To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 707-547-1900, Chris Delaney 707-322-5538
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Technical Support for Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoir Operations Project
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Monterey County Water Resources Agency, in substantially the form presented to this Board, for Sonoma Water to receive up to $173,185 to support enhancement of predictive tools and operational strategies for the Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams and Reservoirs to improve water resource management, and authorize Sonoma Water’s General Manager to amend or terminate this agreement with approval of County Counsel.
B) Adopt a Resolution authorizing adjustments to the Board Adopted Budget for FY 2025/2026 for the Sonoma County Water Agency General Fund in the amount of $173,185 in expense and in revenue.
(4/5 Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
The Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) received federal funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to enhance predictive tools and operational strategies for the Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams and Reservoirs. Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) will participate in the project by providing technical and analytical support to MCWRA’s consultant, GEI Consultants, Inc. (GEI), to improve reservoir modeling and forecast-informed operations aimed at maximizing water storage and reducing flood risk. Sonoma Water will be compensated for its technical and analytical support services through the federal grant that MCWRA received from USBR.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
In October 2023, MCWRA submitted a grant application with USBR to receive $400,000 in funding (funds) for the Enhancing Predictive Tools and Operational Strategies for the Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams and Reservoirs project (Project). USBR issued a Notice of Award to MCWRA on September 10, 2024. In October 2024, MCWRA’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution authorizing MCWRA to enter into an agreement with USBR to receive the funds to proceed with the Project.
Subsequently, in the Spring of 2025, MCWRA developed and issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking a consultant to perform specific tasks related to the Project. After reviewing submittals from six firms, MCWRA’s ad hoc Selection Committee selected a Statement of Qualification (SOQ) from GEI with Sonoma Water as a Project participant on specific tasks. The attached Agreement is for services with Sonoma Water, whose staff will perform Project technical and analytical supportive tasks under the direction of GEI.
Sonoma Water has extensive experience in the development and evaluation of forecast informed reservoir operations (FIRO) through its support of the viability assessments and development of real-time decision support tools for Lake Mendocino, Prado Dam, Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar Reservoirs. Sonoma Water will support the MCWRA’s consultant for the development of FIRO to Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoirs on the Salinas River through the development of models that will be used to complete a high-level assessment of the viability of FIRO and the development of a real-time decision support dashboard. This work will allow the MCWRA’s reservoir managers and operators to become familiar with FIRO concepts and assess the feasibility for future implementation. Sonoma Water’s support for this project will enhance the Russian River FIRO program through the further refinement of the methodologies, models and tools used to support real-time operations for Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma.
The Project aims to leverage recent improvements in reservoir modeling and forecasting technology to develop tools to aid in forecast informed operations of the Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoirs with a long-term goal of maximizing storage of winter inflow while minimizing downstream flood risk.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, Sonoma Water will assist MCWRA’s consultant, GEI, with enhancing predictive tools and operational strategies for the Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams and Reservoirs to support MCWRA’s water resource management objectives. Sonoma Water will gather information, develop models to simulate historical conditions, develop real-time operations, model framework and operations decision support tools, develop a plan to update existing operating procedures and train staff, and help prepare supporting information for the grant.
Sonoma Water will receive $173,185 from MCWRA for technical and analytical support services through the USBR grant. This agreement covers services rendered from November 4, 2025, to June 30, 2027.
Staff recommend that the Board authorize Sonoma Water’s General Manager to amend or terminate the agreement with approval of County Counsel.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Climate Resiliency
Strategy: Develop and implement practices to understand and minimize vulnerability to climate change impacts.
Action: Support interagency partnership efforts addressing regional climate-resiliency planning and projects.
Sonoma Water’s contributions to this project will further enhance the methods, models and tools used to support FIRO projects, and these benefits can be applied to the implementation of FIRO at Lake Mendocino and the future development and implementation of FIRO at Lake Sonoma.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$173,185 |
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Total Expenditures |
$173,185 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$173,185 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$173,185 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Additional appropriations are required. With Board approval of the attached budgetary resolution, FY 2025/2026 appropriations of $173,185 will be made in the Sonoma Water General fund, in expense as well as in revenue. Funding will be provided by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, through federal funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment A: Agreement with Monterey County Water Resources Agency
Attachment B: Budgetary Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.