Santa clara valley water district's calabazas/SAN tomas aquino creek - marsh connection project (the project) is part of the lower south BAY salt pond restoration project and expands the larger…

The Santa Clara Valley Water District was awarded a $3,800,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 under the Geographic Programs - San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (CFDA 66.126). The grant will fund the Calabazas/San Tomas Aquino Creek - Marsh Connection Project, which is part of the larger Lower South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.

The key activities to be carried out under this award include environmental review and documentation (CEQA/NEPA), stakeholder outreach, baseline data collection, design work, and permitting to restore the creek-marsh connection of Calabazas and San Tomas Aquino Creeks and establish tidal marsh. This work will support habitat restoration, improved public access, and resilient flood protection against climate-change driven sea-level rise. The project aims to increase the total area available for habitat restoration to around 1,800 acres by including Pond A4. The anticipated deliverables include planning studies, CEQA/NEPA documents, design plans, and progress reports. The award period is from May 15, 2023 to March 31, 2027.

Santa clara valley water district's calabazas/SAN tomas aquino creek - marsh connection project (the project) is part of the lower south BAY salt pond restoration project and expands the larger project to include pond A4. By including pond A4, the total area available for habitat restoration would be increased to about 1,800 acres. The project planning phase will consider various restoration options for the entire project area including options for pond A4 including nature-based restoration options that may provide water quality improvement and water supply reliability benefits, and additional opportunities for creek-BAY connections. This includes evaluation of using a horizontal levee at the southern margin of pond A4 as nature-based treatment for wastewater effluents, stormwater, and/or reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) will be studied. The project specifically will include outreach efforts, environmental review and documentation (ceqa/nepa), design work, and permitting for restoring the creek-marsh connection of calabazas and SAN tomas aquino creeks and tidal flows to establish tidal marsh. The project will support habitat restoration, improved public access, and resilient flood protection against climate-change driven sea-level rise. This agreement provides federal funding in the amount of $3,800,000. Preaward costs have been approved back to 5/15/23.activities:to implement the SAN francisco estuary partnership comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp), santa clara valley water district's calabazas/SAN tomas aquino creek - marsh connection project will accomplish the following activities: environmental review and documentation (ceqa/nepa), outreach efforts to project partners and stakeholders, baseline condition data collection, design work, and permitting for restoring the creek-marsh connection of calabazas and SAN tomas aquino creeks to establish tidal marsh. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:anticipated deliverables include quarterly/annual team meetings, planning study and staff-recommended alternative report, communications plan, ceqa/nepa documents (draft and final EIR/EIS and fonsi/rod), 30, 60, 90, and 100 percent design plans, and progress reports. The intended beneficiaries of this project are the living resources of the SAN francisco BAY and its watersheds.