To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis, 707-547-1900 and Nathan Baskett, 707-547-1983
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First, Third, Fourth, and Fifth
Title:
Title
Flood Warning Monitoring Network System Maintenance
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with OneRain Incorporated, in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, for ongoing flood warning monitoring network system maintenance and support services through September 15, 2026 in the not-to-exceed amount of $73,459.
end
Executive Summary:
In response to the 2017 firestorm, Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) engaged OneRain Incorporated (Consultant) to install a flood warning monitoring network consisting of rain and stream gauges throughout the Tubbs and Nuns fire burn areas. Consultant also provided a web-based software to receive and display data and to provide early detection of post-fire flood conditions in burn scars and areas downstream that could be impacted by flash floods and debris flows. The system has since been expanded to monitor other Sonoma Water flood management reservoirs and Mirabel facilities. This item requests authorization of five years of network maintenance and software renewal. Under this Agreement, Consultant will provide ongoing maintenance and support services for the flood warning monitoring system.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
As a result of the Sonoma Complex Fires in 2017, dangerous conditions threatened numerous properties in and around the Tubbs and Nuns fire burn areas of Sonoma County, including some properties owned or maintained by Sonoma Water. A Watershed Emergency Response Team (WERT), consisting of CalFire, California Geologic Survey, California Natural Resources Agency, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California Department of Water Resources, and the California State Water Resources Control Board, initiated efforts to assess the risks of landslides and flooding posed by fire-impacted zones throughout the area. This assessment was used to develop preliminary emergency protection measures needed to avoid life-safety threats.
The WERT analyses for the Tubbs and Nuns fires developed recommendations for watch and warnings for hazards, including an early warning system for flood and landslide risks. The WERT analyses concluded that some of the burn areas would exhibit elevated runoff and streamflow rates as well as significantly increased erosion. The analyses also indicated a higher potential for landslides, debris flows, and flash floods that could be a risk to public safety and property.
In March of 2018, Sonoma Water contracted with Consultant to install a flood warning monitoring network consisting of rain and stream gauges throughout the Tubbs and Nuns fire burn areas to provide early detection of post-fire flood conditions. This flood warning monitoring network provides the National Weather Service with the intelligence it needs in real-time to issue flash flood warnings to be relayed via the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert. The flood warning monitoring network is also used by Sonoma Water field crews and local emergency officials during and after storm events to respond to hazard conditions identified by the monitoring network. The network can alarm and send email and text notifications when certain conditions or thresholds have been met, and all real-time data is available to the public through a website. In the first two years of the system being in place, the public accessed the website over 2.5 million times. The system was further expanded in FY 2019/2020 to monitor stages in Sonoma Water’s flood management reservoirs and at the Mirabel facilities.
This flood warning monitoring network requires ongoing maintenance and support to ensure optimal functionality so it can continue to provide real-time data to the National Weather Service, emergency officials, and the public and to inform Sonoma Water operations.
SELECTION PROCESS
For the proposed agreement, a competitive selection process was not completed, and a Single/Sole Source Waiver was obtained from Sonoma Public Infrastructure Department, Purchasing Division. A Single/Sole Source Waiver was needed because Consultant’s services and equipment are required to match and accommodate components and software already in use by Sonoma Water.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, Consultant will provide ongoing maintenance and support services for the existing flood warning monitoring network.
The cost of services will not exceed $73,459; the term end date is September 15, 2026.
Under the agreement, the General Manager will 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 would 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: Emergency Preparedness.
Strategy: Strengthen and ensure a comprehensive emergency response capability through coordinated response programs, resource management, and emergency planning.
Action: Establish operational emergency response functions, procedures, and systems.
Sonoma Water’s flood warning monitoring network provides early detection of post-fire flood conditions and provides the National Weather Service with the intelligence it needs to issue real-time flash flood warnings via the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
10/20/2020: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and OneRain Incorporated to provide ongoing maintenance and support services for the existing flood warning monitoring network. Cost $342,500; term end June 30, 2025.
08/20/2019: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and OneRain Incorporated to install, configure, and support the expansion of the existing flood warning monitoring network. Cost $178,900; term end December 31, 2020.
12/05/2017: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and a consultant [not determined at the time of the Board meeting] for Burn Area Watershed Protection: Flood Warning Monitoring Network in an amount not to exceed $400,000 for a term of twelve months.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$73,459 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$73,459 |
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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 |
$73,459 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$73,459 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $73,459 is available from FY 2025/2026 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone 1A ($55,094) and Zone 3A ($18,365) 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:
Agreement with OneRain Incorporated
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.