Vote: adopted

Item Text

F-6. AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION - EL RIO EDUCATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Approve Amendment No. 1 to an Agreement between U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation (#05FC320380) and Maricopa County through the Flood Control District in the not-to-exceed amount of $35,000. The purpose of this amendment is to reflect an increase of Reclamation's direct project contribution from $202,526 to $237,526. This amendment is effective from September 1, 2008 to September 30, 2010. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain in full force and effect. Salt cedar, also known as tamarisk, is an invasive exotic species growing throughout the Gila River in the El Rio Watercourse Master Plan (El Rio WCMP) study area. Removing salt cedar from the Gila River could improve the conveyance capacity for storm water and reduce the size of the current 100-year floodplain. Removal of salt cedar or other vegetation within Waters of the United States (WUS) is considered a regulated activity and requires a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permit. Although salt cedar can hinder flood flows, the salt cedar stands provide food and cover for insects, birds, mammals and reptiles. Therefore, removing salt cedar is an environmental impact that requires mitigation in accordance with the CWA Section 404 permit. Replacing the removed salt cedar community with vegetation that is more hydraulically efficient and ecologically diverse would be appropriate and beneficial mitigation. Thus, the purpose of the El Rio Educational Research and Development Project (Project) is to establish effective techniques to replace salt cedar with vegetation that improves flood conveyance and biological diversity within the Gila River . The Project's results will help the District with its federal and state permits for other flood control projects identified in the El Rio Study. The Project has ancillary benefits including passive recreation and educational opportunities pertaining to floodplain management, river mechanics, and plant, wildlife, and river ecology. Resolution FCD 2005R002 was adopted by the Board on April 20, 2005 (C-69-05-103-6-00) for entering into Cooperative Agreements with Reclamation. The Project is to be funded as a cost-share project between Reclamation and the District. Reclamation will fund a portion of the construction and the design. The District will fund the planning, design, monitoring, and a portion of the construction of the project. Nearly all of the District's planning and design tasks and costs coincided with the planning efforts and costs of the El Rio WCMP. The modification reflects an increase of Reclamations direct project contribution from $202,526 to $237,526, which will be transferred to the District for the project construction. The District's direct project cost for FY 2008-09 is estimated to be $100,000. (C-69-05-132-3-03)