HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2402-2683CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, April 22, 2024
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
9.Approval of a Five-Year Technical Assistance Agreement with the United States Geological
Survey in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $924,745 for Scientific Monitoring Services at the
Regional Water Quality Control Plant Outfall and Horizontal Levee Pilot Project Site (WQ-
22001); CEQA Status- Categorically Exempt Section 15306
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City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Public Works
Meeting Date: April 22, 2024
Report #:2402-2683
TITLE
Approval of a Five-Year Technical Assistance Agreement with the United States Geological
Survey in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $924,745 for Scientific Monitoring Services at the Regional
Water Quality Control Plant Outfall and Horizontal Levee Pilot Project Site (WQ-22001); CEQA
Status- Categorically Exempt Section 15306
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve and authorize the City Manager or their designee to
execute a technical assistance agreement with the United States Geological Survey in the
amount not-to-exceed $924,745 over five years for monitoring services. Services will include
the continuation of a decades-long study of metals concentrations at the outfall of the Regional
Water Quality Control Plant and required monitoring and habitat utilization studies in
conjunction with the Horizontal Levee Pilot Project (WQ-22001).
BACKGROUND
The City of Palo Alto owns and operates a Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP)
serving the communities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Stanford, and
East Palo Alto Sanitary District, and manages an award-winning Watershed Protection Program
with the goal of preventing pollution to the San Francisco Bay. The RWQCP has partnered with
the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on an on-going study since the 1970s, when the
RWQCP outfall was identified as a point source for elevated metals concentrations that were
found in the tissues of mud-dwelling invertebrates, such as clams and worms.1 Concentrations
of metals were elevated due to inputs from the RWQCP effluent, but with the implementation
of more advanced wastewater treatment and pollution prevention programs, these pollutants
declined drastically in the 1980s, continued to decline through the 1990s, and have remained at
low levels since. The City continued this study, which is one of the largest datasets of its kind,
1 Near-Field Receiving-Water Monitoring of Trace Metals and a Benthic Community Near the Palo Alto Regional
Water Quality Control Plant in South San Francisco Bay, California, https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20231017
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and continued to assess ecosystem health and support related regulatory permit compliance at
the RWQCP.
ANALYSIS
2. It will also fulfill new post-
construction monitoring requirements over the next five years for the Horizontal Levee Pilot
Project. The agreement scope includes:
1. Continued Legacy Research (1977-present) – Monitoring contaminants in the benthic
community (clam and sediment study):
2 U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Joint Funding Agreement for Water Resource
Investigations, Agreement # 21NKJFA141, May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2024;
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/3/public-works/staff-reports-all/2024/21nkjfa141-final-
signed-contract-usgs.pdf
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2. New Monitoring for the Horizontal Levee Pilot Project (HLPP):
New monitoring is required for the HLPP after construction is finished in 2025.
Information gained from this project will be of regional importance and will inform the
building of horizontal levees, habitat enhancements, and the beneficial use of
wastewater in future projects throughout the Bay Area. Monitoring requirements during
the agreement term will include:
Wetland monitoring to fulfill resource agency HLPP construction permit
requirements, including effluent water quality and volumes, slope stability,
vegetation establishment, habitat types, conversion of adjacent marsh vegetation,
and presence of invasive plants. This component of the HLPP is required by the San
Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, United States Army Corps of
Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the San Francisco Bay
Conservation and Development Commission.
Post-construction assessment of salt marsh harvest mouse habitat use and food
resources. This five-year study will determine the presence of the salt marsh harvest
mouse, an endangered species, in the project area and at a reference site, and how
its available food and shelter resources are utilized as the HLPP develops over time.
This study will identify how horizontal levees, such as the HLPP, provide a benefit to
the salt marsh harvest mouse, e.g., by providing additional cover during high tides,
better food resources, and/or enhanced nesting habitat.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The HLPP project construction is included in the City’s Capital Improvement Budget as Project
Number WQ-22001. Over the five-year term of the USGS contract, $494,035 will be funded by
the Watershed Protection Operating Budget and $430,710 will be funded by WQ-22001. The
legacy monitoring will continue to be funded in full by the Watershed Protection Operating
Budget. The HLPP monitoring will be funded jointly through the WQ-22001 and the Watershed
Protection Operating Budget. Funding for the first year of this contract is available in the Fiscal
Year 2024 Adopted Wastewater Treatment Fund operating budget, and the Fiscal Year 2024
Adopted Wastewater Treatment Fund Horizontal Levee Pilot Capital project (WQ-22001).
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
USGS legacy monitoring has not included stakeholder engagement since it is an ongoing,
decades-long study. The new USGS monitoring requirements for the HLPP have been
referenced in general terms as part of the much broader and extensive outreach for the HLPP
design and construction which has included 20 stakeholder engagement activities such as
community events, and presentations to local non-governmental organizations, and to the
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Parks and Recreation Commission. Council adopted a Park Improvement Ordinance and
approved the agreement with ABAG on January 22, 2024.3
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This project is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
under section 15306 of the CEQA Guidelines (information collection).
Additionally, under this contract, the USGS will obtain permits/permit coverage determinations
from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife
prior to any fieldwork.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Technical Assistance Agreement with the US Geological Survey
APPROVED BY:
Brad Eggleston, Director Public Works/City Engineer
3 City Council Special Meeting, Monday, January 22, 2024, Agenda Item #5, Staff Report 2303-1230
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?id=82647
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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT
This Technical Assistance Agreement is entered into by and between U.S. Geological Survey, a
Bureau of the Department of the Interior, through the offices of its Western Ecological Research
Center, Sacramento, CA, hereinafter referred to as the “USGS” and The City of Palo Alto, Palo
Alto, CA, hereinafter referred to as “Collaborator.” USGS and Collaborator are sometimes
herein referred to as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”
Whereas, the USGS is authorized to perform technical assistance with other Federal agencies,
units of State or local government, industrial organizations, private corporations, public and
private foundations, and nonprofit organizations (including universities) under the Stevenson-
ydler Act (15 U.S.C. § 3710a(b)(3)(A), as amended);
Whereas, the USGS has a mission in conducting scientific investigations on the Nation’s
ecosystems and resources and has need of assessing the outcomes of novel restoration actions to
support this mission;
Whereas, Collaborator has a restoration site, the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project and has
need of USGS expertise in documenting the multiple ecosystem benefits of using horizontal
levee as green infrastructure rather than manmade structures including: assessment of tidal marsh
processes, salt marsh harvest mouse live-trapping and habitat use as well as monitoring of legacy
contaminants, benthic community and bacterial pathogens;
Whereas, the project entitled “The Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project: Post- Restoration
Science and Monitoring” is intended by the Parties to be mutually beneficial and to benefit the
people of the United States;
Now, therefore, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Statement of Work. See attached Statement of Work (SOW) (Attachment A), incorporated
by reference herein.
