To: Board 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: 4/5
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Russian River Estuary Water Quality Studies
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
In an ongoing effort to better comply with environmental regulations and public health standards:
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the Third Amended Agreement for Study of Russian River Estuary Circulation and Water Quality Monitoring (Seasons 2014-2021) with Regents of the University of California, on behalf of its Davis campus Bodega Marine Lab to continue to provide monitoring program assistance to evaluate the water quality, flow dynamics, and visual observations of coastal processes of the estuary and outlet channel. The amendment increases the amount by $415,000, updates the scope of work, and extends the agreement term by two years for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $775,000 and end date of May 31, 2022. (Majority)
B) Adopt a resolution authorizing adjustments to the Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 for the Watershed Planning and Restoration fund in the amount of $277,000. (4/5)
(4/5th Vote Required)(Fifth District)
end
Executive Summary:
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of its Davis campus Bodega Marine Lab (University) will continue providing a monitoring program to evaluate the water quality, flow dynamics, and visual observations of coastal processes of the estuary and outlet channel. Monitoring data collected under this Agreement will be used to evaluate the impacts of changes in estuary management as required by the Biological Opinion.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The National Marine Fisheries Service (Fisheries) issued a Biological Opinion for Water Supply, Flood Control Operations, and Channel Maintenance conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water), and the Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District on September 24, 2008. Among other things, Fisheries found that Sonoma Water’s artificial breaching management practices were likely to jeopardize the continued existence of threatened steelhead and adversely modify their critical habitat.
The Biological Opinion’s Reasonable and Prudent Alternative 2 requires that Sonoma Water collaborate with Fisheries to modify estuary management to reduce marine influence during the summer to promote a higher water surface elevation and improve water quality in the estuary to enhance rearing habitat for steelhead. As required by the Biological Opinion, Sonoma Water develops and implements yearly adaptive management plans which lay out the beach management measures that will be pursued by Sonoma Water between May 15 to October 15 of each year in an effort to promote and maintain freshwater lagoon conditions preferred by rearing steelhead.
Sonoma Water entered into an agreement for water quality monitoring, dated October 10, 2014 in the amount of $360,000.
SELECTION PROCESS
The University is a research entity specializing in estuarine water quality, flow dynamics and coastal processes. Sonoma Water conducts management activities in the Russian River Estuary, and the current permit with the California Coastal Commission (Commission) requires that an outside consultant provide additional monitoring services and advisement. Commission staff were satisfied that the University would be able to provide the required services and continued advisory role in the water quality monitoring. Therefore, University was the only firm contacted and was selected to perform the work. Its familiarity with the Russian River Estuary from work on a previous agreement with Sonoma Water and its involvement in California coastal lagoon research were important factors in the selection process. Additionally, University’s close proximity to the project site will help reduce costs associated with mobilization and travel.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed amended agreement, the University will continue providing a monitoring program to evaluate the water quality, flow dynamics, and visual observations of coastal processes of the estuary and outlet channel. Monitoring data collected under this Agreement will be used to evaluate the impacts of changes in estuary management as required by the Biological Opinion.
The total additional cost is $415,000, for a new total agreement amount of $775,000. The new end date is May 31, 2022.
Prior Board Actions:
10/10/2014: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and University for monitoring services. Cost $360,000; term end September 30, 2017.
06/14/2011: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and University for monitoring services. Cost $330,000; term end June 30, 2014.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$138,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$277,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$415,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
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Fees/Other |
$138,000 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$277,000 |
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$415,000 |
|
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $138,000 is available from FY 2019/2020 appropriations for the Watershed Planning and Restoration Fund. Additional appropriations of $277,000 are required to process the expense of the contract. With Board approval, appropriations budgeted in FY 2018/2019 and will be rolled over to FY 2019/2020 in the Watershed Planning and Restoration Fund pursuant to the attached budgetary resolution. With Board approval of requested additional appropriations, the Watershed Planning and Restoration Fund ending fund balance will be approximately $6.2 million.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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|
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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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|
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|
|
|
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Amended Agreement with Regents of the University of California, on behalf of its Davis campus Bodega Marine Lab.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.