Archives: FAQs

If property owners don’t participate in the umbrella permit at this time, can they add their names once it’s determined when the dredge would actually occur? Some homes might change homeowners during before the basin dredge occurs, so are new homeowners precluded from participating at a later date?

The City wanted to start the permit process now so that dock owners would be cleared to dredge when the USACE started. The FY2021 Work Plan began on Oct. 1. It is still not clear whether they will have funding available after the Work Plan’s priority projects (i.e. Oakland and Richmond Harbors) are completed. If … Continued

Is the intent to use the same contractor for personal basin dredges as the main channel?

Yes. The City is working with the USACE so that the dock owners can “piggyback” on the main channel project using the same contractor that the USACE uses, which will result in both scale savings and savings associated with the elimination of mobilization cost.

Does USACE pulling their own permit for the federal channel dredge or will they use the same permitting consultant as the City?

The USACE pulls their own permits, but will rely on a consultant for their sediment quality approval. They have not selected that consultant yet.

Under this umbrella permit, will the actual dredge be performed by the same contractor, so all of the homeowners who sign on will be automatically dredged together?

The City is working with the USACE so that the dock owners can “piggyback” on the main channel project using the same contractor that the USACE uses, which will result in both scale savings and savings associated with the elimination of mobilization cost.

The last time we dredged, our dredge contractor did the permitting. What are the pros and cons of having the dredge contractor perform this work, instead of signing up through the City’s umbrella permitting process?

There is a pro in this approach if a HOA or property owner wants to undertake the dredging on their own without piggybacking on the Corps dredging of the federal channel with the other dock owners on the Canal. If a dredging contractor was doing your dredging independently, they would probably do the permitting at … Continued

The City gives a cost range for the permit fees of $40-70k. Is this based on the amount of dredge material or the number of dredgees? For example, if fewer people decided to be part of the umbrella permit, would those participating have to share in the same $40-70k costs of the permitting?

The umbrella permitting cost will be dependent on the number of dredgees. The permitting process will include the acquisition of all permits PLUS the sediment quality approval. The future umbrella DREDGE CONTRACTOR cost will be based on the amount of dredge material and will be split between between all permitted dredgees.

How can I further support efforts to lobby the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the full funding of dredging of the San Rafael Federal Channel?

Please contact Craig DeRoy of the San Rafael Channel Association at craig.deroy@gmail.com.

2021 Sidewalk Repair Program Notification

Who are the agencies that must approve the permit?

The permitting agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), the Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Fish and Wildlife, and the City of San Rafael.

What happens if the San Rafael Federal Channel is not allocated federal funding to be dredged within the next three years?

The primary maintenance dredging permits to be acquired under the umbrella permit process are good for 10 years, so a delay in USACE funding will not require significantly more expenditures. Renewal of the City permits may be necessary, but this will not require significant effort.