(2)_Attch_2_Statment_of_Work.pdf

140G0321R0010 Attachment 2

US Geological Survey Monitoring Network:

Maintenance, Upgrades and Expansion Project Page 1

Statement of Work

USGS Monitoring Network Maintenance, Upgrades, and Expansion

INTRODUCTION

The US Geological Survey has operated and maintained a monitoring network in the Sacramento‐ San Joaquin Delta since the 1970’s. Over time, as technology improved, and monitoring needs changed, the network has expanded to include more locations and additional parameters. The overarching goal is to collect flow, water quality, and fish movement data at stations throughout the region. To support this monitoring objective, there is a need for infrastructure maintenance or modification at some of our existing stations and a need for additional infrastructure at new locations.

The US Geological Survey is proposing to drive pilings at locations across the Sacramento‐San Joaquin Delta, in the Lower Sacramento River, and the lower San Joaquin River to support these monitoring activities (Figure 1; Table 1). Implementation of the proposed project is expected to take 5 years/seasons. We have included all of the locations to provide a more complete overview of the long‐term objective. The final network design is contingent upon funding availability and finalization of the monitoring priorities. We propose the following overall plan and intend to have annual check‐ins to identify what locations will be included in the proposed work plan for the year, and to ensure/confirm the proposed projects fall under the analyzed programmatic biological opinion. If there are any modifications to the network design, they will be highlighted at that time.

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Figure 1: USGS Monitoring Network: Maintenance, Upgrades, and Expansion Locations

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DESCRIPTION

The location of the stations has been identified based on the scientific needs of the monitoring network. Stations that are identified in Figure 1 with the “yellow paddle” icons will typically consist of a 18‐inch steel piling that will house an electronics box, an aluminum mount with an acoustic doppler velocity meter (ADVM), one to several PVC pipes to house pressure sensors and/or water quality sondes, solar panels, and navigational safety signage (Figure 2). Acoustic Telemetry Stations that are identified in Figure 1 with the “blue circles” will consist of 1 to 4 pilings depending on the type of fish tracking required at each location. To date all of the acoustic telemetry stations have either been self‐contained or have been tethered to shore. This is a maintenance intensive process and has also been prone to data loss due to vandalism and theft.

Per the site map the Flow and/or Water Quality Monitoring (Yellow) and Proposed Long‐Term Acoustic Telemetry Monitoring (Blue) are the same pilings – the project that they’re being used for is different. USGS requires the 18‐inch diameter steel pilings for all locations. USGS will have all the Nationwide #5 permit in place, but if there are coast guard notifications the contractor will need to provide the permits. Contractor will provide vessel and equipment necessary for installation. The contractor will procure the necessary 18‐inch diameter pilings. Steel pilings thickness will be 18” OD, 3/8” wall. Contractor will not install band clamps. All the Stations will be installed in water areas. The pilings driven depth is a standard depth of 30’. Locations of the Stations will not be in shipping channels or interfere w/ vehicular traffic. Installment of temporary navigation / warning signage and lighting is required as soon as the piling is installed. USGS will have an employee on site for installation. USGS would do the electronic installation on the stations but may require some additional work for infrastructure install.

1) Environmental protection invasive species ‐‐ all equipment, including barges and vessels, need to be free of invasive species spill protection ‐‐ all barges and vessels need to be equipped with adequate spill protection gear and a spill prevention plan (both for oil spills and in the event that pile removal is occurring to minimize water/soil/mud return to the waterway after piling removal when piling in on deck)

2) Piling removal removal and disposal in appropriate facility of creosote pilings ‐‐ includes minimizing water/mud return to the waterway after removal o remove pilings slowly to break friction bond and minimize sediment disturbance o containment basin on barge to control spills and prevent re‐entry to waterway o contaminated sediments will be disposed of at an appropriate upland disposal site removal will also be executed with a vibratory hammer ‐‐ same "ramp up" requirements as described below to allow wildlife to depart the area

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3) Piling installation use of vibratory hammer (impact hammer allowed according to NMFS permit under extenuating circumstances) o if impact hammers are required ‐‐ impact cushions are required on top of piling to reduce sound ‐‐ additional details in "Conservation Measures, Item 3", Pg 4‐5 of NMFS NLAA letter.

ramp‐up time to allow wildlife to leave area prior to active construction (lower power for 15 sec, 1‐min pause, lower power for 15 sec, 1‐min pause, then begin continuous pile driving) o pg 9 NMFS NLAA letter

Figure 2: Standard configuration of a Delta Flow and Water Quality Monitoring Station

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LOCATIONS

Locations and prioritization are presented in Table 1 (attached). Table 1 includes all the potential locations; however, the final configuration will depend on funding availability and design considerations.

Priority 1: These locations are part of the long‐term flow monitoring network and the stations are in need of infrastructure maintenance or are newly funded stations that have infrastructure needs.

Priority 2: These locations are part of the long‐term flow monitoring network but are of lower priority for upgrades or maintenance

Priority 3: These locations are either part of the long‐term flow monitoring network or are potential new stations.

