Att_02_140P8421Q0104_SOW.pdf

Statement of Work

Giacomini Wetlands – Hydrologic Studies to Inform Future Adaptive Restoration

Fish Hatchery Creek

Point Reyes National Seashore

Marin County, California

I. Project Background and Description of Need

Point Reyes National Seashore (Seashore) is conducting a hydrologic study in support of an adaptive wetland restoration project for the Giacomini Wetlands in Tomales Bay, California. The Giacomini Wetlands are located in the north district of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), which is administered by the Seashore (Figure 1).

The National Park Service (Park Service) acquired the former Giacomini Ranch in February 2000 and completed a tidal wetland restoration project in collaboration with its non-profit partner, Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNSA), in October 2008.

Implementation of the Giacomini Wetlands Restoration Project was supported by extensive hydrologic and hydraulic and hydrologic analyses to help the Seashore develop a suite of restoration alternatives and to evaluate potential impacts of these alternatives on hydrology within the Project Area and surrounding areas.

Fish Hatchery Creek falls within the boundaries of the restoration project area in the West Pasture adjacent to Inverness Park and the Inverness Ridge, paralleling Lagunitas Creek (Figure 2). Immediately prior to implementation of restoration at Giacomini, the former ranchers developed a cross-channel or cross-ditch between Fish Hatchery Creek and another smaller slough, the so-called West Pasture Old Slough (Figure 2). The intent of the ranchers was probably to better drain the areas along Fish Hatchery Creek for improving adjacent pastures, but, instead, the Fish Hatchery Creek channel started to fill in with sediment in due to a reduction in flood flow velocity and associated loss of scour in the channel. The park filled in this cross- channel shortly afterwards as part of the restoration project, but the channel never regained its former conveyance capacity, probably partly due to the fact that there was reduced winter flooding immediately after the project implementation due to below-average to average rainfall conditions.

With loss of hydraulic capacity in downstream portions of the Fish Hatchery Creek, flood and even non- flood flows from the higher gradient portions of the creek started to sheetflow instead across the new marshplain rather than flowing through the restored marsh in a defined channel (Figure 2). The change dramatically reduced the quality of Fish Hatchery Creek habitat for Central California coastal steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), which had been documented previously on numerous occasions in this section of this creek. Without a clearly defined channel, steelhead adults cannot move from

RFQ No. 140P8421Q0104 Attachment 02: Statement of Work

Tomales Bay into upstream areas of Fish Hatchery Creek or move out as juveniles from upstream areas of the creek to Lagunitas Creek/Tomales Bay. Initially, steelhead abundance immediately after restoration remained similar to pre-restoration, averaging

1.75 and 1.5 individuals per sampling period pre- and post-restoration, respectively (NPS, unpub. data). Numbers then even appeared to increase three to five years (2011- 2013) after restoration, with steelhead abundance averaging 4.83 individuals per sampling period (NPS, unpub. data). During a separate survey, more than 32 steelhead were counted during one survey in this small section of creek. However, steelhead have not been sighted since 2014, with only threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) present in subsequent surveys (NPS, unpub. data).

The Tomales Bay Watershed represents one of the core populations of the federally threatened Central California coastal steelhead, as well part of the Critical Habitat designated for this species by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Tomales-Drakes Bay Hydrologic Unit; NOAA 2000). The steelhead found in Fish Hatchery Creek are currently listed as a federally threatened species. They are part of the central California coast steelhead distinct population segment that includes all naturally spawned populations of steelhead (and their progeny) in California streams from the Russian River (inclusive) to Aptos Creek (inclusive), and the drainages of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bays eastward to Chipps Island at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, excluding the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Basin (Federal Register 2006). Several actions needed to restore steelhead populations are described in the NOAA Fisheries Coastal Multispecies Recovery Plan including estuary restoration (NMFS 2016). In particular, the plan calls for an increase in quality, extent, and function of estuary habitat.

