To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis and Eric McDermott (707) 547-1904
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Maintenance Agreement with Hanford Applied Restoration and Conservation
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Hanford Applied Restoration and Conservation in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, for Dry Creek habitat enhancement projects maintenance through June 30, 2026, in the not-to-exceed amount of $950,000.
end
Executive Summary:
To comply with the 2008 Russian River Biological Opinion while operating its water transmission system and flood control activities, Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) has implemented a series of habitat enhancement projects within Dry Creek to provide improved summer and winter rearing conditions for coho salmon and steelhead. Periodic maintenance of these projects is required to retain their designed functional attributes.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
In 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued the Russian River Biological Opinion (2008 Biological Opinion) for coho salmon and steelhead in Dry Creek and the Russian River. To comply with the 2008 Biological Opinion while operating its water transmission system and flood control activities, Sonoma Water has implemented a series of habitat enhancement projects within Dry Creek to provide improved summer and winter rearing conditions for coho salmon and steelhead. Sonoma Water is responsible for monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of these projects throughout their expected lifespans. If the monitoring finds that structures or features of the project are no longer performing as intended (e.g., due to strong winter storms), existing regulatory permits, as well as existing easements with property owners, would allow for Sonoma Water to conduct periodic maintenance. These maintenance efforts may consist of sediment removal; repair of bank stabilization features; and replanting of native trees, shrubs, and seed groundcovers to restore the projects’ designed functional attributes. Sonoma Water requires the support of Hanford Applied Restoration and Conservation (Service Provider) to complete the maintenance work on the scale required.
SELECTION PROCESS
Service Provider was selected from a list of qualified firms developed from a competitive selection process. Attached is a memo that explains the competitive selection process.
Service Provider was selected for the subject work because of its professional qualifications and demonstrated ability to perform the work. In addition, Service Provider has constructed and maintained Dry Creek habitat enhancement projects for Sonoma Water in the past. This gives Service Provider experience in how Sonoma Water desires the work done, knowledge of typical environmental permit requirements, and specific site location and access knowledge.
Sonoma Water has the ability to perform some of these activities with its own staff but requires the support of Service Provider to complete the work at the scale required.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
The Board approved the Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project and its Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration on November 16, 2011. The Board approved the Final Environmental Impact Report for Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project Miles 2-6 on November 15, 2015. The continued maintenance of the Dry Creek Habitat Demonstration Project and Mile 2-6 Project were considered in the respective CEQA documents.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under this Agreement, Service Provider will conduct sediment removal; invasive species removal; repair of bank stabilization features; repair of large woody debris structures; and replanting of native trees, shrubs, and seeded groundcovers that have failed to establish. The services applied to an enhancement project would be targeted to restoring channel and bank condition to the original habitat design and function, which may have degraded after several years of winter storms.
The cost of services will not exceed $950,000; the term end date is June 30, 2026.
Under the agreement, the General Manager shall have the ability to extend the term of the agreement for up to two additional years by providing written notice to the other party thirty days in advance of the expiration date. The extension shall be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by the parties.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Environmental Stewardship
Strategy: 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: Support collaborative efforts to improve habitat and pursue restoration opportunities that provide integrated regional benefit.
By maintaining a series of habitat enhancement projects within Dry Creek that provide improved summer and winter rearing conditions for coho salmon and steelhead, Sonoma Water is continuing to improve habitat and pursue restoration opportunities that deliver integrated regional benefit while operating its water transmission system and conducting flood control activities.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
06/02/2020: Board action adopting resolution approving contract with Hanford Restoration and Conservation for construction of Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Phase III (Part 3).
09/17/2015: Board action adopting resolution certifying and approving Final Environmental Impact Report for Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Project Miles 2-6, approving the project, and providing Notice of Determination for the Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
11/16/2011: Board action adopting resolution approving the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact for the Dry Creek Habitat Enhancement Demonstration Project, approving the project, and providing Notice of Determination for the Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$950,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$950,000 |
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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 |
$950,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$950,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $950,000 is available from FY 2025/2026 appropriations for the Warm Springs Dam and Watershed Planning and Restoration funds. No additional appropriations are 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:
Attachment 1: Agreement with Hanford Applied Restoration and Conservation
Attachment 2: List of Qualified Consultants
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.