Appendix A Memorandum of Understanding for Coordination of Water Resources Planning Appendix B Letters of Support February 15, 2007 Pajaro River Watershed Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) February 15, 2007 Stakeholder Workshop RE: Letter of shareholder IRWMP support reemphasizing our November 30, 2006 public input We strongly support … “The mission of the Pajaro River Watershed IRWMP is to preserve the economic and environmental wealth and well-being for the Pajaro River watershed through watershed stewardship and comprehensive management of water resources in a practical. Cost effective, and responsible manner.” Keeping in mind the above stated mission, the IRWMP has a unique opportunity to make proactive long lasting policies and decisions that will sensitize and educate the public about the importance of the Pajaro River Watershed on both public and private lands and at the same time enhance the role as custodians of the entire Pajaro River riparian environment. These policies and decisions will provide for the protection, preservation, and restoration of the: • native Californian plants within the watershed. • 100-year high water mark for the Bolsa de San Felipe wetland basin (Soap Lake) and floodplain with associated wetlands and open space natural habitat areas along the entire Pajaro River. • native terrestrial and aquatic animal species along the entire Pajaro River and within the entire Pajaro River watershed. • native riparian forest including its reclamation and expansion along the entire Pajaro River by replanting the riparian forests that have been removed and degraded over the past 150-years, including the riparian forest that has been removed from the last 12 miles of the Pajaro River. o The riparian forests provide the required critical habitat for the native terrestrial and aquatic species, including the endangered Steelhead, Red Legged Frog, and numerous amphibian species. o The riparian forests provide vegetation for the filtration and absorption and transpiration process of the waters, add nutrients to the waters, and provide upper river flood control by adding natural vegetation to the tributaries, streams, and to the river to slow the flow. o This natural riparian vegetation provides habitat and should not be periodically removed from the river, the riverbanks, or it’s tributaries. The vegetation materials should be allowed to naturally degrade over time adding to the nutrients and providing required habitat in the river and it’s tributaries. o The riparian forest and it’s vegetation helps slow the flow, provide the refilling of the groundwater aquifers, and provide flood protection naturally for the lower river by slowing the river and slowing it’s tributaries during floods. o A greater width of 100 yards of the riparian forest must be reestablished, replanted, and protected to provide natural habitats and an ecological buffer zone that will be able to sustain itself over the next 150 years. o The ecological riparian buffer zone can be reestablished in part by supervised volunteers and ecological organizations and can help control livestock access to the river and it’s tributaries to prevent further erosion, contamination, and pollution. The IRWMP must strongly support and provide a clear structure with established procedures to accept, encourage, and enhance agricultural and open space mitigation property and conservation easements to the Pajaro River Watershed, especially easements along the waterways to rebuild the riparian forests. We respectfully request that these riparian, habitat, and ecological protections be emphasized and strongly provided for throughout the entire management plan. These recommendations specifically address the goals in the 9/21/06 revised draft Mission Goals and Objectives (page 1 of 2) Water Supply Goal: Objectives: and Water Quality Goal; Objectives: (page 2 of 2) Flood Protection Goal; Objectives: (page 2 of 2) Environmental Protection and Enhancement Goal; Objectives: and number 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the 2005 Monterey Bay IRWMP as stated on page 21, and in section 1.2.6 Ecological Processes/Environmental Resources starting on page 45 of the May 2005 draft plan and September 21, 2006 draft plan revisions; Water Management Strategies 1.41, page 70, Initial Prioritization and Recommendations; 1.7, page 84, Impacts and Benefits; and Appendices B – Pajaro River Watershed IRWMP Support Letters With these suggested recommendations, modifications, and ecological planning we remain strongly in support of the IRWMP. Respectfully, Ken and Lana Bone Stakeholder Identification: Deeded easement for Southern Diablo Mountain Range runoff through our unincorporated Santa Clara County property into the Llagas