Priority 4: These locations are part of the Fremont Weir project. This project has not yet been funded or finalized so the design details may change depending on the final project objectives.

Priority 5: These locations are part of some potential work in the Deepwater Shipping Channel. This project has not yet been funded or finalized, so the design details may change depending on the final project objectives.

Priority A: These are the high priority locations associated with the Acoustic Telemetry Network for monitoring fish migration. At this point funds for the infrastructure have not been identified.

Priority B: These are the second‐tier priority locations associated with the Acoustic Telemetry Network for monitoring fish migration. At this point funds for the infrastructure have not been identified.

Table 2: Summary of the Number of pilings in each priority category

Number of Pilings for 2021

Work Window Comment

Priority 1 Pilings: 17 2 are contingent on funding Priority 2 Pilings: 7 Priority 3 Pilings: 3 1 is contingent on funding Priority 4 Pilings: 6 all are contingent on funding Priority 5 Pilings: 7 all are contingent on funding Priority "A" Pilings: 62 all are contingent on funding

Priority "B" Pilings: 78 all are contingent on funding

Total Number of proposed pilings: 180

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CONSTRUCTION

Eighteen‐inch diameter steel pilings are the standard dimension to be used as the mounting structures for the monitoring equipment. In some instances larger diameter pilings may be specified (for example the US Coast Guard typically uses eighteen‐inch pilings) if design criteria indicate that a larger piling is required. Most of the pilings would be placed using a barge‐ mounted crane with a vibratory hammer pile driver, unless the levees can support the required equipment for a land‐based installation; also, due to the limited levee access, many of the sites cannot be accessed by the required land‐based construction equipment. At locations where the waterways may not support a tug and barge bathymetric surveys will be conducted and evaluated. If channel access is not possible, pile installation will require using an all‐terrain crane on the levee crown. The placement of each piling is based on depth and would not impact potential shallow water habitat, shaded riverine aquatic habitat, or riparian habitat. It is expected that pile work would take less than 2 days/site for installation.

Equipment to be used for water‐based pile installation would include a tug and barge mounted crane with a vibratory hammer and a small work boat. Piles installed using a barge crane would not require a land staging area. However, supporting land‐based activity, on the levees, may include a surveying crew and their work vehicles (i.e. pick‐up trucks).

Should some piles be installed by land, where accessible and permissible, construction equipment and support vehicles may include an all‐terrain crane with a vibratory hammer pile driver, crane support truck, work vehicles (pick‐up trucks), a welding utility truck, and a small work boat. Piles installed using an all‐ terrain crane would require a small staging area on top of the adjacent levee and would remain only for the duration of the construction activity.

CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS

Potential Noise Impacts of Pile Driving

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has established interim criteria for evaluating underwater noise impacts on fish as a result of pile driving. The criteria are defined in the Fisheries Hydroacoustic Working Group document entitled “Agreement in Principal for Interim Criteria for Injury to Fish from Pile Driving Activities” dated June 12th, 2008. The agreement identifies a peak sound pressure level of 206 decibels (dB) and an accumulated sound exposure level (SEL) of 187 dB as thresholds for injury to fish. For fish less than 2g, the accumulated SEL threshold is reduced to 183 dB. There has been no formal agreement on “behavioral” effects (National Marine Fisheries Service, 2009), however the threshold for behavioral effects is considered to be 150 dB root mean square (RMS) for monitoring purposes.

Technical Guidance for Assessment and Mitigation of the Hydroacoustic Effects of Pile Driving on Fish (CA Department of Transportation, 2015) provides sound level data on a variety of pile sizes and driver types. The installation of a twelve‐inch steel pile would result in an SEL of 155 and a peak of 171 dB when driven in less than 5 meters of water using a vibratory hammer. The installation of a thirty six‐inch steel pile would result in an SEL of 170 and a peak of 180 dB when driven in approximately 5 meters of water using a vibratory hammer. We require eighteen‐inch or steel piles

Maintenance, Upgrades and Expansion Project Page 7 so expect the sound levels to fall between these two reported values. It is important to note that both reported values fall below NMFS interim criteria for impact pile drivers. In addition, the noise associated with pile driving will be limited only to the times when construction is active. Once the pilings are in place, the noise will cease and there will be no residual noise beyond a few seconds after the pile driving is complete that would impact organisms or habitat in the vicinity of the pile driving action.

The increased turbidity levels associated with construction (i.e. driving piles, prop wash from the tug, etc.) may negatively impact fish populations temporarily through reduced availability of food, reduced feeding efficiency, and exposure to toxic materials in the resuspended sediments released into the water column. These potential effects would be minimal because:

The effects would be temporary (1 to 2 construction days per piling location) and the installation would take place only once.

For most activities, the effects of pile driving noise on fish would likely be limited to avoidance behavior in response to movements, noises, and shadows caused by construction personnel and equipment operating in or adjacent to the water body.

Additionally, the duration of pile driving is minimal and is expected to be on the order of one minute per pile (based on DWR experience with pile driving in the Delta).

It is expected that only a small area (~0.87 cubic yards of bed sediment per site) would be disturbed or affected by construction.

