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Approve extending the authority of the County Administrator, with the concurrence of County Counsel, to execute agreements and amendments per Resolution 2020-64 with the State Department of Water Resources and ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc. to develop Phase 2 and Phase 3 of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for ongoing water diversions in the Yolo Bypass and Cache Slough through the development of the HCP
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve extending the authority of the County Administrator, with the concurrence of County Counsel, to execute agreements and amendments per Resolution 2020-64 with the State Department of Water Resources and ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc. to develop Phase 2 and Phase 3 of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for ongoing water diversions in the Yolo Bypass and Cache Slough through the development of the HCP.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
As part of the Lookout Slough settlement, the County and DWR agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 14, 2020 (Attachment A), that committed DWR to fund the development of a habitat conservation plan (HCP) and preparation of an incidental take permit (ITP) application. The Cache Slough HCP is being developed to provide mitigation for continued operations and maintenance of agricultural and municipal water intakes in the Cache Slough complex region that are not already covered under existing permits. The Cache Slough HCP area and intakes proposed to be covered under the HCP are shown on Attachment B. Habitat restoration projects such as Lookout Slough have the potential of rendering the existing water diversion infrastructure as noncompliant with the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Therefore, to comply with the state and federal environmental regulations, a...
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