To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Neil Lassettre / 707-547-1951
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Third, Fourth, Fifth
Title:
Title
Engineering, Design, and Environmental Services for the Laguna-Mark West Watershed Master Restoration Planning Project
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Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
In an ongoing effort to enhance and protect aquatic ecosystems within Sonoma County:
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with FlowWest LLC for engineering and design of watershed restoration, environmental compliance, and related services through December 31, 2020 in the not-to-exceed amount of $200,000
B) Adopt a resolution authorizing a budgetary adjustment in the amount of $200,000 programming Flood Control Zone 1A available fund balance to finance the Engineering, Design, and Environmental Services for the Laguna-Mark West Watershed Master Restoration Planning Project. (4/5th vote)
(Third, Fourth, and Fifth Districts)
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) will use grant funding received in 2016 from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) towards the preparation of the Laguna-Mark West Creek Watershed Master Restoration Planning Project (Project), which will include the development of a comprehensive Master Restoration Plan (Restoration Plan) for the Laguna-Mark West Creek watershed, concurrent identification of up to two high priority projects that would likely produce the greatest ecological benefit, as well as providing the conceptual and intermediate design plans, a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document, and permit applications for the selected high priority projects.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
In 2016, Sonoma Water received a $517,000 grant from Department to help fund the preparation of the Project. The Project includes development of a comprehensive Master Restoration Plan (Restoration Plan) for the Laguna-Mark West Creek watershed and concurrent identification of up to two high priority projects that would likely produce the greatest ecological benefit.
The Restoration Plan will lead to improved ecosystem functioning through a coordinated suite of stream and wetland restoration projects. These high priority projects seek to improve streamflow, water quality, critical habitat for migration and rearing of endangered and threatened species, especially California Central Coast Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and steelhead (O. mykiss). The High Priority Project(s) also seek to address pollutants in the Laguna De Santa Rosa and to advance the productive use of adjacent lands. The grant provides funds to advance up to two High priority projects to 65% engineering design for analysis under the CEQA and permitting with state and federal resource agencies. Development of the Restoration Plan began in 2017. Project partners include San Francisco Estuary Institute (Estuary Institute) and the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation (Laguna Foundation).
The Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetland Complex (Laguna) has been designated both as a Wetland of International Importance and as an impaired waterbody under the Clean Water Act. Since 2004, the Laguna Foundation and Sonoma Water have been working collaboratively with landowners on historic studies, restoration and small-scale trash and debris removal projects with the goal of enhancing water quality, reducing flooding and improving streamflow. In 2014, the Department, Laguna Foundation, Sonoma Water, City of Santa Rosa (City), the North Coast Regional Quality Control Board (Regional Board) began meeting regularly to develop long-term solutions to Laguna problems, including discussing a potential nutrient-credit trading program created by the City and Regional Board. Private landowners are kept apprised of ideas through regular informal meetings and phone calls.
The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1) was approved by California voters on November 4, 2014. Proposition 1 authorized appropriation of $285 million to Department for watershed restoration projects statewide. In 2016, Sonoma Water applied for Proposition 1 grant funding and was selected by the Department to receive $517,000 to help fund the Project.
THE LAGUNA-MARK WEST CREEK WATERSHED MASTER RESTORATION PLANNING PROJECT
Over the past 150 years, the Laguna-Mark West Creek watershed has been altered by a variety of land use changes, including urbanization, agricultural development, draining and filling of wetlands, and channelization of streams. These changes have impacted the function of the watershed and contributed to a range of contemporary management problems, including habitat degradation, impaired water quality, altered sediment dynamics, fish stranding, flooding, and trash accumulation. The ultimate goal of the Project is to restore ecological functions, such as nutrient replenishment and the creation and maintenance of in-stream and land-based habitat, to the Laguna that have been lost as a result of far-reaching alterations to the Laguna watershed.
The Project scope of work comes from Sonoma Water’s Project Grant Agreement with the Department. Work under this planning grant project includes developing a Restoration Plan that will identify and prioritize high-value projects; selecting one or two high priority on-the-ground projects and designing them to 65% stage; preparing CEQA documentation; and facilitating expert conversations with a Technical Advisory Committee (Committee) and other community stakeholders throughout the entire process. The Committee will advise the Project team, refine ideas, and explore opportunities and constraints.
The Restoration Plan will identify, coordinate, and prioritize on-the-ground multi-benefit projects to be implemented by public, non-profit, and tribal agencies throughout the watershed. The Restoration Plan will advance the understanding of how the watershed responds to ecosystem improvement projects, and create a model for enhancing habitat and achieving total maximum daily loads compliance. The landscape-scale Restoration Plan seeks to help manage the headwaters for multiple benefits and identify strategies to capture coarse and fine grain sediments, thereby reducing sediment delivery to the lower watershed. The planning process will also encourage improved water quality and the productive use of agricultural and other lands, including those owned and managed by the Department.
PROJECT PROGRESS AND CURRENT STATUS
Since receiving the Proposition 1 planning grant in 2016, Sonoma Water and Project partners have been developing the Restoration Plan in conjunction with the Committee, landowners, and stakeholders through a series of meeting and workshops. The Estuary Institute also produced a series of technical memoranda that analyzed the historical ecology and landscape change occurring in the Laguna since 1850.
Through this series of meetings, Sonoma Water and the Project team have identified six potential restoration opportunities throughout the Laguna-Mark West Watershed.
Sonoma Water received a $517,000 grant from the Department in 2016 to help fund the preparation of the Project. $165,000 in State grant funds were allocated to fund the work proposed under the subject agreement. $35,000 in cost share will come from Flood Control Zone 1A Fund balance and the income generated from the Nutrient Credit Trading program in FY19/20.
SELECTION PROCESS
On February 7, 2017, Sonoma Water issued a Request for Statements of Qualifications (RFQ) to 42 firms to create a list of qualified consultants to provide environmental services for design, construction, operations, and maintenance of water supply, flood protection, habitat improvement, and sanitation systems, as well as sustainability projects owned and operated by Sonoma Water. The RFQ was also posted on the Sonoma Water and County of Sonoma Purchasing Department websites. Forty-eight firms submitted statements of qualifications; 47 respondents were selected for the list of qualified consultants.
Criteria used to evaluate firms included thoroughness of statement of qualifications, professional qualifications and demonstrated ability to perform the work, and exceptions to standard terms in the sample agreement.
FlowWest LLC (consultant) was selected for this work because it is a duly qualified and licensed engineering firm, experienced in engineering design of watershed restoration and related services.
Sonoma Water may seek to amend or enter into subsequent agreement(s) with Board approval if required, relying upon this competitive selection process, after the preliminary or initial work is completed for the Project.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed agreement, the consultant will provide the conceptual and intermediate design plans, a CEQA document, and permit applications for the selected high priority project(s). Work could include assessing habitat enhancement alternatives, producing conceptual and intermediate design plans for up to two high priority projects, and providing a CEQA document and regulatory permit applications (e.g. Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Porter-Cologne Act, Fish and Game Code) for subsequent implementation in support of the Project.
The cost of services will not exceed $200,000. This agreement covers services rendered through December 31, 2020].
Prior Board Actions:
02/21/2017: Adopted a resolution authorizing General Manager to execute a Grant Agreement with the Department to receive $517,000 for the Laguna-Mark West Creek Watershed Master Restoration Planning Project, and taking related actions; term end December 31, 2020.
02/21/2017: Authorized General Manager to execute professional services agreements with (1) Estuary Institute for development and preparation of the Watershed Restoration Master Plan in the amount of $577,000; and (2) Laguna Foundation in the amount of $25,000 for technical assistance, public outreach and facilitation services related to the Master Plan development; term end for both agreements is December 31, 2020.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$200,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
$200,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$165,000 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
$35,000 |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$200,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Additional appropriations of $200,000 are required to process this expense. With Board approval of the attached budgetary resolution, FY 2019/2020 appropriations of $200,000 will be made in the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund.
Proposition 1 grant funds will offset $165,000. Remaining cost share of $35,000 will be from the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund, which is funded by property taxes.
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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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N/A |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Agreement with FlowWest LLC
Attachment 2: Budget Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None