BRANCART & BRANCART

ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Christopher Brancart P. O. BOX 686 Telephone (650) 879-0141
Elizabeth Brancart PESCADERO, CA 94060 Facsimile (650) 879-1103
Liza Cristol-Deman www.brancart.com
Thomas Kayes Street Address
8205 Pescadero Road
Loma Mar, California 94021

August 16, 2016

Via Email, Facsimile and Mail

Hon. Anna Eshoo, U.S. Representative
698 Emerson Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Fax: (650) 323-3498
karen.chapman@mail.house.gov
christina.padilla@mail.house.gov
Hon. Anna Eshoo, U.S. Representative
241 Cannon Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-8890
karen.chapman@mail.house.gov
christina.padilla@mail.house.gov

Re: Pescadero - Butano Creek/Pescadero Road Project

Dear Anna:

Thank you for representing our congressional district and for your recent visit to
Pescadero (photo enclosed).

I write to ask for your help in securing the timely issuance of permits or waivers by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/San Francisco District enabling San Mateo County to
remove sediment clogging the Butano bridge at Pescadero Road. You and your staff are
familiar with the problem,1 and I appreciate the assistance you have provided in the past.

Although I may not be fully current on this matter, I understand that after years
of delay San Mateo County is prepared to start dredging to unclog the bridge, but
cannot move forward without the USACEs permission.2

1
Exhs. 1 and 2 depict flooding in Pescadero at Butano bridge in March 2016; Exh. 3 shows the
sediment build up as of 2012-2013, a problem that has grown worse.
2
Because of the urgent need for this dredging and its small scope of work I believe the
County has requested a waiver or truncation of the USACEs permit process, which is generally
described to me as a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Permit for dredge or fill activities

-1-
Hon. Anna Eshoo
August 16, 2016
Page 2

I do not know the reason for the delay. The Corps has issued similar permits or
waivers in the past and the federal government is on record as supporting the need for
dredging to unclog the bridge.3 Moreover, each governmental stakeholder county,
state, and federal has been engaged, consulted, and agreed that unclogging the bridge is
required.4

My understanding of this issue is superficial; the solution is complex, implicating

the jurisdiction of multiple local, state and federal agencies. Dredging to unclog the
bridge is only one small but necessary part of the solution. Returning Butano Creek to
health will require work upstream and downstream from the bridge and no amount of
work can stop all flooding in Pescadero during major storm events.

But at this point, there is much more at stake than another year of flooding.
The inability of our governmental agencies to implement a plan to reduce or at
least try to reduce our annual flooding causes Pescadero residents to question the
value of our government, fostering apathy, resignation and cynicism.5

Please express to the Corps and any other federal agency delaying the Countys
dredging the need to get this project underway as soon as practicable.

Thank you for your help and service.

Sincerely,

Christopher Brancart
cbrancart@brancart.com

Enclosures

below the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of Butano Creek channel.

3
Exh 4 - NOAA letter, dated November 24, 2010.
4
The San Mateo County Grand Jury (2012-2013) recommended dredging. A 2014 report
commissioned by San Mateo County Resource Conservation District reflecting input from a
wide variety of stakeholders included dredging as part of the solution. (Exh. 5.)
5
Exh. 6 - Tiny Town is Awash in Water Woes, WSJ (01-12-2012).

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Hon. Anna Eshoo
August 16, 2016
Page 3

cc: Hon. Don Horsley, Supervisor

San Mateo County
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
dhorsley@smcgov.org

LTC John Morrow, Commander

Major James Boyette, Deputy Commander
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
San Francisco District
1455 Market Street, 16th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103-1398
Fax: (415) 503-6690
cespn-pa2@usace.army.mil

Rob Skinner
Steve Simms
Dante Silvestri
Kellyx Nelson

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8/16/2016 Brancart&BrancartMailFallHarvestFundraisercomingtoHarleyFarms

ChristopherBrancart<cbrancart@brancart.com>

FallHarvestFundraisercomingtoHarleyFarms
1message

RitaMancera<rmancera@mypuente.org> Tue,Aug16,2016at4:07PM
ReplyTo:RitaMancera<rmancera@mypuente.org>
To:cbrancart@brancart.com

