Salinas River Watershed Regulatory Coordination and Permit Streamlining

Salinas River Watershed Regulatory Coordination and Permit Streamlining

Amendments to the County of Monterey Grading and Erosion Control ordinances to reduce the existing regulatory requirements for obtaining County grading permits in agricultural areas of the Salinas River Watershed. The purpose of the amendments is to provide regulatory relief to landowners who are willing to participate in soil conservation and erosion control programs developed by Federal and local agencies. These amendments to Monterey County Code Sections 16.08.040 and 16.12.110 will result in the addition of grading and erosion control exceptions for those projects approved through Coastal Commission Federal Consistency Review and supported and monitored through the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for conservation practices-typically erosion control and bank stabilization projects-within the Salinas River Watershed. The non-profit Sustainable Conservation agency has coordinated a streamlined permit process for such projects under the sponsorship of the aforementioned NRCS, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Department of Fish and Game, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, and the Water Quality Protection Program of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The amendments will apply to willing landowners and applicants in all portions of the Salinas River watershed that lie within Monterey County. The watershed includes the Salinas River and its primary tributaries, the Arroyo Seco, Nacimiento, and San Antonio rivers. The waterways that may be affected under this program include: Alisal Slough; Arroyo Seco River (and its tributaries); Chalone Creek; Gabilan Creek (and its tributaries); Las Tablas Creek; Nacimiento River; Natividad Creek; Salinas River (and its tributaries); San Antonio River; San Marcos Creek; Santa Rita Creek; Temladero Slough (and its tributaries); Towne Creek; and Vaqueros Creek.

Monterey

California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways, California Department of Transportation, District 5 (DOT), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region 3 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Water Resources, Resources Agency

Educational (Instructing and monitoring landowners on the implementation of), Water Facilities , Other

Amendments to Grading & Erosion Control Ordinances

Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Coastal Zone, Cultural Resources, Drainage/Absorption, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildlife