To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Marcus Trotta 707-547-1978
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Geophysical, Modeling, and Technical Support Services for Groundwater Sustainability Agencies
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the Second Amended and Restated Agreement for Modeling and Technical Services Support for Santa Rosa Plain, Sonoma Valley, and Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agencies with Errol L. Montgomery & Associates, Inc., in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board. The amended agreement increases the amount by $1,585,000, expands the scope of work to include services related to filling data gaps and implementing updates to the groundwater flow models, and extends the agreement term by two years and nine months for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $1,785,000 and end date of June 30, 2027.
B) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the Agreement for Geophysical Services Support for Santa Rosa Plain, Sonoma Valley, and Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agencies with Collier Consulting, Inc., in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, for geophysical services support through June 30, 2026, in the not-to-exceed amount of $610,000.
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Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) assists the three groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) that were created in June 2017 (Santa Rosa Plain GSA, Sonoma Valley GSA, and Petaluma Valley GSA) with technical services. The subject agreements will provide Sonoma Water with the necessary expertise to provide these services. The cost of services for the subject agreements will be reimbursed to Sonoma Water by the Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley GSAs.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
GSA FORMATION AND IMPLEMENTATION:
On April 25, 2017, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Sonoma Water Board of Directors (Board) authorized joint powers agreements for the formation of the GSAs. Staff from the eligible agencies, as defined by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), cooperated to develop a governance structure for these agencies. Each of the three basins has a separate GSA with a board made up of elected or appointed board members from eligible agencies.
The GSAs were tasked with assessing the conditions in their basins and adopting locally based groundwater sustainability plans by January 31, 2022. Under previous agreements authorized by the Board, Sonoma Water provides technical and outreach services associated with developing and implementing the groundwater sustainability plans, which were approved by California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in 2023.
In September 2023, the three GSAs were awarded grant funding under DWR’s SGMA Round 2 Implementation Grants, which will support filling data gaps, planning and implementation of water use efficiency programs, planning for recharge projects, design and construction of recycled water infrastructure and outreach and stakeholder engagement programs.
CONSULTING AGREEMENTS:
Original Agreement for Hydrogeologic Technical Support and Computer Modeling Services (Original Agreement):
On December 6, 2022, the Board authorized Sonoma Water’s General Manager to execute and amend (as necessary) a consulting agreement with Errol L. Montgomery & Associates, Inc. (Montgomery & Associates) to extend the term, make modifications to the scope of work, and increase costs up to a cumulative total of $350,000.
The Original Agreement total was $200,000 for modeling and technical services support for groundwater sustainability plan implementation from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024.
First Amended Agreement for Hydrogeologic Technical Support and Computer Modeling Services (First Amended Agreement):
The First Amended Agreement, signed by Sonoma Water’s General Manager, extended the term by 3 months to September 30, 2024, at no additional cost to Sonoma Water to ensure there would be no lapse in the term of the Original Agreement while seeking Board approval for the additional amount needed for the expanded scope.
Second Amended Agreement for Hydrogeologic Technical Support and Computer Modeling Services (Second Amended Agreement):
A second amended agreement is needed and the existing authority is not sufficient to cover the additional amount needed to amend the agreement, which includes new scope that is funded by grants that the GSAs have received, and which wasn’t known when the Original Agreement was first brought to the Board. Therefore, the Second Amended Agreement requires additional authorization by the Board to execute.
Work completed to-date under the agreement includes development of the groundwater model update work plan, initial preparation for implementing updates to the models, development of work plans for filling data gaps related to interconnected surface water and groundwater dependent ecosystems and seawater intrusion.
Agreement for Geophysical Support Services (Geophysical Agreement):
To support the completion of geophysical studies, which are funded through the GSA’s SGMA grants, Sonoma Water proposes to enter into an agreement with Collier Consulting, Inc. (Collier), for $610,000, through June 30, 2026, to provide specialized services related to evaluating existing geophysical datasets and collecting and evaluating new geophysical data, which Montgomery and Associates is unable to provide.
