Title
Agriculture Department recommending the Chair be authorized to sign Agreement No. 707 with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy compensating El Dorado County in the amount of $266,500 for the term July 1, 2014 through March 1, 2017 for the provision of services for weed surveys, mapping, inspection, treatment and abatement of noxious/invasive weeds in El Dorado and Alpine counties.
FUNDING: Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$ 266,500.00 |
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Funding |
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Project Management Staff |
$ 45,000.00 |
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Seasonal Weed Techs |
$ 180,000.00 |
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Mileage |
$ 13,000.00 |
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Supplies |
$ 4,272.73 |
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Overhead Costs |
$ 24,227.27 |
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Total Funding Available |
$ 266,500.00 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$ 0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
This Agreement provides funding of up to $266,500, over three fiscal years: FY 14/15 Funding $77,750, FY 15/16 $83,750, FY 16/17 $80,773 and administrative cost of $24,227. The funds will be used for permanent staff oversight, mileage, supplies and additional extra-help Seasonal Agricultural Technicians for the weed crew.
Background
The Agriculture Department currently manages all regulatory invasive weed work in El Dorado and Alpine counties pursuant to the authority of the California Food and Agricultural Code. Funding for the work has been confirmed through Sierra Nevada Conservancy, generating this contract. This agreement encompasses control/abatement projects which are important components of the Work Plans of the El Dorado County Weed Management Group, the Lake Tahoe Basin Weed Management Group and the Alpine County/Upper Carson River Watershed Weed Management Group. This funding will allow for the continuation of the department's current weed eradication efforts without interruption well into the future.
In 2000, State law authorized the formation of Weed Management Areas (WMA) to begin eradication efforts which documented and treated occurrences of "A" rated noxious/invasive weeds, on the western slope of El Dorado County. As the local WMA successfully implemented the program on the Western Slope, the scope of the project expanded in 2002 to include the Lake Tahoe Basin and Alpine County. Continuous funding of our efforts has produced dramatic reductions in the size and occurrence of noxious/invasive weed populations in all of our known project areas. One of our project areas, Yellow starthistle leading edge, has knocked back the expansion of Yellow starthistle up the Highway 50 corridor into the Sierra's by 30%, with the goal of protecting the Lake Tahoe Basin/Sierras from this highly invasive plant. In the Cleveland Fire Area, "A" rated Spotted knapweed was introduced into the area on fire fighting equipment. In 2001, this noxious pest was established at 46 sites with up to 25,000 plants per site. Aggressive eradication efforts have reduced these populations to only 25 sites with an average of 2-5 plants per site. All of our efforts directly protect the Lake Tahoe Basin, USFS lands, private timber production lands, agricultural and range lands, and all of the El Dorado County watersheds.
Reason for Recommendation
Continued funding is necessary to maintain the steady progress we have made in controlling noxious weeds that are a threat to our agricultural and natural resource areas.
Action(s) to be taken following Board approval
1. Board Chairman signs 1st and additional single page of Sierra Nevada Conservancy Grant Agreement
2. Department to return one (1) fully executed Agreement #707 to Board Clerk's Office.
Contact
Myrna Tow x6647
Concurrences
County Counsel