Forwardtoafriend

August16,2016

FallHarvestFundraiser
comingtoHarleyFarms

CongressmemberAnnaEshoorecognizingMarielaLopezforheroutstanding
work.MarielaisatSanJoseStateworkingonherMaster'sDegreeinSocial
work.
-4-
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=4a84d56965&view=pt&search=inbox&th=156959c0a1a15249&siml=156959c0a1a15249 1/5
 Exh. 1

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 Exh. 2

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Attachment A: Silt-up Profiles of Butano Creek Bridge

Cross.Sections of Butano Creek at Peilcadero Road Bridge

16 - . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
15
14
13
. TOP OF BRIDGE (13' NGVD) - - - - -
12
11 UNDERSIDE OF BRIDGE (11' NGVD)
10
g
C)
z
c
0
:~
7
:.;::::; 6
I'll
t 5
[ij 4
3
2
1
0
-1
-2
-3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Horizontal Distance - feet
-::;::1854 U.S. COAST SURVEY -ARMY CORP 1965
[ -COOK-APRIL21,1999 DAWDY1987
-- 7"" BRIDGE AS BUILT 1961 -COOK -JANUARY 10, 2001

from
-2
" Restoration of
Butano Creek .... " -4
2001
116
page 10 ,!!
8

-10

-12
-14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

This image shows the profile of the Butano Creek streambed below the Pescadero Creek Road
Bridge. Early surveys show the streambed some 12 feet below the bottom of the bridge. Today,
the bridge clears the silted and debris-filled creek bottom by only 2 feet.

Exh. 3

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Attachment C: NOAA / Fisheries Letter

This letter from Mr. Butler of NOAA/Marine Fisheries, dated November 24, 2010, summarizes
the silt-up of the Butano Creek streambed and its association with the annual Pescadero Road
flooding. It acknowledges the potential interim benefits of dredging. It urges the County to
coordinate with stakeholders to investigate solutions and provides guidance and offers support in
overcoming permitting issues. (highlights supplied).

Exh. 4
10

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 Hydrology | Hydraulics | Geomorphology | Design | Field Services

Photo courtesy Half Moon Bay Review

Solutions to Flooding
on Pescadero Creek Road
Prepared for:
San Mateo County Resource
Conservation District
Prepared by:
cbec, inc. eco engineering
with assistance from Stillwater Sciences

October 17, 2014

Project # 13-1032
Exh 5

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SOLUTIONS TO FLOODING
AT PESCADERO CREEK ROAD









Preparedfor
SanMateoCountyResourceConservationDistrict









Preparedby
cbec,inc.

Withassistancefrom
StillwaterSciences







10/17/2014

cbecProject#:131032

- 10 -
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In its current condition, Butano Creek frequently exceeds its channel capacity and subsequently flows
across its floodplain to the east and then overtops Pescadero Creek Road during low magnitude,
frequently occurring flood events. This frequent flooding has impacted access to the unincorporated
communityofPescaderoforseveraldecades,andposesasafetyhazardtobothresidentsandvisitorsto
thiscoastalcommunity.InadditiontothewelldocumentedfloodingissuesalonglowerButanoCreek,
downstream of Pescadero Creek Road, the creek drains into Pescadero Marsh, which is considered a
criticalecologicalsystemthatishometoavarietyoffederallyandstatelistedfishandwildlifespecies.
The current condition of the crossing and the sediment impacted reach directly downstream has
resultedinasignificantpassageimpedimenttosalmonidsattemptingtomigrateupstreamintoButano
Creek.Thegoalsofthisprojectaretoidentifyfeasiblelongtermsolutionstothefloodingoftheroad,
whilemaximizingopportunitiestoenhanceorrestorewetlandandfloodplainhabitats,fishpassage,as
wellascreatemorenaturalsedimentdynamicsupstream,downstreamandneartheroadtorestorethe
creeksystemandreducethefrequencyandextentoffuturemanagementinterventions.

