To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Ryan Pedrotti 521-6209
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
2024 Lake Mendocino Mussel Infestation Prevention Program
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution ratifying and approving the signing and filing of grant applications 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 2024 Lake Mendocino Mussel Infestation Prevention Program.
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Executive Summary:
Quagga and zebra mussels are an invasive mussel 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, and in 2020 was able to successfully obtain funds from the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) to support these efforts. The DBW offers competitive two-year grants to eligible applicants on an annual basis. Sonoma Water intentionally offsets applications for Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma by one year to avoid staffing impacts. The application for Lake Sonoma was awarded for the 2023 funding cycle. Applications for the 2024 funding cycle were due May 10, 2024, and Sonoma Water submitted an application for a $400,000 grant to fund inspection programs at Lake Mendocino. If awarded, 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
Sonoma Water is a member of the North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium (Consortium) and is working with the Consortium's partner agencies to implement watercraft inspections at Lake Mendocino. Lake Mendocino is currently mussel free; however, mussels have infested a waterway south of Mendocino and Sonoma counties, in San Benito County. This waterway, the San Justo reservoir, was closed to all public use since the mussels were first discovered in 2008 and remains closed 14 years later. It will cost an estimated $6.5 million to eradicate the zebra mussel over five years once an eradication plan is implemented, however, the actual costs of closing the reservoir to recreational use is much higher.
Since 2014, DBW’s Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program has funded prevention plans and implementation activities that help protect California’s reservoirs from quagga and zebra mussel infestation. Until program changes in 2017, Sonoma Water had not been an eligible applicant for these funds due to a requirement that applicants must own or manage a reservoir. In 2017, requirements were expanded to include the phrase “manage some aspect of the reservoir.” Sonoma Water manages the water supply storage pool at Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma and thus became eligible to apply for the grant program at both reservoirs. Sonoma Water intentionally offsets applications for Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma by one year to avoid staffing impacts. The application for Lake Sonoma was awarded for the 2021 funding cycle.
Current DBW funding of Lake Mendocino’s Mussel Infestation Prevention Program will expire in 2022. In order to extend this funding source at Lake Mendocino, Sonoma Water applied for a $400,000 grant to extend and enhance the Lake Mendocino program through 2024.
If the grant is awarded, the funds will be used to continue the existing invasive mussel prevention program at Lake Mendocino. Funds will be used to enhance watercraft inspections at Lake Mendocino, in order to reduce the number of vessels entering the lake outside of inspection hours. Community education and outreach activities also will 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.
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 Mendocino 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 September 2024.
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 Mendocino. Sonoma Water filed a Notice of Exemption on July 7, 2022 for the project. The 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.
Work performed under this grant agreement will support efforts to further protect the Russian River watershed from the introduction of invasive species. Protecting the watershed is critical to ensuring that the region’s water supply remains resilient for today and future generations.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
See Attachment 1
Fiscal Summary
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FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$0 |
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Total Expenditures |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
No fiscal impact at this time.
In the event that the Lake Mendocino 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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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Resolution
Attachment 1: List of Prior Board Actions
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None