To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Brad Sherwood 707-547-1927
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection at Lake Mendocino
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the First Amended and Restated Agreement for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Program at Lake Mendocino with Dogs with Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs, in a form approved by county counsel. The amended agreement increases the amount by $575,000 and extends the agreement term by 18 months for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $625,000 and end date of September 27, 2024 (exempt per CEQA Guidelines Section 15309).
B) Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Adjustment to the Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2022/2023 for the Russian River Projects Fund in the amount of $230,000 for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection at Lake Mendocino. (4/5th Vote Required)
end
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) applied to the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program to fund inspection programs at Lake Mendocino and subsequently was awarded $400,000 in grant funds from the program administered through a grant agreement.
The prevention program at Lake Mendocino is managed by Dogs with Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs (Consultant). Consultant will continue to provide multiple inspections at Lake Mendocino as part of an effort to prevent infestation of these invasive mussels, greatly expanding upon the prevention program funded solely by Sonoma Water in the past.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water is a member of the North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium and is working with North Coast Mussel Prevention 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 Sonoma County, in San Benito County.
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, this was expanded to include the phrase “manage some aspect of the reservoir.” Sonoma Water manages the water supply storage pool and thus became eligible to apply for the grant program.
In the 2022 grant cycle, DBW elected to award Sonoma Water $400,000 for its proposal for a Lake Mendocino inspection program. On July 19, 2022, the Sonoma County Board of Directors approved the execution of a grant agreement (Lake Mendocino) with a term of 24 months.
For Lake Mendocino’s inspection program, Sonoma Water requires the Consultant's expertise and assistance to continue the inspection demonstrations and to provide training for watercraft inspectors. Consultant has performed prior boat inspections at Lake Mendocino since 2012 and will adhere to the North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium’s prevention plan during the inspection process.
Due to the unusual series of atmospheric rivers that occurred in January 2023, Lake Mendocino water levels abruptly rebounded to a level that made access for recreational boats possible after years of drought-induced low water levels. This sudden and unexpected change in lake levels meant that Consultant’s services were needed months earlier than anticipated. To meet this earlier demand for inspections, Sonoma Water executed a six-month agreement for $50,000 that was signed by its General Manager. Now, this agreement is being amended to add the full budget and term that was originally planned to provide inspection services for two boating seasons.
Sonoma Water and Consultant entered into an agreement for quagga and zebra mussel inspection, dated January 12, 2023, in the amount of $50,000 and end date of June 30, 2023.
SELECTION PROCESS
Consultant was chosen based on Consultant's knowledge and prior experience implementing boat inspections at Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma. No other consultants provide mussel-detecting canines, and Consultant’s services are used around the country for mussel inspection programs. Consultant provides a unique service that helps meet the goals of Sonoma Water’s prevention program.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the amended agreement, Consultant will provide quagga and zebra mussel inspections and demonstrations, utilizing a team of specially trained canines to help inspect boats. This will help educate boaters on how to clean, drain, and dry their boats to better protect our waterways from a mussel infestation. In addition, Consultant will provide boat inspection training at Lake Mendocino to inspectors to help develop year-round inspections at the Lake Mendocino reservoir.
The Corps will partner with Sonoma Water to implement boat inspections and public awareness at the reservoirs. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will provide law enforcement as needed. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, which provides law enforcement on Lake Mendocino, is also a key partner in helping educate boaters about the importance of mussel inspections.
The additional cost is $575,000, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $625,000. The new end date is September 27, 2024.
The amended agreement includes authorization for the General Manager to make changes to lengthen time schedules or make minor modifications to the scope of work, which do not increase the amount paid under the agreement, in a form approved by county counsel.
The amended agreement includes two options for Sonoma Water to extend the term for a period of one year each by providing written notice to Consultant thirty days in advance of the expiration date of the amended agreement and of the first extension option. The extension will be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by Sonoma Water and Consultant.
California Environmental Quality Act:
Sonoma Water’s General Manager has determined that the project is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15309 as the project is limited to watercraft Quagga and Zebra mussel inspections and inspection trainings and does not have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment:
Water Supply and Transmission System, Goal 1: Protect drinking water supply and promote water-use efficiency.
Water Supply and Transmission System, Goal 2: Maintain and improve the reliability of the Water Transmission System
The goal of Sonoma Water’s Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Program is to keep non-native invasive quagga and zebra mussel species out of our drinking water reservoirs. In other lakes, infestations have caused millions of dollars in maintenance, cleaning, and filtering costs of drinking water infrastructure systems- costs that are passed down to the consumer in higher drinking water bills. This program aligns with Sonoma Water Goals 1 and 2 to protect the drinking water supply and maintain the reliability of the water transmission system.
Prior Board Actions:
07/19/2022: Adopted a Resolution ratifying the signing and filing of grant applications to the California Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Boating and Waterways, and the signing of a Grant Agreement to accept $400,000 to fund a mussel infestation prevention program at Lake Mendocino and take other actions.
02/25/2020: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Mendocino. Cost $590,000; term end 24 months.
08/06/2019: Approved second amended agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma, and Lake Mendocino agreement to add $20,000; no change to end date.
10/23/2018: Approved first amended agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs,LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma, and Lake Mendocino to add $125,000; no changed to end date.
04/03/2018: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma, and Lake Mendocino. Cost $230,000; term end December 31, 2019.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
|
$345,000 |
|
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$230,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
$230,000 |
$345,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$147,200 |
$220,800 |
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Fees/Other |
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$124,200 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
$82,800 |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$230,000 |
$345,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Additional appropriations of $230,000 are required to process this expense. With Board approval of the attached budgetary resolution, FY 2022/2023 appropriations of $230,000 will be made in the Russian River Projects Fund. California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways grant funds will offset $147,200. Remaining cost share of $82,800 will be from the Russian River Projects Fund. FY 2023/2024 appropriations will be budgeted in that fiscal year.
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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:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.