Agmt 2008 California State Coastal Conservancy

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Service (NPS), the primary landowner, and others on utilizing hand pulling and covering to control the small infestations. While NPS and other landowners experienced some success in removing invasive Spartina, new but a limited number of plants re-sprouted, and new seedlings continue to establish periodically. To prevent further spread along the coast staff recommends that ISP incorporate these sites into the ISP Control Program to enable the coordinated strategy for eradication employed within the Bay to date to extend to the outer coast. This will necessitate a revision to the project description included in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report, San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project: Spartina Control Program ("FEIS/EIR"), an assessment of the environmental impact of the expanded scope of treatment, including potential impacts to special status species and cumulative impacts, and preparation of appropriate additional environmental documentation, as needed, depending on the nature of the impacts associated with the expanded project. The proposed authorization proposal includes additional funding to undertake these activities. Staff will return to the Conservancy with the appropriate documentation analyzing potential impacts of treatment at the coastal sites prior to incorporating these sites into the regionally coordinated ISP Control Program. The Conservancy and ISP continue to make progress in the reahn of stakeholder development, motivating land managers to take a greater stewardship role in their marshes. An integral part of the strategy is to establish a strong network in place for the post-ISP landscape by fostering dedication to the goals of the project, and strengthening knowledge of how to address various issues when they arise. In addition, through the South Bay Salt Pond Project Management Team, the Conservancy, ISP, FWS, the Department of Fish and Game and others, are refining Best Management Practices to guide landowners and managers for long term stewardship. Newly Infested Site: North San Pablo Bay Due in part to the heightened focus on identifying patches of invasive plants, the ISP Monitoring Program recently found a new small infestation of invasive Spartina and hybrids along the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge and nearby along the Napa River. Although the invading Spartina hybrids total less than 1,000 square feet, the infestation threatens to spread up the Napa River watershed. (See Exhibit 5, Map of North San Pablo Bay Treatment Sites.) These two sub-areas will be treated this year as described in Exhibit 6, the site-specific Invasive Spartina Control Plan for the North San Pablo Bay. At both sub-areas boats and ground-based treatment will be used to treat Spartina-with herbicide. Digging of small clusters may be undertaken at appropriate sites along the shoreline, and covering strategies may also be employed where the structure of the infested area will enable long-term placement of fabric without the threat of wave energy displacing it. FWS and the California Transportation Agency ("Caltrans"), the two landowners where the infestations occur, are coordinating with ISP to plan treatment and identify the source of contamination. FWS and the California Wildlife Foundation will undertake eradication activities, although FWS will do so without funding assistance from the Conservancy. These treatment methods proposed at the new North San Pablo Bay sub-sites are those that are already being undertaken bay-wide for the ISP Control Program. Also, the use of ~+