Resource Management Plan

Resource Management Plan Preparation

On September 12, 2023, the City held a workshop regarding a Draft Resource Management Plan  that will be developed and presented in the coming months. The presentation of the workshop can be found here. Please provide your comments on the City's preparation of a Draft Resource Management Plan no later than October 12, 2023. 

The City is responsible for four Habitat Management Areas (HMAs) owned by the City, including the Salinas River, Marina Airport, Northwest Corner, and Landfill HMAs. In accordance with the requirements described in the Fort Ord Installation-Wide Multispecies Habitat Management Plan (HMP) and the deed restrictions for the parcels, a Resource Management Plan (RMP) for these areas must be prepared and implemented. The RMP will identify the habitat management activities required for each parcel, describe any proposed development activities that are consistent with the terms of the HMP, and outline the monitoring and reporting requirements. At this meeting, staff and our consultant will provide background to the RMP, discuss the process for completing this plan, and provide an opportunity for the community to ask questions as well as provide comments. 

Please remember to provide your comments on the City's preparation of a Draft Resource Management Plan no later than October 12, 2023.  To provide comments regarding the plan, please email Matt Mogensen at mmogensen@cityofmarina.org.  Or call on (831) 884-1240.

Resource Management Plan Draft Exhibits

Fig 1a - Natural Communities AIRPORT
Fig 1b- Natural Communities LANDFILL
Fig 1c - Natural Communities NW CORNER 
Fig 1d - Natural Communities SALINAS RIVER
Fig 2a - AIRPORT Rare Plants 
Fig 2b-1 - LANDFILL Rare Plants (Overview)
Fig 2b-2 - LANDFILL Rare Plants (Manzanitas) 
Fig 2c-1 - NW CORNER Rare Plants (Overview) 
Fig 2d - SALINAS RIVER Rare Plants
Fig 3a - AIRPORT Invasive Plants
Fig 3b-1 - LANDFILL Invasive Plants (Overview)
Fig 3b-3 - LANDFILL Invasive Plants (Iceplant)
Fig 3c-1 - NW CORNER Invasive Plants (Overview) 
Fig 3d-1 - SALINAS RIVER Invasive Plants (Overview)
Fig 4a - Management Elements AIRPORT
Fig 4b - Management Elements LANDFILL
Fig 4c - Management Elements NW CORNER 
Fig 4d - Management Elements SALINAS RIVER

Background & History

The U.S. Army’s decision to close and dispose of the Fort Ord military base was considered a major federal action that could affect listed species under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).   In 1993, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a biological opinion in accordance with Section 7 of the ESA requiring that a habitat management plan be developed and implemented to reduce the incidental take of listed species and loss of habitat that supports these species.  The Installation-Wide Multispecies Habitat Management Plan for Former Fort Ord (HMP) was prepared to assess impacts on vegetation and wildlife resources, and provide mitigation for their loss associated with the remediation, disposal, and reuse of former Fort Ord. 

The HMP establishes guidelines for the conservation and management of species and habitats on former Fort Ord lands by identifying lands that are available for development, lands that have development restrictions, lands designated as habitat corridors, and lands that are habitat reserve areas.  The intent of the plan is to establish large, contiguous habitat conservation areas and corridors to compensate for future development in other areas of the former base.   The HMP identifies what type of activities can occur on each parcel at former Fort Ord; parcels are designated as “development,” “habitat reserve,” “habitat corridor,” and “development with reserve areas or development with restrictions.”  The HMP sets the standards to assure the long-term viability of former Fort Ord's biological resources in the context of base reuse so that no further mitigation should be necessary for impacts to species and habitats considered in the HMP.   This plan has been approved by the USFWS; the HMP, deed restrictions, and Memoranda of Agreement between the Army and various land recipients provide the legal mechanism to assure HMP implementation.  It is a legally binding document, and all recipients of former Fort Ord lands are required to abide by its management requirements and procedures.

