Agua Hedionda Creek Channel Vegetation Maintenance Project (Notification of Streambed Alteration, No. EPIMS-SDO-54193-R5)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, in coordination with the City of Carlsbad, has authorized vegetation management activities within Agua Hedionda Creek between Cannon Road and El Camino Real bridges under Streambed Alteration Agreement EPIMS-SDO-54193-R5, issued pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code. The project aims to enhance flood conveyance capacity and reduce wildfire fuel loads by thinning and removing understory vegetation, with all work to be performed manually wherever feasible. Vegetation taller than twelve inches must be cut to a maximum of four inches above grade, and overall ground cover must be reduced to no more than half of its pre-treatment level. A minimum of ten willow trees—including black, red, and arroyo willow—are required to be preserved and maintained with limbs raised to at least six feet above grade. Qualitative monitoring of vegetation regrowth is scheduled for August or September, following the peak growing season, to assess compliance with the established conditions. The project is exempt from detailed environmental review under California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 15304, as a categorical exemption for minor land alterations, and no federal acquisition regulations or contract clause structures are applicable. No pricing, payment details, or contract value information is provided, and the instrument is not a federal procurement contract but a state regulatory agreement. Performance occurs exclusively on-site in Carlsbad, California, with oversight and final acceptance resting with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The City of Carlsbad is responsible for execution, with David Edwards serving as the primary project representative and Jennifer Blackbird as the lead environmental scientist from CDFW for coordination and review.