To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Carlos Diaz 707-547-1956
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First and Second
Title:
Title
Sediment Solutions Project
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with San Francisco Estuary Institute, in a form approved by County Counsel, to fund a sediment assessment under the Sediment Solutions Project through December 31, 2028, in the not-to-exceed amount of $225,000. (First and Second District)
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Executive Summary:
San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) was recently awarded Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) grant funding to advance the Sediment Solutions Project (Project). The Project aims to develop near-term and longer-term management approaches for supporting both bayland and watershed health and resilience in the San Francisco Bay. Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) proposes to fund SFEI's assessment of future watershed sediment dynamics and management actions in the Petaluma River watershed to support the Project’s three primary objectives: 1) development of watershed sediment reuse strategies, 2) advancement of efforts to re-establish creek-bayland connections, and 3) assessment of future watershed sediment dynamics and ecosystem conditions under a changing climate.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
SFEI is leading the Project that seeks to build from previous successful WQIF efforts to develop near-term and long-term management approaches for supporting bayland and watershed health and resilience at select locations in San Francisco Bay. Several recent studies and efforts have indicated that not enough natural sediment reaches tidal wetlands under current management approaches to allow them to keep pace with rising sea levels. Without this critical sediment supply, the region will continue to lose critical tidal wetland habitat along its Bay margin.
Sonoma Water proposes to provide funding assistance to the Project, which will leverage partnerships with Bay Area agencies, restoration practitioners, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to develop management approaches that get sediment to baylands for supporting long-term resilience while also supporting and enhancing watershed ecosystems under a changing climate.
The Project will advance science and management approaches needed for supporting long-term resilience of both upland and bayland habitats within Sonoma County through the following initiatives:
1. Watershed sediment beneficial reuse strategy: Develop a watershed sediment reuse strategy for sediment removed from flood control channels within the Sonoma Water service area that drain to San Francisco Bay. This initiative will identify opportunities to overcome existing constraints for increasing beneficial reuse of sediment for bayland restoration and shoreline adaptation efforts, as well as watershed channel restoration efforts, to improve habitat for native fish and other species. The initiative includes implementing a pilot project for increasing beneficial reuse during the project period that will serve as guidance for future beneficial reuse projects for Sonoma Water.
2. Restoration visions for re-establishing creek-bayland connections: Develop a vision for re-establishing a creek-bayland reconnection at lower Adobe Creek that flows into the tidal portion of the Petaluma River just downstream of the City of Petaluma. The restoration vision would focus on redesigning lower Adobe Creek to increase transport capacity and drain directly onto the tidal marsh, thereby decreasing channel maintenance costs and getting beneficial sediment directly onto the marsh to help with long-term resilience of native tidal marsh habitats under a rising sea level.
3. Assessment of future watershed sediment dynamics and management actions: Assess future watershed sediment dynamics and multi-benefit management actions for the Petaluma River watershed via a field-based assessment of current erosion sources and rates throughout the watershed. Conduct subsequent analysis to show how climate change will affect watershed erosion and sediment transport and deposition dynamics. Furthermore, analyze how watershed management actions can support bayland sediment need and watershed flood and ecosystem management objectives. This analysis will enable a better understanding of how erosion and deposition "hotspots" will be changing over time, and will help in prioritizing management actions that support bayland and watersheds.
FUNDING AGREEMENT
Under the funding agreement, SFEI will develop a watershed sediment reuse strategy for sediment removed from flood control channels within the Sonoma Water service area that drain to San Francisco Bay, develop a re-establishment strategy for a creek-bayland reconnection at lower Adobe Creek, and assess future watershed sediment dynamics and multi-benefit management actions for the Petaluma River watershed.
The funding amount will not exceed $225,000; the term end date is December 31, 2028.
The agreement includes two options for Sonoma Water to extend the term for a period of one year each by providing written notice to SFEI thirty days in advance of the expiration date of the agreement and of the first extension option. The extension will be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by Sonoma Water and SFEI.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Climate Change, Goal 1: Continuing improving our ability to respond and adapt to climate change
The outputs from the analysis of this work will help Sonoma Water respond and adapt to how climate change will affect watershed erosion and sediment transport and deposition dynamics, and how watershed management actions can support bayland sediment need and watershed flood and ecosystem management objectives.
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 |
FY 23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$225,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$225,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$250,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$250,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $225,000 is available from FY 2023/2024 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone 2A fund. No additional appropriation is required.
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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:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None