Agenda packet, regular meeting, first session — King City City Council, March 11, 2025 (part 2 of 2)

Surveys shall be conducted according to the methods for take avoidance described in the Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines (CBOC 1993) and the Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (CDFG 2012). If no burrowing owls are found, a letter report confirming absence shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development
Department and no further measures are required.

City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
No less than 14 days prior to
the start of construction or
ground-disturbing activities
associated with
implementation measures 1-4.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
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Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
b. Because burrowing owls occupy habitat year-round, seasonal no-disturbance buffers, as outlined in the Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines (CBOC 1993) and the Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (CDFG 2012), shall be in place around occupied habitat prior to and during any ground disturbance activities. The following table includes buffer areas based on the time of year and level of disturbance (CDFG 2012), unless a qualified biologist approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife verifies through non-invasive measures that either:
1) birds have not begun egg laying and incubation; or
2) that juveniles from the occupied burrows are foraging independently and are capable of independent
survival.

Location Time of
Year
Level of Disturbance Buffers (meters)
Low Med High
Nesting
Sites
April 1 –
Aug 15 200 m 500 m 500 m
Nesting Sites
Aug 16
– Oct
15 200 m 200 m 500 m
Nesting Sites
Oct 16
– Mar
31 50 m 100 m 500 m
c. If burrowing owl is found and avoidance is not possible, burrow exclusion may be conducted by qualified biologists only during the non-breeding season, before breeding behavior is exhibited and after the burrow is confirmed empty through non-invasive methods, such as surveillance. Occupied burrows shall be replaced with artificial burrows at a ratio of one collapsed burrow to one constructed artificial burrow (1:1). Evicted burrowing owls may attempt to colonize or re-colonize an area that would be Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 10 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
impacted, thus ongoing surveillance during project activities shall be conducted at a rate sufficient to detect burrowing owls if they return.
d. If surveys locate occupied burrows in or near construction areas, consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shall occur to interpret survey results and develop a project-specific avoidance and minimization approach. Once the absence of burrowing owl has been confirmed, a letter report shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department.

BIO-8 Prior to the start of implementation measures 1-4, and not more than 14 days prior to the commencement of ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities, a qualified wildlife biologist shall conduct surveys to identify any potential American badger burrows/dens. If the survey results are negative (i.e., no badger dens observed), a letter report confirming absence shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities and no further mitigation is required.

If the results are positive (badger dens are observed), the qualified biologist shall determine if the dens are active by installing a game camera for three days and three nights to determine if the den is in use. a. If the biologist determines that a den may be active, coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shall be undertaken to develop a suitable strategy to avoid impacts to American badger. The strategy may include the following: the biologist shall install a one-way door in the den opening and continue use of the game camera. Once the
camera captures the individual exiting the one-way door, the den can be excavated with hand tools to prevent badgers from reusing them. If the biologist determines that the den is a maternity den, project activities shall be delayed during the maternity season (February to August), or until the badgers leave the den on their own accord or the biologist determines that the den is no longer in use.

City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
No more than 14 days prior to
the start of vegetation removal
or ground-disturbing activities
associated with
implementation measures 1-4.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
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Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
b. If the game camera does not capture an individual
entering/exiting the den, the den can be excavated with hand tools to prevent badgers from reusing them.
c. After dens have been excavated and the absence of American badger confirmed, a letter report shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development
Department, prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal.

BIO-9 Prior to the start of implementation measures 1-4, a qualified biologist shall conduct a survey for Monterey dusky-footed woodrat nests within thirty (30) days prior to the start of disturbance activities. If the survey results are negative (i.e., no woodrat nests observed), a letter report confirming absence shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities and no further mitigation is required.

If the results are positive (woodrat nests are observed), all Monterey dusky-footed woodrat nests shall be mapped and flagged for avoidance.

If Monterey dusky-footed woodrat nests are found that cannot be avoided, each active nest shall be disturbed by the qualified biologist to the degree that Monterey dusky-footed woodrat leaves the nest and seeks refuge elsewhere. After the nests have been disturbed, the nest sticks shall be removed from the impact areas and placed outside of areas planned for impacts. Nests shall be dismantled during the non-breeding season (between October 1 and December 31), if possible. If a litter of young is found or suspected, nest material shall be replaced and the nest left alone for 2-3 weeks, after this time the nest will be rechecked to verify that young are capable of independent survival before proceeding with nest dismantling.

After nests have been dismantled and the absence of Monterey duskyfooted woodrat confirmed, a letter report shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department, prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal.

City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
Within 30 days prior to the
start of construction or
ground-disturbing activities
associated with
implementation measures 1-4.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

BIO-10 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Standardized
Recommendations for Protection of the San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (USFWS 2011) shall be implemented prior to City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
No less than 30 days prior to
the start of construction or
ground-disturbing activities
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Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
the initiation of any ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities associated with implementation measures 1-4 on the project site to avoid unintended take of individual San Joaquin kit foxes.

Pre-activity surveys for San Joaquin kit fox shall be conducted by a qualified biologist no less than 30 days prior to the beginning of project activities, including ground disturbance or vegetation removal, that may impact San Joaquin kit fox. The surveys shall include all work areas and a minimum 200-foot buffer of the project site. The pre-project implementation surveys shall identify kit fox habitat features on the project site, evaluate use by kit fox and, if possible, assess the potential impacts of the proposed activity. The status of all dens shall be determined and mapped.

If a natal/pupping den is discovered within the project area or within 200 feet of the project boundary, the project contractor shall consult with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish an appropriate avoidance buffer. The avoidance buffer shall be maintained until such time as the burrow is no longer active and/or an incidental take permit is determined to be required and is obtained.

In addition, the following measures shall be observed:
a. Project-related vehicles shall observe a 20-mph speed limit in all project areas. Night-time project activities shall be prohibited.

Off-road traffic outside of the designated project area shall be prohibited.
b. To prevent inadvertent entrapment of kit foxes or other animals during project implementation, all excavated, steep-walled holes or trenches more than two feet deep shall be covered at the close of each working day by plywood or similar materials, or provided with one or more escape ramps constructed of earth fill or wooden planks. Before such holes or trenches are filled, they shall be thoroughly inspected for trapped animals. If at any time a trapped or injured kit fox is discovered, the procedures under number 11 of the Construction and Operational Requirements in the Standardized Recommendations must be followed.
associated with
implementation measures 1-4.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 13 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
c. Kit foxes are attracted to den-like structures such as pipes and may enter stored pipe becoming trapped or injured. If used, all pipes, culverts, or similar structures with a diameter of four inches or greater stored at the construction site for one or more overnight periods shall be thoroughly inspected for kit foxes before the pipe is subsequently buried, capped, or otherwise used or moved in any way. If a kit fox is discovered inside a pipe, that section of pipe shall not be moved until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been consulted. If necessary, and under the direct supervision of the biologist, the pipe may be moved once to remove it from the path of construction activity, until the fox has escaped.
d. All food-related trash items such as wrappers, cans, bottles, and food scraps shall be disposed of in closed containers and removed at least once a week from the project site.
e. No firearms shall be allowed on the project site during project implementation activities.
f. To prevent harassment, mortality of kit foxes or destruction of dens by dogs or cats, no pets shall be permitted on site during project implementation.
g. Use of rodenticides and herbicides on the project site during project implementation shall be restricted. This is necessary to prevent primary or secondary poisoning of kit foxes and the depletion of prey populations on which they depend. All uses of such compounds shall observe label and other restrictions mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
California Department of Food and Agriculture, and other State and Federal legislation, as well as additional project related restrictions deemed necessary by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If rodent control must be conducted, zinc phosphide shall be used because of proven lower risk to kit fox.
h. In the case of trapped animals, escape ramps or structures shall be installed immediately to allow the animal(s) to escape.

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Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
i. Any contractor, employee, or agency personnel who
inadvertently kills or injures a San Joaquin kit fox shall immediately report the incident to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

BIO-11 If possible, project activities should be conducted between September 16 and January 14 to avoid impacts to nesting birds during the nesting season (January 15 through September 15). If implementation measures 1-4 are scheduled during the nesting season (February 15 to August 30 for small bird species such as passerines; January 15 to September 15 for owls; and February 15 to September 15 for other raptors), a qualified biologist shall conduct nesting bird surveys as follows:
a. Two surveys for active bird nests will occur within 14 days prior to start of ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities, with the final survey conducted within 48 hours prior to project commencement. Appropriate minimum survey radii surrounding each work area are typically 250 feet for passerines, 500 feet for smaller raptors, and 1,000 feet for larger raptors. Surveys will be conducted at the appropriate times of day to observe nesting activities. Locations off the site to which access is not available may be surveyed from within the site or from public areas. If no nesting birds are found, a letter report will be prepared by the biologist and submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the King City Community Development Department, where it will be kept on file, and no further measures are required.
b. If the qualified biologist documents active nests within the project site or in nearby surrounding areas, an appropriate buffer between each nest and active project activities shall be established. The buffer shall be clearly marked and maintained until the young have fledged and are foraging independently.

Prior to project activities, the qualified biologist shall conduct baseline monitoring of each nest to characterize “normal” bird behavior and establish a buffer distance, which allows the birds to exhibit normal behavior. The qualified biologist shall monitor the nesting birds daily during project activities and increase the buffer if birds show signs of unusual or distressed behavior City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
If construction or grounddisturbing activities will begin during the nesting season
(January 15 through
September 15), within 14
days prior to the start of
construction or grounddisturbing activities
associated with
implementation measures 1-4.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
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Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
(e.g., defensive flights and vocalizations, standing up from a brooding position, and/or flying away from the nest). If buffer establishment is not possible, the qualified biologist or project foreman shall have the authority to cease all project work in the area until the young have fledged and the nest is no longer active. Once the absence of nesting birds has been confirmed, a letter report will be prepared by the biologist and submitted to the King City Community Development Department, where it will be kept on file, and no further measures are required.

These surveys shall include a visual inspection of potential roosting features (bats need not be present) and a search for presence of guano within the project site, construction access routes, and 50 feet around these areas. Cavities, crevices, exfoliating bark, and bark fissures that could provide suitable potential nest or roost habitat for bats shall be surveyed. Assumptions can be made on what species is present due to observed visual characteristics along with habitat use, or the bats can be identified to the species level with the use of a bat echolocation detector such as an “Anabat” unit. Potential roosting features found during the survey shall be flagged or marked.

If no roosting sites or bats are found, a letter report confirming absence shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department and no further mitigation is required. If bats or roosting sites are found, bats shall not be disturbed without specific notice to and consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 16 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
activity and are unable to re-enter the roost until activity is completed. Any bat eviction shall be timed to avoid lactation and young-rearing. If bats are found roosting during the nursery season, they shall be monitored to determine if the roost site is a maternal roost. This could occur by either visual inspection of the roost bat pups, if possible, or by monitoring the roost after the adults leave for the night to listen for bat pups. Because bat pups cannot leave the roost until they are mature enough, eviction of a maternal roost cannot occur during the nursery season. Therefore, if a maternal roost is present, a 50-foot buffer zone (or different size if determined in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife) shall be established around the roosting site within which no construction activities including tree removal or structure disturbance shall occur until after the nursery season. Once the absence of roosting bats has been confirmed, a letter report will be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department.

BIO-13 In advance of the start of implementation measures 1-4, a Riparian Revegetation and Monitoring Plan shall be prepared. The plan shall include clear goals and objectives, success criteria, specifics on restoration/creation/enhancement (e.g., plant palette, soils, irrigation design standards and requirements), specific monitoring periods and reporting guidelines, and a maintenance plan. Species from the California Invasive Plant Council’s (Cal-IPC) Invasive Plant List (Cal-IPC 2024) shall be removed if present and not included in the planting palette. Appropriate performance standards may include, but are not limited to, an 80 percent survival rate of restoration tree and shrub plantings; absence of invasive plant species in restored areas; and self‐sustaining conditions (i.e., plant viability without supplemental water) at the end of five years. If the restoration activities are not meeting success criteria, remedial measures shall be implemented and would typically include, but are not limited to, replanting, reseeding, grading adjustments, supplemental irrigation, access control, increased weed control, and extended maintenance and monitoring periods.

The Riparian Revegetation and Monitoring Plan shall be submitted to the King City Community Development Department for review and approval as well as any other appropriate regulatory agencies during the permit application process, if needed.

City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
In advance of the start of
implementation measures 1-4.

A Riparian Revegetation and
Monitoring Plan shall be
completed by a qualified
biologist and submitted to the
King City Community
Development Department,
where it will be kept on file.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
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Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
BIO-14 In advance of the start of implementation measures 1-4, in areas where impacts to jurisdictional aquatic features cannot be avoided, the King City Community Development Department will retain a qualified biologist to determine the extent of potential wetlands and waterways regulated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). If the USACE claims jurisdiction, the City shall retain a qualified biologist to obtain a Clean Water Act Section 404 Nationwide Permit. The City and the qualified biologist shall coordinate with the RWQCB to obtain a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification. The City and the qualified biologist shall also coordinate with the CDFW to obtain a Streambed Alteration Agreement.

City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
In advance of the start of
implementation measures 1-4,
in areas where impacts to
jurisdictional aquatic features
cannot be avoided.

BIO-15 Prior to the start of implementation measure 1-4 and any tree removal or trimming activities, the King City Community Development Department will hire an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)- certified arborist to conduct a tree survey and prepare an evaluation report with associated data and location map for all potentially affected trees on and immediately adjacent to the project site. The King City Community Development Department will follow the arborist’s recommendations, such as planting replacement trees in appropriate on-site or off-site areas, preferably associated with the Salinas River or San Lorenzo Creek corridors, along with any required maintenance and monitoring.

City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified arborist
In advance of any tree
removal or trimming activities,
prior to the start of
implementation measures 1-4.

An arborist report shall be
completed by a qualified
arborist and submitted to the
King City Community
Development Department,
where it will be kept on file.

Cultural Resources
CR-1 Prior to construction, all personnel directly involved in projectrelated activities shall be provided archaeological and cultural sensitivity training. The training shall be conducted by a Native American Monitor or a qualified archaeologist that meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for archaeology. The training shall take place at a day and time to be determined in conjunction with the project construction foreman, and prior to any scheduled project-related activities. The training will include the following: a discussion of applicable laws and penalties; samples or visual aids of artifacts that could be encountered in the project vicinity, including what those artifacts and resources may look like partially buried, City of King Public
Works Department;
Any City
contractors;
A Registered
Professional
Archaeologist;
A Native American
Monitor
Prior to first implementation
measure and/or ground
distribution activities.

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Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
or wholly buried and freshly exposed; and instructions to halt work in the vicinity of any potential cultural resource discovery, and notify the archaeological monitor as necessary. If a handout is provided by the archaeologist, the foreman will keep a copy of it in his or her vehicle as a reference. Having reference material in the vehicle does not replace contacting an archaeologist should resources be uncovered.

CR-2 In the event that archaeological resources are inadvertently discovered, work shall temporarily halt or divert work within 50 meters (165 feet) of the find until it can be evaluated. All potentially significant or unique archaeological deposits shall be evaluated to demonstrate whether the resource is eligible for inclusion on the California Register of Historic Resources. If archaeological deposits are encountered, they will be evaluated and mitigated simultaneously in the timeliest manner practicable, allowing for recovery of materials and data by standard archaeological procedures. For prehistoric archaeological sites, this data recovery involves the hand-excavated recovery and non-destructive analysis of a small sample of the deposit. Historic resources shall also be sampled through hand excavation, though architectural features may require careful mechanical exposure and hand excavation.

Any previously undiscovered resources found during construction activities shall be recorded on appropriate California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) forms and evaluated for significance by a qualified archaeologist. Significant and/or unique cultural resources consist, of but are not limited to, stone, bone, glass, ceramics, fossils, wood, or shell artifacts, or features including hearths, structural remains, or historic dumpsites. If the resource is determined significant, a qualified archaeologist shall prepare and implement a research design and archaeological data recovery plan that will capture those categories of data for which the site is significant in accordance with Section 15064.5 of the CEQA Guidelines.

If such resources or artifacts are determined to be of native tribal origin, any mitigation or recovery program shall include direction from tribal leadership that has previously consulted with King City for proper handling and treatment.

City of King Public
Works Department;
Any City
contractors;
A Registered
Professional
Archaeologist
Upon inadvertent encounter
with archaeological resources.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
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Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
The archaeologist shall also perform appropriate technical analyses, prepare a comprehensive report complete with methods, results, and recommendations, and provide for the permanent curation of the recovered resources. The report shall be submitted to the Northwest Information Center and the State Historic Preservation Office, as required.

CR-3 California Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 and the CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5(e) contain the mandated procedures of conduct following the discovery of human remains. According to the provisions in CEQA, if human remains are encountered at the site, all work in the immediate vicinity of the discovery shall cease and necessary steps to ensure the integrity of the immediate area shall be taken. The Monterey County Coroner shall be notified immediately. The Coroner shall then determine whether the remains are Native American. If the Coroner determines the remains are Native American, the Coroner shall notify the Native American Heritage Commission within 24 hours, who would, in turn, notify the person the Native American Heritage Commission identifies as the Most Likely Descendant of any human remains. Further actions shall be determined, in part, by the desires of the Most Likely Descendant. The Most Likely Descendant has 48 hours to make recommendations regarding the disposition of the remains following notification from the Native American Heritage Commission of the discovery. If the Most Likely Descendant does not make
recommendations within 48 hours, the owner shall, with appropriate dignity, reinter the remains in an area of the property secure from further disturbance. Alternatively, if the owner does not accept the Most Likely Descendant’s recommendations, the owner or the descendent may request mediation by the Native American Heritage Commission.

City of King Public
Works Department;
Any City
contractors.

Ongoing throughout project
construction involving ground
disturbance;
Stop work upon discovery of
human remains and notify the
Monterey County Coroner,
who shall conduct inspection
and notification procedures as
described in the measure.

The County Coroner shall
determine when work may
resume.

SOURCE: EMC Planning Group 2024
November 20, 2024
Doreen Liberto, AICP, MDR
Community Development Director
City of King
212 South Vanderhurst Avenue
King City, CA 93930
Re: Response to Public Comments on Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan
Dear Doreen,
EMC Planning Group staff have reviewed public comments that were received during the 30-day public review period (July 31, 2024 to August 30, 2024) for the above referenced mitigated negative declaration (MND). The lead agency (City of King) is not required to respond to public comments on the proposed MND, but the decision makers are required to consider all comments prior to considering adoption of the MND and approval of the project.

Our responses to these comments are intended to help the City of King in their decisionmaking about the proposed project. We are only providing responses to environmental issues, as well as comments on the environmental review (CEQA) process.

The following public comments were received, and are attached to this letter:

1. Comment letter prepared by California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), District 5, sent via e-mail to City and dated August 1, 2024;

2. Verbal comments provided by members of the public received at August 7, 2024 community workshop; and
Exhibit 4
Doreen Liberto
City of King
November 20, 2024, Page 2

3. E-mailed comment sent by Patti Dunton, Administrator, Salinan Tribe of Monterey & San Luis Obispo Counties, sent via e-mail to City and dated August 21, 2024.

Caltrans, District 5 (August 1, 2024)
Response to Comment Letter 1, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 5, Jacob Hernandez, Transportation Planner, dated August 1, 2024; received by City staff via e-mail
Comment 1
Comment. Caltrans staff notes that any future work that is completed in, on, under, over or affecting State highway right-of-way will require an encroachment permit.