2. Principal Investigator. The USGS principal investigators (PIs) for this Project are Susan De
La Cruz, sdelacruz@usgs.gov, 707-562-2004; PO Box 158 Moffett Field, CA 94035; Karen
Thorne, kthorne@usgs.gov, 916-502-2996, One Shields Ave. Davis, CA 95616; and Marie-
Noële Croteau, mcroteau@usgs.gov, 650-329-4424, PO Box 158 Moffett Field, CA 94035. The
PI for the Collaborator is Elise Sbarbori, Elise.Sbarbori@CityofPaloAlto.org, (650) 496-5958,
and 1900 Embarcadero Road, Suite 205, Palo Alto, CA 94303. In the event that a PI is unable to
continue in this project, the sponsoring agency will make every effort to substitute a replacement
acceptable to the other Party.
3. Title to Equipment. There will be no joint property purchased as a result of the work
outlined in the SOW. Each Party will provide its own equipment necessary to support its
participation in the technical evaluation.
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4. Term. The technical assistance contemplated by this Agreement will commence on the
effective date of this Agreement. The effective date of this Agreement shall be the later date of
(1) 5/1/2024 or (2) the date of the last signature by the Parties. The expiration date of this
Agreement shall be 4/30/2029. The Agreement may be extended by mutual written agreement of
the Parties.
5. Funding.
The total budget is $924,745 and is intended to include work conducted by four different USGS
Science Centers:
USGS Western Ecological Research Center, San Francisco Bay Estuary Field Station (De
La Cruz and Woo): $324,216
USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Davis Field Station (Thorne and
Buffington): $270,529
USGS Geology Minerals Energy and Geophysics Science Center (Croteau): $ 173,000
Water Mission Area (Parchaso): $82,000
Upper Midwest Water Science Center (Givens): $75,000
(a) The Collaborator will provide an estimated $924,745.00 in funds-in to the project. The
Collaborator is providing in-kind services valued at $0.
(b) The USGS requires an advance of $0.
(c) This agreement has been negotiated to be paid based on expenses incurred. The USGS will
submit invoices to the Collaborator’s administrative contact, identified in Section 9.d., on a
quarterly basis. Invoices not paid within 60 days from date of bill for Local and State
Government customers will bear Interest, and other fees required by Federal Law, at the annual
rate pursuant the Debt Collection Act of 1982, (codified at 31 U.S.C. § 3717) established by the
U.S. Treasury.
(d) The USGS is providing in-kind services valued at $ 12,500 to the collaboration, including PI
salary for science project direction and design.
6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by either Party on 30 days written notice
to the other. In the event of an early termination, the USGS shall be reimbursed for any
completed work or work in progress on the Effective Date of Termination (i.e., when the
Agreement actually terminates following the receipt of written notice from the other Party). Any
unspent advanced funds will be returned to Collaborator. The USGS shall also supply a copy of
the evaluations completed as of the Effective Date of Termination in the event of an early
termination of the project.
7. Publications/Reports.
(a) Each Party is free to publish the non-proprietary or non-confidential information
and data developed in the performance of this agreement. Before a Party submits the information
and data for publication or otherwise intends to publicly release or disclose scientific information
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and data that is jointly developed, the Party shall have a review period of Fifteen (15) business
days to ensure that the draft publication or presentation does not contain Confidential or
Proprietary Business Information. Upon expiration of the review period with no comments
received from the other Party, the first Party will proceed with submission of the publication and
presentation. The review period is provided as a courtesy to review the publications or
presentations to ensure confidential or proprietary information is not disclosed and ensure that
there is not inadvertent release of such information that could be used for a patent or invention
application. All comments provided within the review period will be forwarded to the contacts
identified in Section 9. The Parties acknowledge that scientific information and data developed
as a result of the SOW are subject to applicable USGS Fundamental Science Practices (FSP)
review, approval, and release requirements, which are available in Survey Manual Chapter
(SMC) 502.4, Fundamental Science Practices: Review, Approval, and Release of Information
Products. The USGS is required to provide timely public access to the results of this scientific
information and data unless it contains sensitive, protected information. Data and associated
metadata will be open format and publicly accessible. The data and metadata will also be open
access and machine readable in accordance with USGS FSP requirements available in SMC
502.7, Fundamental Science Practices: Metadata for USGS Scientific Information Products
Including Data and SMC 502.8, Fundamental Science Practices: Review and Approval of
Scientific Data for Release.
(b) Under the authority of 15 U.S.C. § 3710a (c)(7)(B), as amended, the Parties will have the
opportunity, as part of the technical assistance, to identify protected research and development
information, which is defined as information generated by the research which would have been
proprietary information had it been obtained from a non-Federal entity. Each Party may
designate as protected research and development information, any information generated by its
own employees, and with the Agreement of the other Party, mark any information produced by
the other Party’s employees. Such protected research and development information shall be
exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(4). After the protected research and
development information period has expired, the USGS may publish the results of the research
as part of open literature (journal and proceeding articles) or as USGS open file reports.
(c) Generated information and results which have been created and marked as protected research
and development information may be protected from release or disclosure for a period of two (2)
years, unless an earlier date is agreed upon by the Parties.
8. Proprietary Information/Intellectual Property/Background Intellectual Property.
No intellectual property is expected as a result of the research/technical effort.
