City of Paso Robles Annual Drainage Maintenance, San Luis Obispo County

City of Paso Robles Annual Drainage Maintenance, San Luis Obispo County

The City's Public Works Department plans to trim riparian and emergent vegetation as well as remove any accumulated sediment from selected sites within the City limits to enhance channel capacity, storm water flow, as well as mitigate fire hazards minimizing risk to public health and safety. To the extent possible, work would be done when sites and the surrounding areas are dry and devoid of surface flow. No grubbing or disking would occur as part of the Project. Brushy vegetation will be thinned using pruners, loppers, and/or string trimmers. Willow shrubs located near culverts would be pruned as they have the potential to block the stormwater flow. Goats and/or sheep may be used to remove low-growing vegetation that could result in compromised flows by catching debris. Dead and downed trees and limbs would be removed from drainages and basins. A backhoe may be positioned along ephemeral drainages and/or basins outside the top of bank and used to pick up woody material too large to be removed by hand. In some cases, small tractors may be used to remove large woody material. Invasive non-native vegetation may be controlled by hand removal. Vegetation maintenance is anticipated to occur at all Project sites. In some cases, accumulated sediment may be removed from ephemeral drainages. Sediment would be removed by crews using hand tools such as shovels; in other cases, a backhoe operated outside the top of bank would be used to reach in and remove sediment. To the extent possible, sediment would be placed directly into a dump truck or other container for disposal at an offsite location where the material cannot enter waters of the State. If stockpiling sediment is necessary for any reason, sediment control best management practices would be implemented at all stockpiles to prevent sediment loss.' Stockpiles would be removed as soon as practicable. The project consists of cutting and trimming riparian vegetation within drainages and detention basins located in the City of Paso Robles. Native plants will be trimmed within approximately six (6) inches of ground height, removing the stems but leaving roots in place. Non-native plants will be pulled by hand to the extent possible. Lateral branches on trees within project sites will be trimmed between ground level and six (6) feet above ground to allow water to pass while maintaining an overhead canopy. All trimmings will be removed and disposed of offsite or chipped/shredded and applied onsite as mulch. Accumulated sediment within drainages will be removed at culvert inlets/outlets and disposed of offsite where the sediment cannot reenter the stream channel. Domestic goats may be used in the Salinas River channel within City limits to remove low-growing vegetation. Depending on the circumstance and vegetation conditions, the City may elect to use various methods of vegetation maintenance in the Salinas River. These methodologies may include the use of livestock, masticators, low-intensity prescribed burns, etc. However, the use of these methods will be based on the annual pre-project assessments to determine the correct, environmentally friendly, and efficient method. Lastly, the project will incorporate trash clean-up related to homeless encampments located within the Salinas River. Trash clearing will be done mostly by hand. However, there may be some instances where small tractors will be used to haul bigger items (e.g., mattresses, large wood frames, appliances, etc.) from the riverbed. The trash will be placed in large roll-off trash bins located outside of the river corridor. The removal of trash from the riverbed will reduce downstream pollution and enhance the quality of the surrounding habitat.

Paso Robles

San Luis Obispo