Response. Comment acknowledged. Any adopted implementation measures resulting from the Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan that may encroach on or surrounding U.S.

Highway 101 will require consultation with and permitting via Caltrans, District 5. In particular, any implementation measures along or near the portion of San Lorenzo Creek corridor underneath and near the U.S. Highway 101 overpass will likely require encroachment permits. The comment does not raise an environmental issue. No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Comment 2
Comment. Caltrans staff note that, depending on the complexity of the project improvements requiring an encroachment permit, Caltrans Oversight, via the District (5) Permit Engineer, may be the more appropriate avenue for project review and approval by Caltrans. The City is advised to consult with the District Permit Engineer to determine the most appropriate Caltrans project permitting system.

Response. Comment acknowledged. The King City Community Development and/or Public Works Department will consult with the Caltrans District (5) Permit Engineer prior to any implementation measures be conducted on or near Caltrans right-of-way to verify the appropriate permitting approach. The comment does not raise an environmental issue. No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Doreen Liberto
City of King
November 20, 2024, Page 3
Verbal Comments from Members of the Public (August 7,
2024)
The following verbal comments on the project were received at a community meeting that was held on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. at the King City Fire Station located 422 Bassett Street in King City. The community meeting was attended by approximately 10 members of the public and representatives from the City and CAL FIRE, along with the City’s environmental consultant, EMC Planning Group, and wildfire planning consultant, Deer Creek Resources.

Verbal Comment 1. Are permits needed from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Toxic Substances Control (California) to work on projects within the riverbed?
Response. None of the proposed implementation measures associated with the plan would require funding from or approval by either the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Neither agency has permitting or discretionary authority over the riverbed area. Water issues are addressed in Section 10, Hydrology and Water Quality, of the initial study, and hazardous materials issues are addressed in Section 9, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, of the initial study. DTSC was notified of the proposed project via the State Clearinghouse when the IS/MND was released for public review and did not submit a comment letter on the proposed project.

No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Verbal Comment 2. Why is the City taking responsibility for private property within the unincorporated area? The County should be more responsible.

Response to Verbal Comment 2. The City’s mission is to address the needs of everyone in the community. Since concerns were expressed by residents in the incorporated area of King City who are impacted by the fire dangers, and the County’s efforts were not satisfactory to address these concerns, the City acted in a proactive manner. However, the City is attempting to address the issues without expending City taxpayer dollars by focusing on efforts to fund planning and mitigation efforts through grant funding.

Doreen Liberto
City of King
November 20, 2024, Page 4
The comment does not raise an environmental issue. No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Verbal Comment 3. Has the City met with the County about their need to enforce weed abatement and trespassing issues in the riverbed?
Response to Verbal Comment 3. Joint meetings have been conducted with City staff and the County staff and officials regarding these concerns. The County have responded that they are restricted by State and Federal permitting requirements to conduct weed abatement at a large scale across the riverbed area. Therefore, it is the City’s goal of to provide the initial information (through the Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan) needed to pursue permits that will enable both the County and private property owners to better maintain those areas within or immediately adjacent to the riverbed within State and Federal restrictions.

The comment does not raise an environmental issue. No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Verbal Comment 4. How is the 100-foot buffer measured?
Response to Verbal Comment 4. According to the City’s consultant Deer Creek Resources, the 100-foot fuel break is measured in horizontal distance and does not account for slope. As noted in the plan, 100 feet is a recommended width for the buffer, but that space does not exist throughout the entire recommended area. 100 feet should be used as a guideline for creating the fuel break.

No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Verbal Comment 5. How is weed abatement being handled by the County on the riverbed?
Response to Verbal Comment 5. See response to verbal comment 3 above. No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Verbal Comment 6. Who is issuing citations for weed abatement violations? Response to Verbal Comment 6. See response to verbal comment 3 above. No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Doreen Liberto
City of King
November 20, 2024, Page 5
Verbal Comment 7. A comment was made by a member of the public that private property owners can supposedly grade without permits in the riverbed. (The riverbed within the project area is zoned “F/40 -Farmland, 40 acres per dwelling unit” by Monterey County). The commenter requested clarification from City staff on this point.

Response to Verbal Comment 7. City staff and EMC Planning Group reached out to Monterey County staff for clarification on required permitting within the riverbed area not within the City’s jurisdiction. On November 8, 2024, Luis Ricardo Rodriguez, Associate Water Resources Hydrologist, with Monterey County Housing & Community Development (HCD) Environmental Services, verified that a series of local, state, and federal permits would be required for any grading work within the County’s riverbed/watercourse area no matter the specific County zoning designation (i.e., agricultural or otherwise). A copy of the permitting guidance document provided by Mr. Rodriguez (entitled “County of Monterey Watercourse Encroachment Compliance”) is attached to this letter as reference.

Additionally, the County provides more general grading regulations in Monterey County Code Chapter 16.08, which is intended to safeguard health, safety, and the public welfare; to minimize erosion, protect fish and wildlife; and to protect the natural environment of Monterey County. This chapter sets forth rules and regulations to control all grading, including excavations, earthwork, road construction, and fills and embankments. It establishes the administrative procedure for issuance of permits, and it provides for approval of plans and inspections of grading construction.

The County also provides development standards for agricultural development in County Code Chapter 21.66.030.

No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Verbal Comment 8. What is the schedule to implement the recommendations? Response to Verbal Comment 8. There will be additional planning and permitting necessary prior to plan implementation. Scheduling will be largely dependent upon accessing additional grant funding. This comment does not raise an environmental issue. No changes to the proposed MND are required.

Doreen Liberto
City of King
November 20, 2024, Page 6
Salinan Tribe of Monterey & San Luis Obispo Counties
(August 21, 2024)
Response to Comment Letter 3, Patti Dunton, Administrator, Salinan Tribe of Monterey & San Luis Obispo Counties; received by City staff via e-mail on August 21, 2024 Comment 1
Comment. The tribal representative indicates the Salinan Tribe of Monterey & San Luis Obispo Counties have concerns that known and unknown cultural resources may be impacted by the ground disturbing activities associated with the fuel break implementation measure called for in the plan.

Response. As noted in the initial study (Section D.5, Cultural Resources under response to checklist question a/b) prepared for the proposed project, unknown buried prehistoric, historic or unique archaeological resources could be present at any portions of the Salinas River and the San Lorenzo Creek. While unlikely, the recommended implementation strategies found in the plan have the potential to uncover or disturb unknown cultural resources, causing a substantial change in the significance of the resource. Mitigation measures CR-1, CR-2, and CR-3 have been identified and determined to reduce this potential significant impact to a less-than-significant level. No further response is required and no changes to the previously proposed mitigation measure(s) are required.

Comment 2:

Comment. The tribal representative requests that all ground disturbing activities for the plan be monitored by a cultural resource specialist from the Salinan Tribe of Monterey & San Luis Obispo Counties.

Response. The previously identified mitigation measure CR-1 indicated (in part) that prior to construction, all personnel directly involved in project-related activities shall be provided archaeological and cultural sensitivity training. The training is required to be conducted by a Native American Monitor or a qualified archaeologist that meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Archaeology. Additionally, the City currently has standard condition(s) of approval associated with cultural resources. These standard conditions of approval identify tribal monitoring requirements for all projects, including those where cultural resources may or may not be present based on substantial Doreen Liberto
City of King
November 20, 2024, Page 7
evidence. The previously identified mitigation measure and the City’s standard condition(s) of approval associated with cultural resources are adequate to address the potential for inadvertent discovery of tribal cultural resources. Therefore, no changes to the proposed MND are required.

Please let me know if you have any questions after reviewing our responses.

Sincerely,
Stuart Poulter, AICP, MCRP
Senior Planner
Enc: Comment Letters
County of Monterey Watercourse Encroachment Compliance List Sources
Rodriguez, Luis Ricardo, Associate Water Resources Hydrologist, County of Monterey Housing & Community Development Environmental Services. Email correspondence with consultant, 8 November 2024.
“Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment” CALTRANS DISTRICT 5
50 HIGUERA STREET | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401-5415
(805) 549-3101 | FAX (805) 549-3329 TTY 711
www.dot.ca.gov
August 1, 2024 SCH #2024071105
Doreen Liberto, Community Development Director
City of King
212 S. Vanderhurst Avenue
King City, CA 93930
RE: King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan, Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) Dear Ms. Liberto:

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) appreciates the opportunity to review the MND for the King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan, which provides the long-term framework for fire resiliency and prioritizes hazard reduction projects along portions of the Salinas River and San Lorenzo Creek in or near King City. Caltrans supports local development that is consistent with State planning priorities intended to promote equity, strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and promote public health and safety. We accomplish this by working with local jurisdictions to achieve a shared vision of how the transportation system should and can accommodate interregional and local travel and development. Caltrans offers the following comments in response to the MND:

1. Please be aware that any future work that is completed in, on, under, over, or affecting the State highway right-of-way is subject to a Caltrans encroachment permit and must be done to our engineering and environmental standards and at no cost to the State. The conditions of approval and the requirements for the encroachment permit are issued at the sole discretion of the Permits Office, and nothing in this letter shall be implied as limiting those future conditions and requirements. For more information regarding the encroachment permit process, please visit our Encroachment Permit Website at:
https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/ep

2. Depending on the complexity of the project improvements requiring an encroachment permit, Caltrans Oversight may be the more appropriate avenue for project review and approval by Caltrans. The District Permit Engineer has been granted authority by Caltrans to make this decision. Please consult with the District Permit Engineer to determine the most appropriate Caltrans project permitting system.

Doreen Liberto, Community Development Director
August 1, 2024

Page 2 ends

“Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment” Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed project. If you have any questions or need further clarification on the items discussed above, please contact me at (805) 835-6543 or email [email protected].

Sincerely,
Jacob Hernandez
Transportation Planner
District 5 Local Development Review Coordinator
From: Doreen Liberto-Blanck
To: Tom Nuck; "Nate Daly"; Stuart Poulter
Cc: Esmeralda Alvarez
Subject: Comments from August 7 Community Meeting
Date: Thursday, August 8, 2024 10:57:22 AM
Good morning,
The following are comments made last night at the Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan Community Meeting. We need to respond to them as part of the comment review period.

If I missed a comment, or misstated a comment, please let me know.

1. Are permits needed from USEPA and Department of Toxic Substances Control (California) to work on projects within the Riverbed?

2. Why is the City taking responsibility for private property within the unincorporated area? The County should be more responsible.

3. Has the City met with the County about their need to enforce weed abatement and trespassing issues in the Riverbed?

4. How is the 100 foot buffer measured?

5. How is weed abate being handled by the County on the Riverbed?

6. Who is issuing citations for weed abatement violations?

7. A comment was made that private property owners can grade, etc. without permits in the Riverbed. (The Riverbed is designated agricultural.) Stuart, please check with the County. I believe the county requires grading permits for heavier grading and agricultural grading has to be associated with agricultural operations. Also, are permits needed if a private property owner destroys habitat (e.g., special status species)?

8. What is the schedule to implement the recommendations? ( I need to work with Steve and Octavio on this question.)

9. Should the Nascimento Regional Water Management Advisory Committee lawsuit again the County of Monterey be considered as part of the Plan?
Nacimiento residents sue Monterey County CA over water loss | San Luis Obispo Tribune Also, please send me your ppt.

All the best,
Doreen
Doreen Liberto, AICP, MDR
Community Development Director
[email protected]
City of King
212 South Vanderhurst Ave
King City, CA 93930
(831) 385-3281 (office)
(831) 537-1568 (cell)
From: Doreen Liberto-Blanck
To: [email protected]
Cc: Stuart Poulter; Esmeralda Alvarez
Subject: Re: Notice to intent to adopt a mitigated negative declaration . King City Riverbed Wildfire prevention Plan project.

Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 2:34:59 PM
Good Afternoon Patti,
Thank you for your response. Stuart Poulter, EMC, will respond to your comments as part of the environmental review process.

All the best,
Doreen
Doreen Liberto, AICP, MDR
Community Development Director
[email protected]
City of King
212 South Vanderhurst Ave
King City, CA 93930
(831) 385-3281 (office)
(831) 537-1568 (cell)
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 2:06 PM
To: Doreen Liberto-Blanck <[email protected]>
Subject: Notice to intent to adopt a mitigated negative declaration . King City Riverbed Wildfire prevention Plan project.

Greetings Doreen, we have reviewed the proposed wild fire plan. We have concerns that known and unknown cultural resources ma be impacted by the ground disturbing activities while creating the fuel breaks. We would request that all ground disturbing activities for the plan be monitored by a cultural resource specialist from our tribe.

Xayatspanikan,
Patti Dunton, Administrator

COUNTY OF MONTEREY
Watercourse Encroachment Compliance
County of Monterey Code of Ordinance:

Chapter 16.16 - REGULATIONS FOR FLOODPLAINS IN MONTEREY COUNTY | Code of Ordinances | Monterey County, CA | Municode Library / County of Monterey has adopted and enforces the following ordinances and regulations to protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens. The County of Monterey has enacted the floodplain management regulations set forth in this Chapter.

County of Monterey Code of Ordinance:

16.16.040 - Administration. | Code of Ordinances | Monterey County, CA | Municode Library / (E. Information Required) : To facilitate the review of development permit applications, the County may require the applicant to provide additional information. As a minimum, the following information is required:

County of Monterey Code of Ordinance:

16.16.050 - Provisions for flood hazard reduction. | Code of Ordinances | Monterey County, CA | Municode Library / (J.

Floodways/.2 ) : Within an adopted regulatory floodway, the County shall prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development, unless certification by a registered civil engineer is provided demonstrating that the proposed encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.

Code of Federal Regulations:
eCFR :: 44 CFR Part 60 Subpart A -- Requirements for Flood Plain Management Regulations / (60.3 Flood Plain Management Criteria For Flood-Prone Areas / d.3) : Prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development within the adopted regulatory floodway unless it has been demonstrated through hydrologic and hydraulic analyses performed in accordance with standard engineering practice that the proposed encroachment would not result in any increase in flood levels within the community during the occurrence of the base flood discharge;
Code of Federal Regulations:
eCFR :: 44 CFR Part 60 Subpart A -- Requirements for Flood Plain Management Regulations / (60.3 Flood Plain Management Criteria For Flood-Prone Areas / a.2) : Review proposed development to assure that all necessary permits have been received from those governmental agencies from which approval is required by Federal or State law, including section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1334; Code of Federal Regulations:
eCFR :: 33 CFR Part 323 -- Permits for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material into Waters of the United States / (323.3 Discharges Requiring Permits /a) : Permits will be required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

US Army Corps of Engineers:

Rock Island District > Missions > Regulatory > Permits / Obtaining a USACE Permit – Individual Permits : Permit will be required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Lake and Streambed Alteration Program / Requires any person, state or local governmental agency, or public utility to notify CDFW prior to beginning any activity that may do one or more changes to a river, stream, or lake.

EXHIBIT 5

Mitigated Negative Declaration 1 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024

MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
In Compliance with the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Project Name King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan Lead Agency City of King
Project Proponent City of King (Community Development Department) Project Location Areas of Salinas River and San Lorenzo Creek both within City of King and Unincorporated Monterey County as well as in California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) (State Highway 101) and Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way (portions of the following APNs: 245-081-031; 235-052-007; 235-052-008; 02-031-021; 026-031-011; 026-121-006; 026- 461-022; 026-121-004; 235-051-010; 026-131-007; 026-221- 002; 235-031-005; 235-031-006; 026-293-003; 235-021-009; 026-311-005; 235-021-016; 026-311-003)
Project Description The King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan (RWPP) serves as a framework for a long-term fire resiliency and prioritizes hazard reduction projects along portions of the Salinas River and San Lorenzo Creek in or near the City of King, California. The plan achieves the two following goals:
1) provides guidance and strategies to increase the wildfire resilience of the community; and, 2) protects and enhances the wildlife habitat and ecological value of the project area.

The plan was developed by Deer Creek Resources (DCR)
with input from City of King staff, collaborating agencies, and the community. The RWPP uses aerial photography and field surveys to map vegetation, analyze potential wildfire hazards within the project area, and prioritize wildfire hazard mitigation projects. The primary implementation measure recommended by the RWPP is the creation of a fuel break on the edge of the Salinas Riverbed to protect homes and businesses and prevent a wildland fire from becoming an urban conflagration. A fuel break will starve an expanding fire of fuels while providing firefighters operational safety and access. While the remaining project recommendations will increase the fire safety and aesthetics of the project area and King City, the fuel break will provide the most
protection.

Public Review Period Begins – July 31, 2024
Ends – August 30, 2024

EXHIBIT A
Mitigated Negative Declaration 2 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Written Comments To City of King Community Development Department Attn: Doreen Liberto, Community Development Director
212 S. Vanderhurst Avenue
King City, CA 93930
E-mail: [email protected]
Proposed Findings The City of King is the custodian of the documents and other material that constitute the record of proceedings upon which this decision is based.

The initial study indicates that the proposed project has the potential to result in significant adverse environmental impacts. However, the mitigation measures identified in the initial study would reduce the impacts to a less than
significant level. There is no substantial evidence, in light of the whole record before the lead agency, City of King, that the project, with mitigation measures incorporated, may have a significant effect on the environment. See the
following project-specific mitigation measures:

Mitigation Measures
Biological Resources
BIO-1 The summer blooming period prior to the start of implementation measures 1-4, a biologist qualified in botany shall conduct a focused survey for Davidson’s bush mallow and umbrella larkspur in accordance with current California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Native Plant Society rare plant survey protocols (CDFW 2018 and CNPS 2001). Some special-status plant species are only identifiable during their blooming periods and surveys are only considered valid if they occur when blooms are visible. The survey shall occur during the peak blooming period for these species to determine their presence or absence.

Based on the known blooming periods of the special-status plant species potentially present, two surveys would be necessary to adequately survey the project site: the first in May/June and the second in August/September. If possible, known reference populations of the target species in the project vicinity shall first be visited to verify that the species is observable, and the focused survey shall be conducted within two weeks of observing the reference population in full bloom.

If the focused surveys conclude that special-status plant species are not present within the project site boundary, or if they are present but impacts can be Mitigated Negative Declaration 3 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 completely avoided, then no further mitigation would be required. Focused plant surveys are generally considered valid for two years. Surveys shall be repeated if disturbance activities are planned after two years.

If at any point special-status plant species are identified within the project site boundary and they would be affected by the proposed project, then appropriate mitigation shall be developed by the biologist and implemented prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities. Measures may include, but are not limited to:
a. A qualified biologist shall identify an on-site or off-site mitigation area suitable for restoration of habitat and seed transplantation for any specialstatus plant species. b. Prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities, a qualified biologist or native plant specialist shall perform seed collection from all special-status plants located within the impact areas and implement seed installation at the mitigation area at the optimal time. Additionally, topsoil from the special-status species occurrence area(s) shall be salvaged (where practical) for use in the mitigation area.
c. A maintenance and monitoring program shall be developed by a qualified biologist and established for a minimum of five years after mitigation area installation to verify that restoration activities have been successful.