9. Notices.
Any notice required to be given or which shall be given under this Agreement shall be in writing
and delivered by first-class mail to the Parties as follows:
(a) USGS Administrative Contact Information:
Helen Knepp
USGS Western Ecological Research Center
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(b) USGS Technical Contact Information:
Isa Woo
PO Box 158, Moffett Field, CA 94035‐0158
iwoo@usgs.gov
707‐562‐2001
https://www.usgs.gov/centers/werc
(c) USGS Financial Contact Information:
(d) Collaborator Administrative Contact Information:
(e) Collaborator Technical Contact Information:
Elise Sbarbori
1900 Embarcadero Road, Suite 205, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Elise.Sbarbori@CityofPaloAlto.org
(650) 496‐5958
Click or tap here to enter text.
(f) Collaborator Financial Contact Information:
Elise Sbarbori
1900 Embarcadero Road, Suite 205, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Elise.Sbarbori@CityofPaloAlto.org
(650) 496‐5958
94‐6000389
hknepp@usgs.gov; 279‐782‐3589
3020 State University Drive. Modoc Hall, Suite 4004, Sacramento, CA
95819
Helen Knepp
3020 State University Drive, Modoc Hall Suite 4004 Sacramento, CA
95819
hknepp@usgs.gov
279‐782‐3589
USGS UEI: NJQMLNG5L8A5
USGS Tax ID: 53‐0196958
Elise Sbarbori
1900 Embarcadero Road, Suite 205, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Elise.Sbarbori@CityofPaloAlto.org
(650) 496‐5958
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10. Independent Entity.
For purposes of this Agreement and all research and services to be provided hereunder, each
Party shall be, and shall be deemed to be, an independent Party and not an agent or employee of
the other Party. Each Party shall have exclusive control over its employees in the performance
of the work. While in field locations, a Party’s employees shall adhere to the safety and
technical requirements imposed by the Party controlling the work site.
Neither Party shall have authority to make any statements, representations, or commitments of
any kind, or take any action, which shall be binding on the other Party, except as may be
explicitly provided for herein or authorized in writing. Neither Party may use the name of the
other in advertising or other forms of publicity without the written permission of the other.
11. Governing Law/Liability.
(a) This Agreement is subject to interpretation under applicable State and Federal laws. Where
there is inconsistency between the laws, Federal law is controlling. Each Party agrees to be
responsible for the activities, including the negligence, of their employees. The USGS
responsibility for the payment of claims for loss of property, personal injury, or death caused by
the negligence or wrongful act or omission of a USGS employee, while acting within the scope
of their employment, is limited to provisions of the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 USC §§ 2671-
80.
(b) The USGS and the Collaborator make no express or implied warranty as to the conditions of
the research, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose of the research, data, or resulting
product incorporating data developed and exchanged under the SOW. These provisions shall
survive the termination of the Agreement.
(c) The USGS shall not indemnify Collaborator or any third party against any liabilities, costs,
attorney’s fees, expenses, damages and losses (including any direct, indirect or consequential
losses, loss of profit, loss of reputation and all interest, penalties, and legal costs and all other
professional costs and expenses suffered or incurred by Collaborator or any third party arising
from the work conducted under this technical assistance agreement.
12. Force Majeure.
Neither Party shall be liable for any unforeseeable event beyond its control, not caused by the
fault or negligence of such Party, which causes such Party to be unable to perform its obligations
under this Agreement, and which it is unable to overcome by the exercise of due diligence
including, but not limited to, flood, drought, earthquake, storm, fire, pestilence, lightning, and
other natural catastrophes; epidemic, war, riot, civil disturbance, or disobedience; strikes, labor
disputes, or failure, threat of failure, or sabotage; or any order or injunction made by a court or
public agency. In the event of the occurrence of such a force majeure event, the Party unable to
perform shall promptly notify the other Party. It shall further use its best efforts to resume
performance as quickly as possible and shall suspend performance only for such period of time
as is necessary as a result of the force majeure event.
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13. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement contains all of the terms of the Parties and supersedes all prior Agreements and
understandings related thereto. This Agreement can be changed or amended only by a written
instrument signed by the Parties. Due to the specialized nature of the work, this Agreement is
non-assignable by both Parties.
14. Disputes.
The signatories to this Agreement shall expend their best efforts to amicably resolve any dispute
that may arise under this Agreement. Any dispute that the signatories are unable to resolve shall
be submitted to the Director of the USGS or his/her designee and the City of Palo Alto, Public
Works Department of the Collaborator or his/her designee for resolution. If no resolution is
reached, the Parties agree that the courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over any
claims arising out of work under this agreement.
15. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) Anti-Deficiency Act. Pursuant to the Anti-Deficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 1341 (a)(1)(A) and
(B) and 31 USC § 1517(a), nothing herein contained shall be construed as binding the USGS to
expend in any one fiscal year any sum in excess of its appropriations or funding in excess or
what it has received for the collaborative work outlined in the SOW or involving the Federal
government in any obligation to pay money before funds have been appropriated for that purpose
unless otherwise allowed by law.
(b) Import/Export. The use and dissemination of Information and materials exchanged under this
Agreement will be in accordance with all U.S. laws and regulations, including those pertaining to
national security and export control. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a license to
export Information or to permit any disclosure in violation of law, regulation, or Department of
Interior policy. The exporting Collaborator is responsible for obtaining any export licenses that
may be required by U.S. Federal law.