The HMP anticipates some losses to special-status species and sensitive habitats as a result of redevelopment of the former Fort Ord.  With the designated habitat reserves and corridors and habitat management requirements approved and in place, the losses of individuals of species and sensitive habitats considered in the HMP are not expected to jeopardize the long-term viability of those species, their populations, or sensitive habitats on former Fort Ord.  Recipients of disposed land with restrictions or management guidelines identified in the HMP are obligated to implement those specific measures through the HMP and through deed covenants. 

City Requirements of the former Fort Ord HMP

The City is responsible for four Habitat Management Areas (HMAs), including the Salinas River, Airport, Northwest Corner, and Landfill HMAs. In accordance with the requirements described in the HMP and the deed restrictions for the parcels, a Resource Management Plan (RMP) must be prepared and implemented.   The RMP shall identify the habitat management activities required for each parcel, describe any proposed development activities that are consistent with the terms of the HMP, and outline the monitoring and reporting requirements.

Pursuant to the deed covenants, the local land use jurisdictions that receive disposed land with restrictions or management guidelines identified in the HMP, including the City, are required to prepare their respective RMPs within six (6) months of land transfer and acquisition.

Marina Resource Management Plan (RMP) Preparation

On December 15, 2020, the City Council approved an Agreement with Denise Duffy & Associates (DD&A), Inc to provide biological consulting services to develop an RMP.  The scope of the RMP creation includes the following tasks.

  1. Task 1. Project Initiation – includes the review of background information, scope of work finalization, identify data and documentation needs, confirm deliverables, and establish a project schedule.
  2. Task 2. Public Outreach and Early Coordination with Interested Parties – outreach to interested parties/stakeholders/public agencies, development of a Public Participation Plan, workshop and stakeholder meetings and Council presentation.
  3. Task 3. Prepare Resource Management Plan – one Resource Management Plan (RMP) will be prepared to address the HMP requirements for the HMAs.

    • Task 3.1. Data Collection/Baseline Inventory and Mapping – review available data and prepare narratives and figures.
    • Task 3.2. Identify and Define Potential Future Development Projects within HMAs – work with City to account for potential future development projects.
    • Task 3.3. Prepare Administrative Draft RMP – review draft report with City and address City comments.
    • Task 3.4. Prepare 2nd Administrative Draft RMP – revise draft report based on City comments and develop a cost estimate for RMP implementation. Submit to USFWS.
    • Task 3.5. Prepare Public Draft RMP – prepare public draft report based on USFWS comments.
    • Task 3.6. Prepare Final RMP and CEQA Determination – prepare final document and work with City to draft final CEQA determination memorandum.
    • Task 3.7. Hearing Attendance – attend Planning Commission and City Council public hearings to support City adoption of final documents. 
  4. Task 4. Cost Estimate for RMP Implementation – Update final cost estimate for implementation of the proposed RMP under two scenarios: implementation of the entire RMP, and a phased implementation of the RMP.

Public Participation

The purpose of the Public Participation Plan is to provide engagement and outreach strategies and activities to provide local communities, residents, stakeholders, interested parties, and other affected agencies and/or individuals with opportunities to become actively involved in the development of the Marina RMP.  The public engagement and outreach program in this Plan will assist the City in both providing timely information to and receiving input from interested parties during the RMP process.

The City has researched potential stakeholders and has compiled an initial contact list from existing resources. The notification list will be used as a means to notify interested parties of upcoming events and of postings of new materials on the this webpage. Persons will be added to the notification list throughout the project process and may sign up by sending a request to the Outreach Coordinator at the contact below.

Outreach Coordinator

The role of the Outreach Coordinator will be to serve as a central contact for the public and the stakeholders for the RMP. For this project, the Outreach Coordinator is also the Project Manager and will participate in and help coordinate all facets of the implementation of this PPP. Anyone seeking information on the RMP should contact:

Matthew Mogensen
Assistant City Manager
(831) 884–1240
mmogensen@cityofmarina.org

Project Contact

Matt Mogensen
Assistant City Manager

Reference

Maps
Plans
Former Fort Ord Documents