Maintenance activities may include, but not be limited to, watering during the plant establishment period, supplemental seed planting as needed, and removal of non-native plants. Monitoring shall include, at a minimum, quarterly monitoring reports for the first year and annual reports for the remaining four years. The performance standard for successful mitigation shall be a minimum 3:1 replacement ratio (i.e., three plants observed in mitigation area for each plant lost from the project site) achieved in at least one of the five years of monitoring.

The King City Community Development Department will be responsible for implementation of this mitigation measure. Compliance with this measure shall be documented prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities by a letter report prepared by the biologist and submitted to the King City Community Development Department, where it will be kept on file.

BIO-2 Prior to implementation measures 1-4 that include ground disturbance or vegetation removal, a qualified biologist shall conduct a training session for all project personnel. At a minimum, the training shall include a description of special-status species potentially occurring in the project vicinity, including, but not limited to, special-status plants (if present), Monterey hitch, California redlegged frog, Northern California legless lizard, southwestern pond turtle, Mitigated Negative Declaration 4 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 burrowing owl, American badger, Monterey dusky-footed woodrat, San Joaquin kit fox, special-status bat species, and nesting birds and raptors. Their habitats, general measures that are being implemented to conserve species as they relate to the project, and the boundaries within which project activities will occur will be explained. Informational handouts with photographs clearly illustrating the species’ appearances shall be used in the training session. As new phases or activities begin, all new project personnel shall undergo this mandatory environmental awareness training. The project contractor shall document evidence of completion of this training by a letter report prepared by the biologist and submitted to the King City Community Development Department, where it will be kept on file, prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities.

The qualified biologist will train biological monitors selected from the project crew by the project contractor (typically the project foreman). Before the start of work each day, the monitor will check for animals under any equipment such as vehicles. If a special-status species is observed within an active project area, the qualified biologist will be notified immediately and all work within 50 feet of the individual will be halted and all equipment turned off until the individual has left the area.

BIO-3 The following measures shall be implemented to protect Monterey hitch and aquatic habitats:
a. Implementation measures 1-4 that require ground disturbance activities within the active channels of the Salinas River and San Lorenzo Creek shall be conducted from September to April each year, during periods of low flow (Salinas River) or no flow (San Lorenzo Creek), outside of the spawning period for Monterey hitch.
b. For the duration of the project, herbicides may be applied to vegetation within a 10-foot buffer zone along the edge of the active channel for nonnative invasive vegetation treatment only. Only herbicides approved for use in aquatic environments shall be used.
c. For the duration of the project will use work measures including Best Management Practices (BMPs), time-of-year-restrictions, water pollution prevention, erosion control, and tree root protection to further minimize erosion and impacts to riparian and aquatic habitat. BMPs intended to reduce erosion of exposed soil into the bed and banks of the creek may include, but are not limited to, soil stabilization controls, watering for dust control, silt fencing, and fiber rolls. Standard erosion control and slope stabilization measures will be required for work performed in any area where erosion could lead to sedimentation of the creek. Plastic monofilament netting (erosion control matting), loosely woven netting, or similar material in any form shall not be used at the project site as wildlife Mitigated Negative Declaration 5 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 can become entangled and trapped in them. Materials utilizing fixed weaves (strands cannot move), polypropylene, polymer, or other synthetic materials shall not be used.

BIO-4 Ground disturbance and/or vegetation removal activities (implementation measures 1-4) are proposed within and immediately adjacent to California redlegged frog habitat. Project implementation may directly impact aquatic habitat and upland habitat. Prior to the start of disturbance activities, one or both of the following options will be implemented:

Option 1. Protocol-Level Surveys for California Red-Legged Frog Protocol surveys will be conducted per the Revised Guidance on Site Assessments and Field Surveys for the California Red-legged Frog (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2005) to determine if California red-legged frog is present at the project site. If surveys result in a negative finding, documentation will be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for confirmation. If the negative finding is considered valid no further action is required.

If California red-legged frog is found, Incidental Take Authorization will be obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities, as detailed in Option 2, below.

Option 2. Assume Presence of California Red-Legged Frog and Obtain Incidental Take Authorization
If the presence of California red-legged frog is determined during protocol-level surveys or it is assumed that they are present on the project site, the King City Community Development Department shall obtain an Incidental Take Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with a permit term for the duration of the project. The King City Community Development Department will ensure that all avoidance, minimization, and compensatory mitigation measures required in the permit to minimize the potential for “take” of California red-legged frog are implemented.

BIO-5 Prior to implementation measures 1-4 that include ground disturbance in areas with sandy soils (which includes a majority of the project area), the King City Community Development Department shall retain a qualified biologist to determine measures to avoid or minimize impacts to legless lizards, depending on the proposed activity. Measures may include, but not be limited to:
a. Preconstruction Surveys. Within 24 hours prior to ground disturbance in potential habitat, preconstruction surveys shall be conducted. Methods include a “three-pass, high grading” methodology that requires raking of the soil to locate and remove as many California legless lizards as possible.

Mitigated Negative Declaration 6 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 If legless lizards are found during the first pass, an overnight period of no soil disturbance must occur before the second pass. The same requirement will be implemented after the second pass if legless lizards are located. If no California legless lizards are found during the second pass, a third pass is not required.
b. Identification of Relocation Site(s). Prior to surveying and construction, one or more relocation sites shall be identified by a qualified biologist. All relocation sites shall be approved by the King City Community Development Department and shall consist of suitable habitat. Relocation sites shall be as close to the capture site as possible but far enough away to ensure the animal(s) is/are not harmed by construction of the project.

Relocation shall occur on the same day as capture. California Department of Fish and Wildlife California Natural Diversity Database Native Species Field Survey Forms shall be submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for all special-status species observed. c. Barrier fencing. If California legless lizards are observed, a barrier shall be installed to prevent movement of legless lizards back into the work are.

All captured California legless lizards would be moved to the nearby relocation site(s) identified in (b).
d. Monitoring. A qualified biologist shall be onsite to monitor ground disturbance and vegetation removal activities and salvage and relocate any legless lizards encountered. The monitoring shall walk alongside equipment/crews in each new area of disturbance, and shall have authority to halt activities temporarily if necessary to capture and relocate legless lizards. Any legless lizards captured shall be relocated as soon as possible to the nearby relocation site(s) identified in (b).

BIO-6 The King City Community Development Department shall implement the following measures for the protection of western pond turtle:
a. Within 24 hours prior to vegetation removal or ground-disturbing activities associated with implementation measures 1-4, the King City Community Development Department shall retain a biologist qualified to survey for southwestern pond turtle, including their eggs and nests, to conduct a preconstruction survey along aquatic features and an adjacent 300-feet buffer of riparian areas in and adjacent to the project site. b. If southwestern pond turtle or their nests are observed during preconstruction surveys, a qualified biologist shall be on-site to monitor activities in suitable habitat. Southwestern pond turtles found within the project area shall be allowed to leave of their own volition or they shall be captured by a qualified biologist and relocated out of harm’s way to the Mitigated Negative Declaration 7 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 nearest suitable habitat immediately upstream or downstream from the project area. Pond turtle relocation shall only be conducted after notifying the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
c. If southwestern pond turtle nests are identified in the work area during preconstruction surveys, a 300-foot no disturbance buffer shall be established between the nest and any areas of potential disturbance.

Buffers shall be clearly marked with temporary fencing. Disturbance activities will not be allowed to commence in the exclusion area until hatchlings have emerged from the nest, or the nest is deemed inactive by a qualified biologist.
d. All construction-related trenches, holes, or pits shall be covered at the end of each workday to prevent entrapment of pond turtles.

The qualified biologist shall prepare a report documenting the results of the preconstruction survey(s) for submittal to the King City Community Development Department prior to ground disturbance.

BIO-7 To avoid loss of or harm to burrowing owl as a result of implementation measures 1-4, the following measures shall be implemented:
a. To avoid/minimize impacts to burrowing owls potentially occurring within the project site, a biologist qualified in ornithology shall conduct surveys for burrowing owl prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal. The qualified biologist shall conduct a two-visit (i.e., morning and evening) presence/absence survey at areas of suitable habitat on and adjacent to the project site boundary no less than 14 days prior to the start of construction or ground disturbance activities. Surveys shall be conducted according to the methods for take avoidance described in the Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines (CBOC 1993) and the Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (CDFG 2012). If no burrowing owls are found, a letter report confirming absence shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department and no further measures are required.
b. Because burrowing owls occupy habitat year-round, seasonal nodisturbance buffers, as outlined in the Burrowing Owl Survey Protocol and Mitigation Guidelines (CBOC 1993) and the Staff Report on Burrowing Owl Mitigation (CDFG 2012), shall be in place around occupied habitat prior to and during any ground disturbance activities. The following table includes buffer areas based on the time of year and level of disturbance (CDFG 2012), unless a qualified biologist approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife verifies through non-invasive measures that either:

Mitigated Negative Declaration 8 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 1) birds have not begun egg laying and incubation; or 2) that juveniles from the occupied burrows are foraging independently and are capable of independent survival.

Occupied burrows shall be replaced with artificial burrows at a ratio of one collapsed burrow to one constructed artificial burrow (1:1). Evicted burrowing owls may attempt to colonize or re-colonize an area that would be impacted, thus ongoing surveillance during project activities shall be conducted at a rate sufficient to detect burrowing owls if they return. d. If surveys locate occupied burrows in or near construction areas, consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shall occur to interpret survey results and develop a project-specific avoidance and minimization approach. Once the absence of burrowing owl has been confirmed, a letter report shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department.

Mitigated Negative Declaration 9 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 a. If the biologist determines that a den may be active, coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shall be undertaken to develop a suitable strategy to avoid impacts to American badger. The strategy may include the following: the biologist shall install a one-way door in the den opening and continue use of the game camera. Once the camera captures the individual exiting the one-way door, the den can be excavated with hand tools to prevent badgers from reusing them. If the biologist determines that the den is a maternity den, project activities shall be delayed during the maternity season (February to August), or until the badgers leave the den on their own accord or the biologist determines that the den is no longer in use. b. If the game camera does not capture an individual entering/exiting the den, the den can be excavated with hand tools to prevent badgers from reusing them.
c. After dens have been excavated and the absence of American badger confirmed, a letter report shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department, prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal.

If the results are positive (woodrat nests are observed), all Monterey dusky-footed woodrat nests shall be mapped and flagged for avoidance.

After nests have been dismantled and the absence of Monterey dusky-footed woodrat confirmed, a letter report shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department, prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal.

Mitigated Negative Declaration 10 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 BIO-10 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Standardized Recommendations for Protection of the San Joaquin Kit Fox Prior to or During Ground Disturbance (USFWS 2011) shall be implemented prior to the initiation of any ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities associated with implementation measures 1-4 on the project site to avoid unintended take of individual San Joaquin kit foxes.

The surveys shall include all work areas and a minimum 200-foot buffer of the project site. The pre-project implementation surveys shall identify kit fox habitat features on the project site, evaluate use by kit fox and, if possible, assess the potential impacts of the proposed activity. The status of all dens shall be determined and mapped.

In addition, the following measures shall be observed:
a. Project-related vehicles shall observe a 20-mph speed limit in all project areas. Night-time project activities shall be prohibited. Off-road traffic outside of the designated project area shall be prohibited. b. To prevent inadvertent entrapment of kit foxes or other animals during project implementation, all excavated, steep-walled holes or trenches more than two feet deep shall be covered at the close of each working day by plywood or similar materials, or provided with one or more escape ramps constructed of earth fill or wooden planks. Before such holes or trenches are filled, they shall be thoroughly inspected for trapped animals.

If at any time a trapped or injured kit fox is discovered, the procedures under number 11 of the Construction and Operational Requirements in the Standardized Recommendations must be followed.
c. Kit foxes are attracted to den-like structures such as pipes and may enter stored pipe becoming trapped or injured. If used, all pipes, culverts, or similar structures with a diameter of four inches or greater stored at the construction site for one or more overnight periods shall be thoroughly inspected for kit foxes before the pipe is subsequently buried, capped, or otherwise used or moved in any way. If a kit fox is discovered inside a pipe, that section of pipe shall not be moved until the U.S. Fish and Mitigated Negative Declaration 11 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Wildlife Service has been consulted. If necessary, and under the direct supervision of the biologist, the pipe may be moved once to remove it from the path of construction activity, until the fox has escaped. d. All food-related trash items such as wrappers, cans, bottles, and food scraps shall be disposed of in closed containers and removed at least once a week from the project site.
e. No firearms shall be allowed on the project site during project implementation activities.
f. To prevent harassment, mortality of kit foxes or destruction of dens by dogs or cats, no pets shall be permitted on site during project implementation.
g. Use of rodenticides and herbicides on the project site during project implementation shall be restricted. This is necessary to prevent primary or secondary poisoning of kit foxes and the depletion of prey populations on which they depend. All uses of such compounds shall observe label and other restrictions mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and other State and Federal legislation, as well as additional project related restrictions deemed necessary by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If rodent control must be conducted, zinc phosphide shall be used because of proven lower risk to kit fox.
h. In the case of trapped animals, escape ramps or structures shall be installed immediately to allow the animal(s) to escape. i. Any contractor, employee, or agency personnel who inadvertently kills or injures a San Joaquin kit fox shall immediately report the incident to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Appropriate minimum survey radii surrounding each work area are Mitigated Negative Declaration 12 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 typically 250 feet for passerines, 500 feet for smaller raptors, and 1,000 feet for larger raptors. Surveys will be conducted at the appropriate times of day to observe nesting activities. Locations off the site to which access is not available may be surveyed from within the site or from public areas.

If no nesting birds are found, a letter report will be prepared by the biologist and submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the King City Community Development Department, where it will be kept on file, and no further measures are required.
b. If the qualified biologist documents active nests within the project site or in nearby surrounding areas, an appropriate buffer between each nest and active project activities shall be established. The buffer shall be clearly marked and maintained until the young have fledged and are foraging independently. Prior to project activities, the qualified biologist shall conduct baseline monitoring of each nest to characterize “normal” bird behavior and establish a buffer distance, which allows the birds to exhibit normal behavior. The qualified biologist shall monitor the nesting birds daily during project activities and increase the buffer if birds show signs of unusual or distressed behavior (e.g., defensive flights and vocalizations, standing up from a brooding position, and/or flying away from the nest).

If buffer establishment is not possible, the qualified biologist or project foreman shall have the authority to cease all project work in the area until the young have fledged and the nest is no longer active. Once the absence of nesting birds has been confirmed, a letter report will be prepared by the biologist and submitted to the King City Community Development Department, where it will be kept on file, and no further measures are required.

BIO-12 Prior to the start of implementation measures 1-4, a qualified biologist shall conduct a habitat assessment for bats and potential roosting sites in trees to be removed and trees within 50 feet of the project area approximately 14 days prior to tree removal or disturbance activities. These surveys shall include a visual inspection of potential roosting features (bats need not be present) and a search for presence of guano within the project site, construction access routes, and 50 feet around these areas. Cavities, crevices, exfoliating bark, and bark fissures that could provide suitable potential nest or roost habitat for bats shall be surveyed.

Assumptions can be made on what species is present due to observed visual characteristics along with habitat use, or the bats can be identified to the species level with the use of a bat echolocation detector such as an “Anabat” unit.

Potential roosting features found during the survey shall be flagged or marked.

Mitigated Negative Declaration 13 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 If no roosting sites or bats are found, a letter report confirming absence shall be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department and no further mitigation is required. If bats or roosting sites are found, bats shall not be disturbed without specific notice to and consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The nursery season is typically considered May 1 through October 1. If bats are found roosting outside of the nursery season, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shall be consulted prior to any eviction or other action. If avoidance or postponement is not feasible, a Bat Eviction Plan will be submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for written approval prior to project implementation. A request to evict bats from a roost includes details for excluding bats from the roost site and monitoring to ensure that all bats have exited the roost prior to the start of activity and are unable to re-enter the roost until activity is completed. Any bat eviction shall be timed to avoid lactation and youngrearing. If bats are found roosting during the nursery season, they shall be monitored to determine if the roost site is a maternal roost. This could occur by either visual inspection of the roost bat pups, if possible, or by monitoring the roost after the adults leave for the night to listen for bat pups. Because bat pups cannot leave the roost until they are mature enough, eviction of a maternal roost cannot occur during the nursery season. Therefore, if a maternal roost is present, a 50-foot buffer zone (or different size if determined in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife) shall be established around the roosting site within which no construction activities including tree removal or structure disturbance shall occur until after the nursery season. Once the absence of roosting bats has been confirmed, a letter report will be prepared and submitted to the King City Community Development Department.

Appropriate performance standards may include, but are not limited to, an 80 percent survival rate of restoration tree and shrub plantings; absence of invasive plant species in restored areas; and self‐sustaining conditions (i.e., plant viability without supplemental water) at the end of five years. If the restoration activities are not meeting success criteria, remedial measures shall be implemented and would typically include, but are not limited to, replanting, reseeding, grading adjustments, supplemental irrigation, access control, increased weed control, and extended maintenance and monitoring periods.

Mitigated Negative Declaration 14 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 The Riparian Revegetation and Monitoring Plan shall be submitted to the King City Community Development Department for review and approval as well as any other appropriate regulatory agencies during the permit application process, if needed.

BIO-14 In advance of the start of implementation measures 1-4, in areas where impacts to jurisdictional aquatic features cannot be avoided, the King City Community Development Department will retain a qualified biologist to determine the extent of potential wetlands and waterways regulated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). If the USACE claims jurisdiction, the City shall retain a qualified biologist to obtain a Clean Water Act Section 404 Nationwide Permit. The City and the qualified biologist shall coordinate with the RWQCB to obtain a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification. The City and the qualified biologist shall also coordinate with the CDFW to obtain a Streambed Alteration Agreement.

BIO-15 Prior to the start of implementation measure 1-4 and any tree removal or trimming activities, the King City Community Development Department will hire an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)-certified arborist to conduct a tree survey and prepare an evaluation report with associated data and location map for all potentially affected trees on and immediately adjacent to the project site. The King City Community Development Department will follow the arborist’s recommendations, such as planting replacement trees in appropriate on-site or off-site areas, preferably associated with the Salinas River or San Lorenzo Creek corridors, along with any required maintenance and monitoring.

Cultural Resources
CR-1 Prior to construction, all personnel directly involved in project-related activities shall be provided archaeological and cultural sensitivity training. The training shall be conducted by a Native American Monitor or a qualified archaeologist that meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for archaeology. The training shall take place at a day and time to be determined in conjunction with the project construction foreman, and prior to any scheduled project-related activities. The training will include the following: a discussion of applicable laws and penalties; samples or visual aids of artifacts that could be encountered in the project vicinity, including what those artifacts and resources may look like partially buried, or wholly buried and freshly exposed; and instructions to halt work in the vicinity of any potential cultural resource discovery, and notify the archaeological monitor as necessary. If a handout is provided by the archaeologist, the foreman will keep a copy of it in his or her vehicle as a reference. Having reference material in the vehicle does not replace contacting an archaeologist should resources be uncovered.

Mitigated Negative Declaration 15 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 CR-2 In the event that archaeological resources are inadvertently discovered, work shall temporarily halt or divert work within 50 meters (165 feet) of the find until it can be evaluated. All potentially significant or unique archaeological deposits shall be evaluated to demonstrate whether the resource is eligible for inclusion on the California Register of Historic Resources. If archaeological deposits are encountered, they will be evaluated and mitigated simultaneously in the timeliest manner practicable, allowing for recovery of materials and data by standard archaeological procedures. For prehistoric archaeological sites, this data recovery involves the hand-excavated recovery and non-destructive analysis of a small sample of the deposit. Historic resources shall also be sampled through hand excavation, though architectural features may require careful mechanical exposure and hand excavation.