(c) Third Parties. The Parties acknowledge and agree to allow disclosure of Proprietary
Information or Background Intellectual Property to third parties (such as, students, contractors,
subcontractors and or consultants) or external collaborators for the purposes of carrying out this
Agreement. If a Party engages a new third party to perform any portion of the SOW after the
Effective Date of this Agreement, such Party will notify the other Party and provide information
about the third-Party involvement within 7 days of engagement. No contractors shall be listed as
ineligible in the System for Award Management (sam.gov), unless waived by the Department of
the Interior. However, these participants are not Parties to the Agreement. The Parties agree that
they will comply with and advise any third parties they have engaged to conduct the Agreement
activities to comply with, all applicable Executive Orders, statutes, and regulations. The Parties
agree that they will ensure that third party participants are under written obligation not to disclose
Proprietary Information or Background Intellectual Property, except as required by law or court
order, before the third parties have access to any Proprietary Information or Background
Intellectual Property. No foreign personnel shall be engaged by the Collaborator as a contractor,
consultant, grantee or third-party collaborator for the performance of any work under this TAA
without first identifying the individual, his country of origin, and the work to be performed to
USGS so that USGS may determine whether the agency requires advanced approval by an
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authorized agency official before working with the foreign contractor, consultant, grantee or
third-party collaborator, and whether any data, technology or products shared with or used by a
foreign contractor, consultant, grantee or third-party collaborator as part of the technical
assistance under this agreement are in accordance with all U.S. laws and regulations, including
national security export controls and U.S. Department of State regulations and policies.
16. Survivability.
The following provisions shall survive the termination of this Agreement: 7.
Publications/Reports, 8. Proprietary Information/Intellectual Property/Background Intellectual
Property and 14. Disputes.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed on the last
date listed below.
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY COLLABORATOR
By: ___________________________ By: ___________________________
Name: A. Keith Miles Name: Ed Shikada
Title: WERC Center Director Title: City Manager
Date: _________________________ Date: ____________________________
Attest:
By: ___________________________
Name: Brad Eggleston
Title: Public Works Director
Date: _________________________
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By: ___________________________
Name: Caio Arellano
Title: Chief Assistant City Attorney
Date: _________________________
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Attachment A: Statement of Work
The Palo Alto Horizontal Levee
Pilot Project:
Post‐ Restoration Science and
Monitoring
May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2029
Research Team:
Susan De La Cruz and Isa Woo: USGS Western Ecological Research Center, San
Francisco Bay Estuary Field Station
Karen Thorne and Kevin Buffington: USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Davis
Field Station
Marie-Noële Croteau: USGS Geology Minerals Energy and Geophysics Science Center
Francis Parchaso: USGS Water Mission Area
Carrie Givens: USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center
I. BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION:
The City of Palo Alto is leading a Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project (PAHLPP) at the
Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. This innovative pilot project is intended to use green
infrastructure rather than hard grey structures to promote multiple ecosystem benefits including
wind/wave attenuation, flood protection, and use of treated wastewater for plant irrigation in
addition to enhancing marsh-upland transition zone habitat and high tide refugia for tidal marsh
inhabitants. The horizontal levee may include freshwater marsh, wet meadows, and
riparian/scrub ecosystems. This restoration will transition into a brackish marsh zone that
transitions into the salt marsh of the adjacent Harbor Marsh. This project will restore a rare
habitat type in the San Francisco Bay estuary and also provide flood protection and human
recreation opportunities. Furthermore, a gentle sloping transition zone will also enhance the
ability to enhance marsh resiliency to sea level rise.
Additionally, USGS scientists will monitor metals, bacterial pathogens, and the benthic
macroinvertebrate community at an intertidal site near the PAHLPP and near the outfall of the
Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP). The latter site has been monitored
for the last 30 years. Initially, exceptionally high concentrations of copper and silver were found
in mud-dwelling animals, and the RWQCP was identified as a point source for these metals. The
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elevated metal concentrations also coincided with reduced reproductive activity in resident clams
(Limecola petalum, formerly Macoma balthica and Macoma petalum), and the benthic
community showed signs of environmental stress. Metal concentrations in both sediments and
clams have declined significantly in the 1980s as the Palo Alto RWQCP implemented more
advanced wastewater treatment and source control programs. Since the 1990s, metal
concentrations have continued to slowly decrease and even stabilize, except for silver, which
continues to be 2-3 times higher than the regional background. Overall metrics suggest improved
environmental conditions at the site. Continued efforts to document changes in pollutant
concentrations, forms, and types over time is critical to assess ecosystem health.
II. PURPOSE:
The overall purpose of this agreement is to provide technical assistance to the City of Palo Alto to
quantify the effectiveness of the PAHLPP restoration in comparison to appropriate reference sites.
These assessments are focused on assessing the habitat for endangered species such as the salt
marsh harvest mouse (SMHM; Reithrodontomys raviventris) presence and habitat functions;
monitoring of benthic community for bacterial pathogens and contaminants; and understanding
tidal marsh processes in terms of elevation, channel morphology, and vegetation. The science and
monitoring will be conducted by four USGS Science Centers with the following 3 objectives.
III. OBJECTIVES:
Our objectives are divided into three components: 1) Determining Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
presence and assessing habitat function for seed resources and high tide refugia; 2) Monitoring
of contaminants and pathogens; 3) Understanding wetland processes (elevation, vegetation).
These objectives will be addressed in the following three studies.
Study 1: Determine Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse presence and assess habitat
function for seed resources and high tide refugia (Woo and De La Cruz)
The SMHM is an endangered species that is endemic to the San Francisco Estuary. Many
Federal, state, and regional management, recovery, or restoration plans have emphasized the
importance of habitat restoration and enhancement for SMHM recovery; yet few studies have
addressed the direct benefits of these management actions for SMHM. Most studies on SMHM
focus on SMHM presence either by live trapping or via fecal pellets with subsequent genetic
analyses to identify species (Aylward et al. 2023). Yet, species presence alone provides limited
information on how individuals use or benefit from specific restoration actions. Here, we
propose a step-wise and methodical approach in assessing critical habitat functions in terms of
food and habitat resources for SMHM. This study dovetails with UC Davis proposed work on
fecal pellets for SMHM detection. We propose a tiered approach to assess the effectiveness of
the PAHLPP at augmenting food resources and providing high tide refugia for SMHM using the
Opportunity, Capacity, and Realized Function framework set forth by Simenstad and Cordell
(2000) and used by USGS to characterize restoration effectiveness at the Nisqually River Delta
(Ellings et al. 2016, Davis et al. 2018, Woo et al. 2018). Opportunity is defined by habitat
suitability which will be measured by SMHM live trapping for presence. Capacity is defined by
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the restoration’s production of food resources (i.e., seed quantity, diversity, and biomass per unit
area during fall). Realized Function is the integration of Opportunity and Capacity in terms of
evidence that SMHM is consuming the additional food resources provided by the restoration.
