SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

XII. SUMMARY OF COMMMENTS AND RESPONSESB. SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSESDepartment within the Alameda Creek Watershed. If SFPUC has conducted fisheries relatedstream flow studies, they should be incorporated or referenced in the DEIR. If the studies havenot been conducted, interim flows should be provided as recommended by the CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game and the National Marine Fisheries Service until such studies arecompleted and reviewed for implementation.” (California Sportsfishing Protection Alliance andthe Northern California Council/Federation of Fly Fishers)Comment I-36: ‘Reference is made to the notice of availability of the Draft EnvironmentalReport, Alameda Watershed Management Plan. We have reviewed the Draft EnvironmentalReport and offer the following comment:On Page IX.B-9, for Steelhead trout under the heading “Potential to Occur Within theWatershed,” we recommend changing “low” potential to “probable.” There is much interest inthe community for the restoration of the Steelhead population in Alameda Creek. Also, theCounty of Alameda has contracted with a consultant, Applied Marine Sciences, to prepare afeasibility plan for restoration of Steelhead within the Alameda Creek Watershed. Based on workdone to date, it appears that it is probable that a viable Steelhead population can be re-establishedin Alameda Creek.’ (County of Alameda Public Works Agency)Comment I-37: ‘Anadromous Fisheries – The Regional Water Quality Control Board is theState agency responsible for protecting the beneficial uses of Waters of the State. All activitiesthat may result in adverse impacts to Waters within the Region are regulated under the SanFrancisco Bay Basin Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan). The Basin Plan defines thebeneficial uses of Waters (including surface waters and ground waters) and establishes numericand narrative water quality objectives for the protection of beneficial uses. (The San FranciscoBay Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Basin Plan should have been included in EIRSection III.A-3.1, Existing Plans and Policies, State Agencies.)The Basin Plan defines the beneficial uses of Alameda Creek (and all tributaries thereto) toinclude cold freshwater habitat, fish migration, fish spawning, and wildlife habitat. Regardingfish migration, the Basin Plan states “…particular attention must be paid to maintaining zones ofpassage. Any barrier to migration or free movement of migratory fish is harmful. […] A waterquality barrier, whether thermal, physical, or chemical, can destroy the integrity of the migrationroute and lead to the rapid decline of dependent fisheries.” Regarding fish spawning, the BasinPlan states: “Dissolved oxygen levels in spawning areas should ideally approach saturation levels.Free movement of water is essential to maintain well-oxygenated conditions around eggsdeposited in sediments. Water temperature, size distribution and organic content of sediments,water depth, and current velocity are also important….” Among the narrative objectivesestablished to maintain beneficial uses, the Basin Plan states: “…the health and life historycharacteristics of aquatic organisms in waters affected by controllable water quality factors shallnot differ significantly from those for the same waters in areas unaffected by controllable waterquality factors.”NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan C&R.69 ESA / 930385