Concerns about adverse impacts to this federally listed salmonids prompted the Seashore to consider an adaptive restoration component to improve performance of the restoration project completed in 2008. Adaptive restoration is the process of incorporating new scientific and programmatic information into the implementation of a project by modifying existing activities or creating new activities if new circumstances arise (e.g., new scientific information) or if projects (or components of projects) are not meeting their goals (Congressional Research Service 2011). The Seashore received a small National Park Service (NPS) grant to assist with information needs related to this future adaptive restoration project.

The Seashore is proposing to hire a contractor to conduct hydrologic studies in support of future restoration design (not part of this project) for a new upper and middle Fish Hatchery Creek channel alignment (currently ~1,529 linear feet of channel) that would maximize hydrologic conveyance to improve habitat quality conditions for salmonids, while minimizing the potential for flooding of adjacent private property and road. These hydrologic studies would be able to leverage information collected during the original project design project and update to reflect processes and conditions that have changed since restoration. The original channel course for Fish Hatchery Creek was constructed by the ranchers decades ago to minimize loss of grazing pasture to flooding, but, from a topographic standpoint, the channel course was never very feasible in terms of long-term sustainability, and it required frequent dredging by the ranchers. Included as Option Items (part of this current project) are concept development for future pathways for moving forward with adaptive restoration and hydraulic modeling annual through 100-year peak flows and range of estimated sediment yields to the Study Area.

II. Anticipated Project Schedule

1. Late Summer/Early Fall 2021: Award Contract

2. Fall 2021: Initiate Hydrologic Study

3. Late Summer 2022: Prepare summary of hydrologic study results

4. Fall 2022: Prepare concept development (Option Item) and hydraulic modeling

(Option Item)

5. Late Fall 2022: Produce draft report for Seashore review

6. Winter 2022: Produce final report

III. Project Area Background

The Giacomini Wetlands are located at the southern end of Tomales Bay at the mouth of Lagunitas Creek, the largest subwatershed within the Bay. Tomales Bay is an approximately 12-mile-long, one-mile-wide estuary that runs along the southern boundary of the Seashore. The wetlands are bordered by the town of Point Reyes Station to the east and Inverness Park to the west. During the 1860s, one-third to one-half of the Project Area was actually subtidal or intertidal, with most of the historic wetlands concentrated in the southeastern portion. Excessive sedimentation from logging and poor land use practices during the late 19th century and early 20th century caused an exponential increase in deltaic expansion of the existing wetlands, leading to the creation of as much as 650 acres of new salt marsh habitat between 1860 and 1950 (Josselyn and Buccholz 1983 in PWA et al. 1993). Expansion of the delta created opportunities for agricultural expansion, as well, particularly in higher-elevation areas at the southern end of the marsh. The first dairy was started on the property in 1917 (PWA et al 1993).

Waldo Giacomini reclaimed the Project Area in 1946 and constructed levees along Lagunitas Creek. The Giacomini family operated the property as a dairy until 2006.

Lagunitas Creek basically bisects the Giacomini Wetlands into two subareas, which have been termed the East and West Pastures. Bear Valley and Olema Creek flow into Lagunitas Creek just upstream of the southernmost boundary of the West Pasture. In addition to Fish Hatchery Creek, other drainages flow into the West Pasture, including Lucchesi Creek (aka “1906 Drainage”) to the north. There is also a very small culverted drainage to the south that flows into a shallow ditch feature in the West Pasture.

Freshwater flow is complemented by strong freshwater influence in the Project Area from seeps emerging at the base of Inverness Ridge – including near Fish Hatchery Creek – and flowing underneath the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard (SFD) into the West Pasture.

Another creek, the West Pasture Old Slough, appears to capture surface runoff and perhaps groundwater flow from just south of Fish Hatchery Creek in a separate shallow channel that eventually parallels Fish Hatchery Creek to the east until it eventually merges with Fish Hatchery Creek just upstream of the former northern levee (“Waldo’s Dike”).

