Using Best Management Practices (BMPs) to Minimise Environmental Impacts of Watershed Maintenance

The Santa Clara Valley Water District (District) conducts annual stream maintenance activities such as sediment removal, vegetation management, bank protection, and minor maintenance to ensure that watersheds within Santa Clara County are appropriately managed. In 2002, the District obtained multi-year permits from regulatory agencies such as the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards (San Francisco Bay and Central Coast Regions), US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and Bay Conservation and Development Corporation (BCDC). Biological Opinions (BO's) on the multi-year stream maintenance program (SMP) were issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. Most permits have been issued for 10 years subject to a five year revision if necessary. Program oversight is also provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and concerned citizens. The permits specify that stream maintenance is implemented using a standard, pre-approved set of Best Management Practices (BMPs), The BMPs are designed to minimize the environmental impact of stream maintenance activities through pre-construction biological surveys, sediment characterization, water quality monitoring, and restricted work windows. The District has implemented the multi-year stream maintenance program (SMP) since August 2002. Several benefits have realized since program implementation. These include standard and consistent BMPs, pre-approved erosion repair, reduced planning and permitting cost, enhanced mitigation, greater time for field work, and continuous improvement through a Lessons Learned Adaptive Management process. This paper will describe the BMPs used to minimize impact, resource conservation protocols developed, and implementation process at the District. Key benefits of the program and challenges faced during implementation will also be discussed.