The archaeologist shall also perform appropriate technical analyses, prepare a comprehensive report complete with methods, results, and recommendations, and provide for the permanent curation of the recovered resources. The report shall be submitted to the Northwest Information Center and the State Historic Preservation Office, as required.

The Coroner shall then determine whether the remains are Native American. If the Coroner determines the remains are Native American, the Coroner shall notify the Native American Heritage Commission within 24 hours, who would, in turn, notify the person the Native American Heritage Commission identifies as the Most Likely Descendant of any human remains. Further actions shall be Mitigated Negative Declaration 16 EMC Planning Group
King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 determined, in part, by the desires of the Most Likely Descendant. The Most Likely Descendant has 48 hours to make recommendations regarding the disposition of the remains following notification from the Native American Heritage Commission of the discovery. If the Most Likely Descendant does not make recommendations within 48 hours, the owner shall, with appropriate dignity, reinter the remains in an area of the property secure from further disturbance. Alternatively, if the owner does not accept the Most Likely Descendant’s recommendations, the owner or the descendent may request mediation by the Native American Heritage Commission.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 1 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Introduction
CEQA Guidelines section 15097 requires public agencies to adopt reporting or monitoring programs when they approve projects subject to an environmental impact report or a negative declaration that includes mitigation measures to avoid significant adverse environmental effects. The reporting or monitoring program is to be designed to ensure compliance with conditions of project approval during project implementation in order to avoid significant adverse environmental effects.

The law was passed in response to historic non-implementation of mitigation measures presented in environmental documents and subsequently adopted as conditions of project approval. In addition, monitoring ensures that mitigation measures are implemented and thereby provides a mechanism to evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.

A definitive set of project conditions would include enough detailed information and enforcement procedures to ensure the measure's compliance. This monitoring program is designed to provide a mechanism to ensure that mitigation measures are implemented.

Monitoring and Reporting Program
The basis for this monitoring program is the mitigation measures included in the project environmental impact report. These mitigation measures are designed to eliminate or reduce significant adverse environmental effects to less than significant levels. The City of King has agreed to implement the mitigation measures as required, before, during, and after implementation of projects pursuant to the King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan.

The attached table will assist with monitoring the implementation of the mitigation measures. This monitoring checklist contains all appropriate mitigation measures in the mitigated negative declaration.

EXHIBIT B
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 2 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
Biological Resources
BIO-1 The summer blooming period prior to the start of implementation measures 1-4, a biologist qualified in botany shall conduct a focused survey for Davidson’s bush mallow and umbrella larkspur in accordance with current California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Native Plant Society rare plant survey protocols (CDFW 2018 and CNPS 2001). Some special-status plant species are only identifiable during their blooming periods and surveys are only considered valid if they occur when blooms are visible. The survey shall occur during the peak blooming period for these species to determine their presence or absence. Based on the known blooming periods of the special-status plant species potentially present, two surveys would be necessary to adequately survey the project site: the first in May/June and the second in August/September. If possible, known reference populations of the target species in the project vicinity shall first be visited to verify that the species is observable, and the focused survey shall be conducted within two weeks of observing the reference population in full bloom.

The biologist shall prepare a brief report documenting the results of the surveys for submittal to the King City Community Development Department, where it will be kept on file, prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities. If the focused surveys conclude that specialstatus plant species are not present within the project site boundary, or if they are present but impacts can be completely avoided, then no further mitigation would be required. Focused plant surveys are generally considered valid for two years. Surveys shall be repeated if disturbance activities are planned after two years.

If at any point special-status plant species are identified within the project site boundary and they would be affected by the proposed project, then appropriate mitigation shall be developed by the biologist and City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
The summer blooming period
prior to the start of
implementation measures 1-4
A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 3 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
implemented prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities.

Measures may include, but are not limited to:
a. A qualified biologist shall identify an on-site or off-site mitigation area suitable for restoration of habitat and seed transplantation for any special-status plant species.
b. Prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities, a qualified biologist or native plant specialist shall perform seed collection from all special-status plants located within the impact areas and implement seed installation at the mitigation area at the optimal time. Additionally, topsoil from the special-status species occurrence area(s) shall be salvaged (where practical) for use in the mitigation area.
c. A maintenance and monitoring program shall be developed by a qualified biologist and established for a minimum of five years after mitigation area installation to verify that restoration activities have been successful. Maintenance activities may include, but not be limited to, watering during the plant establishment period, supplemental seed planting as needed, and removal of non-native plants. Monitoring shall include, at a minimum, quarterly monitoring reports for the first year and annual reports for the remaining four years. The performance standard for successful mitigation shall be a minimum 3:1 replacement ratio (i.e., three plants observed in mitigation area for each plant lost from the project site) achieved in at least one of the five years of monitoring.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 4 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
project vicinity, including, but not limited to, special-status plants (if present), Monterey hitch, California red-legged frog, Northern California legless lizard, southwestern pond turtle, burrowing owl, American badger, Monterey dusky-footed woodrat, San Joaquin kit fox, special-status bat species, and nesting birds and raptors. Their habitats, general measures that are being implemented to conserve species as they relate to the project, and the boundaries within which project activities will occur will be explained. Informational handouts with photographs clearly illustrating the species’ appearances shall be used in the training session. As new phases or activities begin, all new project personnel shall undergo this mandatory environmental awareness training. The project contractor shall document evidence of completion of this training by a letter report prepared by the biologist and submitted to the King City Community Development Department, where it will be kept on file, prior to ground disturbance or vegetation removal activities.

The qualified biologist will train biological monitors selected from the project crew by the project contractor (typically the project foreman).

Before the start of work each day, the monitor will check for animals under any equipment such as vehicles. If a special-status species is observed within an active project area, the qualified biologist will be notified immediately and all work within 50 feet of the individual will be halted and all equipment turned off until the individual has left the area.

City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation.

Only herbicides approved for use in aquatic environments shall be used.

City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
During implementation of
measures 1-4 that require
ground disturbance activities
within or within 10-feet of the
active channels of the Salinas
River and San Lorenzo Creek
Throughout construction.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 5 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
c. For the duration of the project will use work measures including Best Management Practices (BMPs), time-of-year-restrictions, water pollution prevention, erosion control, and tree root protection to further minimize erosion and impacts to riparian and aquatic habitat. BMPs intended to reduce erosion of exposed soil into the bed and banks of the creek may include, but are not limited to, soil stabilization controls, watering for dust control, silt fencing, and fiber rolls. Standard erosion control and slope stabilization measures will be required for work performed in any area where erosion could lead to sedimentation of the creek. Plastic monofilament netting (erosion control matting), loosely woven netting, or similar material in any form shall not be used at the project site as wildlife can become entangled and trapped in them. Materials utilizing fixed weaves (strands cannot move), polypropylene, polymer, or other synthetic materials shall not be used.

BIO-4 Ground disturbance and/or vegetation removal activities (implementation measures 1-4) are proposed within and immediately adjacent to California red-legged frog habitat. Project implementation may directly impact aquatic habitat and upland habitat. Prior to the start of disturbance activities, one or both of the following options will be implemented:

Fish and Wildlife Service 2005) to determine if California red-legged frog is present at the project site. If surveys result in a negative finding, documentation will be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for confirmation. If the negative finding is considered valid no further action is required.

City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
Prior to ground disturbance or
vegetation removal activities
associated with
implementation measures 1-4.

Any avoidance, minimization,
and compensatory mitigation
measures required in the
permit(s) shall implemented
throughout construction.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 6 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
Option 2. Assume Presence of California Red-Legged Frog and Obtain Incidental Take Authorization
If the presence of California red-legged frog is determined during protocollevel surveys or it is assumed that they are present on the project site, the King City Community Development Department shall obtain an Incidental Take Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with a permit term for the duration of the project. The King City Community Development Department will ensure that all avoidance, minimization, and compensatory mitigation measures required in the permit to minimize the potential for “take” of California red-legged frog are implemented.

If legless lizards are found during the first pass, an overnight period of no soil disturbance must occur before the second pass. The same requirement will be implemented after the second pass if legless lizards are located. If no California legless lizards are found during the second pass, a third pass is not required.
b. Identification of Relocation Site(s). Prior to surveying and construction, one or more relocation sites shall be identified by a qualified biologist. All relocation sites shall be approved by the King City Community Development Department and shall
consist of suitable habitat. Relocation sites shall be as close to the capture site as possible but far enough away to ensure the animal(s) is/are not harmed by construction of the project.

Relocation shall occur on the same day as capture. California City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
Prior to implementation
measures 1-4 that include
ground disturbance in areas
with sandy soils.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 7 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
Department of Fish and Wildlife California Natural Diversity Database Native Species Field Survey Forms shall be
submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for all special-status species observed.
c. Barrier fencing. If California legless lizards are observed, a barrier shall be installed to prevent movement of legless lizards back into the work are. All captured California legless lizards would be moved to the nearby relocation site(s) identified in (b). d. Monitoring. A qualified biologist shall be onsite to monitor ground disturbance and vegetation removal activities and salvage and relocate any legless lizards encountered. The monitoring shall walk alongside equipment/crews in each new area of disturbance, and shall have authority to halt activities temporarily if necessary to capture and relocate legless lizards.

Any legless lizards captured shall be relocated as soon as possible to the nearby relocation site(s) identified in (b).

Pond turtle relocation shall only be conducted after notifying the City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
Within 24 hours prior to
vegetation removal or grounddisturbing activities
associated with
implementation measures 1-4.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation.

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program 8 EMC Planning Group King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan December 2024 Mitigation Measure Monitoring
Responsibility
Monitoring/Reporting
Action & Schedule
Mitigation Compliance Record
Name/Title; Date; Comments
California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
c. If southwestern pond turtle nests are identified in the work area during preconstruction surveys, a 300-foot no disturbance buffer shall be established between the nest and any areas of potential disturbance. Buffers shall be clearly marked with temporary fencing. Disturbance activities will not be allowed to commence in the exclusion area until hatchlings have emerged from the nest, or the nest is deemed inactive by a qualified biologist. d. All construction-related trenches, holes, or pits shall be covered at the end of each workday to prevent entrapment of pond turtles.
e. The qualified biologist shall prepare a report documenting the results of the preconstruction survey(s) for submittal to the King City Community Development Department prior to ground
disturbance.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

If the results are positive (woodrat nests are observed), all Monterey dusky-footed woodrat nests shall be mapped and flagged for avoidance.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

In addition, the following measures shall be observed:
a. Project-related vehicles shall observe a 20-mph speed limit in all project areas. Night-time project activities shall be prohibited.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

A letter report by a qualified
biologist shall be completed
and submitted to the King City
Community Development
Department, where it will be
kept on file.

Periodically throughout project
implementation, if needed.

City of King
Community
Development
Department;
City of King Public
Works Department;
A qualified biologist
In advance of the start of
implementation measures 1-4.

A Riparian Revegetation and
Monitoring Plan shall be
completed by a qualified
biologist and submitted to the
King City Community
Development Department,
where it will be kept on file.

An arborist report shall be
completed by a qualified
arborist and submitted to the
King City Community
Development Department,
where it will be kept on file.

City of King Public
Works Department;
Any City
contractors;
A Registered
Professional
Archaeologist
Upon inadvertent encounter
with archaeological resources.

City of King Public
Works Department;
Any City
contractors.

The County Coroner shall
determine when work may
resume.

SOURCE: EMC Planning Group 2024
King City
Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan
City of King
December 5, 2024
Prepared by
Deer Creek Resources

EXHIBIT C
Table of Contents
DISCLAIMER ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................................... 5 PROJECT GOAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 5 PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................................................. 5 EXISTING CONDITIONS....................................................................................................................................................... 8 SALINAS RIVERBED & SAN LORENZO CREEK VEGETATION............................................................................................................. 8 WILDLAND FIRE RELATED ISSUES IN PROJECT AREA........................................................................................................ 12 WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT, RESPONSE & MITIGATION AGENCIES.......................................................................................... 12 King City Fire Department........................................................................................................................................ 12 CAL FIRE .................................................................................................................................................................. 12 U.S. Forest Service ................................................................................................................................................... 12 Mutual Aid .............................................................................................................................................................. 12 King City Vegetation Maintenance .......................................................................................................................... 12 Resource Conservation District of Monterey County ................................................................................................ 13 WILDLAND FIRE HISTORY ................................................................................................................................................... 13 ENCAMPMENTS................................................................................................................................................................ 15 SECONDARY CHANNEL ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................................................................................ 18 COMMUNITY FUEL BREAK................................................................................................................................................... 20 Fuel Break Maintenance.......................................................................................................................................... 26 INVASIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................................. 28 Arundo .................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Tamarisk ................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Yellow Starthistle..................................................................................................................................................... 34 DEFENSIBLE SPACE EDUCATION............................................................................................................................................ 35 CODE ENFORCEMENT ........................................................................................................................................................ 36 HOUSING........................................................................................................................................................................ 38 LONG-TERM PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS......................................................................................................................... 38 BEAVER REINTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................. 38 OPEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................................................... 39 REFERENCES..................................................................................................................................................................... 40 APPENDIX A: ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS.................................................................................................................. 42 APPENDIX B: GLOSSARY................................................................................................................................................... 43 APPENDIX C: COMMUNITY MEETING NOTES................................................................................................................... 51 APPENDIX D: WILDLAND VEGETATION TREATMENT TYPES............................................................................................. 53 APPENDIX E: PRESCRIBED FIRE ........................................................................................................................................ 56 APPENDIX F: DEFENSIBLE SPACE ZONE EDUCATION FOR HOMEOWNERS ....................................................................... 57 APPENDIX G: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................... 61 APPENDIX H: GRANT FUNDING PROGRAMS.................................................................................................................... 62 APPENDIX I: PREPARER & METHODS ............................................................................................................................... 63 Figures & Tables
Figure 1: King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan project area and 1000’ buffer used for modeling.. ......................... 7 Figure 2: Riverbed area on September 7, 2018.................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 3: Riverbed area on June 16, 2020. .......................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 4: Riverbed area on February 26, 2021. ................................................................................................................. 10 Figure 5: Riverbed area on May 13, 2022. ........................................................................................................................ 10 Figure 6: Riverbed area on June 21, 2022 (post-King Fire). .............................................................................................. 11 Figure 7: Riverbed area on November 11, 2023. ............................................................................................................... 11 Figure 8: Fire history in project area. ................................................................................................................................ 14 Figure 9: Abandoned shelter in riverbed. .......................................................................................................................... 16 Figure 10: River and creek sections maintained under the RCDMC's Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program. ......... 17 Figure 11: Recommended 100’ fuel break. ....................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 12: Brush and thin trees within 100-foot buffer should be removed through pruning, chipping, and mowing. ........ 22 Figure 13: Piles of debris along bank should be removed or chipped. ............................................................................... 23 Figure 14: Flashy ladder fuels along bank should be mowed and removed........................................................................ 24 Figure 15: Fire-scarred dead trees within 100-foot fuel break............................................................................................ 25 Figure 16: Annual goat grazing would remove tall weeds and flashy fuels within 100-foot fuel break. ............................. 27 Figure 17: Small arundo stand growing near the Salinas River.......................................................................................... 29 Figure 18: Large arundo stand growing on the slope of the creek in the golf course. ......................................................... 30 Figure 19: Mapped arundo distribution as of January 2024. .............................................................................................. 31 Figure 20: Tamarisk on San Lorenzo Creek at the golf course. ......................................................................................... 32 Figure 21: Mapped tamarisk distribution as of January 2024............................................................................................. 33 Figure 22: Yellow starthistle in mixed vegetation. ............................................................................................................ 34 Figure 23: Access at 228 Rio Vista Dr.............................................................................................................................. 37 Figure 24: Access at 236 Rio Vista Dr.............................................................................................................................. 37 Figure 25: Community members at the February 28, 2024 community meeting. ............................................................... 52 Figure 26: Discussing the benefits of a fuel break at the February 28, 2024 community meeting....................................... 52 Figure 27: CAL FIRE Defensible Zones........................................................................................................................... 57 Table 1: Project Area Wildland Fire History..................................................................................................................... 13 Table 2: Project Recommendations................................................................................................................................... 19 Table 3: Long-Term Project Considerations...................................................................................................................... 38

DISCLAIMER
This document analyzes wildfire hazard along portions of the Salinas River and San Lorenzo Creek in King City, California and makes recommendations on reducing potential wildfire-caused losses within the community.

Within this document, areas were prioritized for hazard reduction based upon several factors including potential wildfire behavior, density of structures, proximity to wildland vegetation, and prevailing fireseason weather and winds. The fact that an area may be mapped as lower priority in this document does NOT mean that that area is safe from wildfires. Rather, it means that there were other areas where targeted wildfire hazard reduction projects might benefit a greater number of residents.

Under typical summer wildfire burning conditions, any area with tall dead grass or un-mowed weeds has the potential to support rapid rates of wildfire spread and high intensity burning. Areas adjacent to homes or high-value ecological assets are the highest priorities for annual weed abatement and fire hazard mitigation.

Wildfire behavior is the product of numerous factors, some of which are weather-dependent and difficult or impossible to quantify. The recommendations in this assessment are based upon field surveys, aerial photography, technical analysis, and the professional experience of the authors. Errors may exist in this analysis and could include improper recording of field data due to GPS accuracy or surveyor error, computational errors, data entry mistakes, and any other conceivable cause. This data comprises a simplification of the physical environment intended to allow the authors to make general recommendations about reducing potential fire behavior at the community scale.

While this data is useful in assessing relative risk between the micro-climates and vegetation-types present in the King City riverbed project area, site-specific changes in fuel hazard and wildfire risk (such as annual mowing, grazing, and weed clearance, the growth of flammable ornamental plants and native vegetation, and other changes in the physical environment) will quickly render this data inaccurate.

THIS DATA DESCRIBES VEGETATION AND WILDFIRE HAZARD CONDITIONS

ALONG PORTIONS OF THE SALINAS RIVER AND SAN LORENZO CREEK IN KING CITY DURING FALL 2023 AND WINTER 2024. ANY FUTURE USE OF THIS DATA FOR

OTHER PLANNING, CODE ENFORCEMENT, OR HAZARD MITIGATION WORK IS NOT

RECOMMENDED WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING PHYSICAL CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND.

Executive Summary
King City is at risk from potentially catastrophic wildfire, as designated by CAL FIRE’s 2019 Communities at Risk List. This project evaluates wildland fire hazards associated with vegetation in the Salinas River floodplain and San Lorenzo Creek, directly adjacent to the City, and recommends mitigation actions which could reduce wildfire threats.

For the majority of the project site, the fertility of the soils, availability of shallow groundwater, frequency of major flood disturbances, abundance of noxious weeds, and absentee landownership all work together to create vegetation conditions which are extremely difficult or impractical to manage.

Wildfire hazard reduction work should focus on actions needed to reduce vegetation in the first 100 feet out from structures adjacent to the wildland areas. This report also makes recommendations on potential education and code enforcement-related improvements, as well as long-term project considerations.

