To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis, 547-1911
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Green Valley Creek Feasibility Study
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding and contribute $500,000 for Funding of Green Valley Creek Feasibility Study with Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District, in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, through December 31, 2028. (Fifth District)
end
Executive Summary:
On May 16, 2023, the Boards of Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) and Sonoma Public Infrastructure authorized Sonoma Water’s General Manager and Sonoma Public Infrastructure’s Director to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District (Gold Ridge RCD) for the Green Valley Creek Flood Reduction, and Habitat and Public Safety Improvement Project (Project) in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,000,000. However, Sonoma Water’s contribution of $500,000 was erroneously not included in the agenda item. For this reason, the MOU was not signed. This item requests authority for Sonoma Water’s General Manager to enter into an MOU with Gold Ridge RCD and contribute $500,000 to the total MOU amount of $1,500,000. The authority for Sonoma Public Infrastructure’s Director to sign the MOU and contribute $1,000,000 remains.
Discussion:
A portion of Green Valley Creek near Graton regularly floods a section of Green Valley Road making it impassable. In 2017, this road was flooded for over two months before an emergency sediment removal project in Green Valley Creek was performed. Green Valley Creek is home to several listed aquatic species that are also impacted when Green Valley Creek overflows its banks. Climate change is predicted to increase the magnitude and duration of flooding in this location.
Gold Ridge RCD provides assistance, including watershed and stream enhancement, to those with land-based resource conservation needs and has worked for over a decade to identify a long-term solution to Green Valley Road flooding. Sonoma Public Infrastructure maintains the county road system, including Green Valley Road, and Sonoma Water maintains certain streams for flood protection purposes in the Lower Russian River (Zone 5A).
Under the terms of the MOU, Gold Ridge RCD will update a feasibility study to identify a preferred project alternative that provides an acceptable level of flood protection for Green Valley Road. A stakeholder outreach group consisting of County staff, Sonoma Water staff, representatives from County Supervisorial District 5 office, regulatory agencies, tribal representatives, and property owners will be convened to seek input on the preferred project alternative. Gold Ridge RCD will procure professional consulting services to advance the preferred project alternative towards final design and to complete a California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) document. Sonoma Water and Sonoma Public Infrastructure will transmit funds to Gold Ridge RCD per the terms of the MOU.
The Project will be funded with $500,000 in Sonoma Water Flood Control Zone 5A funds and $1,000,000 in County Water Security Funding that has been allocated to Sonoma Public Infrastructure from the Water Security Fund for a total of $1,500,000.
PRIOR BOARD ITEM
On May 16, 2023, the Boards of Sonoma Water and Sonoma Public Infrastructure authorized Sonoma Water’s General Manager and Sonoma Public Infrastructure’s Director to execute an MOU with Gold Ridge RCD for the Green Valley Creek Flood Reduction, and Habitat and Public Safety Improvement Project in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,000,000. However, Sonoma Water’s contribution of $500,000 was erroneously not included in the agenda item. For this reason, the MOU was not signed. This item requests authority for Sonoma Water’s General Manager to enter into the MOU with Gold Ridge RCD and Sonoma Public Infrastructure and contribute $500,000 to the total MOU amount of $1,500,000. The authority for Sonoma Public Infrastructure’s Director to sign the MOU and contribute $1,000,000 remains.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
The proposed funding action by the Board is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378 (b)(4) because this funding mechanism and fiscal activities do not amount a commitment to any specific project that may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment. The funded feasibility study is also exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15262 and 15306.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 5: Support, fund, and expand flood protection.
Objective: Objective 2: Implement land use planning and assessments to address flood protection, including river setbacks and riparian corridors, and make resources available for residents.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Planning and Infrastructure - Implement comprehensive, integrated, and innovative infrastructure planning to strengthen existing services, minimize life cycle costs, and prepare for the future.
The Project will advance a design that will improve habitat in Green Valley Creek and reduce the magnitude, frequency, and duration of flooding on Green Valley Road. Green Valley Creek is home to several listed aquatic species that are also impacted when Green Valley Creek overflows its banks. Climate change is predicted to increase the magnitude and duration of flooding in this location.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
05/16/2023: Approved and allocated Water Security Funds for seven projects including Green Valley Road Flood Reduction, and Habitat and Public Safety Improvement Project ($1,000,000), and authorized Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager and Sonoma County Department of Public Infrastructure’s Executive Director to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District for the Green Valley Creek Flood Reduction, and Habitat and Public Safety Improvement Project through June 30, 2026, in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,000,000, and other actions.
11/16/2021: Authorized the Director of Transportation and Public Works to withdraw the Green Valley Creek Flood Resiliency Project from the HMGP program and close out the current grant; authorized Sonoma Water’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Inter-Fluve, Inc., for engineering design and environmental compliance services for Green Valley Creek Restoration Mitigation Project through December 31, 2024, in the not-to-exceed amount of $890,000; authorized Sonoma Water’s General Manager and TPW’s Department Head to execute a cooperative agreement for funding the environmental compliance and engineering and design services for Green Valley Creek Restoration Mitigation Project in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,500,000.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$500,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$500,000 |
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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 |
$500,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$500,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $500,000 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone 5A.
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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:
Memorandum of Understanding.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.