Evidence that SMHM is consuming food from the PAHLPP will be measured by reconstructing
diet from droppings (saved from live trapped individuals). Habitat functions in terms of high
tide refugia will also be quantified via focal observations of predation during king tide events.
Task 1.1 Opportunity: SMHM Presence
Opportunity is defined by habitat suitability
which will be measured by SMHM live
trapping for presence.
Task 1.1a. Does the PAHLPP provide habitat
for Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse measured by
live‐trapping?
A single pre-restoration small mammal
trapping session occurred in Fall 2023 and
will be repeated annually for post-restoration
comparisons. Our study sites will be focused
on the PAHLPP site and adjacent marshes
and a reference site north of PAHLPP
(Figure 1). Droppings will be collected and
archived for later analyses of diet (via dietary
DNA). Salt marsh harvest mouse surveys
will be led by permitted biologist (State
permit: Woo SC-183120006. Federal Permit USGS: TE020548-15). All SMHM protocols will
be followed.
Task 1.2: Habitat Capacity
Task 1.2a. Does PAHLPP produce food resources for SMHM?
We will quantify the availability of seed resources in the PAHLPP compared to nearby reference
site as a metric of the restoration’s structural capacity to provide food resources. This survey
will be conducted after the SMHM trapping session, annually in the Fall, so that any diet
information gathered during live-trapping can be related to the on-site production of seed
resources, and later analyses of consumption (via dietary DNA analyses on droppings, currently
not funded).
Task 1.2b. Does PAHLPP provide plant cover compared to reference?
We will assess the pre- and post- restoration habitat of the PAHLPP to provide plant cover
during king tide events compared to the reference marsh. To do this we will integrate water
levels (via a water level logger), with vegetation height surveys supplemented by Objective 3
surveys of elevation and vegetation (see Objective 3) to model pre- and post- restoration to
assess the amount of vegetative cover at varying high tide levels.
Figure 1. The Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project and
reference site to compare Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
presence and food resources.
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Task 1.3: Habitat Functions
Task 1.3a. Do SMHM consume seeds from PAHLPP
In order to facilitate analyses of dietary DNA (via droppings), we will establish a localized DNA
library or supplement existing DNA libraries to include the full suite of onsite plant species,
common tidal marsh vegetation, and common invertebrates. This would allow for more accurate
dietary reconstruction from small mammal droppings.
Task 1.3b. Does PAHLPP provide high tide refugia compared to reference?
King tide events are extreme high tides that occur in winter and flood the marsh to the extent
where very little vegetative cover remains. Small mammals that live within marshes with abrupt
upland transition zones may be exposed to greater predation risk because of the lack of vegetated
cover during king tides. To quantify this, we will conduct focal observations on avian predators
during king tide events at the PAHLPP and reference site, for pre- and post- restoration.
Task 1.3c. Optional Subtask: DNA analyses: Dietary reconstruction from collected and
archived fecal pellets (additional $46,000 required)
This optional task is not currently funded, and would require an additional $46,000 to conduct
DNA analyses on collected and archived fecal pellets of the small mammal community. These
pellets have been collected and preserved in molecular grade ethanol to facilitate analyses until
an additional funding source is identified.
Task 1.4: Project Management and Reporting
Task 1.4a. Project/Data Management; endangered species permits; Data analyses; Reporting
Results from this work will be included in the final report as described in section VII of this
Agreement. Project update reporting in the form of email will be provided annually by April 30,
to cover activities conducted during the previous calendar year.
Project communication will occur with periodic email updates to coordinate research activities.
An email update of the work activities completed will be provided annually. Basic summary
information will be provided in a form of an email, presentation slides, or teams meeting.
Project management also includes permitting reports for endangered species reporting, data entry
and basic data analyses.
Study 1 Budget Subtotal
Total post-restoration budget for Study Objective 1: Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse Trapping and
functional assessment of habitat is $ 324,216.
Study 2: Monitoring of benthic community and bacterial pathogens, as well as
legacy and emerging contaminants (Croteau, Parchaso, Givens)
The goal of this study is to assess aquatic ecosystem responses (including long-term responses)
to contaminants, in particular metals and bacterial pathogens, as well document recovery after
contaminant assault and physical disturbances at two sites in South San Francisco Bay, i.e., 1)
legacy monitoring site, and 2) new site located within the horizontal levee perimeter. Specific
goals include:
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1) Continue monitoring metals in sediments and in resident clam species, as well as benthic
invertebrate community composition at the legacy site.
2) Continue DNA analyses initiated in 2021 to assess the influence of wastewater effluent
on the microbial communities at the legacy site.
After the construction of the horizontal levee, the study will also characterize metal exposures
and colonization by benthic invertebrates at a (new) site located within the horizontal levee
perimeter.
Study objectives- Objectives are mostly a continuation of previous agreements with the City of
Palo Alto, except the addition of a new site nearby the horizontal levee. They include the
following tasks with details provided below:
Task 2.1: Measure metals of regulatory interest in sediment and in tissues of a local
sentinel species
Task 2.1a. Sample for metals
Contaminants will include toxic metals monitored since the mid-1970s (e.g., Cu and Ag), metals
used in clean energy technology (e.g., Cr, Co, Ni, Co, Mn and Zn), selenium, and mercury,
although mercury analyses will be done at a lower frequency. Samples will be collected 6-times
per year. Methods used will be similar to previous agreements (Cain et al. 2023).
Sediments will be collected at low tide from the exposed mudflat. Samples will be scraped from
the visibly oxidized surface layer of the mud, which represents recently deposited sediment and
detritus, or sediment affected by recent chemical reactions with the water column. The sediment
also supports microflora and fauna, a nutritional source ingested by M. petalum. Sediment will
be obtained to conduct all proposed analyses (Table 1) and to archive approximately 10 grams
for any unforeseen future needs. Clams (approximately 60-100 individuals) will be collected by
hand from the same areas.