Project Goal
This Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan (RWPP) serves as a framework for a long-term fire resiliency and prioritizes hazard reduction projects along portions of the Salinas River and San Lorenzo Creek in King City, California.

The plan achieves the two following goals:

1. Provides guidance and strategies to increase the wildfire resilience of the community

2. Protects and enhances the wildlife habitat and ecological value of the project area.

The plan was developed by Deer Creek Resources (DCR) with input from the City, collaborating agencies, and the community. The RWPP uses aerial photography and field surveys to map vegetation, analyze potential wildfire hazards within the project area, and prioritize wildfire hazard mitigation projects.

Project Area Description
The project area covers 179 acres in the Salinas River floodplain and San Lorenzo Creek. This land contains no permanent structures, but borders the southern and western city limits which contain residential, commercial, and agricultural parcels. Approximately 70 structures are on the immediate edge of the project area.

King City is a major population center in the Salinas Valley, an important agricultural area. Framed by the Santa Lucia Range in the west and the Gabilán Range in the east, the land immediately surrounding King City is comprised of agricultural fields intersected by the Salinas River—the largest river system on California’s Central Coast. The river flows northwesterly from its headwaters in eastern San Luis Obispo County, 175 miles through the Salinas Valley, and into Monterey Bay north of the city of Marina. The river is an important wildlife corridor, provides irrigation for an immense agricultural industry, and is the main source for aquifer recharge in the valley.

The Salinas River appears as little more than a creek for much of the year, but runs underground for long stretches, supplying the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, the largest natural aquifer west of the Rockies. The Salinas Valley’s mild climate and rich soil support approximately 200,000 acres of irrigated agriculture. The region produces most of the United States’ lettuce, broccoli, artichokes, strawberries, and cauliflower. Agriculture is a $4.5 billion industry in Monterey County.

After 150 years of agricultural expansion, the Salinas River’s riparian corridor has been significantly narrowed, and levees and channelization have reduced the river’s ability to access its floodplain.

During wet winters, the seemingly benign river can wreak havoc on communities and farmlands, as experienced in 2023 during a series of atmospheric river storms. Other recent farm land flooding occurred in 1995 and 2015, driven by El Niño events.

For much of the project site, the fertility of the soils, availability of shallow groundwater, frequency of major flood disturbances, abundance of noxious weeds, and absentee landownership all work together to create vegetation conditions which are extremely difficult to manage. This project focuses on actions needed to reduce wildland vegetation in the first 100 feet out from structures adjacent to the wildland areas.

To analyze how fire could move into or the urban area using wildfire spread modeling software to present a “worst-case scenario” analysis, the 179-acre riverbed and creek area was expanded to include a 1000-foot buffer surrounding the project area. A project area map is on the following page.

Figure 1: King City Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan project area and 1000’ buffer used for fuels and fire path modeling..

Existing Conditions
Salinas Riverbed & San Lorenzo Creek Vegetation
As evidenced by the following aerial photographs, the vegetation in the Salinas Riverbed area is incredibly dynamic. Due to regular flooding, prolific seed production from existing vegetation, and extremely fertile soil, plant communities shift across the landscape from year to year. Riparian ecosystems are linear and easily disturbed, creating ample vectors for upstream seed transmission.

While the vegetation matrix may change from year to year, or even season to season, most of the riverbed is covered with continuous weeds. These weeds form a continuous stretch of fuels that grow fast in the spring and early summer, and then dry out. From June through November, the riverbed’s vegetation supports rapid fire spread.

The following aerial photographs show the project area in September 2018, June 2020, February 2021, May and June 2022 and November 23. Note the ever-changing vegetation patterns due to fire, flood, and seed distribution.

Figure 2: Riverbed area on September 7, 2018.

Source: Google
Figure 3: Riverbed area on June 16, 2020.

Source: National Agriculture Imagery Program
Figure 4: Riverbed area on February 26, 2021.

Source: Google
Figure 5: Riverbed area on May 13, 2022.

Source: National Agriculture Imagery Program
Figure 6: Riverbed area on June 21, 2022 (post-King Fire).

Source: Google
Figure 7: Riverbed area on November 11, 2023.

Source: Resource Conservation District of Monterey County Wildland Fire Related Issues in Project Area
Wildland Fire Management, Response & Mitigation Agencies King City Fire Department
The King City Fire Department (KCFD) has served the city for over 90 years. The department’s fulltime employees include a Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, and Administrative Assistant, backed by approximately 30 volunteer firefighters. Volunteers who train several times per month to learn and hone professional emergency response skills. KCFD provides emergency medical services, fire protection, weed abatement, disaster preparedness, and fire prevention. The department manages an annual citywide weed abatement program with inspections throughout the City. Weed abatement violation notices are issued and enforced.

King City Fire Department Apparatus:
• Three Type 1 Engines
• One Aerial
• One Type 5 Engine
• One Utility Unit

CAL FIRE
CAL FIRE is responsible for fire protection of Monterey County’s State Responsibility Areas (SRAs).

The San Benito-Monterey Unit (BEU) of CAL FIRE includes 2.1 million acres of SRA, one of the state’s largest state responsibility jurisdictions. The San Benito-Monterey Unit is operationally divided into seven battalions offering a wide variety of programs which includes: Fire Prevention, Resource Management, Law Enforcement, Air Attack, Helitack, Conservation Camp, Emergency Command Center (communications), and Cooperative Fire Protection (CAL FIRE 2022).

U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Monterey Ranger District has jurisdiction in the Los Padres National Forest to the west of King City. USFS provides wildland fire suppression across national forest lands within Monterey County and participates in mutual aid.

Mutual Aid
KCFD and surrounding agencies participate in mutual aid and automatic aid agreements. Automatic aid is a contractual agreement between agencies or fire districts, and aid is dispatched to all first alarms. Mutual aid agreements differ from automatic aid in that outside assistance typically is provided when the agreement is activated, and aid is requested by the primary responding agency. Fire agencies in Monterey County participate in a countywide mutual aid agreement.

King City Vegetation Maintenance
King City’s Public Works Department is responsible for vegetation management on city property. The department currently possesses chainsaws, pole saws, and weed whackers necessary for creating and maintaining the recommended fuel break. While the city has two Exmark zero-turn mowers, Exmark recommends against using these on slopes greater than 15 degrees (26.8% grade). Equipment that can handle levee slopes and brush will need to be acquired to maintain a fuel break.

Resource Conservation District of Monterey County
The RCDMC is an invaluable partner in vegetation management for the riverbed area. The agency works with landowners, cities, and other stakeholders throughout the Salinas Valley on a variety of land management activities. From a fire perspective, the RCDMC’s vegetation management actions are critical for the riverbed area. King City should seek further partnership with the RCD to target invasive species through mechanical removal, grazing, and prescribed fire, combined with revegetation of native species.

Wildland Fire History
In the past five years, three fires have ignited and spread through the project area. A fourth fire ignited west of the project area in November 2024.

Table 1: Project Area Wildland Fire History
Year Name Incident Number Cause
2020 Circle Fire BEU-00004978 Playing with fire
2021 Jolon Fire BEU-00004312 Equipment use
2022 King Fire BEU-00002925 Arson causing one death; case is ongoing 2024 Broadway Fire BEU-00007168 Cooking fire escape from encampment Source: CAL FIRE
The King Fire started on May 25, 2022, behind the KFC on Broadway Circle. The fire prompted evacuations and spread to 90 acres before forward progress was stopped on May 27. One person was found dead from the fire, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Some of the people living in the riverbed were temporarily sheltered at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds following the fire.

CAL FIRE has indicated that the cause of the fire was arson and that the investigation is ongoing at the time of the RWPP’s publication.

The fatality underscores the necessity of fire mitigation efforts in the riverbed area. It also points to the need for affordable housing in the area.

Figure 8: Fire history in project area.

Encampments
There is a recent history of people living within the riverbed. Multiple individuals and some families had constructed shelters, notably under the 101 overpass and south of the restaurants near the King City/Broadway southbound off ramp, plus some along the river itself. Some of these structures can be seen in the vegetation Existing Conditions images above (Figures 3-5).

Fire ignitions are a concern in encampments, primarily from escaped cooking and warming fires, accidental ignitions, and arson. Statewide, there is a correlation between the increase of wildfire ignitions and the increase in homelessness over the past five years, although no studies have been published to confirm direct cause.

In California, the number of people without a stable place to call home increased to 181,399 in 2023, a jump of 7,599 since 2022 and an increase of 22,500 since the pre-Covid count in 2019. Homelessness experts primarily attribute the rise to a drop in earnings during the COVID-19 pandemic among people who were already struggling to maintain an income and afford housing. In Monterey County, there were approximately 2,047 people experiencing homelessness according to the 2022 Homeless Pointin-Time Count (PIT).

To represent the scale of the problem, The California Homeless Housing Needs Assessment estimates that it will cost $8.1 billion per year over 12 years to solve statewide homelessness, approximately 3% of California’s budget. In 2022, King City was awarded $12.4 million toward the purchase of a hotel through the state’s Project Homekey program. In January 2024, the California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the developer of the motel conversion, a setback that caused the city to house people in an alternative location until June.

Figure 9: Abandoned shelter in riverbed.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
At the time of DCR’s January 2024 field survey, there was no direct evidence of anyone living within the riverbed area and city staff has confirmed that any people living in encampments had been provided temporary shelter. There were several former encampment sites with scattered debris that should be targeted for cleanup, including the shelter pictured above (Figure 9). Outside the riverbed, there may have been a couple of encampments west of the river and under the 101 overpasses. DCR’s survey team was unable to enter that area to confirm whether they were occupied. City staff has confirmed that trespassing on private property is now being enforced by law enforcement agencies.

Secondary Channel
In collaboration with several other agencies, the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC) manages the Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program (SMP) to minimize the risk of flooding throughout the river corridor. Secondary channels have been created throughout the length of the river. They are designed to connect with the main stem of the river at both ends at a higher elevation to convey high flows during and after large storms.

The creation of these secondary channels also involves clearing vegetation, often large stands of arundo, which benefits fire mitigation by reducing fuel loading.

In the riverbed project area, section 1.26 of the SMP creates a channel that alleviates flooding on farmlands and takes the pressure off the levee at the edge of the riverbed. This secondary channel also serves as a fuel break, which would isolate any fires started between the river and the channel.

Sediment is removed annually on Section 1.37 of San Lorenzo Creek to improve flow conveyance.

There is no vegetation removal or other vegetation maintenance performed in this section.

More information on the SMP can be found here: https://RCDMCmonterey.org/salinas-river-streammaintenance-program Figure 10: River (1.26) and creek (1.37) sections maintained under the RCDMC's Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program.

Source: Resource Conservation District of Monterey County Project Recommendations
The projects listed in this section illustrate recommendations that can be implemented to reduce the likelihood of fire spreading in the riverbed project area. The overarching goal of the vegetation management project recommendations is to reduce ladder fuels, create strategic fuel breaks, and raise the overall crown base height (CBH), while preserving the ecological benefits of the conservation easements. Photos accompany each project and illustrate the various fuel hazards found throughout the project area. While some photos are representative of conditions throughout the development, others describe specific areas.

In addition to the vegetation management recommendations, the plan also recommends education on defensible space, code enforcement, and the continued coordination with state agencies to address King City’s housing concerns.

The following table (Table 2) summarizes the project recommendations and more descriptive sections follow. These recommendations are based on the conditions observed throughout the King City riverbed area and San Lorenzo Creek between November 2023 and January 2024.

The primary project recommended by this is the creation of a fuel break on the edge of the Salinas Riverbed to protect homes and businesses and prevent a wildland fire from becoming an urban conflagration. A fuel break will starve an expanding fire of fuels while providing firefighters operational safety and access. While the remaining project recommendations will increase the fire safety and aesthetics of the project area and King City, the fuel break will provide the most protection.

Table 2: Project Recommendations
Project
Number Project Type Project Description Priority Return Interval 1 Community
Fuel Break
Create and maintain a buffer along the populated
edge of the Salinas Riverbed and San Lorenzo
Creek.

Very High
Creation
Followed by
Semi-Annual
Maintenance
2 Invasive Plant
Management:

Arundo
Manually remove existing arundo in coordination
with the RCDMC; monitor project area for new
growth.

High
Annual
Monitoring After
Removal
3 Invasive Plant
Management:

Tamarisk
Manually remove existing tamarisk in coordination
with the RCDMC; monitor project area for new
growth.

High
Annual
Monitoring After
Removal
4 Invasive Plant
Management:

Yellow
Starthistle (YST)
Use prescribed fire to control YST, reduce fuels and
create a matrix of black within the project area. High
Seasonal; Three
Consecutive
Years for YST
5 Defensible
Space
Education
Promote fire-safe guidelines in California PRC 4291;
distribute mailers to property owners on the
boundary of the project area.

High 3-5 Years
6 Code
Enforcement:

Weed
Abatement
Code Enforcement Officer indicates that there are
no ongoing weed complaints adjacent to project
area; continue to enforce when complaints are
made.

Moderate Ongoing
7 Code
Enforcement:

Motorized
Vehicle Access
Residents report motorized vehicles in project area;
recommend restricting access through empty lots. High Ongoing 8 Housing
Pursue funding for temporary and long-term
housing solutions; clean up shelter debris in project
area.

High Ongoing
Community Fuel Break
To protect structures and prevent an urban conflagration from spreading through King City, this plan recommends a strategic 100-foot fuel break be created and maintained along the edge of the Salinas riverbed and San Lorenzo Creek, illustrated below in Figure 11. This would begin behind the KFC and Highway 101 and continue along River Drive and Rio Vista Drive, ending at 254 Rio Vista Dr. The parcels in this area are owned by the City and Fred Miranda. Miranda has granted permission for fuels reduction treatment on his property.

Extending the fuel break to 262 Rio Vista Dr. was requested by a community member at the February 28, 2024 meeting. Although current vegetation conditions did not warrant that extension, the city should consider the option.

This fuel break would then start again at the north end of the golf course behind 221 Villa Dr., ending at the King City Migrant Center at 440 Jayne St. These parcels are owned by the City and multiple private property owners. The creation of the fuel break would require coordination between multiple parties.

The recommended fuel break would provide an easily accessible buffer in which fuel density is reduced. Fuel breaks provide quick access to firefighters where control activities can be conducted safely due to low fuel volumes. Vegetation would be thinned and trees (cottonwood and willows) would be pruned to remove ladder fuels. Brush, heavy ground fuels, and dead trees would be disposed of to create a park-like appearance. The fuel break does not need to be a bare strip in which all vegetation is removed to mineral soil annually.

Please note that 100 feet is measured horizontally at a zero percent slope and is a recommended width.

That amount of space does not exist throughout the entire recommended buffer area such as in areas along San Lorenzo Creek. The width of the fuel break should be adjusted accordingly where necessary.

Figure 11: Recommended 100’ fuel break.

The following methods would be used to construct this 100-foot fuel break:

Reduce Ladder Fuels Under Larger Trees
Small trees and shrubs can spread fire from the surface into the crowns of the larger cottonwood trees and willows on the edge of the riverbed. To curb vertical fuel continuity, concentrate thinning efforts on the understory to prevent fire from climbing into the canopy. Thinning understory vegetation will also allow leaves to drop to the ground, rather than suspend in lower vegetation where they can be highly flammable and create dangerous ladder fuel. Removed vegetation could either be hauled off or chipped into mulch and spread.

Priority: High
Method: Hand pruning and chipping understory fuel
Frequency: Three to five years
Access: Easy. Most large trees are on the edge of the riverbed area near roadway access.

Figure 12: Brush and thin trees within 100-foot buffer should be removed through pruning, chipping, and mowing. Mature willows and cottonwoods should be protected.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Remove Downed, High-Water Debris
Many downed limbs and miscellaneous dead material have washed up against the edge of the bank between the KFC and Highway 101 to the intersection of River Drive and the west entrance to Rio Plaza Mobile Home Estates. This debris is both a fuels concern and an impediment to emergency access to the riverbed area. Removed vegetation could either be hauled off or chipped into mulch and spread.

Priority: High
Method: Removal or chipping
Frequency: After high-water years that move debris
Access: Easy. Most debris washes up against the edge of the riverbed during the winter and can be easily removed.

Figure 13: Piles of debris along bank should be removed or chipped.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Figure 14: Flashy ladder fuels along bank should be mowed and removed.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Remove Dead Trees
Several dead trees, many of which are fire damaged, lie in the 100-foot buffer. These are hazards that should be downed and removed. Healthy cottonwoods and willows should not be removed. Removed vegetation could either be hauled off or chipped into mulch and spread.

Priority: High
Method: Removal and chipping of smaller material
Frequency: One-time with monitoring
Access: Easy.

Figure 15: Fire-scarred dead trees within 100-foot fuel break.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Coordination With Property Owners
The recommended fuel break extends beyond the city limits in many areas. The city should coordinate with individual property owners and the primary property owner of the project area, Fred Miranda.

Miranda has granted permission to the city and homeowners to mow and remove vegetation on his property to improve fire safety.

Fuel Break Maintenance
Once the 100-foot fuel break has been created, it will require regular maintenance due to the speed at which vegetation grows in the riverbed. High-water years will wash up debris that should be removed each spring. Water that reaches the levee may also replenish the soil’s seed bank, a potential upstream vector for invasive plants. Because thicker brush has been removed during the creation of the buffer, the primary recommended methods for maintenance will be mowing, pruning, and grazing.

Mowing & Pruning
Once large brush and small trees have been manually removed, it should be regularly mowed. Mowing should occur after spring growth, with regular monitoring throughout the year. Wet years will require additional returns.

This plan recommends that the city acquire mowing equipment capable of handling thick brush and steep slopes to maintain the fuel break. While there are newer, remote-controlled mowers available on the market, many are in venture capital mode and have not been proven to be maintainable, so this plan recommends choosing equipment with a proven record that can be serviced by existing city staff.

As crews mow the fuel break, they should be accompanied by workers on foot to prune larger trees and brushes, and to watch mowing equipment for sparks that may cause an ignition. All mowers should be equipped with fire suppression equipment.

Grazing
Of the grazing animals used for fuels reduction, goats are the best suited for maintaining the 100-foot fuel break buffer. Goats have no problem with steep slopes and they are more effective at removing the small woody materials that make up much of the brush and shrubs in the riverbed area. This plan recommends consultation with a grazing company to develop a strategy to maintain the fuel break.

This would consist of a single, annual grazing entry in late spring, but return entries may be necessary in wet years.

Potential companies within service range of King City include:
• Fire Grazers, Inc.
• The Goat Girls
• Living Systems
• Green Goat Landscapers, LLC
Figure 16: Annual goat grazing would remove tall weeds and flashy fuels within 100-foot fuel break.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Invasive Vegetation Management
Vegetation management plays a key role in reducing the potential for damaging and destructive wildfires through removing, rearranging, and maintaining the spatial distribution of fuels. Objectives of vegetation management include:
• Reduce wildfire hazard to mitigate risks to life and property • Reduce the likelihood of ignitions
• Reduce extreme fire behavior to enhance community and firefighter safety • Minimize impacts to natural resources
As noted earlier in the RWPP, the project area contains shifting and dynamic vegetation landscape due to its location in the floodplain of a major river. King City’s efforts in vegetation management should be focused on areas directly adjacent to structures, or on areas where there is synergies with ongoing noxious weed eradication efforts with the RCDMC. For larger-scale noxious weed reduction projects, this RWPP recommends targeting three species to develop fire resiliency most effectively: arundo, tamarisk, and yellow starthistle.

Arundo
Arundo donax (arundo) is a perennial cane that can grow to 30-feet tall, among the fastest growing terrestrial plants. It has invaded central California River valleys in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties. The non-native plant can form dense stands, displacing native vegetation and degrading wildlife habitat—arundo is not a food source nor does it provide nesting habitat. Arundo damages California's riparian ecosystems by outcompeting native species, such as willows, for water, and its stems and leaves contain a variety of harmful chemicals that deter wildlife from feeding. (Bell) Another problem with arundo is its hard, plate-shaped root masses. Like chunks of pavement, these root masses can stabilize banks, but can lead to massive bank failure when they are undermined during a high-water event. Root masses can be many feet across and weigh hundreds of pounds. Although not common, large arundo root masses have come loose from banks during storms elsewhere in California and have damaged downstream infrastructure like bridges.

Stands of arundo increase the fuel load in a riparian habitat and produce a biomass containing large amounts of energy. Arundo will burn when green and grows increasingly flammable during hotter, drier periods (June to October). Large stands of it can increase the probability, intensity, and spread of wildfire. (Coffman) Post-fire, arundo rhizomes resprout quickly and typically outgrow native plants.

Overtime, this can result in arundo domination along riparian corridors.

Arundo has invaded California’s river valleys throughout the state and in 2011, the California Invasive Plant Council determined that the Salinas River watershed had the second largest infestation in the state. The RCDMC has performed extensive work to eradicate arundo throughout the valley, treating 866 acres, plus an additional 100 acres through the Stream Maintenance Program described below.

The RCDMC has also worked to remove arundo upstream in San Luis Obispo county to prevent reseeding downstream. Ideally, removed arundo would be replaced with native willow or cottonwood.

Figure 17: Small arundo stand growing near the Salinas River.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
At the time of field surveys for this plan, large stands of arundo have been removed from the project area, but individual plants and small stands remain. The RWPP recommends that the RCDMC continue its removal project throughout the Salinas River and that King City develop a treatment plan to target and remove plants within city limits, particularly in the golf course area. Arundo in the golf course area is primarily growing on the banks of the creek (Figure 18), which may make use of heavy mowing equipment difficult to use due to the slope. Hand removal followed by herbicide treatment may be required here.

Figure 18: Large arundo stand growing on the slope of the creek in the golf course.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
The RCDMC uses the following widely implemented method to remove arundo: “Treatment of large arundo stands on the Salinas River typically begins with mowing in the fall, which reduces standing biomass and causes a flush of regrowth from the underground rhizomes in the spring. Arundo resprouts are then sprayed with herbicides the following summer-fall, and in each subsequent year until no sprouts remain. Smaller, scattered stands are treated with herbicide without prior biomass reduction. Herbicides used consist of wildlife-friendly formulations containing glyphosate or a glyphosate/imazapyr mix approved for use near water." (RCDMC) Arundo in the project area was mapped during DCR’s field survey in January 2024, and included on the map below (Figure 19).

Figure 19: Mapped arundo distribution as of January 2024.

Tamarisk
Tamarix ramosissima (tamarisk) is another invasive species that presents increased fire susceptibility in riparian areas. If allowed to grow, this dense shrub can grow up to a 30-foot root depth, roughly twice the depth of cottonwood roots, allowing cottonwood displacement. Like arundo, tamarisk invades riparian systems and responds positively to flooding, which facilitates further seed spread and establishment. The plant forms dense stands and invaded areas may become completely tamarisk dominated with few other plant species present. Tamarisk is flammable even when healthy and green and able to quickly recover and dominate a recently burned area.

DCR field surveys found both individual trees and stands of tamarisk. Tamarisk dominated areas are concentrated in the San Lorenzo Creek corridor along the golf course. Like arundo removal, this RWPP recommends that these stands of tamarisk and individual plants be removed through a combination of digging and targeted herbicide. Tamarisk on the creekbank slope may not be possible to remove with a mower and may require hand digging, followed by herbicide treatment. This species is also being targeted by the RCDMC in the Salinas Riverbed and developing a collaborative removal effort to remove tamarisk in the creek is recommended.

Figure 20: Tamarisk on San Lorenzo Creek at the golf course.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Figure 21: Mapped tamarisk distribution as of January 2024.

Yellow Starthistle
Extensive areas of invasive yellow starthistle (YST) occur within the riverbed area. Areas dominated by YST have higher fuel loadings than areas of only grass, as the thatch from thistle growth persists for over a year. After yellow starthistle is cured in mid-late summer, areas of continuous YST can burn with great intensity, especially on windy days. Fire hazard drops in YST after fall rains, but heavy areas of YST thatch dry out quickly and can burn vigorously into the winter. San Lorenzo Creek contains smaller patches of YST with less continuity.

Any efforts at starthistle control involve a multi-year process, and outside of the first 100 feet from structures, large-scale efforts to control YST should only be undertaken if long-term support for maintaining such an effort seems likely.

Prescribed fire can be an effective tool for reducing the dominance of YST across large acreages. This topic is covered in greater detail in Appendix E.

Figure 22: Yellow starthistle in mixed vegetation.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Defensible Space Education
The highest-priority for property owners near the project area is to reduce fuels near structures and maintain low-flammability conditions within their parcels. Defensible space is beneficial in many ways. It prevents fire from advancing and endangering homes and lives. It improves property value while reducing the risk of loss. It provides a healthier environment for trees and shrubs by minimizing the impacts of competition, insects, and disease. Most importantly, defensible space allows firefighters to defend homes safely and effectively.

Follow-up treatments are crucial to maintaining fire-resilient conditions and it is important to note that this work is never “finished.” Grass and other annual plants can carry fire quickly across areas that are otherwise well-maintained. Some vegetation requires more frequent re-entry intervals to stay healthy compared to others.

Although King City is not located in a State Responsibility Area (SRA) and property owners are not legally bound to comply with Public Resource Code 4291, this plan recommends that the City promote 4291’s defensible space guidelines and send educational mailers to residents who live on the boundary of the project area. Those guidelines are summarized here and more information is provided in Appendix F:

Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line. The amount of fuel modification necessary shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation.

Fuels shall be maintained in a condition so that a wildfire burning under average weather conditions would be unlikely to ignite the structure. Trees and shrubs should be pruned to a crown base height of eight feet and maintained to effectively manage fuels and not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from other nearby vegetation to a structure or from a structure to other nearby vegetation. The intensity of fuels management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure, the most intense being within the first 30 feet around the structure. Where possible, the first two feet out from a structure should be bare dirt, gravel, concrete, or lawn, and free of wood chips or mulch. Maintain any tree, shrub, or other plant adjacent to or overhanging a building free of dead or dying wood. Maintain the roof of a structure free of leaves, needles, or other vegetative materials. (California Public Resource Code Sec 4291) Code Enforcement
Weed control on private property is handled through the King City Police Department’s Code Enforcement Services division. All code enforcement cases, including weed abatement, are complaint based. Upon receiving a weed abatement complaint and confirming its validity, the city’s code enforcement officer will notify the property owner or residents of the violation. A 30-day notice of violation is mailed if there is no sign of improvement or compliance, followed by a 14-day notice. If no improvements have been made to correct the violation after those final 14 days, an administrative citation is issued.

The current Code Enforcement Office has been in the position since September 2023, and reports no complaints for the Salinas Riverbed, San Lorenzo Creek, or surrounding areas, noting that the bulk of the riverbed falls under the Monterey County Sheriff’s jurisdiction. Historical code enforcement statistics were not available.

Concerned residents should continue to follow code enforcement guidelines to report rampant weed growth in privately owned areas of concern bordering the riverbed and creek.

During the February 28, 2024 community meeting, several attendees expressed their concerns about people riding motorcycles, ATVs, and other motorized vehicles through the riverbed area, which is easily accessible through the empty lot at 228 Rio Vista Drive and moderately accessible through the lot at 236 Rio Vista Drive. In areas of tall, dried vegetation, heat from the exhaust system on an ATV or motorcycle can cause an ignition, as can motorized vehicles without a spark arrestor. Ticketing those who ride in the riverbed area would lower the area’s fire risk.

The plan also recommends that the City coordinate with the two property owners to restrict access through these open lots shown in Figures 23 and 24.

Figure 23: Access at 228 Rio Vista Dr.

Source: Google Street View, August 2023
Figure 24: Access at 236 Rio Vista Dr.

Source: Google Street View, August 2023
Housing
Ignitions in the project area can be reduced by housing people living within the project area. While this plan cannot address the state’s, county’s, and city’s homelessness issues, it does recommend that the city further pursue funding to provide temporary and long-term housing solutions and prohibit camping within the project area.

Abandoned encampment sites should be targeted for cleanup. Building materials that have been left in the riverbed provide fuels for any spreading fire and the abundance of plastic and hazardous debris should not be left to burn or otherwise contaminate the riverbed. The example in Figure 9 is the most significant found in January 2024 and would take considerable effort to disassemble and excavate from the ground.

Long-Term Project Considerations
This plan recommends the City further evaluate the reintroduction of beavers into the area and acquiring the riverbed property for development. Neither recommendation can provide immediate fire mitigation like the fuel break, but are worth investigating for long-term benefits to restore the riverbed ecosystem and make it accessible for recreation.

Table 3: Long-Term Project Considerations
Project
Number Project Type Project Description Priority Estimated Timeline 9 Beaver
Reintroduction
Collaborate with RCDMC to engage the SLO Beaver
Brigade and determine project feasibility. Moderate 10 Years 10 Open Space
Development
Explore the city's capability and community desire to
purchase the riverbed land for long-term open space
development.

Moderate 5-10 Years
Beaver Reintroduction
Reintroduction of beavers into riparian areas is a topic of discussion in many parts of the American West. The North American beaver is an ecosystem engineer with a well-documented impact on restoring wetlands and boosting drought protection. Studies in mountain meadows in Colorado have found that major wildfires have slowed or stopped upon reaching areas flooded by beaver dams.

However, this does not necessarily mean that reintroducing beavers into an irrigated floodplain will reduce wildfire hazards. The Salinas Valley is a vastly different ecosystem from a mountain meadow and has been heavily altered by the agriculture industry.

Management of vegetation in the floodway of the Salinas River is a necessarily big-picture undertaking. Regular flooding deposits weeds, debris and garbage, soil, and large wood across the project area, and upstream actions like levee construction, reservoir releases, and riparian restoration have downstream impacts. No large-scale land management can succeed within the floodway unless it is designed in a way that considers the watershed-scale perspective.

Beaver reintroduction in a heavy agricultural area would require additional study, but beavers do live in wetlands with poor water quality and improve their own ecosystems. Their dams filter water and the wetlands they create will naturally process excess nitrogen common in agricultural runoff. Long considered a nuisance to farmers, the CDFW offers beaver coexistence methods to protect infrastructure and assets.

In 2023, beaver relocation became legal in California and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife created a team of six people to start a pilot program. Working with the Maidu Summit Consortium, CDFW released a family of seven beavers into Plumas County in December 2023.

If King City is interested in pursuing further information about the roles beavers play in the function of riparian ecosystems, they can reach out to organizations like the SLO Beaver Brigade, the Monterey RCDMC, and partnering with Nature’s Engineers, a Central Coast firm implementing beaver reintroduction projects and constructing ‘beaver dam analogs’(BDAs). Such an undertaking would require additional planning effort involving an array of property owners upstream and downstream from the project area.

Open Space Development
King City staff have identified acquiring land within the riverbed to establish an open space reserve and/or trail system as a potential future option. While both options may reduce the threat of wildfire due to active management of the land and reestablishing native plants, inviting more human activity into the area may also increase the possibility of ignitions.

One previous effort that may benefit King City in determining how to establish a park or open space would be Albuquerque’s Bosque Action Plan used to transform the city’s degraded forestland along the Rio Grande into a nature preserve and recreation area. Where it cuts through Albuquerque, the Rio Grande floods frequently, harbors a variety of wildlife, and is a haven for towering cottonwoods.

Following their example, King City may also be able to develop a similar plan that allows for native wildlife to flourish, provides recreational opportunities, and continues to protect the city from flooding.

References
Bell, Gary. (1997). Ecology and management of Arundo donax, and approaches to riparian habitat restoration in southern California.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Strategic Action Plan. Available at:
https://www.fire.ca.gov/about/cal-fire-strategic-plan-2024 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, San Benito-Monterey Unit Fire Plan 2022.

Available at: https://www.osfm.fire.ca.gov/media/jeuclcrm/2022-san-benito-monterey-unit-fireplan.pdf California Department of Water Resources, Creative Services Branch, Forest Management Task Force, and Public Affairs Office. Available online at https://fmtf.fire.ca.gov/.

Coffman, G., Ambrose, R., Rundel, P., 2010. Wildfire promotes dominance of invasive giant reed (Arundo donax) in riparian ecosystems. Biol. Invasions 12, 2723-2734.

Fairfax, Emily and Whittle, Andrew, Smokey the Beaver: beaver-dammed riparian corridors stay green during wildfire throughout the western United States, Ecological Applications, Volume 30, Issue 8, 2020, e02225. Available at
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/eap.2225 Fire Recovery Guide, California Native Plant Society, 2019. Available at https://www.cnps.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/08/cnps-fire-recovery-guide-2019.pdf Monterey County Homeless Count and Survey Comprehensive Report, 2022. Available at https://chsp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022montereyfinalV2.pdf Mowry, M., Read, A., Johnston, K. and Wafaie, T. 2019. Planning the Wildland-Urban Interface.

Prepared for the American Planning Association. PAS Report 594.

PSE Healthy Energy, Can Prescribed Fires Mitigate Health Harm? A Review of Air Quality and Public Health Implications of Wildfire and Prescribed Fire, 2022. Available at:
https://www.lung.org/getmedia/fd7ff728-56d9-4b33-82eb-abd06f01bc3b/pse_wildfire-and-prescribedfire-brief_final_2022 Monterey County Water Resources Agency and State Coastal Conservancy, Salinas River Long-Term Management Plan, 2019. Available at
https://www.salinasrivermanagementprogram.org/ltmp_doc.html State of California, California Public Resources Code Section 4291, 2022., Available at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=4291.&lawCode=PR C
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A New Strategy for Protecting Communities and Improving Resilience in America’s Forests, 2022. Available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/Confronting-Wildfire-Crisis.pdf U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Wildfire Crisis Implementation Plan, 2022. Available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/Wildfire-Crisis-Implementation-Plan.pdf U.S. Government Publishing Office. Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003. By Congress. Available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/1904 Appendix A: Abbreviations & Acronyms
CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection BEU San Benito-Monterey Unit of CAL FIRE
DCR Deer Creek Resources
KCFD King City Fire Department
LRA Local Responsibility Area
RWPP Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan
SRA State Responsibility Area
USFS United States Forest Service
WUI Wildland Urban Interface
YST Yellow Starthistle
Appendix B: Glossary
Access Roads/Routes: Roads that allow entrance into and out of a property. Routes available for fire trucks and equipment to approach and defend areas or structures, including roadways or driveways.

Assets at Risk: Those things that are important to quality of life that can be threatened with destruction or loss from wildfire. These include homes, businesses, infrastructure, cultural sites, wildlife habitat, natural resources, air quality, recreational facilities and areas, historical structures, and any other important attribute that individual communities rely on for their well-being.

Automatic or Mutual Aid Agreement: An agreement between two or more agencies whereby such agencies are automatically dispatched simultaneously to predetermined types of emergencies in predetermined areas.

Black: An area that has burned.

Broadcast Burning: A controlled burn, where the fire is intentionally ignited and allowed to proceed over a designated area within well-defined boundaries for the reduction of fuel hazard, as a resource management treatment, or both.

Brush: A collective term that refers to stands of vegetation dominated by shrubby, woody plants, or low-growing trees.

Brushing: Clearing or “cleaning up” brushy vegetation in an area.

Buffer: An area of reduced vegetation that creates a barrier separating wildlands from vulnerable residential or business developments; this barrier is like a greenbelt in that it is usually used for another purpose, such as agriculture, recreation, parks, or golf courses.

Burn: (1) An area burned over by wildland fire. (2) A reference to a working fire. (3) To be on fire. (4) To consume fuel during rapid combustion. (5) A fire in progress or under investigation.

Burning Conditions: The state of the combined factors of the environment—such as winds, temperature, fuel moistures, and humidity—that affect fire behavior in a specified fuel type.

Canopy: The top layer of a forest, tree, or low-growing stand of shrubs, which is formed by leaves, needles, and branches creating a continuous cover.

Canopy Density: A term used to describe the amount of vegetative cover in the top layer of a forest; among other things, the canopy density influences the amount of light penetration, understory composition, surface reflectance, and rainfall interception in a forest landscape.

Catastrophic Fire: Wildland or wildland-urban interface fire with a fast-moving front, extending over a large area (300+ acres) or highly destructive to lives, property, or natural resources.

Collaborative: An open, inclusive process that assumes all participants have valuable knowledge and opinions and all their comments are heard and considered; collaboration does not mean consensus or ownership.

Combustible: Any material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will ignite and burn.

Combustion: The rapid oxidation of fuel in which heat and usually flame are produced. Combustion can be divided into four phases: pre-ignition, flaming, smoldering, and glowing.

Community: A body of people living in one place or district and considered a whole; a neighborhood, subdivision, small town, village, or township with boundaries defined by the residents or by regulatory jurisdiction.

Cover: Any plants or organic matter that hold soil in place or grow over and create shade that provides wildlife with an area to reproduce and find protection from predators and weather.

Crown Density: A measurement of the thickness or density of the foliage of the treetops (crown) in a stand.

Crown Fire (Crowning): A fire that spreads through the top of the vegetative canopy; characteristic of hot fires and dry conditions. Crown fires become independent from the surface fire and are more complex to control than surface fires.

Defensible Space: An area, either natural or constructed, where material capable of causing a fire to spread has been treated, cleared, reduced, or changed to provide a barrier between an advancing wildland fire and the loss to life, property, or resources. In practice, defensible space is defined as an area with a minimum of 100 feet around a structure that is cleared of flammable brush or vegetation.

Distance from the structure and the degree of fuels treatment vary with vegetation type, slope, density, and other factors.

Embers: Burning (or glowing) particles of vegetation from tree branches, parts of shrubs or chaparral, or other combustible materials that ignite and burn during a wildfire and are carried in wind currents to locations in front of the wildfire (also known as firebrands).

Evacuation: An organized, phased, and supervised withdrawal, dispersal, or removal of citizens from dangerous or potentially dangerous areas, and their reception and care in safe areas.

Evacuation Route: A path or road that has been preplanned for getting out of harm's way in a fire situation. The route should be well understood in advance of crisis by all participants. If there is any unclear direction, the path should be marked.

Exposure: (1) Property that may be endangered by a fire burning in another home or by a wildfire; (2) Direction in which a slope faces, usually with respect to cardinal directions; (3) The general surroundings of a site with special reference to its openness to winds.

Fire: Rapid oxidation, usually with the evolution of heat and light. Requires interaction of heat, fuel, and oxygen.

Fire Behavior: The way a fire reacts to the influences of fuel, weather, and topography. Common terms used to describe behavior include smoldering, creeping, running, spotting, torching, and crowning.

Fire Hazard: A fuel complex, defined by volume, type, condition, arrangement, and location, which determines the degree of ease of ignition and of resistance to control.

