Agmt 2006 State Coastal Conservancy

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-.- ee PROJECT NAME FEIS/R. To, the contrary, because of the lower toxicity'ofimazapyr and the surfactants to be used with imazapyr, the more rapid degradation of imazapyr, and the greater effic.acy of imazapyr and the need for fewer applications over time, substantial evidence supports the conclusion that the use of imazapyr will reduce the effects of trefltment of invasive Spartina in comparison to the effects considered under the FEIS/R with the use qf the herbicide glyphosate and associated surfactants ,and colorants alone. 4. The environmental effects associated with the 22 treatment and eradication projects proposed for grant funding or coordination by the Conservancy under this authorization and the mitigation measures to reduce or avoid those effects were fully identified and considered in the FEISiR adopted by the Conservancy September 25,2003. (See Exhibit 1, September 25, 2003 Staff Recommendation.)" PROJECT SUMMARY: Since fall of 1999, the Conservancy haS managed a regionally coordinated effort, the Invasive Spartina Project (ISP), to address the problem of the rapidly spreading invasive Spartina and its ' hybrids within the San Francisco Bay Estuary, In fall of 2004, eight partner grantees successfully treated a total of 435 acres of the approximately 1,500 acres of invasive Spartina and hybrids found in the Estuary. In November 2004, ISP sponsored the Third International Jnvasive Spartina Conference that focused on the San ;Francisco Estuary. At the conclusion of the Conference a panel of worldwide and local' experts agreed that the Conservancy's ISP' should continue with an aggressive strategy to eradicate invasive Spartina from the Estuary. ' As explained in the March 10, 2005 staff recommendation (Exhibit 2), the Conservancy authorized disbursem~nt of WCB grant funds for the Conservancy's ISP environmental , consultants to implement an aggressive strategy to eradicate invasive Spartina over the next two years. The proposed' strategy, which was explained in detail in the March 10,' 2005 Staff Recommendation, builds upon partnerships and experience gained from the success of implementing the first regionally coordinated,. full-scale 2004 treatment. It was also explained that once the Site-Specific Plans and environmental documentation, for the next treatment seasons are available. staff would return for Board approval fOJ: disbursement of funds to grantees for the 2005/2006 treatment proJects. , In collaboration with the Conservancy's partners, ISP contractors have completed, twenty-two Site-Specific Plans covering 132 sub-sites over approximately 1,400 acres, for the 2005/2006 treatment seasons. (The Site-Specific Plans are available for review at the Conservancy' s offices). The 1,400 acres of targeted invasive Spartina are located in approximately 12,000 acres of tidal marsh. Sixteen of these 22 control projects are proposed for Conservancy funding. The remaining six control projects are entirely funded by other sources, but are part of the regionaliy coordinated ISP Control Program As also explained in the March 10, 2005 staff recommendation (Exhibit 2), the !SP Control Program methodology is expected to be modified by the addition' of a' new herbicide, imazapyr, for use in invasive Sparlina treatment, as soon as that herbicide is approved by, California regulatory agencies' for use in an aquatic environment. Each of the site-specific projects proposed for funding may utilize this new methodology, if approved and if the Conservancy makes appropriate findings regarding this change in project. The "San Francisco Estuary Page 3 of 15 FX:kIRf: