To: Boards of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Chris Delaney 707-547-1946
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Russian River Modeling Related to Fish Flow Project
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
To continue work on the Fish Habitat Flows and Water Rights Project Environmental Impact Report:
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the First Amended Agreement for Russian River Modeling Related to Fish Habitat Flows and Water Rights Project with Resource Management Associates, Inc. to provide water quality modeling. The amended agreement increases the amount by $80,000, and extends the agreement term by two years for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $130,000 and end date of December 31, 2021.
end
Executive Summary:
Resource Management Associates, Inc. (Consultant) is using an existing water quality model they developed that simulates water quality conditions in Lake Mendocino, Lake Sonoma, and on the Russian River, to evaluate alternatives in the Fish Habitat Flows and Water Rights Project (Fish Flow Project) Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), and for technical support in consideration of public comments on the Fish Flow Project DEIR. The water quality model will also be used to support public hearings with the State Water Resources Control Board for modification of Sonoma County Water Agency's (Sonoma Water) water rights permits. To continue to provide this technical assistance in support of Sonoma Water’s work on the Fish Flow Project, this proposed First Amended Agreement will extend the term for two years, and add $80,000 for the additional work.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The Fish Flow Project proposes to change minimum instream flow requirements to comply with the 2008 Russian River Biological Opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service to avoid jeopardizing endangered Central California Coast coho salmon and threatened Central California Coast steelhead and their critical habitat and to update Sonoma Water’s water rights to reflect current conditions. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act is also required, both as a requirement of the Russian River Biological Opinion and in petitioning the State Water Resources Control Board to change Sonoma Water’s existing water rights.
Under a previous agreement, Consultant developed and calibrated a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center 5Q water quality model used to simulate and evaluate water quality conditions in Lake Mendocino, Lake Sonoma, and on the Russian River.
Sonoma Water and Consultant entered into the Agreement for Russian River Modeling Related to Fish Habitat Flows and Water Rights Project, dated March 27, 2017, in the amount of $50,000.
SELECTION PROCESS
Under a previous agreement and competitive selection process, Consultant developed a water quality model of the Russian River and its reservoirs. Since Consultant’s creation of the model, Sonoma Water has contracted with Consultant for work using the model without performing an additional competitive selection process. It would be inefficient and costly for another firm to learn the model in order to use it. Also, there is a level of confidence with having the work performed by the model creator. Therefore, Consultant was the only firm contacted.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed amended agreement, Consultant will continue to provide technical assistance to Sonoma Water in the preparation of responses to public comments and analysis of additional alternatives for issuance of a Recirculated Fish Flow Project DEIR, and for public hearings at the State Water Resource Control Board for the modification of Sonoma Water's water rights permits.
The additional cost is $80,000, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $130,000. The new end date is December 31, 2021.
The agreement includes two options for Sonoma Water to extend this agreement for a period of one year each by providing written notice to Consultant thirty days in advance of the expiration date of the agreement and of the first extension option.
Prior Board Actions:
None
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 |
$80,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
$80,000 |
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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 |
$80,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$80,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Additional appropriations of $80,000 is required for the agreement to be fully encumbered. With Board approval, unused appropriation budgeted in FY 2018/2019 will be included in the FY 2019/2020 first quarter consolidated budget adjustments for the Watershed Planning/Restoration Fund.
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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: Amended Agreement with Resource Management Associates, Inc.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None