Fire Hazard Mitigation: Various methods by which existing fire hazards can be reduced in a certain area, such as fuel breaks, non-combustible roofing, spark arrestors, etc.

Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ): Any geographical area designated pursuant to California Public Resource Code Section 4201 to contain the type and condition of vegetation, topography, weather, and structure density to increase the possibility of conflagration fires. Areas are zoned as Very High, High, or Moderate by evaluating applicable risks and hazard.

Fire History: The known frequency and intensity of fires that have occurred in each area over a period.

Fire Intensity: Amount of heat released by a fire in an area in any given period. Fire intensity is usually related to the flame length of a fire.

Fire/Wildfire Management: Activities required for the protection of burnable wildland assets from fire, or the use of prescribed fire to meet land management objectives.

Fire Planning: Systematic technological and administrative management process of design, organization, facilities, and procedures, including fire use, to protect wildland from fire.

Fire Prevention: Activities such as public education, community outreach, law enforcement, and reduction of fuel hazards, intended to reduce wildland fire and the risks it poses to life and property.

Fire Resilient/Resiliency: The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its native biodiversity, ecological integrity, and natural recovery processes following a wildfire disturbance.

Fire Risk: The combination of vegetation, topography, weather, ignition sources, and fire history that leads to fire or ignition potential and danger in each area.

Fire Safe: For the purposes of this plan, this term is defined as: Action(s) that moderate the severity of a fire hazard to a level of "acceptable risk," as discussed in the Safety Element of the County General Plan. In a broader context, this term describes the state of lessened severity or action(s) that moderate the severity of a fire hazard or risk, while protecting structures and surrounding property from fire, whether fire is inside the structure or is threatening the structure from exterior sources.

Fire Safe Council: Public and private organizations that comprise a council intended to minimize the potential for wildfire damage to communities and homeowners, while also protecting the health of natural resources. Goals are achieved by distributing fire prevention materials, organizing fire safety programs, implementing fuel-reduction projects, and more. Visit www.firesafecouncil.org.

Fire Severity: Degree to which a site has been altered or disrupted by fire; loosely, a product of fire intensity and residence time.

Fire Spread: The movement of fire from one place to another.

Fire Suppression: All the work and activities connected with control and fire-extinguishing operations, beginning with discovery and continuing until the fire is completely extinguished.

Fire Weather: Weather conditions that influence fire ignition, behavior, and suppression, such as high temperatures, low precipitation/humidity, and high winds.

Firewise/Firewise Communities/USA Recognition Program: (1) A national, multi-agency effort designed to reach beyond the fire service by involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire before a fire starts. (2) Firewise offers a series of practical steps that individuals and communities can take to minimize wildfire risks to people, property, and natural resources. It emphasizes community responsibility for planning in the design of a safe community as well as effective emergency response, and individual responsibility for safer home evacuation and design, landscaping, and maintenance.

Fuel(s): Combustible structures and vegetative materials. Includes dead plants, parts of living plants, duff, and other accumulations of flammable vegetation, such as grass, leaves, ground litter, shrubs, and trees that feed a fire. See Surface Fuels.

Fuel Break: A natural or constructed barrier used to stop or check fires that may occur, or to provide a control line from which to work.

Fuel Description: Designation of fuel materials into categories based on size and drying times. Fuel descriptions in use are described below:

Description Material Diameter
Fine Needles, leaves, etc.
1 Hour Woody material, generally drying out within 1 hour. <1/4" 10 Hour Woody material, generally drying out within 10 hours. 1/4"-1" 100 Hour Woody material, generally drying out within 4 days. 1-3" 1000 Hour Woody material, generally drying out within 40 days. 3"+ Downed Fuel on the ground.

Heavy Large logs and snags.

Fuel Ladder: A ladder of vegetation from the ground into the canopy (or upper branches) of the trees that allows fire to climb upward.

Fuel Load: The amount of available and potentially combustible material, usually expressed as tons/acre.

Fuel Management: Act or practice of controlling flammability and reducing resistance to control of wildland fuels through mechanical, chemical, biological, or manual means, or by fire in support of land management objectives.

Fuel Treatment: Manipulation or removal of fuels to reduce likelihood of ignition or lessen potential damage and resistance to control (e.g., lopping, chipping, crushing, piling, and burning). Also known as Fuel Treatment.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS): A technology used for digitally viewing, storing, analyzing, and manipulating geographical information. Layers of information can create a better understanding of how data is interrelated. Useful for landscape-level planning.

Hardened Homes: Improving a building's resistance to fire, such as updating a roof with noncombustible roofing material; the goal is to increase the structure’s ability to survive a fire.

Hazard: Any real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death of personnel, or damage to or loss of equipment or property.

Healthy Forests Restoration Act: A portion of the 2003 Healthy Forests Initiative intended to reduce hazardous fuels on public and private lands. Establishes Community Wildfire Protection Plans and sets standards for those plans.

Home Ignition Zone: The home and area out to approximately 100 feet, where local conditions affect the potential ignitability of a home during a wildfire.

Ignitability: The susceptibility to catch on fire.

Ignition: The event of combustion initiation that creates fire.

Incident: A human-caused or natural occurrence, such as wildland fire, that requires emergency service action to prevent or reduce the loss of life or damage to property or natural resources. Incident Management Teams also handle other non-fire emergency responses, including tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters or large events.

Ingress-Egress: Roads and other avenues to enter and leave a property. Also refers to the act or right to come in or go through, as in entering a property (ingress), and the act or right to depart or go out, as in exiting a property (egress).

Jackpot: Heavy fuel concentrations that can flare up in a fire.

Ladder Fuels: Fuels that provide vertical continuity between strata and allow fire to carry from surface fuels into the crowns of trees or shrubs with relative ease. They help initiate and assure the continuation of crowning.

Landscape: The visible features of an area of land, including topography, water bodies, vegetation, human elements, such asland uses and structures, and transitory elementssuch aslighting and weather conditions.

Large Fire: 1) CAL FIRE defines a fire burning more than 300 acres as a large fire. 2) A fire burning with a size and intensity such that its behavior is determined by interaction between its own convection column and weather conditions above the surface.

Limbing/Limb Up: Removing selected branches of a standing or fallen tree or shrub.

Manual Treatment/Fuel Reduction: Methods of modifying wildfire fuel complexes without the use of machinery; such treatments may include chainsaws, fire-use applications, chemical treatments, and grazing.

Mastication: The process of “chewing up” or grinding vegetative fuels with machinery to reduce their hazard as a fuel source.

Mitigation: Those activities implemented prior to, during, or after an incident which are designed to reduce or eliminate risks to persons or property that lessen the actual or potential effects or consequences of an incident. Mitigation measures can include efforts to educate governments, businesses, and the public on measures they can take to reduce loss and injury and are often informed by lessons learned from prior incidents.

Mutual Aid Agreement: A reciprocal aid agreement between two or more agencies that defines what resources each will provide to the other in response to certain predetermined types of emergencies.

Mutual aid response is provided upon request.

Pile Burning: A method used to reduce fuel wherein vegetation is cut, stacked, and then burned.

Preparedness: (1) Activities that lead to a safe, efficient, and cost-effective fire management program in support of land and resource management objectives through appropriate planning and coordination. (2) Mental readiness to recognize changes in fire danger and act promptly when action is appropriate. (3) The range of deliberate, critical tasks and activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to protect against, respond to, and recover from wildfire.

Prescribed Fire (Controlled Burning): A fire that burns within a range of predetermined conditions (such as fuel moisture content, weather conditions, etc.) that will keep it controllable, at desired intensity, and able to achieve its stated objectives. A written, approved burn plan must exist, and environmental requirements (where applicable) must be met, prior to ignition.

Prevention: Activities directed at reducing the incidence of fires, including public education, law enforcement, personal contact, and reduction of fuel hazards.

Pruning: The act of cutting back the unwanted portions of a plant or cutting for the purpose of enhancing growth.

Relative Humidity: A measure of moisture in the air. If the humidity is 100%, the air is completely saturated with moisture. If the humidity is less than 20%, the air is very dry. When the air is dry, it absorbs moisture from the fuels in the forest, making them more flammable.

Response: (1) Movement of an individual firefighting resource from its assigned standby location to another location, or to an incident in reaction to dispatch orders, or to a reported alarm. (2) Activities that address the short-term, direct effect of an incident, including immediate actions to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs. Also includes the execution of emergency operations plans as well as mitigation activities designed to limit the loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and other unfavorable outcomes.

Response Time: For the purposes of the CWPP, response time is the time that elapses between the moment a 911 call is placed to the emergency dispatch center and the time that a first responder arrives on scene. Response time includes dispatch time, turnout time (the time it takes firefighters to travel to the fire station, don their gear, and prepare the apparatus), and travel time.

Risk: (1) The chance of a fire starting as determined by the presence and activity of causative agents; (2) A chance of suffering harm or loss; (3) A number related to the potential of firebrands to which a given area will be exposed during a rating day.

Signage: Address markers, road postings, and street signs that designate the location of residences and help orient people within a community or area. Highly visible signage is important for helping emergency responders quickly locate incident sites.

Slope: Upward or downward incline or slant, usually calculated as a percentage. One percent of slope means a rise or fall of one foot of elevation within 100 feet. A 45 percent slope would equal 45 feet of rise in 100 feet.

Snag: A standing dead tree that has usually lost most of its branches. Snags offer essential food and cover for a host of wildlife species.

Spot Fire: A fire ignited outside the perimeter of the main fire by flying sparks or embers.

Structure: Any building or structure used for support or shelter of any use or occupancy.

Suppression: All the work of extinguishing or containing a fire, beginning with its discovery.

Thinning: The act of removing a percentage of vegetation to encourage an open space and healthy growth for the remaining vegetation.

Torch/Torching: A rapid and intense burning of a single or small group of trees/shrubs, causing the upward movement of fire; also known as crown fire initiation or flare-up.

Underburn: A prescribed fire method where burning is conducted in the understory so that the fire consumes surface fuels but not trees or shrubs. Also known as understory burning.

Understory: Generally herbaceous or shrubby vegetation that makes up the plant layer under the tree canopy layer.

Wildfire: An unplanned, unwanted wildland fire including unauthorized human-caused fires, escaped wildland fire use events, escaped prescribed fire projects, and all other wildland fires where the objective is to put the fire out.

Wildlands: Areas in which development is essentially nonexistent, except for roads, railroads, power lines, and similar transportation facilities. Structures, if any, are widely scattered. Can also include large cattle ranches and forests managed for timber production.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI): The zone where structures and other human developments meet, or intermingle with, undeveloped wildlands.

Appendix C: Community Meeting Notes
A community meeting was held on February 28, 2024. EMC mailed approximately 700 invitations to residents and it was promoted through local media. Approximately 25 residents attended the meeting, along with city representatives, EMC, and Deer Creek Resources.

Comments from community members:
• Track on Riverbed near where Townhomes end & houses start where “small” motorcycles are “raced” around in a large circle.
• Please check on the stats of the “causes” of the fires in the river • Remove deadfall along the road leading to San Lorenzo Park. • Ladder fuel removal on dead trees on the east side of Salinas River next to San Lorenzo Park • The area next to McDonald’s, KFC is the most dangerous for the city business district • Trailer Park at 101 River Drive (Rio Vista Mobile Home Estates) is low-income property. A fire in this facility would be a disaster so clearing across the street is important. • Continue clearing San Lorenzo Creek sediment.
• Use Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Hunter Ligget to bring in crews & equipment to help with clearing like they used to do in the 1940s, 50s & 60s. • Extend the fuel break to 262 Rio Vista Drive.
• Pay Fred Miranda the $ we would spend on permits & committees to do the work himself.

Save $ all the way around!
• Plan should be expanded to include area near San Lorenzo Park (due in part to north wind). • Residents were concerned about flooding.
• Wildlife issues, including vectors for invasive plants. • Trash, junk, and debris in the riverbed.
• Concerns with permit process and environmental review. • How can public funds be used on private lands to clean the area? • The RWPP is a gateway to get money to do continued work on the Riverbed. • There should be fines for people who are not maintaining their property. • There should be more code enforcement.
• Need crime prevention measures.
• Need to remove heavy fuels.

DCR also brought paper maps and encouraged attendees to use pens to draw out their fire concerns.

Mapped, written, and verbal collected comments were taken into consideration for the RWPP development.

Figure 25: Community members at the February 28, 2024 community meeting.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Figure 26: Discussing the benefits of a fuel break at the February 28, 2024 community meeting.

Image © 2024 Deer Creek Resources
Appendix D: Wildland Vegetation Treatment Types
The following treatment types can be used to manage wildland vegetation to reduce wildfire hazards.

Community Fuel Breaks
Strategic areas of fuels reduction near structures to reduce fire intensity near residential and commercial areas. Fuel breaks not only lower the likelihood of fire starveling through an area, they provide conditions favorable for fire suppression.

Ladder Fuels Reduction
Removal or reduction of fuels that provide vertical continuity allowing fire to carry from surface fuels into the crowns of trees or shrubs with relative ease
Hand Thinning and Chipping
Hand thinning and chipping is typically performed by a crew using chainsaws and pole saws to thin and clear un-wanted vegetation. Hand thinning is used to cut smaller trees in environmentally sensitive areas where machines may have a significant environmental impact. Hand-thinning is generally limited to younger trees and large branches, as material must be cut into sizes that can be moved by workers without using equipment. Hand thinning may require more frequent treatments to maintain acceptable fuel loads.

Chipping
Chipping will likely be the preferred method of handling woody material removed within the riverbed.

Chipping redistributes forest vegetation that is cut during thinning. Chips can be scattered throughout the project area. Chipped material can also be removed from the project area and disposed of off-site.

Targeted Herbivory/Grazing
Grazing uses goats, sheep, horses, or cows to reduce the small fuels such as grass and small brush. A popular nature-based solution that has been used throughout California, grazing programs have proven to be effective in treating overgrown vegetation elsewhere on the Salinas River. Grazing can also assist with control of invasive species.

Upstream in Paso Robles, a goat grazing program was initiated in 2020, in response to fire ignitions within the riverbed. Paso Robles treats 80-100 acres annually, which equates to approximately 50 days of grazing. Their target area was treated mechanically prior to grazing to reduce heavy fuel loads, standing dead trees, and downed woody materials. This pre-grazing work was primarily performed with chainsaws, pole sales, and tracked chippers. Paso Robles’ annual grazing cost was approximately $50,000-$60,000 per year, plus $15,000 for nesting bird surveys prior to grazing.

It is important to note that grazing animals have little effect on stands of arundo, which should be mechanically removed.

Mechanical Thinning or Mowing (Including Mastication)
Mechanical thinning or mowing uses tractor-mounted cutters or mowing heads to snip, cut, or grind vegetation in place. It can achieve similar effects to chipping. Heavy equipment can cause adverse soil effects such as rutting and the machinery can spread invasive weeds such as yellow starthistle.

Pile Burning
Please note that burning piles is not permitted within King City and burn permits are not issued by the city. The information listed below pertains to potentially burning vegetation piles within the riverbed area, under the supervision of CAL FIRE or a state-certified burn boss.

Pile burning can be a cost-effective method for disposing of cut vegetation. Pile burning is considered to be a type of prescribed fire, and provides an alternative to chipping thinned vegetation, especially in places where chipper access is not available. Piles are created in the spring or summer, covered, and allowed to cure for several months, and then burned after sufficient rain has fallen to thoroughly wet the surrounding area. Piles create less smoke if they are built without too many larger logs in them, and they are also easier to mop up and extinguish if they are made of smaller branches. Also, piles built only of leaves and pine needles tend to smolder and smoke. These materials should be fed (dry) onto a hot-burning fire, or set aside to compost.

Once the piles burn down, they need to be monitored until they are cold. Depending on the size of the pile, this can last for many days or even weeks. Ideally, winter rains and snow do the heavy work of mopping up after the burn. Burning piles in the late spring can be risky, as embers can remain buried in large piles for months, and winds can blow hot embers into the surrounding vegetation after it dries out for the season. DCR/Firestorm can provide contract pile-burning services.

Tips for pile burning:
• When creating piles, they should be covered to keep the material dry. Remove plastic prior to ignition.
• Scrape a clearance of at least 6 feet to bare soil around any burn piles. • If burning when there is a chance the fire might escape into adjacent dry vegetation, tools and water should be available. If burning in moist conditions, water is not always needed. • Burn only clean, dry vegetative waste such as branches. It is best to burn the dry debris immediately after raking, rather than creating uncovered piles that sit for a long time getting wet and holding moisture.
• Never leave the burn pile unattended—extinguish it if you need to leave. • Avoid burning on windy days. The wind can spread embers. • In general, piles should be no larger than four feet in diameter and four feet high. Large pile sizes are possible, especially if qualified personnel burn them. • Break larger piles down, and add branches to the pile as it burns. • Throw partially burned chunks into the pile and turn over the pile several times while burning to improve consumption and completely consume all material. This is called ‘chunking the pile.’
• Mopping up is the most important part of the whole exercise. Burn piles can generate massive heat and remain hot for weeks. Monitor piles regularly even after you think that they are completely out.

Broadcast Burning
Broadcast burning describes prescribed fires ignited in areas with little or no forest canopy present.

Broadcast burning is often used for habitat restoration and fuels reduction purposes, and would be the best method for treating invasive yellow starthistle in the riverbed area as described in the Prescribed Fire section below.

Appendix E: Prescribed Fire
There are potential opportunities to use fire to improve the function, safety, aesthetics, and resiliency of the riverbed project area. Application of prescribed fire (including pile burning) in riparian areas could be a helpful and cost-effective tool for reducing invasive yellow starthistle and increasing fire safety. Prescribed burning reduces the loading of fine fuels, duff, large woody fuels, rotten material, shrubs, and other live surface fuels, and may be useful in reducing long-term accumulations of larger dead and down material. Any application of prescribed fire should be targeted to also help achieve non-fire-related resource management objectives, for example reducing invasive plants.

There are opportunities to use prescribed fire to reduce yellow starthistle in the riverbed area.

Starthistle burning is generally seen as a three-year commitment, and successive burns are necessary to kill seeds in the soil. Burns should take place in mid-summer because grass under YST needs to be fully cured before burning occurs.

While the riverbed is not dominated by YST, there are large patches that can be treated with repeated entries of prescribed fire, which lower the threat of late-summer and fall wildfires, and provide training opportunities to local fire departments and prescribed burning organizations. Burning when flowers first appear (January-May) can eliminate YST in the seedling, rosette, and early bolting stages, although burning during this window can be difficult due to insufficient dry fuel available to carry the intense fire necessary for YST control. The preferred burning window is during the early flower stage, typically between late June and July. This prescription must be continued for at least three consecutive years in infested areas to reduce the seed bank. Burning patches of yellow starthistle creates a matrix of black, burned areas, which can help control wildfire spread.

While prescribed fires temporarily affect air quality, a 2022 report indicates that the air quality and health impacts of prescribed fire smoke are limited. Prescribed fires are implemented under conditions to limit harmful smoke exposure and are conducted when meteorological conditions are favorable, atmospheric conditions support smoke dispersion, and wind patterns allow smoke to move away from populated areas.

