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 and Devin Chatoian, 707-524-3783
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
2025 Lake Sonoma Mussel Infestation Prevention Program
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution ratifying and approving the signing and filing of grant application to the
California Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Boating and Waterways and taking other actions related to the administration of the grant and implementation of the 2025 Lake Sonoma Mussel Infestation Prevention Program.
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Executive Summary:
Quagga and zebra mussels are an invasive species that, if introduced into a waterway, can devastate the natural environment, clog water and flood protection infrastructure, and cost millions of dollars in maintenance. Mussels are transported between waterways by watercraft, primarily recreational boats.
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) has self-funded infestation prevention efforts at both Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma since 2012. In 2020, the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) began offering competitive two-year grants to eligible applicants to support these infestation prevention efforts. DBW program guidelines require a resolution authorizing application, execution of grant agreement, and related actions from the applicant’s governing Board to be signed and submitted prior to executing a funding agreement.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
DBW’s Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program funds prevention plans and implementation activities that help protect California’s reservoirs from quagga and zebra mussel infestation. DBW offers these competitive two-year grants on an annual basis. Sonoma Water’s application for Lake Mendocino was awarded for the 2024 funding cycle. Applications for the 2025 funding cycle were due April 18, 2025, and Sonoma Water submitted an application for a $400,000 grant to fund inspection programs at Lake Sonoma. Sonoma Water intentionally offsets applications for Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma by one year to avoid staffing impacts.
Current DBW funding of Lake Sonoma’s Mussel Infestation Prevention Program will expire in 2025. In order to extend this funding source at Lake Sonoma, Sonoma Water applied for a $400,000 grant to continue the Lake Sonoma program through 2027.
If the grant is awarded, the funds will be used to increase the daily inspection hours for watercraft entering Lake Sonoma. The increased daily inspection hours will help reduce the number of vessels entering the lake outside of inspection hours, and will thus reduce the number of watercraft entering the lake uninspected. Community education and outreach activities will also be conducted through popular community events frequented by the boating public, and a survey will be conducted to gauge public knowledge of mussel infestation issues. Monthly early detection mussel monitoring activities will also be implemented during the life of the project to ensure Lake Sonoma is mussel free.
NEXT STEPS
If the Board adopts the resolution as requested, Sonoma Water’s grant application will be able to compete for the grant funds. If the Board chooses not to adopt the resolution, the grant application will be rejected by the funding agency.
In the event that the Lake Sonoma project is awarded grant funds, Sonoma Water will conduct a solicitation for a qualified consultant to perform inspections and other program related activities and will return to the Board with a program update and to seek approval of the services agreements. Grant awards are currently planned to be announced by August 2025.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
Sonoma Water’s General Manager determined that the on-going project activities are exempt under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15309, Inspections, because the activities are limited to watercraft quagga and zebra mussel inspections, inspection trainings, and education and outreach activities that help prevent potential for infestation at Lake Sonoma. The proposed project does not have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, have a cumulatively considerable effect, or cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly, and would not result in damage to scenic or historical resources.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
This item directly supports Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following goal, strategy, and action item.
Goal: 3. Environmental Stewardship - Protect and sustain our watersheds to maintain water resources, ecosystems, and communities.
Strategy: 3.2 Protect, enhance, and monitor natural resources, watershed conditions, and ecosystem health that are vital to the Russian River, Petaluma River, and Sonoma Creek watersheds.
Action Item: 3.2.2 Conduct fisheries, wildlife, and water quality monitoring through existing programs and use of new technologies.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
See Attachment 2
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 |
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Total Expenditures |
0 |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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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 |
0 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
No fiscal impact at this time. In the event that the Lake Sonoma Mussel Infestation Prevention Program is awarded grant funds, Sonoma Water will return to the Board to seek approval of the services agreements, expenditure authorization, and offsetting grant funds.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Resolution ratifying and approving submission of grant application and signing of funding agreement for Lake Sonoma Mussel Infestation Prevention Program
Attachment 2: Prior Board Actions
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A