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/ Kevin Booker 707-521-1865
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Fiscal Year 25/26 Joint Funding Agreement with U.S. Geological Survey
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
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 25/26 to maintain stream gages in the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River watersheds.
end
Executive Summary:
This agenda item requests approval to execute a Joint Funding Agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey for Fiscal Year 2025/2026, with the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) funding $747,450 and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) funding $44,100. Funding will support the collection and monitoring of flow data. This data is used by Sonoma Water, USGS, and other local public and private entities or individuals. These efforts focus on stream gages within the watersheds of the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River.
Discussion:
The USGS Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program supports the collection and transmission of streamflow and water-level data from over 8,500 sites, including continuous or partial records, and water-level information from more than 1,700 additional sites nationwide.
In Sonoma County, flow and stage levels of water are continuously measured by multiple stream gages. The data acquired from these gages are transmitted to the USGS computer systems within one hour of measurement. Following quality assurance procedures, the data are made accessible online by the USGS to Sonoma Water and other local entities and individuals. Sonoma Water employs these data for strategic planning and forecasting pertaining to water supply, environmental management, and flood mitigation. Additional data users include emergency responders, water resource managers, environmental and transportation agencies, academic institutions, utilities, recreational users, and consulting firms.
Data collected from stream gages funded by Sonoma Water serve multiple purposes, including:
• Planning, forecasting, and issuing warnings related to floods and droughts
• Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling
• Monitoring environmental conditions to safeguard aquatic habitats
• Forecast Informed Reservation Operations (FIRO)
• Assessing water quality and regulating pollutant discharges
• Evaluating the safety of streams for recreational use
• Supporting the Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information System (AQPI) radars and the National Water Model Water Quality Analysis
The data from these sites, in conjunction with sites maintained by Sonoma Water, constitute a vital early warning system. Furthermore, these data are increasingly critical to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for river forecasts via the California-Nevada River Forecast Center and for AQPI-related activities.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
This item directly supports Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following goal, strategy, and action item.
Goal: 3. Environmental Stewardship - Protect and sustain our watersheds to maintain water resources, ecosystems, and communities.
Strategy: 3.2 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 Item: 3.2.1 Support collaborative efforts to improve habitat and pursue restoration opportunities that provide integrated regional benefit.
Through cooperation with USGS, the operations and maintenance of these stream gages will help provide information used to provide a reliable water supply and flood protection for future services and for a thriving community.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
11/05/2024: 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 24/25 to maintain stream gages in the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River watersheds, in the amount of $709,970.
11/28/2023: 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 23/24 to maintain stream gages in the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River watersheds, in the amount of $663,240.
11/8/2022: 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 22/23 to maintain stream gages in the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River watersheds, in the amount of $649,060.
11/16/2021: 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 21/22 to maintain stream gages in the Russian River, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River watersheds, in the amount of $669,420.
11/17/2020: 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; 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.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$747,450 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$747,450 |
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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 |
$747,450 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$747,450 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $747,450 is available from FY 2025/2026 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund ($165,250), Flood Control Zone 3A Fund ($66,510), Flood Control Zone 5A Fund ($10,220), Warm Spring Dam Fund ($79,300), and the Russian River Projects Fund ($426,170). 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:
Attachment - USGS Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.