Prescribed fire’s utility in the management of invasive vegetation is well-documented. The conceptual burn units identified in the maps for this document were designed to meet multiple objectives. If King City is interested in advancing these types of projects, contracting with a California State Fire Marshal-certified burn boss to develop detailed prescriptions and burn objectives (using the State’s burn plan template) would be the next step.

The California State Fire Marshall is now certifying Professional Prescribed Fire Burn Bosses (CARX). California state legislation (SB-332 and SB-926) provides liability protections and a claims fund to protect burners/landowners in case of escaped burns.

Appendix F: Defensible Space Zone Education for Homeowners The intensity of wildfire fuel management varies within the 100-foot perimeter of the home, with more intense fuels’ reduction occurring closer to your home. Zones 1 and 2 previously made up the 100 feet of defensible space required by law. Assembly Bill 3074, passed into law in 2020, now requires a third zone for defensible space, as of January 1, 2023. Zone 0 is the new ember-resistant zone within 0 to 5 feet. Start at the home and work your way out to 100 feet or to your property line, whichever is closer.

These zones are a “rule of thumb” designed to help property owners and exceptions are made when appropriate or where property lines do not allow.

Figure 27: CAL FIRE Defensible Zones
Image © 2023 CAL FIRE
Zone 0: Ember Resistant Zone
Zone 0 extends 5 feet from buildings, structures, decks, etc.

Science has proven it to be the most important of all the defensible space zones. This zone includes the area under and around all attached decks and requires the most stringent wildfire fuel reduction. The ember-resistant zone is designed to keep fire or embers from igniting materials that can spread the fire to your home. The following provides guidance for this zone, which may change based on the regulation developed by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. • Use hardscape like gravel, pavers, concrete, and other noncombustible mulch materials. No combustible bark or mulch
• Remove all dead and dying weeds, grass, plants, shrubs, trees, branches, and vegetative debris (leaves, needles, cones, bark, etc.); Check your roofs, gutters, decks, porches, stairways, etc. • Remove all branches within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet • Limit plants in this area to low growing, nonwoody, properly maintained plants • Limit combustible items (outdoor furniture, planters, etc.) on top of decks • Relocate firewood and lumber to Zone 2
• Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors attach to the home with noncombustible alternatives
• Consider relocating garbage and recycling containers outside this zone • Consider relocating boats, RVs, vehicles, and other combustible items outside this zone Zone 1: Lean, Clean and Green Zone
Zone 1 extends 30 feet from buildings, structures, decks, etc. or to your property line, whichever is closer.
• Remove all dead plants, grass, and weeds (vegetation). • Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof, and rain gutters. • Remove branches that hang over your roof and keep dead branches 10 feet away from your chimney.
• Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees. • Relocate wood piles to Zone 2.
• Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows. • Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks, balconies, and stairs.
• Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.
* During times of drought when green landscaping cannot be achieved due to water restrictions be sure to remove all dead or dying material from Zone 1.

Zone 2: Reduce Fuel Zone
Zone 2 extends from 30 feet to 100 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc. or to your property line, whichever is closer.
• Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches. • Create horizontal space between shrubs and trees.
• Create vertical space between grass, shrubs, and trees. • Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches.
• All exposed wood piles must have a minimum of 10 feet of clearance, down to bare mineral soil, in all directions.

Defensible Space Self-Inspection Checklist
• Make street address visible from the street in both directions, contrast with the background, reflective, and a minimum of 4 inches in height in accordance with Monterey County Code Q104.2
• Annual grasses and weeds need to be mowed to 4 inches or less 100 feet from house or to property line
• Remove pine needles, thin brush, and other flammable vegetation 100 feet from house or to property line
• Maintain the roof of any structure free of pine needles, leaves, or any other dead/dying debris
• Cut grasses, thin brush, and other flammable vegetation to 100 feet from house or to property line
• Clear debris – slash and needle piles, construction debris and flammable storage from around structure
• Clear vegetation to mineral soil around firewood storage piles • Remove brush, limbs, grass, needles, and debris ten feet in all directions from around propane tank
• Limb trees up a minimum of 6 feet from the ground
• Remove dead tree limbs adjacent to or overhanging any structure or decks • Remove all portions of trees within ten feet from chimneys and/or stovepipe outlets • Remove all dead and dying trees from the property
• Install a 1/8-inch mesh screen spark arrester on chimneys, stovepipes, and appliances that burn solid fuels
• Maintain defensible space a minimum of 10 feet from the shoulder of the roadway • Remove any hazardous vegetation constituting an extreme fire hazard, as determined by the code official
Defensible Space Landscaping:

University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, is an excellent resource for defensible space landscaping: Reducing the Vulnerability of Building to Wildfire: Vegetation and Landscaping Guidance: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8695.pdf
California Assembly Bill 38, Inspections and Real Estate Transactions Passed in 2019, California Assembly Bill 38 (AB 38) established a five-year pilot program requiring California’s Office of Emergency Services and CAL FIRE to work together to utilize a broad range of potential funding, including federal funds, to proactively support at-risk communities through a statewide fire retrofit program. The goal is to help communities and owners of homes built prior to updated building codes in 2008 harden their homes and make them more likely to survive future fires.

The bill requires the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with state officials, to identify building retrofits and structure hardening measures, and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify defensible space, vegetation management and fuel modification activities eligible for financial assistance under the program.

AB 38 is designed to help educate home buyers in fire prone areas by requiring property sellers in those areas to inform buyers that the property follows established wildfire protection measures, including fire hardening improvements on the property and a disclosure notice to also include the State Fire Marshal’s list of low-cost retrofits.

More information on AB 38 can be found at
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b2fc79e82aec4ecab4250987db7312cb.

Appendix G: Additional Resources
ALERT California: alertca.live/
AlertMontereyCounty: www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/emergencycommunications-911/old-site/citizen-awareness/alert-monterey-county CAL FIRE Defensible Space Zones: www.fire.ca.gov/programs/communications/defensible-spaceprc-4291 CAL OES Retrofit Rebate Program: www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/operations/recoverydirectorate/hazard-mitigation/california-wildfire-mitigation-program California Climate Investments: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov/ California Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps: egis.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ/ California Public Resources Code 4291:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=4291.&lawCode=PRC California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force: https://wildfiretaskforce.org/ Fire Safe Council for Monterey: www.firesafemonterey.org/defensible-space.html Firewise USA: firewise.org
Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003: www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/housebill/1904 Housing arrangement and vegetation factors associated with single-family home survival in the 2018 Camp Fire, California: fireecology.springeropen.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s42408-021-00117-0.pdf National Fire Protection Association: www.nfpa.org
Office of the State Fire Marshal: osfm.fire.ca.gov
Ready, Set, Go! Program: www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/ready-set-go Reducing the Vulnerability of Building to Wildfire: Vegetation and Landscaping Guidance:
anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8695.pdf
Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide: ucanr.edu/HomeRetrofitGuide Appendix H: Grant Funding Programs
County Coordinators Grant
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
California Healthy Soils Program
California Wildfire Mitigation Program
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants:
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post-Fire Grant
• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grants Monterey County Fire Relief Fund Grants
State Fire Assistance Grants
USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grants
Appendix I: Preparer & Methods
Statement of Qualifications
Established in 2011, Deer Creek Resources (DCR) is the resource management division of Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression, Inc. Firestorm has been in the wildland fire and forestry business since 1996 and is California’s largest wildland firefighting contractor with over 250 federally-qualified wildland firefighters.

In addition to wildland firefighting, Firestorm/DCR is a leader in wildland fire hazard mitigation, prescribed fire, and forestry services. We have completed forestry projects on over 30,000 acres, including thinning, piling, mastication, fuel break construction, ecological restoration, post-fire erosion control, and trail maintenance. We have successfully implemented ecological burning on over 225,000 acres on forests and rangelands throughout the United States.

DCR uses mapping, innovative wildfire analytics, and applied science to help communities and landowners prepare for wildfire, manage watersheds and wildlands, and increase the transparency of land management decision making. We use our expert knowledge of wildfire behavior and land management to develop tangible wildfire hazard mitigation projects that affect real changes on the ground.

Our pre-fire plans improve public safety and benefit the landscape by:
• Identifying places where a wildfire might trap and kill people or destroy property • Establishing priorities for fuel reduction and habitat restoration • Integrating wildfire management with other land management objectives • Reducing the risk of natural resource damage from severe fire and fire suppression activities • Improving fire suppression effectiveness, as well as firefighter safety • Preventing infrastructure losses/property damage during wildfire incidents We use the following tools to assess fire hazard across landscapes:
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Cartography/mapmaking
• Satellite imagery, aerial photography, and LiDAR
• Fixed-wing aerial imagery, orthophotography and UAV piloting • Ground-based fuel mapping and surveys
• Numeric wildfire behavior models
• Qualitative data via interviews with knowledgeable locals • Application of peer-reviewed science
DCR’s wildfire mitigation experts have helped to develop wildfire pre-plans in the Lassen Foothills, Klamath Mountains, Lake Tahoe Basin, Central Coast, Klamath Mountains, and for Plumas, El Dorado, Amador, Monterey, Nevada, and Yuba Counties. Our staff developed a major hazardous fuels reduction project for University of California’s Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, in Santa Clara County, and also developed the Plumas County Hazardous Fuel Assessment & Strategy. We recently completed a community wildfire protection plans (CWPP) for the Olympic Valley and are currently developing CWPPs for the American River Parkway in Sacramento and for the City of Redding.

DCR has provided professional GIS mapping services for major planning efforts including the South Lassen Watersheds Project, the Northern Sacramento Valley Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (NSV-IRWM) and Upper Feather River IRWM projects. Among other things, we have performed vegetation mapping of coastal wetlands for public agencies, developed field mapping applications for petroleum pipeline right-of-way inspectors, built map-based asset catalogs for major winery properties, and used aerial LiDAR data to conduct a timber inventory across 65,000 acres. We can also perform UAV and fixed-wing aerial surveys to create orthomosaic images of landscapes, from five acres to 50,000.

Our pre-fire plans improve public safety and benefit the landscape by integrating wildfire management with other land management objectives to reduce the risk of natural resource damage from severe fire or fire suppression activities and preventing infrastructure and property losses.

We have experience with all aspects of wildland fire management and mitigation throughout California. DCR’s mapping crews have provided GIS support to CAL FIRE and the USDA Forest Service on several of the most destructive urban-interface fires in California’s history.

Firestorm has implemented wildfire hazard mitigation vegetation management projects resulting in tens of thousands of acres being treated. We understand the workflow of wildfire mitigation, from project conception to implementation, and emphasize follow-up and regular maintenance to maintain favorable conditions.

RWPP Data Collection Methods
Deer Creek Resources attended a group site visit with staff from EMC Planning Group and King City on December 6, 2023 and conducted an in-depth field survey on January 24 and 25, 2024. During the December visit, the group visited the project area and discussed preliminary vetting of potential fuels projects. In January, two DCR field surveyors walked the entirety of the riverbed and creek sections of the project area, noting wildfire hazards and considering wildland fire fuels reduction projects that would contribute to the overall wildfire resilience of the city.

Notes, geographic coordinates, and photos from the two-day survey are included in the accompanying shapefile, which can be opened in ArcGIS or other mapping applications.

DCR obtained aerial images and LiDAR of the project area from the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC). These flights took place between November 11-13, 2023. Aerial images were combined to create an orthomosaic (photo base map), which was used to map fuels and model likely fire behavior. DCR’s fire modeling was presented to the city on February 26, 2023.

Aerial images from the flight are used on all accompanying maps.

A community meeting was held on February 28, 2024, to collect input from King City residents.

Comments and notes from the meeting are included in Appendix C.

Reso. 2025- 5029 Riverbed Wildfire Protection Plan
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-5029

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF KING CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING THE

MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND MITIGATION

MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM AND APPROVING THE

RIVERBED WILDFIRE PREVENTION PLAN
WHEREAS, the City has a need for the development of a Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan (RWPP) to protect the area residents from wildfires; and WHEREAS, in 2022, CAL FIRE awarded the City a $224,000 Fire Prevention Grant to prepare a Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan (hereafter referred to as the Plan or Project) for portions of the San Lorenzo Creek and Salinas River; and WHEREAS, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was sent to qualified consultants. and EMC Planning Group, a land use and environmental planning firm out of Monterey, in collaboration with Deer Creek Resources, a wildfire consulting firm out of Chico, received the contract to prepare the RWPP and environmental document; and WHEREAS, the RWPP analyzes wildfire hazards along portions of the Salinas River and San Lorenzo Creek and makes recommendations on reducing potential wildfire-caused losses within the community; and
WHEREAS, EMC Planning Group and Deer Creek Resources created the RWPP following collaborative efforts which included community input through an online survey as well as internal and external stakeholder meetings; and WHEREAS, in February 2024 and August 2024, the City conducted two Community Meetings, at which time the public could provide their input; and WHEREAS, an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) was prepared by EMC with the public review period from July 31, 2024 to August 30, 2024; and
WHEREAS, on February 18, 2025, and in accordance with applicable provisions of law, the Planning Commission (Commission) held a public hearing at which time the Commission heard and received all relevant testimony and evidence presented orally or in writing regarding the Mitigated Negative Declaration, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and the Riverbed Wildfire Prevention Plan, and all interested persons were given an opportunity to hear and be heard regarding the Project.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of King City Council accepts the Planning Commission recommendation and adopts the Mitigated Negative Declaration, approves the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, attached as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, respectfully, and approves the Riverbed Wildfire Protection Plan, attached as Exhibit C of this Resolution.

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of King at a regular meeting thereof held on the 11th day of March, 2025 by the following vote:

AYES:

EXHIBIT 6
Reso. 2025-5029 Riverbed Wildfire Protection Plan
NOES:

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

ATTEST
________________________________
ERICA SONNE, City Clerk

CITY OF KING
By: __________________________
MIKE LEBARRE, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
ROY SANTOS, City Attorney
Aleshire & Wynder, LLP
I, ______________________________, City Clerk of the City of King, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of the Resolution passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of King on the date and by the vote indicated herein
Item No. 11 (A)

REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: MARCH 11, 2025
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: STEVEN ADAMS, CITY MANAGER
RE: CONSIDERATION OF WASTEWATER RATE STUDY
RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended City Council: 1) accept the Wastewater Rate Study; and 2) direct staff to distribute a Proposition 218 Public Hearing Notice for proposed wastewater rate increases to be held on May 13, 2025.

BACKGROUND:

City staff continue to work on plans to address major deficiencies in its wastewater system. The Wastewater Treatment Plant will need to be upgraded to meet current State Water Board regulations and future capacity needs.

Design drawings for the proposed new secondary treatment plant are projected to be completed in June 2025. In addition, the City has been gradually replacing sewer lines based upon a Collection System Master Plan completed and approved by City Council in 2018. Many of the City’s sewer pipes making up the sanitary sewer collection system are outdated, deteriorating and undersized, necessitating replacement of significant pipe segments.

The City Council approved a contract with Bartle Wells Associates on September 11, 2018 to prepare a wastewater rate study. The study was completed in February 2019 and included recommendations for annual rate adjustments over a 5-year period beginning in July 2019. The rate recommendations were adopted by the City Council, which included both average increases of 9% per year and gradual adjustments to the rate structure. The last approved rate increase took effect on July 1, 2024.

At the February 27, 2024 meeting, the City Council approved a new contract with Bartle Wells Associates to conduct a new wastewater rate study for the next 5- year period. The purpose of the rate study was to evaluate the City’s wastewater operational and capital needs to determine future revenue needs. The study is now complete and a draft report of the results is presented in Exhibit 1.

CITY COUNCIL

CONSIDERATION OF WASTEWATER RATE STUDY
MARCH 11, 2025
PAGE 2 OF 4
DISCUSSION:

Below is the current sewer rate table:

Rates Effective July 1, 2024
Customer Class Sewer Rates

RESIDENTIAL
Monthly charge per dwelling unit
Single Family $83.73
Multi-Family 67.45

NON-RESIDENTIAL
Volumetric charges per hcf of water use
Low Strength $5.96
Standard Strength 6.47
Moderate Strength 7.44
High Strength 9.70
MinimumNon-Residential Monthly Charge 3.72

SCHOOLS
Annual charge per student per year
Grades K-8 $9.03
High-School 18.07
There are several important assumptions incorporated into the study based on the planning work that has taken place for improvements to the wastewater system. First, cost projections have incorporated approximately $314,000 per year for sewer pipe replacement. This equates to one significant capital project every 3 – 4 years. Second, the remaining costs to complete the new wastewater treatment plant project are now projected to be $107 million, which is a significant increase from the prior study. It is estimated to fund $75 million from grants and the remainder from debt issuance and cash. Third, the annual operational costs to maintain the new plant are projected to increase by approximately $1.1 million.

Fourth, the rate setting model attempts to maintain the Wastewater Fund reserves at least equal to 50% of annual operating and maintenance expenses, plus $1 million for emergency capital reserves
The timeline and feasibility of obtaining approval for $75 million in grant funding is unknown. The figure is not based on any current determination of grant funding available. State and Federal funding programs have been significantly reduced. The City’s application has been submitted, but it currently remains

CITY COUNCIL

CONSIDERATION OF WASTEWATER RATE STUDY
MARCH 11, 2025
PAGE 3 OF 4
unfunded. The projection is instead based on a subjective determination by staff of the minimum amount needed in grant funding to maintain rate increases within a feasible level given the community has a large number of low-income households. Note that there are also no revenues included in the rate increases for costs associated with the proposed tertiary treatment plant. That project is assumed to be accomplished through grants and/or a financial partnership with Cal Water.

The rate study document includes a detailed table with all revenue and expenditure projections. The rate study recommends continued annual increases of 9% per year. The proposed rate table is as follows:

Current July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1
Customer Class Rates 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Single Family $83.73 $91.27 $99.48 $108.43 $118.19 $128.83 $132.69 Multi-Family 67.45 73.52 80.14 87.35 95.21 103.78 106.89 Low Strength $5.96 $6.50 $7.09 $7.73 $8.43 $9.19 $9.47
Standard Strength 6.47 $7.05 7.68 8.37 9.12 9.94 10.24
Moderate Strength 7.44 $8.11 8.84 9.64 10.51 11.46 11.80 High Strength 9.70 $10.57 11.52 12.56 13.69 14.92 15.37 Minimum Monthly Charge 33.72 36.75 40.06 43.67 47.60 51.88 53.44 Grades K-8 $9.03 $9.84 $10.73 $11.70 $12.75 $13.90 $14.32 High-School 18.07 19.70 21.47 23.40 25.51 27.81 28.64
Annual charge per student per year
Wastewater Rates Rates Effective On or After

RESIDENTIAL
Monthly charge per residential dwelling unit

NON-RESIDENTIAL
Volumetric charges per hundred cubic feet of water use subject to a minimum monthly charge

SCHOOLS
Billing is currently performed by Cal Water, but they have notified the City they will no longer provide this service. As a result, the City is in the process of establishing a billing system to assume this responsibility next fiscal year.

The prior and current rate structure charges a flat rate for residential users and a volume-based rate for commercial users. The rate structure is designed to be as fair as possible by setting rates based on sewage discharged to the system.

However, there are a few customers who have unique situations and do not fall into the normal categories. These have historically been charged special rates and billed directly by the City. The study provides recommended rates for these users, which include the schools, the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds and Rava Ranches.

Exhibit 1

Exhibit 2

King City City CouncilMarch 11, 2025

King City City Council
March 11, 2025