Table 1. Chemical and physical data, and analytical methodology for monitoring the near‐field
discharge of the Palo Alto RWQCP
Constituent Matrix Method
Ag, Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Ti, Zn Sediment/tissue ICP‐OES
Nb Sediment ICP‐MS
Hg Sediment/tissue Atomic fluorescence spectrometry
Se Sediment/tissue ICP‐MS coupled to hydride generation
Particle size Sediment Physical separation
Total organic carbon (TOC) Sediment IRMS*
Microbial load Water/Sediment Cultivation on R2A media
Microbial community
(microbiome)
Tissue 16S rRNA sequencing
Antimicrobial gene markers Water/Sediment Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
*Continuous Flow Isotope ratio Mass Spectrophotometry (IRMS)
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Sample preparation- Sediments will be sieved through 100 μm mesh in ultra-clean (18 Mohm-
cm) deionized water immediately upon return to the laboratory. Both the fraction of sediment
passing through the sieve (silt/clay fraction) and the fraction retained on the sieve will be dried
and weighed. Particle size distribution will be defined as the proportion of the total sediment
mass divided between these two fractions.
Replicate aliquots of sediment (< 100 μm fraction) will be digested with concentrated nitric acid
in heat blocks. This method provides a “near-total” extraction of metals from the sediment and is
comparable to the recommended procedures of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) for leachable metals and to the procedures employed in the Regional Monitoring
Program. Another set of replicate subsamples from < 100 μm fraction will be directly extracted
with dilute (0.6 N) hydrochloric acid (HCl) for 2 hours at room temperature. This method
extracts metals bound to sediment surfaces and is operationally designed to obtain the leachable,
anthropogenic contribution to the sediment concentration (Luoma and Bryan 1982).
Clams will be depurated for 48 h at 15° C in clean ocean water diluted to the salinity on the
mudflat at the time of collection. Following depuration, the length of each clam will be
determined, and shell and soft tissue will be separated. Soft tissues will be composited into 8
samples, each containing animals of similar shell length. Samples will be dried and digested by
nitric acid in heat blocks. Samples for mercury and selenium analysis will be composited as
above into 3 samples, homogenized and stored at -80° C. Metal content of a standard sized clam
will be calculated for each collection to facilitate comparisons of metal exposure over time.
Analytical methods- Digested tissue and sediment samples will be evaporated to dryness and
reconstituted in either 1% nitric acid or 5% hydrochloric acid. Elements, except Hg and Se, will
be analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometry (ICPOES) (Table
1). Tissue and sediment samples for total mercury will be digested in nitric acid, followed by
BrCl oxidation, purge and trap, and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry according to
the EPA Method 1631. Similarly, tissue and sediment samples for selenium analysis will be
digested in nitric acid, followed by hydrogen peroxide oxidation, hydride generation inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HG-ICP-MS) according to existing methods. Total organic
carbon (TOC) concentrations will be determined using a continuous flow isotope ratio mass
spectrophotometer (IRMS) at UC Davis. Before the analysis, sediment samples will be acidified
with 12 N HCl vapor to remove inorganic carbon.
Quality control will be assessed by frequent analysis of blanks, certified reference materials with
each analytical run, and internal comparisons with prepared quality control standards. Method
detection limits (MDL) and reporting levels (MRL) will be determined using existing
procedures.
Task 2.2: Characterize the benthic community composition
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Task 2.2a. Collect, sort and identify benthic invertebrates
The benthic community structure will be characterized to support assessments of benthic
community dynamics in relation to contaminant exposures. Data will allow evaluating
relationships between metal exposures and biological metrics (benthic community structure,
condition index).
Three replicate samples will be collected using 8.5 cm diameter x 20 cm deep cores for the
benthic community monitoring study. Benthic samples will be washed on a 0.5 mm screen,
preserved in 10% formalin for two weeks and then transferred to 70% ethyl alcohol with Rose
Bengal stain. A minimum of 10 individual M. petalum of varying sizes (minimum of 5mm) will
be collected for the analysis of reproductive activity (if additional funds are available).
Benthic samples will be sorted and individuals identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible,
and individuals for each species will be enumerated. Note that as a cost-saving measure,
taxonomy of some phylum (for example, annelids) will be coarser.
Task 2.2b. Collect, preserve, dissect and assess reproductive status of clams (additional
funding source required)
Clams collected for reproductive analysis will be immediately preserved in 10% formalin at the
time of collection, to stabilize samples for archiving, until additional funds becomes available. If
additional funding becomes available, in the laboratory, the visceral mass of each clam will be
removed, stored in 70% ethyl alcohol, and then prepared using standard histological techniques.
Thin sections of clam reproductive tissue will be examined with a light microscope to
characterize sex, developmental stage, and condition of gonads.
Task 2.3: Characterize the microbial community in water, sediment and clams.
Task 2.3a. Measure microbial load in sediment, water and in clams
Measures of microbial load in water, sediment and clams will allow assessing the influence of
wastewater effluent on the microbial community (microbiome) as well as provide insights on
microbial-mediated processes. Triplicate sediment samples will be scraped from the visibly
oxidized surface layer of the mud using a sterile spatula and added into sterile Falcon tubes.
Triplicate water samples will be collected from pools at the mudflat surface using sterile Falcon
tubes. Clams (20-25) will be collected by hand, as described in task 2.1.a. In the laboratory,
clams will be rinsed with sterile MilliQ water, transferred into a sterile jar filled with DNA-RNA
shield solution. Samples will be shipped on ice overnight to the Michigan Bacteriological
Research Laboratory. Altogether, data for this project will increase the understanding of aquatic
ecosystem responses to anthropogenic contaminants, in particular metals and bacterial
pathogens.
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Task 2.3b. Characterize the microbial community and assess presence of bacterial pathogens
and antimicrobial gene markers
Using next-generation amplicon sequencing targeting a universal Bacteria 16S rRNA gene, we
will characterize and compare the microbial community composition, or microbiome, of the
surface water, sediment, and clams. Microbiome variation will be evaluated temporally and
spatially and in regard to other measured environmental variables, metal analysis, and benthic
community metrics. This collective analysis should provide details on how metal concentration
and exposure influence the microbiome of these separate environmental compartments with the
potential of influencing clam health and physiology. Note that if funds from other tasks can be
leveraged, the presence of bacterial pathogen and antimicrobial gene markers will also be
evaluated.
