To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Dale Roberts 707-547-1979
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Technical Support and Advising Agreement with West Coast Watershed, Inc. for the North Coast Resource Partnership
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with West Coast Watershed, Inc., in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, for technical support and advising for the North Coast Resource Partnership through March 31, 2027, in the not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 (West Coast Watershed, Inc. is paying Sonoma County Water Agency).
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Executive Summary:
North Coast Resource Partnership (NCRP) develops plans that reflect the goals and priorities for the North Coast Region of California and submits grant applications to secure block funding for plan implementation. These plans address critical regional and community needs related to water, natural resources, forest health and wildfire risk reduction, increasing renewable power, and climate resiliency. Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is responsible for climate plan content development and review as well as advising on regional climate resilience strategies, policy, and funding opportunities.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Seven counties and 35 federally recognized Tribes participate in NCRP, which is governed by a Leadership Council consisting of 17 appointees from the seven county Boards of Supervisors and from Tribal governments (Leadership Council). NCRP has been building a multi-objective, integrated approach to regional ecosystem and community resilience and capacity for the last 18 years. Since the inception of NCRP, substantial matching funds and allocation of staff resources have been provided by Sonoma Water in support of integrated regional water and natural resources management and to strengthen and develop partnerships for climate resilience. Sonoma Water is responsible for some planning aspects of the partnership, development of updated partnership plans, preparation of grant applications, and technical support including regional climate plan content development and review.
In 2005, the Leadership Council selected Humboldt County to act as the fiscal agent for NCRP and to oversee implementation of projects throughout the seven-county region. West Coast Watershed (WCW) was selected to act as the programmatic lead for NCRP and is responsible for Leadership Council and technical committee coordination and technical consultant contracting, oversight and coordination.
NCRP, led by Humboldt County, was awarded a grant for collaborative planning and capacity building for climate resilience in the North Coast Region of California. Under this grant, NCRP will develop a regional climate resilience plan that addresses biophysical and socio-economic factors affecting North Coast communities and ecosystems under changing climate regimes, including impacts from sea level rise, wildfire, more volatile hydrologic cycles, and the disproportionate effects of those climate hazards on economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented communities. NCRP will continue to engage with thousands of stakeholders and partners in the North Coast Region to develop a shared vision and actionable plan for climate resilience and the development of regional capacity to carry out plan implementation.
As a core member of the NCRP team, Sonoma Water will be responsible for advising on and providing input into the planning process (including climate resilience data and assessment development, partner outreach and key plan elements), reviewing and providing recommended refinements to the draft plan elements and the final draft plan. Sonoma Water will also advise NCRP on climate risk analysis and potential solutions for climate risks including nature-based solutions and built infrastructure solutions, advise on the analysis and development of derivatives from the recently acquired high resolution LiDAR data, and actively participate in regional and local meetings with partners and community members.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, Sonoma Water will collaborate with WCW to provide technical support and advising for the partnership, including advising on regional climate resilience strategies, policy, and funding opportunities, and developing and reviewing regional climate plan content.
Total costs incurred by Sonoma Water will be roughly $83,333. Under this agreement, Sonoma Water will invoice WCW a maximum of $50,000. This maximum amount reflects restrictions imposed by the grant agency on the amount of overhead that can be reimbursed. The term end date of the agreement is March 31, 2027. The agreement includes the option to extend the term for up to two additional years. The extension shall be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by the parties.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
This item directly supports Sonoma County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 5: Maximize opportunities for mitigation of climate change and adaptation through land conservation work and land use policies
Objective: Objective 1: By 2025, update the County General Plan and other county/special district planning documents to incorporate policy language and identify areas within the County that have the potential to maximize carbon sequestration and provide opportunities for climate change adaptation. The focus of these actions will be to increase overall landscape and species resiliency, reduce the risk of fire and floods, and address sea level rise and biodiversity loss.
NCRP’s regional climate resilience plan for the north coast region will develop critical analyses, key solutions, and essential collaborations to advance climate mitigation and resilience in Sonoma County. By supporting this effort, Sonoma Water’s staff can ensure plan alignment with the above-mentioned objectives for species resiliency, fire and flood risk reduction, sea level rise, and biodiversity loss. Additionally, by articulating Sonoma County’s key concerns within the regional plan, critical resource needs will be elevated for review by State agencies and policymakers. Similarly, the insights gleaned through regional plan development will be brought back to Sonoma County to refine local approaches based on key lessons learned from our neighbors.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Climate Change
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 long-standing participation in the NCRP has brought immeasurable benefits to the county through targeted analyses, grant-funding, science partnerships, and key insights from regional partners confronting similar challenges related to integrated water and natural resource management. The NCRP is one of several inter-agency partnerships that empowers staff and Board members to take coordinated action on climate mitigation and resilience to minimize vulnerability to climate change impacts.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
05/11/2021: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and West Coast Watershed, Inc. for North Coast Resource Partnership planning services and development of grant applications. Cost $810,000; term end June 30, 2026.
12/14/2010: Authorized Sonoma Water’s General Manager and the Chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to sign the revised Memorandum of Mutual Understandings for the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.
10/05/2004: Approved Sonoma Water’s General Manager and the Chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to sign the Memorandum of Mutual Understandings for the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$30,000 |
$53,333 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$30,000 |
$53,333 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$18,000 |
$32,000 |
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Fees/Other |
$12,000 |
$21,333 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$30,000 |
$53,333 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $30,000 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations for the Russian River Projects fund. Future year appropriations will be budgeted in that fiscal year. Offsetting revenue in the amount of $50,000 will come from West Coast Watershed, Inc.
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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:
Draft Agreement with West Coast Watershed, Inc.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.