Fish Hatchery Creek flows down the moderately steep Inverness Ridge underneath SFD in a culvert that is owned and maintained by the County of Marin. The inherently unstable nature of the granitic substrate underlying the Inverness Ridge leads to heavy sediment flows off both developed and undeveloped lands during moderate to large storm events. Immediately downstream of SFD, the valley/creek gradient abruptly flattens, with historical sediment deposition building a sizeable alluvial fan. Private property exists directly to the south of Fish Hatchery Creek on this alluvial fan, with one permanent structure and several other living structures situated between 17 and 18 feet NAVD88.

Due to its proximity to the creek, this property – if not the permanent structure -- has historically been flooded by Fish Hatchery during larger storm events. The alluvial fan gradually tapers down on the private property’s eastern boundary, meeting floodplain elevations associated with the Giacomini Wetlands at around 7-8 feet NAVD88. Lower elevations on the private property’s southern, eastern, and northern perimeters support stands of riparian habitat, as well as freshwater marsh and meadows that are probably fed hydrologically in part by the locally high groundwater table associated with both Fish Hatchery Creek and subsurface groundwater inflow from the Inverness Ridge. Some of this surface/groundwater flow is captured at the southeastern end of the property in a shallow channel that turns into the West Pasture Old Slough referenced previously.

Historic aerial imagery from 1943 and 1952 distinctly show the north-south portions of the current Fish Hatchery Creek channel, but it appears to be connected at its upstream end to Lagunitas Creek in 1943, with no direct connection to upstream portions of Fish Hatchery Creek evident (Figure 3). A small channel much further south that appears to be conveying flow off the Inverness Ridge does appear to connect to the 1943 channel (Figure 3). This southern connecting channel is also visible in the 1952 channel (Figure 4), along with what appears to be a ditch that connects to the 1943 channel in the location of the current upstream portion of Fish Hatchery at the northern boundary of the private property. A line of riparian trees, which are not apparent in the 1943 photograph, fringes the upper sections of the ditch immediately adjacent to SFD (Figures 3-4). In these photographs, the West Pasture Old Slough appears to be a “dead-end” tidal slough that is unconnected to freshwater drainage sources (Figures 3-4).

With restoration, tidal influence on most of the project area was reestablished following removal of approximately 7- to 10-foot-high levees, tidegates, and flashboard dam structures. Due to high ground elevations adjacent to Lagunitas Creek, which function somewhat as natural, alluvial levees, most of the tidal influence on Fish Hatchery Creek and the interior of the West Pasture originates at its northern end where it connects with the so-called Undiked Marsh, a historic tidal salt marsh owned by the state of California that was never leveed. The Undiked Marsh and the West Pasture were separated by the former northern levee, Waldo’s Dike. There also appears to be some saline groundwater interaction, which, combined with the estimated subsidence of 1-2 feet (PWA et al.

1993), led to reestablishment of salt marsh vegetation in the northern portions of the

Project Area, where elevations are estimated to be lowest, even before restoration was implemented.

These diverse hydrologic influences have resulted in development of an extensive mosaic of riparian; freshwater, brackish, and tidal marsh; meadows; and what was formerly called “wet pasture.” These wetlands, along with upland areas, support a large number of common and special status wildlife species, including the salmonid species discussed earlier. This wildlife diversity is further enhanced by the proximity of habitats such as evergreen forest and coastal scrub that occur on the periphery of the Project Area.

Several special status species specifically adapted to freshwater or brackish conditions were identified within the Project Area. California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii) occurs primarily in freshwater marsh areas in the West Pasture, including directly adjacent to Fish Hatchery Creek. Following restoration, California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus; ST) started expanding in the West Pasture, particularly the northern portions. Tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) was documented in Tomales Bay for the first time in almost 50 years in a section of Tomasini Creek within the Project Area and had spread following restoration in other portions of the project area, although it was less common in the West Pasture. North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) and Northwestern pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata; CDFW SSC) have been sighted in various locations along old tidal sloughs, creeks, and drainage ditches within the Project Area.

