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Sycamore Associates LLC completed a Resource Management Plan for the 735-acre Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore for the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD). The Resource Management Plan focuses on creating a comprehensive and integrated set of policies, programs, and guidelines to protect and restore the park's biological resources while simultaneously providing for recreational and operational needs. It begins a comprehensive biological, hydrological, cultural, and physical resource assessment. These provide a basis for developing preservation, restoration, and open space management guidelines and management practices that will protect the park's sensitive resources while enabling recreational and interpretive uses consistent with its preservation.
As part of the Resource Management Plan, Sycamore conducted a thorough Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based opportunities and constraints analysis and defined design and location criteria for future recreational features consistent with resource goals. A California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document was completed for the proposed projects. Sycamore also developed a recovery program for the park's sycamore grove, the third largest in the state, currently suffering from an Anthracnose outbreak. Kamman Hydrology and Engineering provided the hydrological expertise for the recovery program. Wildland Resource Management, Inc. worked with Sycamore to assess the interaction of fire and invasive species and the interaction of the effects of grazing on grasslands and fire hazard reduction efforts, as well as evaluate the natural role of fire and potential role of fire in grassland restoration.
Over the 16 months, Sycamore made numerous presentations to the LARPD Board, the Zone 7 Board, the Coastal Conservancy, a Technical Advisory Committee, and the general public. We were able to foster consensus among all parties to focus on recovering the threatened sycamore grove. The recovery program is ongoing and is funded by both LARPD and Zone 7. Additional restoration projects within the park are ongoing, funded by public and mitigation monies.
Key issues included: Biological Assessment & Impact Analysis; Restoration, Mitigation, & Permitting; Water Resources & Water Quality; Resource Management Planning; Urban Creek & Park Planning; Community Outreach; and Fire Management
Sycamore Associates LLC teamed with planners and hydrologists to prepare two master plans for the restoration of over 12 miles of urban creeks passing through a complex mosaic of privately and publicly owned properties. Major issues included flood control, bank stabilization, bioengineering techniques, exotic plant eradication, habitat enhancement for wildlife and fisheries, creation of wildlife corridors, genetic resource conservation, location of a pedestrian trail, funding, phasing of restoration, and use of volunteer groups in implementation. For the City of Walnut Creek, Sycamore prepared plans and specifications and provided construction monitoring in a pilot project along a portion of Walnut Creek.
Key issues included: Bioengineering & Erosion Control Planning; Restoration, Construction, & Monitoring; Restoration, Mitigation, & Permitting; and Urban Creek & Trail Planning
Sycamore Associates LLC worked with the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), City of Fairfield, hydrologists, engineers, and planners to design a restoration plan to provide flood control and public access, while protecting anadromous fisheries. Sycamore assisted BCDC in the revision of a creek protection ordinance to accommodate flood control and improvement of habitat values, as well as provided construction monitoring.
Key issues included: Restoration, Construction, & Monitoring; Restoration, Mitigation, & Permitting; and Urban Creek & Trail Planning
Working with the City of Livermore, Sycamore Associates LLC collaborated with hydrology consultants, city planners, and a network of agencies and municipalities to guide the City in the design and implementation of the Arroyo Mocho and Arroyo Las Positas Watershed Management Plan. The Livermore area has many heavily regulated biological resources, including the California red-legged frog, San Joaquin kit fox, California tiger salamander, and large expanses of wetlands and protected riparian habitats.
In cooperation with the City of Livermore, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Game, Regional Water Quality Control Board, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zone 7 Flood Control District, and the Livermore Area Recreational Park District, Sycamore facilitated environmentally sensitive project designs, agency coordination, mitigation planning, and permitting for each component of the watershed management plan.
Sycamore's early involvement with the design of the plan ensured that biological constraints and opportunities were integrated into the project planning elements for flood and sedimentation control, access, and maintenance. This proactive approach allowed the plan to be implemented smoothly, efficiently, and with the greatest benefit possible to the existing natural resources.
Key issues included: Biological Assessment & Impact Analysis, Restoration, Mitigation, & Permitting, Water Resources & Water Quality, and Urban Creek & Park Planning
As a sub-consultant to Ogden Environmental, Sycamore Associates LLC assisted in the execution of several tasks for a large-scale regional conservation plan for 567,000 acres of coastal San Diego County. The program identified critical habitat conservation requirements for many special-status species and plant communities, focusing on critical sage scrub habitats for the Endangered California gnatcatcher and cactus wren.
Sycamore provided biological field surveys, review of preserve design criteria, gap analysis, evaluation of land-use compatibility with preserve design, and policy recommendations. Sycamore prepared extensive guidelines that addressed appropriate land uses and management activities within the preserve system, including mining operations, agriculture, recreation, habitat restoration, development, grazing, fire management, transportation, water projects, hydrology, military use, itinerant work camps, insects and disease, fencing, signing, lighting, landscaping, and predator and exotic animal control.
The stakeholder facilitation process, managed by San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), was exhaustive and provided a stellar model for subsequent regional planning efforts in Southern California.
Key issues included: Biological Assessment & Impact Analysis; Biodiversity Conservation Planning; Resource Management Planning; and Partnership Facilitation
With U.S. Forest Service geneticists, Sycamore Associates LLC prepared comprehensive standards and guidelines, emphasizing genetic conservation principles, for restoration projects and open space management of State Parks and Recreation land. Sycamore analyzed park policies and recommended additional policies for the conservation of biodiversity through the management of genetic resources.
Key issues included: Restoration Planning & Implementation; Biodiversity Conservation Planning; and Resource Management Planning
Sycamore Associates LLC prepared a conceptual plan and monitoring program for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to mitigate impacts to coastal sage scrub and California gnatcatcher habitat. Issues included soil solarization, prescribed fire, custom seed collection, and mycorrhizal inoculation. Sycamore also performed reference area data collection and analysis.
Key issues included: Biological Assessment & Impact Analysis and Restoration, Mitigation, & Permitting
Sycamore Associates LLC developed a Comprehensive Stream Restoration Program and a Grazing Management Plan for the City of Dublin, Alameda County, to address the long-term management of Tassajara Creek in an area of eastern Dublin currently undergoing development. Both the Restoration Program and the Grazing Plan are being implemented during rezones and tentative map applications for the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area. Key issues included flood control, public and maintenance access, local and regional trail management, habitat protection and restoration, long-term maintenance, public safety, environmental permitting, and interagency and landowner coordination.
Sycamore developed trail standards in cooperation with
the East Bay Regional Park District. The regulatory agencies, landowners, Zone 7, and the public provided significant constructive input to the environmental, recreational, and infrastructure planning. Because all stakeholders were involved in an open process, the guidelines and standards were sufficiently detailed to facilitate streamlined implementation. Sycamore's work products have provided a model for other cities embarking on their Resource Management Plans.
Key issues included: Restoration, Mitigation, & Permitting; Resource Management Planning; and Partnership Facilitation
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