University
of California Cooperative Extenstion:
Environmental Assessment of the Five Counties
In an effort to determine the effect of County practices and policies on anadromous salmonids and their habitat, in 1998, the Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program (5C) began with a thorough, objective evaluation from the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), an environmental audit of the Five Counties. As a result, the following report was produced:
Since
completion, this report has guided the 5C Program. Many of the Program’s
accomplishments and current activities were based on the findings and recommendations
in this report.
Assessment Goals:
1. To determine the effectiveness of existing policies, regulations, California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process, mitigation measures and land use
practices in minimizing effects of county-regulated or funded activities on
anadromous salmonids and their habitats.
2. To determine what, if any, additional procedures may be necessary to protect fish and habitats and where.
Assessment Area:
The assessment effort focused on two areas potentially affecting anadromous
salmonid species: county facilities management and practices; and land use
regulations and environmental review. Facilities management includes county
roads, stream crossings, flood control channels, spoils disposal practices
and similar activities while land use regulation is focused on activities
such as land divisions, use permits, rezoning and CEQA review.
The review process used to develop the UCCE report was based on the biological needs of salmonid species. Non-biological considerations, such as private property takings or pre-existing conditions which would influence land use decisions were recognized but not necessarily considered in assessing impacts to salmonid habitat.
Recommendations:
Based on the assessment’s findings, the following are examples of areas
where the UCCE team has made recommendations and to which the FCSCP has already
begun to respond:
• Road and bridge maintenance: Improvement of procedures
and standardization of policies, with an emphasis on personnel training.
• Road inventory, taking into account sediment delivery.
• Adoption, improvement, and expansion of County policies
and standards to provide better protection for riparian and in-stream
habitat.
• Ongoing consultation with professional hydrologists
and biologists on projects that potentially affect anadromous salmonids and
their habitat.
• Ongoing workgroups and forums to facilitate information
and technology exchange.