IV. Statement of Work

A. Hydrologic Study Area

For the purposes of hydrologic analysis and environmental planning, the Seashore has expanded the geographic scope of study beyond the approximately 44-acre Project Area itself (Figure 2) to include a larger area that may or may not be directly or indirectly impacted by restoration actions undertaken in the Project Area. The Study Area includes Fish Hatchery Creek from SFD to its terminus at the Undiked Marsh where the old levee once existed (Waldo’s Dike; Figure 5). To the east, it extends about 600 feet to the former levee along Lagunitas Creek (Figure 5). Immediately downstream of its intersection with SFD, the Study Area also incorporates a broader portion of the alluvial fan, including private property containing one house and other living structures to the south (~ 300 feet; Figure 5). To the south, former pasturelands owned by the Seashore that have become a ruderal permanently to seasonally flooded wetland are included to just south of a small drainage that flows off the Inverness Ridge into the West Pasture (~ 600 feet; Figure 5). In most cases, however, technical hydrologic studies will only be conducted in the approximately 44-acre Project Area, not the Study Area. This includes updating of topographic conditions.

B. Specific Task List:

1. The contractor would be responsible for reviewing the hydrology report prepared for the Giacomini Wetlands Restoration Project (Kamman Hydrology & Engineering

(KHE) 2008), as well as a post-project hydrology report compiled by the NPS using information from the Kamman report (Parsons 2009). The contractor will be expected to provide updated information on hydrologic conditions within the Project Area/Study Area using information from the 2008 KHE Hydrology Report as a baseline, but, by no means, to rework or duplicate the information that was provided in this earlier document.

2. The contractor will conduct limited hydrologic studies to update our understanding of general hydrologic conditions within the Study Area and determine hydrologic issues that will need to be considered when developing restoration alternatives. These studies will include the following:

a) Topographic information in the Project Area would need to be updated. A pre-restoration map was prepared to assist with planning of the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project, and this map was updated in 2009 to reflect immediate post-restoration conditions. Control points were established in 2009 at a number of locations in both East and West Pastures. Status of these control points is currently unknown. A new topographic base map for the Project Area would be prepared in NAVD88 with maximum 1-foot contour intervals to ensure compatibility with past topographic survey efforts.

b) New hydrologic information would be collected to bracket the range of peak and base flows and sediment inflow rates in Fish Hatchery Creek. Peak and baseflow conditions on Fish Hatchery Creek would be quantified during up to 5 site visits during the period of fall 2021 and summer 2022, winter 2021- 2022, and early spring 2022. A stream gauge (including staff plate and water level recorder) would be installed and monitored at a single location. The contractor would make visits to measure flow, collect sediment samples, and download data. At least three (3) of the five (5) visits should occur during the winter to capture both peak flow and sediment bedload events.

c) As freshwater inflow to the Study Area is comprised not only of creek run-off, but groundwater discharge from the adjacent Inverness ridge, shallow groundwater conditions would be assessed. Groundwater contribution was not fully analyzed in earlier hydrologic analyses. The contractor would install up to two (2) shallow (<10') piezometers in the Fish Hatchery Creek upland boundary in the Project Area. The piezometers would be monitored during up to 5 site visits using groundwater level sounders during the period of summer 2022 and fall 2021, winter 2021-2022, and early spring 2022.

d) Tidal hydrology may have changed in the intervening 10 years due to post-restoration landscape changes, as well as potentially sea level rise. The contractor would install staff plates at 3 sampling sites in the northern to central portions of the Study Area and install and rotate continuous water level recorders to evaluate current tidal connection to outer Fish Hatchery Creek and Tomales Bay, with measured water levels compared to available outer Tomales Bay tidal records. Each site would be monitored for a period of three (3) months during the periods of fall 2021, winter 2021-2022, and early spring 2022.

3. Production of a draft technical report incorporating specifically information developed under Tasks 1 and 2. This report should include relevant information pertaining to the Study Area from past reports. This report will be submitted to the Park for review and comment.

