A scaled-back version of a $14 million effort to curb flooding in the Ross Valley could spare more than 100 trees in a creekside park, but would leave residents vulnerable to overtopping waters, a new report finds.
A draft environmental impact report, released Monday, concludes that the Corte Madera Creek flood risk management project as proposed would result in aesthetic impacts in Frederick Allen Park in Ross once the trees come down.
The report identifies 56 potential adverse environmental impacts, 19 of which are considered significant but could be offset by extra steps taken during construction.
The report presents four alternative plans, including a no-project option, as well as “alternative 1” — the only option that would avoid tree removal within the park. The loss of the trees has been a point of contention for some in the neighborhood.
“However, in a 100-year storm event, Alternative 1 would have less flood reduction benefit and would result in increased water surface elevation compared to the proposed project, particularly along Poplar Avenue,” the report finds. Residential and commercial areas around the park also would also have less flood reduction benefits, the report notes.
The project aims to reduce the frequency and severity of flooding in Ross and Kentfield, offering increased 25-year flood protection and improved fish passage and habitat through the creek channel, as well as some recreational enhancements.
The existing proposal calls for the removal of a fish ladder and a concrete channel from Frederick Allen Park, which runs along the creek between Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Poplar Avenue.
It also calls for restoring the natural channel, installing taller floodwalls and a new stormwater pump station in the Granton Park neighborhood, creating larger fish resting pools and removing the concrete channel from Stadium Way to improve the natural fish and wildlife habitat.
As part of the project, 113 to 144 trees would have to be removed. New trees would be planted, taking an estimated 10 years to mature, according to the report.
“We will work towards removing the least number of trees possible while still meeting the project goals,” Joanna Dixon, a Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District engineer and project manager.
The report says the existing proposal could result in some increased flooding risk in parking areas near the College Avenue bridge, but no homes or businesses would be threatened.
“The big message is that it won’t eliminate all flooding — that would be cost prohibitive,” Dixon said. “The key is finding the sweet spot of maximum flood reduction and minimum project cost and impact to the adjacent area.”
Even though alternative 1 would avoid cutting down the trees, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers might still require some trees be removed since the project is making improvements to the concrete channel that the Army Corps built in the 1960s. Under its guidelines, the corps could require trees within 15 feet of the creek’s floodwall to be removed at any time, with or without a project.
Alternative 1 would also add four larger fish resting pools near the park to improve fish passage. The rest of the project would remain as proposed.
Alternatives 2 and 3 would require the same number of trees to be removed as the proposed project. Alternative 2 would call for the addition of a boardwalk bike path in Frederick Allen Park. The path would be elevated above the floodplain. The rest of the project elements would remain as proposed. Alternative 3 would use rock and other natural materials to reduce the use of concrete.
“It is important to move forward, so any of the alternatives except for the no-project alternative, would be an improvement,” Sandra Guldman, president of the Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed, who said her organization is taking time to review the document to submit a formal response.
Guldman said she believes the proposed project offers the best flood protection and habitat restoration. Consideration of benefits to Ross should be secondary to the goal of the project, she added.
Ross Town Councilwoman Julie McMillan said the aesthetics of the park are important to the community.
“The project changes the visual quality of the park by removing more than 100 established trees during the construction phase,” she said. “It will be important that the park remains appealing to users of all ages by planting sufficient trees and landscaping to provide visual interest and shade.
“Consideration should be given to the long-term aesthetic quality of the park as well as the interim period while newly planted vegetation is becoming established,” she said.
The Town Council will discuss the draft EIR at its meeting on Feb. 11. Information will be posted at townofross.org.
Marin County Supervisor Katie Rice, whose District 2 includes the Ross Valley, said, “The project has evolved in scope and design in response to community and town input, environmental and regulatory concerns. So, really exciting to finally have the draft EIR out for public review and comment.”
The project was led in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until March 2019, when the county moved to manage the project locally. It is being funded with money from the Ross Valley Flood Control Zone 9 storm drainage fee and grants from the California Department of Water Resources, the State Coastal Conservancy Proposition 1 and other sources.
The county is collecting comments on the draft EIR through March 17. Comments can be emailed to the project team at cortemaderacreek@marincounty.org or mailed to Dixon at P.O. Box 4186, San Rafael, 94913.
A public hearing via teleconference is set for the Board of Supervisors meeting on March 2. Information is at bit.ly/2MWbh6v.
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Ross Valley flood project draft EIR flags park impact - Marin Independent Journal
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