Note that if funds from other tasks can be leveraged, the presence of bacterial pathogen and
antimicrobial gene markers will also be evaluated.
Task 2.4: Project Management and Reporting
Task 2.4a. Project/data management, reporting
Project update reporting in the form of email and/or meeting will be provided annually by the
end of spring to cover activities conducted during the previous calendar year. Data will also be
summarized in the form of a USGS ScienceBase data release.
Study 2 Budget Subtotal
The annual budget for Study 2 is $330,000. It includes salary for project management and
reporting, as well as field work, sample processing, analytical and taxonomical analyses. Note
that specimens will be collected and preserved for task 2.2, but additional funding will be
required to pay for external analyses.
Study 3: Understanding wetland processes for Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot
Project: long‐term monitoring (Thorne)
The city of Palo Alto is constructing a horizontal levee and irrigated ecotone to create a
transitional freshwater wetland slope with a variety of habitat types proposed. The horizontal
levee may include freshwater marsh, wet meadows, and riparian/scrub ecosystems. This
restoration will transition into a brackish marsh zone that transitions into the salt marsh of the
adjacent Harbor Marsh. This project will restore a rare habitat type in the San Francisco Bay
estuary and also provide flood protection and human recreation opportunities.
Objectives: Assess the physical and biological conditions pre and post construction for the Palo
Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project and the adjacent Harbor Marsh. Here we propose to monitor
the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project restoration and the adjacent Harbor Marsh to
understand the ecological outcomes following the restoration efforts. We also propose
monitoring a control site (e.g., Laumeister marsh) to compare desired restoration outcomes to an
existing non-restored marsh ecosystem. The following monitoring activities meet the
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recommendations from the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project: Monitoring and Adaptive
Management Plan (ESA, 2023; Table 2 Summary of Monitoring Schedule). Pre-construction
monitoring (Q1 and Q2 of 2024) has been funded under a separate agreement, so the work below
will focus on Post-restoration monitoring.
Study questions:
1. How does habitat elevation and accretion processes respond to restoration?
2. What is the vegetation composition (native and invasive species) pre and post
restoration? Does vegetation cover and species diversity change following restoration?
3. How do soil properties, such as bulk density and percent organic matter, evolve post-
restoration?
4. What is the pore water (soil) salinity pre and post restoration and how does this compare
to an area without freshwater inflow?
5. How do these measurements compare to a marsh site without restoration efforts?
Study site: Will include the Project boundary (3.56 acres) and the adjacent Harbor Marsh. All
tasks below will include sampling in both locations.
Task 3.1. Elevation monitoring and soils development
Task 3.1a. Install and monitor SETs, sample soils for nutrient analysis
Accretion and Elevation: Surface elevation tables with marker horizons (SET-MH) will be
installed immediately following construction (Q4 2024) in the restoration site and salt marsh to
monitor surface deposition (accretion) and total changes in elevation (Figure 2). SET-MH
quantify the relative contributions of surface and subsurface processes to elevation change (i.e.,
root growth, decomposition, compaction, water flux), shallow subsidence (accretion – elevation),
and shallow subsidence between shallow (root zone) and deeper (to >10 m) portions of the soil
profile. Two SET-MH will be deployed in the upland restoration and two SET-MH in the salt
marsh. We will deploy each SET with three feldspar marker horizon (MH) plots. This
information will be paired with existing SET-MH deployed in Laumeister Marsh in 2022. These
will be measured biannually (Q1 and Q3, 2025-2028). All SET-MH locations will be surveyed
using a Real Time Kinematic GPS (RTK GPS) with horizontal and vertical accuracy of ~ 2 cm.
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Figure 2. Proposed locations for Surface Elevation Table‐Marker Horizon installation.
Soil development: Along a transect perpendicular to Harbor Road we will measure soil properties
within all habitat types (freshwater marsh, wet meadow, riparian/upland scrub, and salt marsh) to
the SF Bay edge. Three shallow (10 cm) soil cores will be collected each year at each habitat
type. We will measure soil properties, including soil salinity, bulk density, percent organic
matter, and macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous). All soil core locations will be surveyed
using a RTK GPS. Core data was already collected at Laumeister Marsh in 2022 for comparison.
Analysis: Accretion and elevation change rates (mm/yr) will be calculated for each data
collection period and over the project timeline. These rates of change will be compared to
Laumeister Marsh to assess if accretion rates are the same, greater, or less than a non-restored
salt marsh. Soil core data will be summarized by year and overall trajectory of change for the
site. Comparison to Laumeister Marsh and other existing data will be done.
Task 3.2. Vegetation establishment and change
Task 3.2a. Monitor vegetation development with annual surveys, invasive species surveys (x2),
habitat analysis
Vegetation cover: Three transects will be established that span from the top of the horizontal
levee through Harbor Marsh to the SF Bay. Twelve points will be selected along the transect,
three each in the upland grassland, wet meadow, brackish marsh and salt marsh habitat classes
within the project area. A PVC pipe will mark the north corner of each 0.5 x 0.5 m plot to ensure
data are comparable through time. Quadrat vegetation surveys will document all plant taxa
present, percent cover by species, percent cover by native, non-native, and invasive species, and
height (avg. and maximum by species). Also a visual assessment of vegetation health and vigor
will be done. This will be conducted each year during peak growing season (Q3).
Invasive plant surveys. Locations of perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), stinkwort
(Dittrichia graveolens), and other highly invasive plants will be surveyed and recorded in
monitoring years 2 and 5. Surveys will occur twice in each monitoring year (e.g., late spring, Q2;
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and late summer, Q3) to capture species with different seasonal growth periods. Stands of target
invasive plants will be mapped to estimate total coverage with the project limits and track
invasive plant colonization and establishment for comparison between monitoring years. Surveys
will include documenting percent cover and location.
