Bay Restoration Project and Public Outreach Strategy
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
South Lake Tahoe, CA
The Meeks Bay Restoration Project has been identified by the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program as a project that accomplishes multiple objectives that help meet environmental threshold attainment. The proposed project will implement recreation, water quality, vegetation, and wildlife improvements.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), The United States Forest Service (USFS) Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board request proposals from qualified professionals and consulting firms to prepare a joint California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Impact Report (EIR), National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) Environmental Impact statement (EIS), and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) EIS for the Meeks Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project.
The lead agencies also request proposals to prepare and implement a Public Outreach Strategy based on feedback received during public scoping. The outreach strategy would involve identifying, convening and facilitating stakeholder groups, as well as design and distribution of outreach materials. The lead agencies are seeking an independent and neutral third-party mediator, or mediation team, to lead the multi-stakeholder collaborative component of this process. These services could be performed by the primary contractor, or a subcontractor.
Date of Announcement: November 15, 2019
Deadline for Submittal of Complete Proposals: December 13, 2019
Full text of RFP Available at: http://www.trpa.org/document/rfps/
Project Background
The deteriorating condition of the existing marina infrastructure, concerns over aquatic invasive species, and concerns over degraded habitat for native species have prompted the need for action in Meeks Bay. The primary purpose of this project is to move the Meeks Creek stream channel and wetland/lagoon below State Route 89 (SR89) to a more natural condition where geomorphic and hydrologic processes support a functioning ecosystem while continuing to support sustainable recreation opportunities.
The USFS issued a Notice of Intent in September 2018 to prepare a CEQA Draft EIR, TRPA Draft EIS and NEPA Draft EIS, to solicit comments on the scope of the project and approaches to address the issues on the site. The USFS also held a scoping meeting and site tour on October 12, 2018 at Meeks Bay. During the scoping period, The USFS received 123 comment letters. Of those sampled, public concerns include the following:
- Impacts of increased development on the site (pier and boat ramp)
- Location of pier and boat ramp
- Desire to re-open the marina
- Traffic that could result from new facilities
- Concern with reducing parking and campsites
- Impacts to quiet recreation and non-motorized vessels
- Demand for more boat slips (moorings)
Following scoping, in the Spring of 2019, the USFS requested assistance from TRPA to manage the joint environmental document and public outreach contracts necessary to implement the project. TRPA and the USFS entered into a participating agreement, whereby the USFS will continue to act as the primary lead agency for the project and TRPA will lead the solicitation, selection, and management of an environmental contractor (s).
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is granted environmental planning and regulatory authority at Lake Tahoe pursuant to the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact (Public Law 96-551). TRPA requires all projects to be consistent with the applicable development and environmental standards found throughout the TRPA Regional Plan package.
The lead agencies agree that a credible, collaborative and transparent decision-making process will more likely lead to a successful project supported by stakeholders and that can withstand legal challenges. For this reason, the lead agencies are soliciting the services of a contractor or subcontractor that can provide strong outreach, mediation, and facilitation services.
Project Description
The Meeks Creek Watershed is located on the western shore of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County, California in NE ¼ Section 29, Meeks Bay, California Quadrangle map. The project area extends from Highway 89 to Lake Tahoe in Meeks Bay and includes Meeks Creek, Meeks Marina, the campground and resort permit area on the north side of Meeks Creek (Meeks Resort), as well as the campground permit area on the south side of Meeks Creek (Meeks Campground). In addition, a small section of Meeks Creek upstream from State Route 89 (SR 89) is also included in the project area.
In summary, the following project elements are proposed:
- Aquatic Invasive Species Eradication
- Remove the existing marina infrastructure
- Restore Meeks Lagoon in the location of the existing marina
- Restore Meeks Creek from the SR 89 crossing to the confluence of Lake Tahoe
- Install Utility Infrastructure
- Implement Resource Protection Barriers
- Wildlife Enhancement Actions
- Construct a Pier
- Construct a Boat Launch
- Reconstruct Boat Trailer Parking and Vehicular Circulation Routes
- Reconstruct Meeks Bay Campground
- Install Pedestrian Connectivity Routes
- Install Interpretation Opportunities
- Construct Day Use Parking Areas
- Implement Shoreline Stabilization Measures
- Install Best Management Practices
Services to be performed
The contractor will be responsible for the following items.
Public Scoping Report and Resolution Document: The contractor will review and summarize all public comments in a publicly available scoping report and resolution document.
Specialist Reports/Studies: The contractor will review existing project documentation and prepare special studies and reports as needed to complete the environmental analysis.
Public Outreach Strategy and Collaborative Process Design: The project calls for a sophisticated, creative, and highly collaborative public outreach strategy that should leverage technology and non-traditional approaches to involving the public. In addition to the lead and permitting agencies, stakeholders include the Washoe Tribe, neighboring private property owners, motorized and non-motorized boating advocates, environmental advocacy organizations, and recreation groups. Key stakeholders should be engaged at all stages of the planning process including but not limited to joint fact finding, issue resolution, project alternatives development, and to provide input on analyses and findings. The outreach strategy must describe the proposed steps, tools, and phased approach to public engagement.
Mediation and Facilitation: The contractor, working closely with the lead agencies, will be responsible for identifying, convening, and facilitating stakeholder groups to develop project alternatives that represent the range of interests. The contractor will also identify a team member to act as a third-party mediator throughout the planning process.
EIS/EIS/EIR: The contractor will be responsible for all aspects of EIS/EIS/EIR preparation.
Public Hearings, Presentations, and Workshops: The contractor will be responsible for presenting the environmental alternatives, analysis, and mitigation strategy at joint hearings/workshops.
Public Notices: The contractor will prepare the public notices for draft and final EIS/EIS/EIR including CEQA State Clearinghouse Notice of Completion (NOC), Notice of Determination (NOD), and Federal Register notices. The notices will be prepared in concurrence with all three lead agencies.
Public Comment Summary Report: The contractor will review all comments received during the Public Draft review and Public Objection Period for the Final Draft documents. The contractor will prepare a Public Comment Summary Report
Draft and Final Record of Decision
Contractor agrees to comply with the State of California's Accessibility Standard (https://cdt.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/TL-15-05-Web-Accessibility.pdf) and federal accessibility standards for all deliverables. The State of California's Accessibility Standards entail, in part, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (Level AA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended. Contractor's compliance with the State of California's Accessibility Standard includes, but is not limited to, the specific requirements as follows: Documents, presentations, spreadsheets and other material must be provided in accessible formats; and Documents must be provided in editable formats.
All documents must comply with the USFS Environmental Analysis and Decision Making Requirements (EDAM), TRPA Rules of Procedure and Code of Ordinances, and CEQA Guidelines.