groundwater sub-basin, and property owners in Santa Cruz County impacted by the Pajaro River runoff Ken and Lana Bone 3290 Godfrey Ave. Gilroy, CA 95020 408-848-1036 [email protected] UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE Southwest Region 777 Sonoma Ave., Room 325 Santa Rosa, CA June 29, 2005 In Response refer to: Mr. Charlie McNiesh Valley Water Management Agency 36 Brennan Street Watsonville, California 95076 Dear Mr. McNiesh: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is in support of the Pajaro River Watershed Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant Proposals. We recognize the value and importance of regional coordination and integrated planning efforts. The Pajaro River Watershed Integrated Regional Water Management Planning process has completed its initial phase of work. Three immediate term and integrated programs have been identified for implementation based on extensive studies, benefits achieved, and readiness to proceed. The water strategy areas are: Water Supply, Flood Management, and Water Quality. NMFS is supportive of the strategy area of Flood Management. While the other strategy areas are important, the Flood Management area is an area we have been participating in through the Executive Committee for the Lower Pajaro Levee Re-Construction Project, the Technical Stream Team sponsored by Action Pajaro Valley, and as a permitting agency. NMFS, along with the other resource agencies, have continually stressed this large project must integrate river performance based river corridor maintenance, eco-system restoration, sediment management, upper watershed detention, and water quality features in the project design. The Pajaro River watershed within the boundaries of the South-Central California Coast (SCCC) steelhead Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU). Steelhead within this ESU were listed as a threatened species on August (62 FR 43937, 69 FR pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. et seq.). Restoring the Pajaro River is critical to ensuring steelhead do not become extinct on the central coast. By combining flood protection features with water quality and eco-system 1 NMFS has completed comprehensive status reviews and has proposed listing determinations for 27 West Coast salmon ESUs; the proposed listing determination for S-CCC ESU steelhead is "threatened". restoration, flood protection project can contribute to restoration of this critical resource. Given the Corps' limited authorization for such project enhancements, we have encouraged the sponsors to work with other programs such as the to achieve a multi-objective approach. If you have any questions concerning the above comments please contact Ms. Joyce Ambrosius at (707) 575-6064 Sincerely, Dick Butler Supervisor, Protected Resources Division Santa Rosa Field Office cc: Scott Hill, NMFS Lester Snow, DWR, Sacramento Arthur Baggett, Jr., SWRCB, Sacramento Lisa Dobbins, Action Pajaro A.L. RWQCB, Oakland Rob Floerke, CDFG, Yountville Bruce Laclergue, Santa Cruz County Justine Wolcott, DPW Santa Cruz County Appendix C Response to Comments on the Draft Plan Response to the Central Coast Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council’s Comments on the Draft Pajaro River Watershed IRWMP 1. Comment: On page 2-47 there is a reference to aboriginal inhabitants, one being the Motsun group. Please check this spelling as there was, and is, a Mutsun band of Ohlone Indians. Response: To maintain consistency with the PVWMA Revised Basin Management Plan EIR, the alternative spelling of Motsun is used rather than the more common spelling of Mutsun. 2. Comment: There is a glaring lack of mention of rangeland NPS issues that are now being talked about at the RWQCB for future regulation. Response: The text in Section 2.5.2 has been revised. Previously there were instances in which irrigated agriculture/growers were specifically referenced though referring to agricultural uses in general would have been appropriate; this has been corrected. Additionally, the text now clearly specifies involvement of rangeland/ranchers in addressing water quality. 3. Comment: The Ag Waiver is listed as a project under the NPS strategy. To me the waiver is a law or regulation. The Farm and Range Water Quality Control Programs that generate plans are good examples of projects. Response: The project in the Draft IRWMP entitled Conditional Agricultural Waiver is different from the Conditional Waiver for Irrigated Agricultural adopted by the RWQCB. The Conditional Agricultural Waiver project is intended to capture efforts coordinated by SBCWD, SCVWD, PVWMA and other stakeholder groups that assist growers in complying with the RWQCB regulations. Acknowledging the confusion caused by the title