Activities would not affect or destroy Shallow Water Habitat, Shaded Riverine Aquatic Habitat or riparian habitat as defined by the USFWS (2004), as all activities will take place in the deeper, less productive, parts of the waterway.

Sounds from pile driving cease when the work is complete. There are no residual sounds that endure or continue to impact the organisms or habitat in the vicinity of the pile driving action.

Although quantified noise thresholds for nesting birds, as a result of vibratory pile driving is not known, it is understood that if construction activity occurs within 0.25 miles of a nesting pair of birds, and the monitor deems that the activity will cause the birds to abandon the nest, work would stop and the US Geological Survey would contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine the most appropriate course of action to take.

Potential Impacts to Plants

We do not anticipate any significant disturbance on shore as we anticipate most work will be conducted directly in the waterway. No special status plants would be impacted by this activity.

TIMING

The in‐water work window from July through October, as advised, is ideal for in water construction activities.

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We propose to install as many pilings as funding, project prioritization, and work window authorizations will allow.

ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE

General Site Characterization

The levees near each location are characterized by rock rip‐rap, concrete rip‐rap, or exposed soil. Ruderal vegetation, some shrubbery (i.e. willows, blackberry), sparse trees (i.e. oaks), and grasses cover the levees. Row crops subsist behind the levees (i.e. corn, tomatoes) in most locations.

Cultural Resources

The project is located in a rural area. For the most part, the area is, and historically has been, a flood plain with the topography ranging from negative five to 10 feet above mean sea level.

Despite being prone to flooding, the property adjacent to the levees has been used for years as agricultural land to raise both crops and livestock. Given that the levees have been continually modified and upgraded over the past century and the proposed project would not change the location or purpose of the levees. No cultural resources are anticipated while conducting project activities.

Special Status Species

Delta Smelt Critical Habitat

The USFWS designated critical habitat for delta smelt on December 19, 2004. This includes the entire Delta, and therefore those areas proposed in this project. The designation was based on four primary constituent elements (PCE’s): physical habitat, water, river flow, and salinity. This project may cause some turbidity in the areas where the piles are driven. Disturbance in the form of a barge, tug and a pile extending into the water at each site may also contribute to a disruption of the water and physical habitat of fish. Shallow‐water habitat, shaded riverine aquatic habitat, or riparian habitat would not be affected by this project. Although delta smelt have been found in deep areas of rivers, “at all life stages delta smelt are found in greatest abundance in the top 2 meters of the water column and usually not in close association with the shoreline.” (USFWS, 2004), it is predicted that if delta smelt were in the project area during installation that the movement of the barge, tug boat, and equipment would stimulate avoidance behavior.

Listed Salmonid Species

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has determined Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU) for 17 species of Chinook salmon. Under this identification process it has been determined that the Central Valley Steelhead may be present in the South Delta. It has also been determined that the unlisted Central Valley fall and late‐fall run Chinook salmon ESU

Maintenance, Upgrades and Expansion Project Page 9 would be within the project area. As with the delta smelt above, it is predicted that if salmonids are in the project area during pile installation, that the movement of the barge, tug boat, and equipment would stimulate avoidance behavior.

Juvenile spring‐ and winter‐run Chinook salmon originate in the Sacramento River basin. The use of best management practices, noise reduction methods, and avoidance allowances should minimize potential impacts to salmonid species that may be present within the project areas

Other Listed Fish Species

Although the potential is there for other listed fish species, including longfin smelt, to occupy the project areas at the time of pile installation, it is predicted that with the proper best management practices the fish would use avoidance behavior to vacate the area during project activity.

Giant Garter Snake

Provided the encroachment permissions and in‐water work is the most feasible method for pile driving, land‐based work at each location would be limited to elevation‐surveying activities from the levee crest to the waters‐edge and would last several hours at most. The Federally threatened Giant Garter Snake is predicted to be within all areas of the Delta. Although it is not expected that the snake would use the rivers as a corridor, they could use the various drainages and upland habitat that exist behind the levees at several locations. The Giant Garter Snake window is typically between May 1st through October 1st. The land‐based work can be conducted within the Giant Garter Snake window.

Other Listed Terrestrial Species

The minor work atop the levees is not expected to disrupt other special status terrestrial species potentially within the area.

Birds

There are special status bird species that have the potential to occur within the project areas.

Several wetland affiliated birds are on this list. Some wetland bird habitat exists within the project area. Wetland vegetation (i.e. tules and cattails) is prominent at some locations within the river channel. Wetland vegetation does exist within waterways/canals adjacent to the river channels at several locations. Several sites are bordered, in some respect, by mature oaks, low lying vegetation (i.e. blackberry and scrub species), and open agricultural lands.

Construction at any location has the potential to impact nesting birds when working within the nesting periods. For example, a typical nesting season for Swainson’s Hawk is roughly April 1st through July 30th. Five periods have been identified as ideal times in which to survey for Swainson’s Hawks (Swainson’s Hawk TAC, 2000).

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Plants

If special status plant species are found within the project areas, those populations would be avoided and equipment would be relocated so as not to impact the continued existence of any listed plant species. No trees or bushes would be removed as a result of project activities.