4. Production of a final technical report incorporating comments by NPS staff on the draft technical report. Again, final report will incorporate information developed under Tasks 1 and 2.

5. The contractor would participate in a kick-off meeting with the NPS at the project start. One or two additional meetings with NPS staff would be held to discuss selection of the preferred alternative. Otherwise, communication between the contractor and the NPS would be through routine electronic communication or through phone calls to update NPS project manager on project status.

6. Option Item 1: All of the topographic and hydrologic information either collected previously or as a part of this contract would be used for concept development for future pathways to move forward with adaptive restoration.

7. Option Item 2: The contractor would create hydraulic models to simulate flow and sediment transport. Hydraulic model analysis would include simulation of annual through 100-year peak flows and range of estimated sediment yields to the Study Area.

V. Data and Reports Available from the Park Service

Data

1. Copies of historic maps and aerial photographs (1862 U.S. Coast Survey of

Giacomini Wetlands; 1943 and 1952 aerial imagery sets of Study Area.)

2. Digital version of 2014 GIS raster layer with 6-inch resolution

(Marin_6in_Mosaic.sid): this is our most detailed raster layer.

3. 2009 topographic map of post-restoration Giacomini Wetlands area at 1-foot contour intervals. (GIS topographic layer also provided).

4. Information on location of control points installed in 2009.

5. 2009 LIDAR data of Giacomini Wetlands

Reports

1. Philip Williams & Associates, Wetlands Research & Associates, Strong Associates, and Dr. L.J. Butler. 1993. An evaluation of the feasibility of wetland restoration on the Giacomini Ranch, Marin County. Prepared for the National Park Service.

2. Kamman Hydrology & Engineering. 2008. Hydrologic feasibility assessment report:

Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project. Prepared for Point Reyes National Seashore/Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

3. Parsons, L. 2009. Improving wetland and ecosystem health through restoration. Pre- Restoration hydrologic and water quality conditions – Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project. In collaboration with Kamman Hydrology & Engineering.

VI. Data and Reports Potentially Available from Other Sources

1. 2018 orthophoto aerial imagery available from MarinMap.

http://www.marinmap.org/Html5Viewer/index.html?viewer=Ortho_Download.Ortho _Download_H5

2. 2019 LIDAR data available from MarinMap.

https://gis.marinpublic.com/arcgis/rest/services/LIDAR

3. USGS hydrologic gauging information – 11460400 – Lagunitas Creek at Samuel P. Taylor State Park – December 1982 to present 11460600 – Lagunitas Creek near Point Reyes Station – October 1974 to present.

4. U.S. Geological Survey. 1982. Special analysis of Landslide studies following the 1982 debris flow events.

VII. Work Products

1. Technical Report. This report will incorporate at a minimum the following:

a) Analysis of current topographic conditions and changes since restoration along with inclusion of an updated topographic map for the Project Area produced at +/-1-foot contour intervals in NAVD88 such that the updated map is compatible with previous topographic maps. (Contractor should also include GIS layer with updated topographic information for Project Area at +/-1-foot contour data NAVD88 for transmission to NPS; Section IV-B: Task 2(a)).

b) Analysis of base flow and peak storm water flow and bedload transport in Fish Hatchery Creek from installation of a staff gauge (staff plate, continuous water level recorder) and collection of sediment bedload during at least five

(5) sampling events during period of summer 2022 and fall 2021, winter 2021-2022, and early spring 2022. (A minimum of three (3) of both the peak flow and sediment bedload measurements should be in the winter). Graphic should be included showing location of sampling sites. Analysis should focus on flow and sediment conveyance.