Habitat type extent: Delineation of habitat types by area will occur both in the field and with
remote imagery in monitoring years 3 and 5 (monitoring year 1 is the first growing season
following construction completion and plant installation). Habitat types include freshwater
marsh, wet meadow, riparian/upland scrub, brackish salt marsh, and invasive species and will be
summarized by percent cover. We will estimate this using field surveys and paired satellite
imagery to develop a change analysis over the course of the monitoring period.
Analysis: Plant species richness and dominance will be compared through time, including
vegetation percent cover by habitat type. This will be done at the quadrat scale (Task 3.1) and
project scale (Task 3.3). Also, the change in extent and composition of invasive species through
time will be done. This will be compared with study site characteristics (e.g., elevation, soil
properties) to understand change and success. A map of photopoint locations will be provided
and photos will be summarized and presented.
Task 3.3. Tidal channel and soil water quality.
Task 3.3a. Record surface and pore water levels and salinity
Marsh channel water quality: Effluent volumes are important to monitor, but to correlate to
vegetation establishment and evolution measurements of marsh channel water quality is needed.
We will install two sensors (Solinst Edge loggers) to measure water level and salinity near the
restoration and in Harbor Marsh. Biannually (Q1 and Q3), a handheld water quality meter (e.g.,
YSI Water Quality Meter) will measure pH, ammonium, nitrate, and temperature in the channels.
Marsh pore water quality: The water quality in the root zone influences vegetation health and
vigor. We will establish two pore water wells near the restoration site and in Harbor Marsh and
download data biannually. Wells will include Solinst Edge loggers to measure water level and
salinity. A handheld water quality meter (e.g., YSI Water Quality Meter) will measure pH,
ammonium, nitrate, and temperature.
Analysis: Water quality parameters will be correlated to vegetation distribution and species
composition. This will also be related to health and vigor of the vegetation. Water level data will
be used to calculate percent time flooded for the restoration and Harbor Marsh to correlate with
accretion and elevation change measurements. Also, using water level data and RTK GPS data
(from above) we will calculate the local tidal datums for the project and Harbor Marsh sites.
Task 3.4. Project Management and Reporting
Task 3.4a. Project/data management, synthesis, analysis, reporting
Administrative tasks: Manage the contract, budget, and allow the development of any billing or
invoices as needed. Acquisition of necessary permits and trainings will be done. Data analyses
will be ongoing throughout the year. All data will follow DOI data quality guidelines, with
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appropriate data quality measures implemented. All data will be reviewed and inspected to
ensure it is complete, correct, accurate, structured correctly, and formatted correctly per the
scope of work.
Reporting: will be done annually. A summary report as outlined in the Palo Alto Horizontal
Levee Pilot Project: Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan (ESA, 2023; Section 4
Reporting) will be provided to the Collaborator by January 15 after monitoring years 1-5
covering the previous year’s work. Peer-reviewed scientific journals will be submitted.
Presentations to funder, stakeholders, and other interested parties will be provided both virtual
and in-person, when requested. Final project reporting will be provided by April 30, 2029.
Study 3 Budget Subtotal
Total post-restoration budget for Study 3, Understanding wetland processes for Palo Alto
Horizontal Levee Pilot Project long-term monitoring is $ 270,529.
IV. TERM AND PROPOSED PROJECT SCHEDULE/MILESTONES
This agreement is to cover post-construction monitoring activities from May 1, 2024 to April 30,
2029. As funding becomes available, this agreement may be modified and expanded to
incorporate an expanded scope for post-restoration research and activities.
V. COLLABORATOR ROLE AND EXPERTISE
The Collaborator’s role is to conduct the pilot project using a horizontal levee concept to
function as green infrastructure, providing levee protection as well as enhancing wildlife habitat.
Specific Collaborator Tasks: The Collaborator will facilitate access to the PAHLPP site,
provide updates on construction timelines and activities that may influence research and
monitoring activities, and facilitate coordination amongst other research groups at the PAHLPP.
VI. USGS ROLE AND EXPERTISE
This interdisciplinary team of USGS scientists from four USGS Science Centers possesses the
depth and breadth of expertise to assess the PAHLPP for endangered species benefits, marsh
processes, metal contaminants, and pathogens. The Western Ecological Research Center (De La
Cruz, Woo, Thorne) has expertise in wetland ecology, restoration, and monitoring to assess
wetland structure and function as well as expertise and permitting for handling the salt marsh
harvest mouse (SMHM, Reithrodontomys raviventris). The Geology Minerals Energy and
Geophysics Science Center (Croteau) has metal contaminant expertise and has led the
interdisciplinary team including Water Mission Area (Parchaso, expertise in benthic invertebrate
ecology) and Upper Midwest Water Science Center (Givens, expertise in environmental
microbiology) for the long-term monitoring of metals and the benthic macroinvertebrate
community.
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VII. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES/EXPECTED RESULTS
USGS will work with Collaborator to identify the information needed for their reporting
requirements, so that we can provide timely and management-relevant information throughout
the project including annual project summary updates. Annual summary reports will be
completed by April 30, summarizing the activities and results of the previous calendar year. Any
other interim updates can be provided upon request in the form of email update, presentation
slides, or teams meeting.
A final project report will be completed by April 30, 2029 for all tasks covered by this agreement
and accompanied by a USGS Data Release, in which all data will be publicly available at
sciencebase.gov. Data releases may occur separately by each objective. USGS will work with
Collaborator to identify final reporting requirements and reporting structure, which may include
separate reports by objective. In some instances, the final report may be structured as draft
manuscripts to be submitted to peer-reviewed journals, a USGS Scientific Investigation Report,
or a USGS Open File Report.
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Budget
Total budget for the post-restoration research and monitoring is $924,745.00.
1 Supplies include: live traps, sterilized bait, sanitation supplies for traps, molecular grade ethanol for DNA
preservation, ars, vials, labels; h drolo instruments, Sur ace Elevation Table supplies
2 Please note that your budget exhibits may be modified annually to offset uncontrollable changes in USGS
Bureau overhead rates.