To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Greg Guensch 547-1972
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project Phase V Supplemental Large Woody Debris Procurement
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Ratify Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager’s execution of the First Amended and Restated Supply of Large Woody Debris (LWD) for the Dry Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project - Phase V (Reaches 2A Upstream and 4C) with Falk Forestry, Inc. The amended agreement increases the amount by $118,250 and expands the scope of work to include additional logs, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $457,900 and no change to end date of April 10, 2025. (Fourth District)
end
Executive Summary:
The Russian River Biological Opinion requires the creation of 6 miles of enhanced Coho Salmon and steelhead habitat along Dry Creek by 2024, which have been divided by mile into Phases I -VI. These enhancements will support the federally protected species while allowing the continued flow of Lake Sonoma water down Dry Creek at levels sufficient to provide water supply for the 600,000 residents of Sonoma and Marin counties that receive water from Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water). Phases I-III are complete. Sonoma Water is partnering with the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to design and construct Phases IV -VI (miles 4 -6) of these enhancements. Sonoma Water is the non-federal sponsor responsible for providing the project designs and habitat logs as part of the required 35% in-kind funding match, and the Corps is funding and managing the construction.
This item amends the agreement with the primary log supplier, Falk Forestry, Inc., to obtain 17 additional redwood root wad logs and eight redwood straight-cut logs needed to fulfill the obligations of the purchase agreement with one of the property owners, which specified redwood logs be used in a bank-stabilization and habitat enhancement feature for enhanced longevity. The original purchase of the logs and the current log stockpile for Dry Creek construction contains only Douglas fir. This was discovered during construction, and it was necessary to obtain these redwood logs on short notice to allow the Corps construction contractor to construct the main channel bank repair element on the Hardy Ranch property to remain on schedule. Construction of this project phase must be completed by September 23rd, 2023, which is the final completion date for the construction contract. A delay in constructing this project component may lead to delayed claim costs to the Corps that could be passed through to Sonoma Water.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project Phases I - VI (Project) are components of the 2008 National Marine Fisheries Service’s Russian River Biological Opinion (BO), which is a federally mandated 15-year blueprint to help save endangered fish and preserve Sonoma Water’s regional water supply. One of the reasonable and prudent measures required by the BO is the construction of 6 miles of salmonid rearing habitat enhancements. The habitat enhancements are intended to reduce water velocities and provide feeding areas and cover for Coho Salmon in the rearing stage during the summer and winter in Dry Creek. Sonoma Water has completed construction of Phases I, II and III. The Corps is funding and managing the construction of Phases IV - VI of the work. Sonoma Water is responsible for purchasing the logs needed for the large wood habitat structures and providing technical support during construction. Phases IV and V are currently under construction.
These supplemental redwood logs and root wads were needed on short notice because the purchase agreement with a landowner of a site required use of redwood logs on their property and when Sonoma Water procured the large woody debris, redwood logs were not included in the agreement. When the obligation to use redwood logs at this site was discovered during the construction of the Phase, Sonoma Water needed to act quickly to avoid potential delay costs to the Corps that would be passed through to Sonoma Water. Therefore, the General Manager executed the First Amended Agreement with Falk Forestry, Inc. as it was the only means available to obtain the logs at a fair price in the amount of time available and mitigate the risk of future claims from the Corps. Staff requests the board ratify the General Manager's execution of the First Amended and Restated Supply of Large Woody Debris (LWD) for the Dry Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project - Phase V (Reaches 2A Upstream and 4C).
SELECTION OF SUPPLIER
A request for proposals was conducted and proposals were evaluated for the logs and root wads needed for construction of this Phase of the Dry Creek Project. Proposals were evaluated based on unit and total price and ability to meet quantities and schedule. Falk Forestry, Inc. was chosen to provide the majority of the logs because they had the lowest price and could meet the required schedule. Sonoma Water and Falk Forestry Inc., entered into an agreement for supply of large woody debris logs and root wads for the Dry Creek Project, dated April 10, 2023, in the amount of $339,650. Falk was selected to supply these additional redwood logs because the agreement with Falk is still open and only Falk was able to provide the redwood materials in time for the contractor to remain on their proposed schedule.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the amended agreement, Falk Forestry Inc., will supply an additional 17 redwood logs with rootwads and eight straight cut redwood logs.
The additional cost is $118,250, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $457,900. There is no change to end date of April 10, 2025.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment:
Water Supply and Transmission System, Goal 2: Maintain and improve the reliability of the Water Transmission System.
This Item provides materials necessary to construct habitat enhancements on Dry Creek that are required by the Russian River Biological Opinion in order to continue using Dry Creek to deliver drinking water for the County from Lake Sonoma to the extraction wells at the Wohler facilities on the Russian River. The Dry Creek projects also allow water supply flows in Dry Creek to be increased over time if necessary due to climate change or biological or water supply needs.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
02/07/2023: Approved agreements between Sonoma Water and Austin Gap Partnership, Falk Forestry Inc., and J. W. Bamford, Inc., for purchase of large woody debris for the Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project Phase V (Reaches 2A Upstream and 4C) project, in the not-to-exceed amount of $456,018 (total for all agreements)
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$118,250 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$118,250 |
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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 |
$118,250 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$118,250 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $118,250 is available from FY 2023/2024 appropriations for the Watershed Planning and Restoration Fund. These funds were available from funds for Phase VI that are not expected to be needed due to changes in anticipated project costs for that phase. 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:
Amended Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None