ThecauseofthefrequentfloodingisaresultofPescaderoCreekRoad'spositioninthewatershed,its
elevation above the floodplain, as well as the amount of sediment delivered to the area, which has
increaseddramaticallyincomparisontohistoricalconditions.Humanmodificationofthewatershedhas
dramaticallyacceleratedtheamountofsedimentdeliveredtothecreekchannelsbeyondnaturallevels,
aswellastheerosion,transportandstorageofsedimentinthevalleybottom.Notonlyhasthechannel
become disconnected from its floodplain, which has transformed areas that once provided sediment
storageintoareaswheresedimentisproduced(duetochannelincisionandwidening),buttheamount
ofsedimentbeinggeneratedfromtheuplandshasincreasedsubstantiallyaswell.Historicalchangesto
theButanoCreekwatershedandchannelsincluded:clearcuttinguplandforests;increasedfarmingand
ranching of both lowlands and hillslopes; diking and draining Pescadero Marsh; building or improving
roads;channelmanagement;andthedevelopmentofruralresidentialcommunities.

Duringtheinitialphasesofthisproject,severalpotentialcomponentsofasolutiontoreducefloodingof
theroadweresuggestedbytheRCD,membersoftheRCD'sprojectadvisorygroup,andmembersofthe
community.Eachofthesepotentialcomponentswaspreliminarilyevaluatedtoassessitspotentialto
reducethefrequentfloodingoftheroad.Intheprocessofthispreliminaryevaluation,over13potential
componentswereassessed,andmostcomponentsrequiredthesimulationandevaluationofmultiple
configurationsoriterations.Thecomponentscanbegroupedbythegenerallocationofthesolution:
upstreamof theroad,neartheroadanddownstreamoftheroad.They canalsobedistinguished by
whetherthecomponentwilldirectlyreducefloodlevelsattheroadorifthecomponentisintendedto
indirectlyreducethefrequencyoffloodingthroughreductionofsedimentbeingdeliveredtothelower
reachesofButanoCreekwheretheroadislocated.

Followingthepreliminaryevaluation,asubsetofmanagementactionswereselectedandinvestigated
more thoroughly. These actions include: floodplain restoration upstream of the road to reduce
sediment loads; construction of a causeway across the floodprone creek corridor; and various
configurationsofchanneldredgingattheroadcrossinganddownstream.Eachactionorcomponentof

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asolutiontofloodingattheroadwasassessedwithhydrodynamicandsedimenttransportmodelsto
simulate the amount of flood benefit for the road immediately after construction, as well as in the
future. Construction methods and costs were also explored, as were potential benefits or impacts to
sensitivespecies.Lastly,thepotentialcomplexityofpermittingforeachactionwasevaluated.

Acompletesolutionthatreducesthefrequentroadfloodingoverthelongtermandimproveshabitat
forsensitive specieswillrequiremultiple,linkedactionsatvariousscalesandlocations.Theseactions
include:
Implementation of upland sediment control activities to reduce the amount of sediment
deliveredtotheprojectarea;
Reconnectionorrestorationoffloodplainstoabsorbsedimentandfloodwaterenergy,thereby
reducingtransportofsedimenttodownstreamreaches;
Creation of additional flow capacity at the road either through construction of a causeway,
and/orchanneldredging;and
Restoration or creation of a stable and open channel to provide habitat connectivity for
salmonidsandotheraquaticspeciesfromButanoCreekupstreamoftheroaddownstreaminto
thelagoon.

Sediment control in the watershed is a vital component to address flood reduction and habitat
enhancementinButanoCreek,itsfloodplain,themarshandthelagoon.Fortunatelyseveralpreliminary
efforts are underway aimed at reducing the sediment generated by the hillslopes of the watershed.
Theseeffortscanprovidethefoundationfortheadditionalmanagementactionswithinandalongthe
creektoreducethefrequencyoffloodingoftheroad.Theseeffortsmustbecommensuratewith the
rates and volumes of sediment being delivered to the system in order to have the desired impact to
currentconditions.

