2.1 Numerical Model Development ................................................................. 2-50 2.11.2.2 Creek Design Flows .................................................................................. 2-51 2.11.2.3 Water Surface Elevations ......................................................................... 2-51 2.11.2.4 Flow Velocities .......................................................................................... 2-52 2.12 Miller Creek Sediment Characteristics, Yield and Transport .................................... 2-52 2.12.1 Sediment Characteristics and Yield ................................................................. 2-53 2.12.1.1 Sediment Characteristics .......................................................................... 2-53 2.12.1.2 Sediment Yield.......................................................................................... 2-53 2.12.2 Sediment Transport Capacity ........................................................................... 2-56 Kamman Hydrology & Engineering, Inc. iii Analysis of Site Conditions McInnis Marsh Restoration Feasibility Study 2.12.3 Bedload Transport Analysis ............................................................................. 2-59 3 Existing Conditions: Biological Resources ....................................................................... 3-1 3.1 McInnis Marsh Wetland Vegetation and Communities .............................................. 3-2 3.1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3-2 3.1.2 Methods ............................................................................................................. 3-3 3.1.2.1 Field Surveys .............................................................................................. 3-3 3.1.2.2 Literature Review and Geographical Information System Analysis.............. 3-3 3.1.3 Wetland Vegetation Mapping ............................................................................. 3-4 3.1.4 Wetland Communities ........................................................................................ 3-8 3.1.4.1 Brackish Marsh ........................................................................................... 3-8 3.1.4.2 Emergent Brackish to Freshwater Marsh .................................................... 3-9 3.1.4.3 Saltpans and Hypersaline Vegetation ......................................................... 3-9 3.1.4.4 Tidal Marsh ................................................................................................. 3-9 3.1.5 Upland Communities ........................................................................................ 3-10 3.1.5.1 Ruderal/Grassland Vegetation .................................................................. 3-10 3.1.5.2 Coyote Brush ............................................................................................ 3-11 3.1.6 Invasive Plant Species ..................................................................................... 3-12 3.1.6.1 General Description .................................................................................. 3-12 3.1.6.2 Perennial Pepperweed .............................................................................. 3-13 3.1.6.3 Yellow Starthistle ...................................................................................... 3-13 3.1.6.4 Fennel ...................................................................................................... 3-14 3.1.6.5 Special-Status Plant Species .................................................................... 3-14 3.2 Miller Creek Corridor Ecology and Plant Communities ............................................ 3-14 3.2.1 Miller Creek Corridor Ecology .......................................................................... 3-14 3.2.1.1 Miller Creek Vegetation ............................................................................. 3-15 3.2.1.2 Miller Creek Special Status Plant Species ................................................ 3-16 3.2.1.3 Miller Creek