Agmt 2003 Environmental Science Associates (2)

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TASK 2: ANNUAL CORDGRASS CONTROL EFFORT (NORTH MARSH) ESA will coordinate tide gate closure in the late summer and monitor North Marsh until optimal conditions are reached for cordgrass control. Control will entail herbicide application and will be carried out by the City, with ESA providing oversight. ESA will collect quantitative data on the location, vigor and types of cordgrass present in North Marsh at this time. This information will be compared with previous year's data to assess trends and status of the cordgrass population. Cordgrass populations in the other marshes will also be assessed on a qualitative level. Data and information gathered in this task will be presented in a report to the City at the end of the fiscal year, along with information gathered from Task 3. TASK 3: BIENNIAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY/GIS MONITORING Aerial photography is a valuable tool used monitor, map, and analyze large scale and ong-term changes in landscape attributes. As noted in the Operations Manual a number of changes in marshlands characteristics can be seen when comparing aerials taken in 1994 and 2000. Under this Task ESA will coordinate the production of a current aerial photograph of the marshlands and will compare the 2003 aerial, using GIS, to those taken previously in order to assess changes in marsh vegetation and hydrology over the period of record. TASK 4: SEASONAL TIDEGATE MONITORING (NORTH MARSH) Opening and closing of the marsh tide gates has been problematic in the past due, in part, to unimpeded barnacle growth. ESA will monitor the tide gates quarterly in 2003-2004 to determine how often the gates need cleaning and the optimal time for cleaning. ESA will inform the City if and when the gates need cleaning and if they appear to be functioning properly throughout the year. TASK 5: ON-CALL SERVICES Lastly, since the beginning of our involvement with SLSM, we have provided the City with a variety of services not directly related to our scoped tasks, for example, examining ground squirrel densities and feral cat populations, assisting with public outreach and marsh interpretation, and advising the City on regulatory agency issues, and tide gate operations. Under Task 5, we would continue these services as the proposed budget allows or on a time-and materials basis. San Leandro Shoreline Marshlands 2 Environmental Science Associates / 201205 Ongoing Biological Assessment and Management Services Submittal Date: July, 2003