San Leandro Marina Alts Study_Final

Home

2. Alternatives Considered interest and perching habitat. A "boardwalk" -type pedestrian walkway would be constructed along the western edge of the harbor, providing opportunities for bird watching and other types of water- and wildlife -related passive recreation to hotel patrons, area workers, boating enthusiasts, and harbor visitors. Sufficient restrooms would be provided in this area, as necessary. The existing boat launch, just southeast of the Harbor Basin, would remain in place. This boat launch would allow boaters access into the South Basin. Dredging of 105,000 cubic yards (CY) per cycle would be necessary approximately every four years to maintain the harbor, with an additional 10,000 CY for the berthing areas every alternate episode (total of 115,000 CY every 8 years). However, since the berthing area has not been dredged since 1997, this area will require additional dredging over and above that which would be required in future 8 -year cycles. The first episode is therefore expected to be about 125,000 CY of dredging (105,000 CY for the Channel and 20,000 CY for the berthing area). Although this would not restore the authorized depth of 7 ft at Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), it would allow for the continued use of a portion of the harbor for navigation. The Channel and berthing areas would be maintained to -5 feet MLLW. Project depths less than 6 feet are not advisable for sailboats, but the harbor could continue operating for smaller powerboats and hand launched craft. Because continued dredging is required for this alternative, it may prove to be economically infeasible. Aquatic Park Alternative The Aquatic Park would emphasize non-motorized3 boating uses, including kayaks and canoes in a natural setting. The Harbor Basin eventually would no longer be able to accommodate motorized boating uses due to the siltation of the basin (as no on-going dredging would occur). As part of this alternative, all of the existing slips and most pilings would be removed. In their place, the Harbor Basin would be reclaimed into a series of wildlife islands, marsh areas, and other vegetative features. The western, northern, and eastern rip -rap shoreline of the basin could be backfilled to create a natural shoreline appearance and a vegetation transition from upland to wetland habitats. A water trail would be set up around the islands to provide recreational opportunities for hotel patrons and harbor visitors. Remaining pilings would serve as interpretive markers for the water trail. Similar to Alternative 1, the perimeter trail would be designed as a pedestrian promenade and a publicly accessible beach and viewing area would be created in the northwestern corner of the harbor. Several pedestrian boardwalks would extend over the water from the shore, providing vistas across the water (one is envisioned along the northern edge and one along the western edge). As illustrated in Figure 2-3, a boating school/ rental facility with a day -use dock could be constructed at the southern edge of the Harbor Basin, with space for approximately 40 non -motorized small boats and boat storage (this is assumed to be undertaken by the landside developer). Overnight docking would be permitted on a fee basis for those using the Bay Water Trail and wishing to 3 Power craft would be inconsistent with the presence of the natural marsh and inconsistent with expectations of kayakers and canoers. San Leandro Marina Harbor Basin 2-5 ESA / 210461 Alternatives Study March 2011