This project bundles together several related regional projects to standardize and enhance digital information regionwide about creeks, creek facilities, floodplains and watersheds. The increased information base and regional standards will support hydrologic modeling and data sharing between and within counties. The major projects supported by this effort will be led by different agencies, but will be coordinated through centralized technical committees to ensure standard data management and collection, storage and analysis techniques. The project components will include: (1) Convene a region-wide technical committee to ensure consistent data collection, management, disbursement, coding, presentation, techniques; (2) Compile a countywide, pilot Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for San Mateo County that is FEMA-compliant and hydrologically enforced using LiDAR data that was collected by the County of San Mateo and several coorperating partners in October 2005. This will be developed in close coordination with the technical committee as a pilot project to ensure consistent application of data collection and management standards that can then be applied region-wide; (3) Create new GIS base layers including inventory and accurate locations of natural and engineered channels, urban stromdrains, levees, riparian corridors, groundwater basins, etc.; (4) Enhance existing GIS layers related to watershed planning, in particular the streams layer; (5) Develop internet facing infrastructure, databases, and applications to facilitate datasharing among municipalities and agencies within and across counties in the Bay Area.
The new and enhanced GIS-compatible information will support watershed planning and hydrologic modeling for all participating municipalities and agencies in the Bay Area. Currently the necessary data either does not exist, or is scattered among several jurisdictions. Provides a foundation for flood protection assessment and ecosystem health and restoration potential for all natural waterways. Portions of this project (Item 3, above) tie directly with the Statewide (DWR) & National (FEMA/ Corps of Engineers) Levee Inventory, which will establish ownership and maintenance responsibility for flood protection facilities. It will also support the requirement that all levees be certified and documented by local agencies to meet FEMA compliance standards.
One goal will be to design and implement a standardized data mangement system for region-wide application that will allow for fast, efficient map-or coordinate-based queries and facility management for creek and flood protection systems region-wide. Example applications could include rapid deployment of critical assistance during flood emergencies as well as routine management of maintenance needs assessment and activities. Region-to-region consistency will lay a strong foundation for mutual aid as well as regional watershed management decisionmaking.
A detailed but consistent inventory of the presence and status of creek facilities -including bulit systems and natural systems - provides the necessary foundation for decisionmaking regarding the need for additional facilities, or a first assessment of the potential to restore natural functions and processes to any waterway.
Watershed Management, Regional Goals, Flood Plains, Restoration, Creeks, Local Planning, Stormwater Management, Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, Technical Analysis, Data Management
Ecosystem Restoration,
Environmental and habitat protection and improvement,
Flood management,
Groundwater management,
Land use planning,
NPS pollution control,
Recreation and public access,
Storm water capture and management,
Watershed planning
