ITEM: 22

SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO CONTINUE THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY PROJECT.

DISCUSSION: The proposed resolution authorizes the Executive Director to accept funds from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency for the San Francisco Estuary Project (SFEP). Approval will ensure that the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFBRWQCB) can continue its role in implementing the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).

In 1987, the United States Congress created the National Estuary Program (NEP) through Section 320 of the Amended Clean Water Act to help reverse the decline of the nation's estuaries. The NEP's purpose is to protect and improve water quality and natural resources of designated estuaries around the country by addressing the environmental problems specific to each. In December 1987, California's Governor nominated the San Francisco Bay-Delta as an "estuary of national significance" to be included in the NEP. Currently, there are 27 other programs in the NEP, including Santa Monica Bay and Morro Bay Estuary Programs.

The purpose of the CCMP is to develop, adopt, and oversee the implementation of a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to protect the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. The actions contained in the CCMP provide the foundations for a comprehensive approach in restoring the ecological health of the Estuary, while maintaining the economic diversity of the region. The CCMP's nine program areas with 145 actions recognize the Estuary's environmental values and the need to manage habitats within the sub-watershed from an ecosystem perspective. The CCMP was unanimously adopted by the Management Committee in June 1993 and approved later that year by the Governor and U. S. EPA Administrator. Formal CCMP implementation is now underway. The Management Committee delegated the role of lead agency for the Estuary Project to the SFBRWQCB. The Association of Bay Area Governments continues to provide administrative and management support for the Estuary Project.

The State Board has applied for a grant of $100,000 in federal funds from US EPA to continue the cooperative agreement for the SFEP in FY 1998-99. The attached workplan has been reviewed and approved by the Executive Council.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the State Board authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to accept federal funds to continue the Cooperative Agreement to implement the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan in accordance with the workplan approved by the SFEP Executive Council.

FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed State share of the Cooperative Agreement is an in-kind match of $100,000 from the Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program. The in-kind match involves the collection of monitoring data in the San Francisco Bay Region.

RWQCB IMPACT: Yes. San Francisco Bay Region.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the State Board authorize the Executive Director, or his designee to accept federal funds to continue the Cooperative Agreement to implement the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan in accordance with the workplan approved by the SFEP Executive Council.

Attachments not available electronically. For information contact Marcia Brockbank, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (510) 622-2325, atss 8-561-2325.

DRAFT

WHEREAS:

1. The Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the San Francisco Estuary was unanimously adopted by the Management Committee in June, 1993 and approved later that year by the Governor and U. S. EPA Administrator.

2. The State Board has applied to U. S. EPA for a grant of $100,000 for FY 98-99 to continue implementation of the CCMP.

3. The Executive Council of the San Francisco Estuary Project (SFEP) approved the workplan as of April 1, 1998 and it was subsequently submitted to the U. S. EPA as part of a grant application.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

1. The State Board authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to accept a grant from the U. S. EPA up to $100,000 to continue the Cooperative Agreement for FY 1998-99 for the implementation of the CCMP for the San Francisco Estuary, in accordance with the workplan approved by the SFEP's Executive Council.

2. That the State Board authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to negotiate and execute contracts and agreements to implement the CCMP in accordance with the workplan approved by the SFEP's Executive Council.

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on November 19, 1998.

______________________________

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board