Report Prepared by: Richard Maddox, P.E. Senior Engineer
Title
SUBJECT: Update on Bear Creek Restoration Project
REPORT IN BRIEF
Update on current design efforts as part of the restoration project.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Information Item Only.
Body
DISCUSSION
BEAR CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT
The project incorporates 6 miles of creek restoration of Bear Creek from McKee Road to 16th Street in Merced. The Creek has overflowed at least 4 times in the past 20 years, accompanied with deep erosion, bank slides, stream bed damage, and loss of riparian habitat. Additional issues include trash accumulation, pollution, overgrowth, invasive non-native plant species such as Arundo donax (giant reed grass) in particular, are persistent problems with this urban stretch of the creek.
Increasing regulatory restrictions and limited access along portions of the creek inhibit the ability to access most of the ecological damage. More recently, unhoused individuals have moved in with illegal camping activities resulting in further damage including burrowed caverns in the creek banks. The creek banks have been impacted and in need of restoration due to the human activity, erosion, and slides. The aforementioned creek’s health conditions are intended to be mitigated and restored by this project.
Temporary rip-rap repairs were constructed on the creek banks yet more permanent repairs are still required. This project will provide for ecological habitat restoration following the levee repair and bank stabilization. Within the current design phase of the project, we are collaborating on a Flood Encroachment Permit from the Central Valley Flood Prevention Board (CVFPB) and environment compliance with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) while simultaneously conducting geotechnical borings and design for the flood damaged creek bank.
The project is funded with a $6 million dollar grant from the Department of Water Resources. Applications and cost estimates are currently being provided to FEMA as part of a request for additional funding to repair the creek levees and mitigate future flooding events.
CONSULTING SERVICES
On June 20, 2024, a Professional Services Agreement was signed with Dokken Engineering, Folsom, CA to provide environmental compliance and preliminary design for the Bear Creek Restoration Project.
ATTACHMENTS
1. City of Merced Restoration Project Announcement
2. Dokken Engineering Proposal for Bear Creek Restoration