To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Kevin Booker, 521-1865
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Joint Funding Agreement with U.S. Geological Survey
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Approve and authorize the Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute a Joint Funding Agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey for FY 20/21 to maintain stream gauges in the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River watersheds, in the amount of $568,460.
B) Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Sonoma County Water Agency General Manager to execute future Joint Funding Agreement and/or amendments with the Department of the Interior Geological Survey (USGS) for collecting and monitoring flow data for the gauging stations to maintain stream gauges in the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River watersheds pursuant to the standard Agreement with the Department of the Interior, in an amount not to exceed $600,000.
C) Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Adjustments to the Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 for the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund in the Amount of $127,210 and the Russian River Projects Fund in the Amount of $293,080 for the Joint Funding Agreement with U.S. Geological Survey. (4/5th Vote Required)
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Executive Summary:
This agenda item is to request approval for Fiscal Year 2020/2021 funding, and for continued funding for the collection and monitoring of flow data used by the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and other local public and private entities/individuals for stream gauges in the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River watersheds.
Water levels (flow and stage) are measured by multiple stream gauges in Sonoma County. The data from these gauges are transmitted to USGS computers within 1 hour of measurement. The data is quality assured and made available online by USGS to Sonoma Water and other local public and private entities/individuals. Sonoma Water uses the data collected for planning and forecasting for water supply, environmental, and flood management purposes. In addition, water quality data collected, at several sites, are used to meet regulatory requirements. Other users of the data include emergency responders, water managers, environmental and transportation agencies, universities, utilities, recreational enthusiasts, and consulting firms.
Discussion:
The USGS Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program supports the collection and (or) delivery of both streamflow and water-level information for more than 8,500 sites (continuous or partial record) and water-level information alone for more than 1,700 additional sites throughout the United States. The data is served online most in near real time, to meet the many diverse needs. Water levels are measured by more than 10,000 gauges; the data is typically transmitted to USGS computers within 1 hour of measurement. The data is quality assured and made available online to local public and private entities/individuals. Data users include emergency responders, water managers, environmental and transportation agencies, universities, utilities, recreational enthusiasts, and consulting firms.
Data collected from the stream gauges funded by Sonoma Water are used for:
1. Planning, forecasting, and warning about floods and droughts
2. Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling
3. Monitoring environmental conditions to protect aquatic habitats;
4. Forecast Informed Reservation Operations
5. Assessing water quality and regulating pollutant discharges;
6. Determining if streams are safe for recreational activities
7. Water quality analysis
8. Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information System (AQPI) radars and National Water Model Water Quality Analysis
Data from these sites, along with Sonoma Water-maintained sites act as an early warning monitoring system. The water quality data collected (temperature, conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity) act as an early warning monitoring system and serve as a part of Sonoma Water’s sanitary survey for the Water Transmission system. In addition, the data is also increasingly critical to the California-Nevada River Forecast Center and their river forecasts and to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through AQPI.
Historical data from the stream gauges is critical in developing hydrologic datasets used for reservoir/river operations modeling that supports long term water supply planning, Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations, preparation of Sonoma Water’s Urban Water Management Plans, the Fish Flow Project Environmental Impact Report and the integrated licensing process for the Potter Valley Project.
In 1994 Sonoma Water’s Board approved of the first funding agreement for collaboration between Sonoma Water and the USGS on stream gauge monitoring. In addition, through the 1994 Resolution, Sonoma Water has continued to budget, and enter into funding agreement with USGS for the collecting and monitoring of stream flow data to date.
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
148,170 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
420,290 |
|
|
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Total Expenditures |
$568,460 |
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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 |
148,170 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
420,290 |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$568,460 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $148,170 is available from FY 2020/2021 appropriations for the Warm Springs Dam Fund ($62,700), Flood Control Zones 1A ($2,900), 3A ($37,015) and 5A ($4,810), and Russian River Projects Fund ($40,745).
Additional appropriations in the amount of $420,290 are required to process this expense. With Board approval of the attached budgetary resolution, FY 2020/2021 appropriations of $127,210 will be made in the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund and $293,080 will be made in the Russian River Projects Fund. Flood Control Zone 1A fund balance at the end of FY 20-21 is expected to be at or above target, consistent with prior years, and will not be negativity impacted by this Board item. Russian River Projects fund balance will be at or near target following Board approval of a transfer from the General Fund in the first quarter consolidated budget adjustments.
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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:
Resolutions
Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None