- Results of the hydraulic modeling should be discussed and presented in a graphical format, particularly the expected changes in flow and sediment conveyance.

c) Analysis of shallow groundwater contributions to Project Area hydrology from adjacent Inverness Ridge based on installation of at least two (2) shallow monitoring wells at upland or western Project Area perimeter measured at least five (5) times during the period of summer and fall 2021, winter 2021- 2022, and early spring 2022. Graphic should be included showing location of sampling sites (Section IV-B: Task 2(c)).

d) Analysis of tidal influence on the Study Area based on installation of staff plates and rotation and installation of continuous water level recorders at three

(3) channel locations for a period of three (3) months to evaluate current tidal connection to outer Fish Hatchery Creek and Tomales Bay during the period of summer and fall 2021, winter 2021-2022, and early spring 2022. Graphic should be included showing location of sampling sites. Analysis should reference existing tidal data for outer Tomales Bay (Section IV-B: Task 2(d)).

e) Option Item 1: Preparation of concept development for future pathways for moving forward with adaptive restoration (Section IV-B: Task 6).

f) Option Item 2: Results of hydraulic modeling for simulation of annual through 100-year peak flows and range of estimated sediment yields to the Study Area. (Section IV-B: Task 7).

Draft and final reports will be submitted to the NPS in fully formatted versions in both Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat software packages.

2. GIS data. The contractor will provide the following to the NPS in an ArcGIS-compatible format (at least ArcMap 10.4.1).

a) GIS data of updated topographic +/- 1-foot contour intervals in NAVD88 units for Study Area. (GIS data must be compatible with past topographic information collected for Giacomini Wetlands).

b) GIS data of sampling locations for base and peak storm flow water and sediment conveyance; shallow groundwater monitoring; and tidal monitoring.

VIII. Minimum Qualifications

The successful contractor must meet the following minimum qualifications in order to have their proposals evaluated:

1. Key personnel must have a strong academic and professional background in hydrology and in quantitative modeling of both freshwater and tidal hydrodynamics, including a thorough understanding of freshwater, tidal, and shallow groundwater hydrologic processes.

2. Key personnel must have demonstrated an understanding of issues crucial to successful creek restoration design in environments combining multiple hydrologic sources (freshwater, tidal, shallow groundwater).

3. Key personnel must have demonstrated experience in collecting and analyzing field data determined to be required for hydrologic studies. Personnel should demonstrate experience with: topographic surveys; installation and operation of staff plates and continuous water level recorders for both freshwater and tidal flows; collection of sediment bedload samples; and installation and monitoring of shallow groundwater monitoring wells. Key personnel must also have demonstrated experience with analysis of all these type of data.

4. Key individual/Project Manager should have had primary responsibility for conducting, analyzing, and reporting hydrologic field analyses for at least two to three creek restoration projects, with preference given to those conducted in complex hydrologic natural environments with freshwater, tidal, and groundwater influences.

5. Key personnel must have demonstrated experience conducting hydraulic modeling.

6. Key personnel must have demonstrated experience with concept development.

7. Key personnel must have demonstrated experience in preparing high-quality technical reports that are submitted on-time.

IX. Schedule

The contract will follow the anticipated timeline described in Section II.

X. Citations

Congressional Research Service. 2011. Adaptive Management for Ecosystem Restoration: Analysis and Issues for Congress. CRS Report to Congress.

Federal Register. 2006. Final rule. Endangered and threatened species: Final listing determinations for 10 distinct population segments of west coast steelhead. Federal Register 71(3):834-862.

Federal Register. 2000. Final rule. Designated Critical Habitat: Critical Habitat for 19 Evolutionarily Significant Units of Salmon and Steelhead in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. Federal Register 65(32): 7764-7787.

Kamman Hydrology & Engineering. 2008. Hydrologic feasibility assessment report:

Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project. Prepared for Point Reyes National Seashore/Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2016. Coastal Multispecies Recovery Plan.

National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Region, Santa Rosa, California

Parsons, L. 2009. Improving wetland and ecosystem health through restoration. Pre- Restoration hydrologic and water quality conditions – Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project. In collaboration with Kamman Hydrology & Engineering.

Philip Williams & Associates, Wetlands Research & Associates, Strong Associates, and Dr. L.J. Butler. 1993. An evaluation of the feasibility of wetland restoration on the Giacomini Ranch, Marin County. Prepared for the National Park Service.