To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Ryan Pedrotti 707-521-6209
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection at Lake Mendocino
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the Second Amended and Restated Agreement for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Program at Lake Mendocino with Dogs with Jobs, LLC dba Mussel Dogs, in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board. The amended agreement increases the amount by $100,000 for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $725,000 and no change to the end date of September 27, 2024.
end
Executive Summary:
Quagga and zebra mussels are invasive mussels 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.
The prevention program at Lake Mendocino is managed under an agreement between Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) and 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.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water is a member of the North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium and works 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 many waterways in Southern California and, in nearby San Benito County, the San Justo Reservoir (in 2008) and Ridgemark Goldcorse Pump (in 2012) have been infested.
Since 2014, California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program 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 Water’s Board of Directors approved the execution of a grant agreement for Lake Mendocino with a term of 24 months.
For Lake Mendocino’s inspection program, Sonoma Water requires 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, on January 12, 2023, Sonoma Water executed a six-month agreement for $50,000 that was signed by Sonoma Water’s General Manager.
On March 21, 2023, the Board approved the first amended and restated agreement to add $575,000 and 18 months to the agreement to reach the full budget and term that was originally planned to provide inspection services for two boating seasons.
Due to a higher level of services required from Consultant, including additional inspectors to cover the two ramps and high levels of boaters at Lake Mendocino, grant funds have been expended prior to the term end of the Agreement. It is critical that the inspection program continue throughout the remainder of the peak boating season at Lake Mendocino. Sonoma Water will fund the remaining term of the agreement.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
The General Manager determined that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15309, Inspections, as project activities are limited to watercraft quagga and zebra mussel inspections and inspection training that help prevent potential for infestation at Lake Mendocino. The project does not have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment.
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 mussel infestations. 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 additional cost is $100,000, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $725,000. This amount will be funded by Sonoma Water. There is no change to the agreement term end date of September 27, 2024.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Planning and Infrastructure
Strategy: Conduct planning that integrates and balances operational, maintenance, and infrastructure priorities.
Actions: Continue to engage in planning efforts and partnerships to protect and enhance our water supply, and continue to engage in planning efforts to support reliable wastewater and flood management services.
Quagga and zebra mussels are invasive mussels that, if introduced into a waterway, can devastate the natural environment, clog water and flood protection infrastructure, and cost millions of dollars in maintenance. This program aligns with Sonoma Water goals to protect flood protection and drinking water infrastructure and systems.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
03/21/2023: Approved first amended and restated agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Mendocino to add $575,000 and extend the term by 18 months.
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.
08/6/2019: 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
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Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$100,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$100,000 |
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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 |
$100,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$100,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $100,000 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations for the Russian River Projects fund. 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 1: Amended Agreement with Dogs with Jobs, LLC
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None