SAFCA reports Fish & Wildlife easement waived, $18M DWR contribution and Stone Lock redesign option

SAFCA staff delivered a series of project updates on June 18, reporting a change in mitigation permit conditions, a major state cash contribution, a continued schedule for environmental documentation and geotechnical borings, and a value-engineered redesign option for the Stone Lock area.

Paul, speaking for SAFCA, said California Fish and Wildlife is "no longer requiring either a conservation easement or an endowment for the site," which he described as a substantial cost saving. He added that staff still prefers a recorded land-protection instrument to ensure the mitigation area remains protected in perpetuity and that negotiations to close out the Section 404 permit are ongoing.

Paul also said the California Department of Water Resources made an $18 million cash contribution to the West Sacramento federal project in April; that payment will count toward the non-federal sponsor cash requirements but requires accounting adjustments so the agency can be "trued up" with the state as the project progresses. Paul said staff will present an adequate-progress report to the city council in August to document long-term cash flow and financing assumptions.

On the Sacramento River North Levee, Paul said environmental documentation is expected by the end of the calendar year, which will lead to real-estate acquisitions and additional utility relocations. He reported that staff is aggregating utility information, coordinating biological and archaeological surveys and packaging materials for the Corps; around the Rivers community the agency plans a follow-up meeting after recent outreach about temporary staging areas.

On subsurface work, Paul reported that a contract approved earlier will fund 39 borings along the west bank of the Sacramento River, with drilling expected to begin in July after confirmation that no underground utility conflicts exist.

Regarding the Stone Lock area, Paul said a 10% design produced a cost estimate roughly double the amount assumed in the GRR. After a value-engineering study, staff's tentative plan is to "construct a bin wall east of the McGowan Bridge," which staff believes will reduce permitting complexity and better align with the city's future waterfront reuse plans. When a board member raised concerns about soil bearing, Paul said additional geotechnical investigations are planned on the east side and that sheet piles for the bin wall are expected to be driv-able based on existing borings.

Paul closed by saying SAFCA has issued an RFP to select a facilitator to lead an alternatives analysis for the deep-water ship channel; staff expects to select the facilitator in July and scheduled a special board meeting for Aug. 6 at 9:00 a.m. to consider three contracts (the facilitator, an A&E contract related to UPRR railroad work, and a cultural-resources compliance item).