Santa Barbara Airport Firestone Ditch Vegetation Maintenance (Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-SBA-55636-R5)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has executed Streambed Alteration Agreement No. EPIMS-SBA-55636-R5 with the City of Santa Barbara, authorizing vegetation maintenance activities along Firestone Ditch to ensure proper hydraulic function and public safety. The work includes trimming approximately 1,500 linear feet of riparian and wetland vegetation on the west side of the channel and mowing or trimming 1,250 linear feet of non-native vegetation on the east side. Native vegetation such as oaks and willows will be maintained at a height of 10 to 12 feet and kept clear of road shoulders and traffic lanes along Firestone Road and Hollister Avenue, while non-native species including oleander, olives, and Mexican fan palms will be removed to ground level with their root systems preserved to mitigate erosion. Maintenance occurs on a defined schedule: roadside trimming annually, grassy areas mowed four times per year, and channel bottom vegetation trimmed every other year. The project is governed by Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Title 14, CCR Sections 15301 and 15304. Performance takes place entirely at the project site in Santa Barbara, with inspection and acceptance occurring on-site. The City of Santa Barbara, represented by Jessica Metzger, is responsible for execution, while CDFW provides regulatory oversight through Environmental Scientist Cooper Wall. No pricing information, formal contract type, federal acquisition regulation clauses, packaging requirements, or detailed invoicing or payment procedures are specified in the agreement. There are no designated contracting officer representatives, option periods, or socioeconomic certifications included, and the agreement functions as a regulatory authorization rather than a standard procurement contract.