Therestorationofthecreek'sabilitytostoresedimentonitsfloodplainisanothercrucialcomponentof
a sustainable solution to flooding of the road and aquatic habitat enhancement. One example of a
floodplainrestorationprojectisprovidedasastartingpointforthelargerscaleeffortthatisultimately
required.Thesedimentbenefitsoftheproposedfloodplainreconnectionprojectaretwofold.First,the
floodplain reconnection will allow sediment that is being transported by the creek to access the
floodplain,wheresomeportionofthissedimentwillbedeposited,therebyreducingtheamountcarried
downstream.Second,theconstructionofgradecontrolstructureswillreducetheamountofchannel
incision,whichwillreducetheamountofsedimentthatiscontributedtothestreambyboththebed
andbanks.

Beyondthesedimentbenefits,floodplainreconnectioncoulddramaticallyimprovemuchneededwinter
rearing habitat for coho salmon and steelhead. However, for these habitat improvements to benefit
anadromousfish,theymustbeabletomakeitupstreamtothispartofthecreek,andcurrentlypassage
is severely limited. Beyond habitat benefits in the floodplain reconnection area, the reduction of
sediment supplied downstream will improve channel conditions in downstream reaches, including
increasing the longevity and success of any measures to remove sediment to restore habitat
connectivityinlowerButanoCreek.

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Whilefloodplainreconnectionwasonlyexploredindepthforonearea,additionalfloodplainrestoration
opportunitiesmustbepursuedaswell.Inaddition,inareaswherethefloodplainisnotrestoredand
tall, steep and unstable banks remain, efforts to restore and or stabilize these banks must also be
pursued. These site specific projects will reduce the sediment load, and depending on how they are
implementedcanbedesignedtodirectlyimproveaquatichabitat.Successfullyreducingthesediment
loadinButanoCreekcanonlybeachievedthroughacollectionofprojectsrangingfromsmalltolargein
scaleandrelativecontribution.Actionstocontrolsediment,eitheratthewatershedscaleoralongthe
creek,willtaketimeforimprovementstobeobservedatthebridge.Thereisaconsiderableamountof
sediment stored upstream of the bridge and some amount of this legacy sediment will need to move
downthesystembeforethebenefitsarefullyfelt.

Inthevicinityofthebridge,manypotentialprojectcomponentsprovidedareductioninwatersurface
elevationsandtherebytheamountoffrequentflooding.Dredgingalonereducedwaterlevels,butnot
enoughtopreventfloodingoftheroadina2yearfloodevent.Dredgingwouldtemporarilyreducethe
amount of the frequently occurring flooding until the channel at the road fills in again. Sediment
transportsimulationssuggestthatthecapacityatthebridgewilldiminishafteroneormoresignificant
floodevents,whichmeansthatforadredgingcomponenttobealongtermsolutiononitsownwithout
additional flood reduction measures, it (and its associated permitting) would need to be repeated
indefinitely into the future. This could be annually, and there could be wet periods during which
dredgingatmultiplepointsintheyearwouldbedesirable.

Theconstructionofanew,higherandwidercausewayoverButanoCreekanditsfloodplainwastheonly
component considered that provided road access during larger floods (e.g., a 10year flood event)
immediately after construction, as well as in the future. While it comes at a substantial capital
investment, the benefits are vastly superior to other solutions with regards to flood reduction at the
road.However,italoneprovidesnoimmediatedirectsubstantialbenefittothesensitivespecies.That
said,itislikelythatawidercausewaywillrestoremorenaturalgeomorphicprocessesthatcouldallow
the channel to move laterally and/or create new channel alignments and habitats that could benefit
sensitivespeciesinthefuture.Whilechanneldredgingcomesatalowercostinitially,theserepeatcosts
willaccumulatethroughtime,makingthecausewayafarbetterinvestmentforprovidingsafeaccessto
Pescaderointothefuture.Inaddition,whilenotquantifiedinthiseffort,acausewayalsoprovidesthe
bestdefenseagainstsealevelrisethatwilleventuallyaddtothesedimentdepositionandsubsequent
floodingattheroad.