SELECTION PROCESSES
Second Amended Agreement:
Montgomery & Associates was selected from a list of qualified consultants developed from a competitive selection process. Attached is a memo that explains the competitive selection process (Attachment 1).
Montgomery & Associates was selected for the subject work because Montgomery & Associates has considerable experience in this field, including (1) performing updates and refinements to each of the three computer models utilized by the GSAs and Sonoma Water for developing and implementing the groundwater sustainability plans, (2) filling groundwater sustainability plan data gaps, (3) performing water quality monitoring programs, (4) developing well inventory databases, and (5) designing well metering programs.
Geophysical Agreement:
Collier was selected from a list of qualified consultants developed from a competitive selection process. Attached is a memo that explains the competitive selection process (Attachment 2).
Collier was selected for the subject work because Collier has local experience evaluating and investigating hydrogeologic conditions within the GSA basins and subbasins and demonstrated familiarity with existing available geophysical datasets within the study area and priority data gap areas.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Second Amended Agreement:
Under the amended agreement, Montgomery & Associates will continue to provide hydrogeologic technical support and computer modeling services to support the implementation of the groundwater sustainability plans. Additionally, the following services are being added to the scope, which will support completion of the tasks included under the GSA’s SGMA grant funding including: scoping and implementing studies and monitoring programs for filling data gaps related to interconnected surface water, groundwater-dependent ecosystems, seawater intrusion, and groundwater extraction; implementing updates and processing simulation results for the groundwater flow models; developing an updated well inventory; and developing a work plan and pilot program for voluntary well metering.
The additional cost is $1,585,000, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $1,785,000. Two years and nine months are being added to the term for a new end date of June 30, 2027. Attached is the draft Amended Agreement (Attachment 3).
Geophysical Agreement:
Under the Geophysical Agreement, Collier will review and evaluate existing geophysical datasets from previous geophysical investigations, prepare work plans for each basin, provide support to Sonoma Water in preparing and obtaining necessary permits and site access, conduct geophysical investigations, prepare technical reports for each basin detailing the geophysical investigations, and provide support in integrating the geophysical investigation results into updated hydrogeologic conceptual models and numerical groundwater flow models. Attached is the Geophysical Agreement (Attachment 4).
The cost of services will not exceed $610,000; the term end date is June 30, 2026.
The Geophysical Agreement includes authorization for the General Manager to make changes to lengthen time schedules or make minor modifications to the scope of work, which do not increase the amount paid under the agreement, in a form approved by County Counsel.
Under the Geophysical Agreement, the General Manager shall have the ability to extend the term of the agreement for two additional years by providing written notice to Collier thirty days in advance of the expiration date. The extension shall be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by Sonoma Water and Collier.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Planning and Infrastructure
Strategy: Conduct planning that integrates and balances operational, maintenance, and infrastructure priorities.
Action: Continue to engage in planning efforts and partnerships to protect and enhance our water supply.
The GSAs’ mission is to manage the groundwater supplies, which are relied upon by numerous stakeholders including Sonoma Water and its water contractors in the Sonoma Valley, Petaluma Valley, and Santa Rosa Plain groundwater basins to achieve sustainable groundwater conditions.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
See Attachment 5
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$1,060,000 |
$925,000 |
$210,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
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|
Total Expenditures |
$1,060,000 |
$925,000 |
$210,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
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|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
$1,060,000 |
$925,000 |
$210,000 |
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State/Federal |
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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 |
$1,060,000 |
$925,000 |
$210,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Amended Agreement: Budgeted amount of $750,000 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations for the Sonoma Water General fund. FY 2025/2026 and FY 2026/2027 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal years.
Geophysical Agreement: Budgeted amount of $310,000 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations for the Sonoma Water General fund. FY 2025/2026 appropriations will be budgeted in that fiscal year.
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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 1: Consultant Selection Memo - Errol L. Montgomery & Associates, Inc.
Attachment 2: Consultant Selection Memo - Collier Consulting, Inc.
Attachment 3: Draft Amended Agreement - Errol L. Montgomery & Associates, Inc.
Attachment 4: Draft Agreement - Collier Consulting, Inc.
Attachment 5: Prior Board Actions
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None