Brannan Island SRA ADEP Enhancement and Wallflower Introduction

The project at Brannan Island State Recreation Area in Sacramento County, California, focuses on ecological restoration by removing invasive non-native plant species to protect and enhance two federally endangered plants: the Antioch Dunes evening primrose and the Contra Costa wallflower. Annual activities include the manual removal of invasive vegetation within five feet of target plant populations using hand tools and chainsaws, selective thinning of native vegetation, and up to three applications of herbicide via cut stump and foliar treatments to control regrowth. A disturbance regime is maintained through spring and summer mowing using string trimmers or walk-behind mowers, followed by soil scraping to a maximum depth of two inches to replicate natural conditions favorable to the endangered species. Vegetation debris is disposed of either by onsite chipping, as directed by the Environmental Scientist, or hauled to a local green-waste facility. The project spans a maximum of 1.7 acres and is designed to create multiple spatially distinct populations of both plant species to ensure long-term genetic diversity and resilience. All work is conducted under California Code of Regulations Title 14, Sections 15301 and 15304, which classify the activity as a minor resource management action exempt from full CEQA review due to minimal environmental impact. The California Department of Parks and Recreation, through its Diablo Range District, manages all aspects of the project directly with no contracted third-party involvement, and inspections and acceptance occur on-site based on the defined procedural constraints. The project is annually recurring, with no specified start or end date, and all operations are overseen by the District Environmental Coordinator, Gina Benigno, whose contact information serves as the primary point of communication. No contract value, funding codes, invoicing procedures, or procurement-specific clauses are provided, indicating this is an internal state agency management initiative rather than a competitively awarded contract.