Themostsignificantwaythataprojectactionaimedatprovidingasolutiontofloodingcouldbenefitany
ofthesensitivesalmonidspeciesisbyrestoringhabitatconnectivityfromthelagoontothewatershed
upstreamofthebridge.Thiswouldrequiredredgingachannelorpartsofachanneleitheralongthe
historical alignment or along an alternate alignment through the marsh. Not only would this
substantially increase the amount of habitat available, but it would also provide fish migratory
connectivity that could allow fish to escape poor water quality conditions in the Butano Marsh and
lagoon that sometimes accompany the breaching of the barrier bar. A defined and restored channel
couldalsohelpaddresswaterqualityconcernsinthemarshbyenhancingcirculation.

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Two downstream alignments were considered: the most recent historical alignment and an alternate
alignment through the Butano Marsh. The historical alignment is appealing as this would be a
restorationofaformerchannel,howeveraccesstodredgethisalignmentcouldresultinaslowerand
more costly construction process. The marsh alignment could be constructed more rapidly, and at a
lower cost, however the water quality conditions that currently develop in Butano Marsh provide
greateruncertaintyinthebeneficialoutcomeofthisalignment.Particularlythesoilsinthevicinityof
the proposed channel should be tested to identify if their exposure would contribute to poor water
qualityconditions.Itispossiblethattheconstructionactivityassociatedwiththisalignmentcouldbe
expanded to address adjacent manmade depressions (e.g., historical ditches and borrow pits), which
couldacttoimprovewaterqualityconditionswithintheButanoMarsh.Dredgingarestoredconnection
to the lagoon is the only project component that would ensure that other restoration activities for
salmonidsintheButanoCreekwatershedareeffective.

Sedimentwillaccumulateintheupperportionofthedredgedchannelineitheralignmentuntilthetime
thatsedimentsuppliedfromupstreamhasbeendramaticallyreduced.Assuch,tomaintainfishpassage
intothefuture,significantfloodplainrestorationthatincreasesupstreamsedimentstorage,alongwith
reductioninsedimentsuppliedfromthewatershedtotheprojectarea,mustbecarriedout.Repeated
dredgingatthebridgeshouldbeconsideredandplannedfortheinterim.Theextentandfrequencyof
this repeated dredging is inversely proportional to the increased sediment storage/floodplain
restoration and sediment load reduction accomplished upstream. Dredging near the bridge could be
viewedasmaintainingasedimentbasinthatwouldextendthelongevityofdownstreamdredging.

If building a new causeway gains momentum and the appropriate level of funding is obtained, the
placement of the causeway should be considered further. If the fire station has been relocated and
BeanHollowRoadcanberealigned,thealignmentofthecausewaycouldbeshiftedtothewest,which
wouldprovidemoredirectaccesstothelowelevationareasintheupperportionsoftheEastButano
Marsh.Thisprojectwouldrequireadditionalfunding(realigningBeanHollowRoadandgradingthearea
currentlyoccupiedbythefirestation),anditwouldprovideadditionalfloodreductiontotheresidential
areadownstreamoftheroadbydirectingfloodwaterstotheEastButanoMarsh.

Multiple related but separate projects will be required to address each of the required actions to
provideacompletesolution.Asolutionthattakesaholisticapproach,addressingsediment,capacityat
the bridge and habitat improvements will achieve greater success in procuring the necessary funding
andpermits.Aphasedapproachcouldbetakentoallowactionsintheshorttermwhilepreparingfor
thelongertermactions.Forexample,Phase1couldincludetheestablishmentofinchannelsediment
basin at the bridge that could dredged annually (if needed) during the summer to provide shortterm
temporaryrelieftofrequentroadflooding.Phase2couldincludedesignandimplementationofupland
sediment reduction, and floodplain restoration projects as well as the design of a causeway and
downstream channel dredging and restoration. Phase 3 could then include construction of the
causewayanddownstreamchanneldredgingandrestoration.

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 Exh. 6

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