To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Susan Haydon (707) 547-1937
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Watershed Plan & Environmental Assessment for Central Sonoma Watershed Project
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute a Cooperative Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service in the amount of $1,200,000 in federal funding received to prepare a Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment for the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Central Sonoma Watershed Project.
B) Adopt a resolution authorizing adjustments to the Board Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 for the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund, in the amount of $82,000 for the Watershed Plan & Environmental Assessment for Central Sonoma Watershed Project. (4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded funding to Sonoma Water in the amount of $1,200,000 to prepare a Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment addressing future upgrades and rehabilitation of the Central Sonoma Watershed Project’s flood management facilities. The Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment will be prepared in accordance with federal program guidance and National Environmental Policy Act (Act).
Discussion:
The Central Sonoma Watershed (CSW) Project is a cooperative flood management project initiated in 1958 with federal sponsor USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (formerly Soil Conservation Service), Sonoma Water (formerly Sonoma County Flood Control & Water Conservation District) and Sonoma Resource Conservation District (formerly Santa Rosa Soil Conservation District). This federal Small Watershed Project, developed under Public Law-566, encompasses a 163,000 acre watershed within the greater Russian River Watershed which includes all of Santa Rosa Creek, its headwaters and its tributary streams. The CSW Project suite of facilities comprise 4 flood detention reservoirs (Middle Fork Brush Creek Reservoir, Piner Creek Reservoir, Spring Lake, and Mantazas Creek Reservoir), diversion structures on Santa Rosa Creek and Spring Creek to divert flows into Spring Lake, and a series of channel improvements and stormwater conveyance facilities (open channels, culverts, and Vortex Tube). This flood management system, constructed in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, has long provided critical flood protection for the City of Santa Rosa.
The project has exceeded its intended 50-year design life and is in need of rehabilitation and upgrade to reduce risk of seismic events, flood, and other hazards due to increased urbanization, climate change and increased frequency of peak storms, wildfire severity, and compliance with the Endangered Species Act pursuant to a Federal Biological Opinion. The planning effort will identify vulnerabilities and evaluate feasible alternatives for modernization and rehabilitation of the CSW Project to serve the community’s current and future needs.
A hydrologic and hydraulic model exists to support these efforts, developed by Sonoma Water in partnership with City of Santa Rosa. The surface water model will assist in informing flood management planning and future conceptual designs and serves as a foundation to the planning effort. The CSW Watershed Plan (Plan) and Environmental Assessment (EA) will be developed in accordance with the USDA NRCS National Watershed Program Manual and National Watershed Program Handbook. The planning effort will include a broad evaluation of existing conditions and setting, technical studies, surveys, and an economic evaluation. The Plan will assess vulnerabilities and determine feasible alternatives, with identification of a preferred alternative and conceptual design(s). Sonoma Water will engage partners, stakeholders and the public to review alternatives and participate in the public review of the Plan & EA compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. Final adoption of the Watershed Plan will require approval by Resolution of the Sonoma Water Board of Directors.
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$550,000 |
$768,000 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$82,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$632,000 |
$768,000 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$566,000 |
$634,000 |
|
|
Fees/Other |
$66,000 |
$134,000 |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$632,000 |
$768,000 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Estimated consultant and Sonoma Water staff costs, for the Watershed Plan & Environmental Assessment for Central Sonoma Watershed Project, total $1,400,000. Budgeted amount of $550,000 is available from FY 2020/2021 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund. Additional appropriations of $82,000 are required to process this expense in year one. With Board approval of the attached resolution, appropriations of $82,000 will be made in the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund.
Offsetting revenue in the amount of $1,200,000 will be coming from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (as federal sponsor), $566,000 in year one and $634,000 in year two. Remaining costs of $200,000, $66,000 in year one and $134,000 in year two, will be from the Flood Control Zone 1A Fund, which is funded by property taxes.
Future appropriations will be budgeted in FY 2021/2022.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Resolution
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Cooperative Agreement
Location Map of PL-566 Central Sonoma Watershed
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None