To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency and Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency, County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Wendy Gjestland / 521-1866
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Proposed Production Well Activation Project
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize and direct the Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to prepare preliminary design and conduct environmental review for a proposed Production Well Activation Project.
B) Adopt a Concurrent Resolution Authorizing Adjustment to the Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 for the County and the Sonoma County Water Agency Water Transmission Common Facilities Fund in order to program $400,000 for a proposed Production Well Activation Project. (4/5th Vote Required.)
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Executive Summary:
On May 11, 2021, Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) presented to its Board of Directors (Board) an overview of the current status of the drought in Sonoma County, and specific actions underway or planned by Sonoma Water and other county departments in response to the drought emergency.
The Board directed Sonoma Water to return on the May 18, 2021 Agenda to receive funds from the County’s Contingency Funds to design and perform environmental review for a proposed Production Well Activation Project. The proposed project will bolster water supply reliability for the region.
Sonoma Water requests Board approval to receive General Fund contingency funds of $400,000 for preliminary design, environmental review, and other related costs.
Discussion:
Sonoma Water owns three auxiliary water supply production wells in the Santa Rosa Plain near the Laguna de Santa Rosa. The wells are located along the Russian River-Cotati Intertie pipeline at Occidental Road, Sebastopol Road (Highway 12), and Todd Road and provide auxiliary groundwater production for additional delivery capacity when necessary due to drought or other water supply impairment conditions.
Sonoma Water proposes to conduct the preliminary design and environmental review needed to activate one of these wells. In order to activate a well, installation of approximately 300 feet of additional piping and associated equipment is required to ensure regulatory requirements for chlorine contact time are met. Water from the well could be conveyed through Sonoma Water’s aqueducts to customers. The activation of one of the wells would provide Sonoma Water’s water contractors with additional water supply reliability.
Approximate preliminary costs for primary design and to conduct environmental review, and other associated costs are estimated to be $400,000.
Sonoma Water plans to leverage emergency and other funding opportunities to implement subsequent phases of the proposed project, which could include an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) capital project at the well location to replenish groundwater extracted during the drought, followed by bringing the remaining two production wells online, and evaluating expansion of ASR capacity as appropriate. As the project proceeds and funding sources are identified, the County and Sonoma Water will determine if the $400,000 in contingencies can be replaced and reimbursed through other funding sources.
Prior Board Actions:
April 27, 2021: Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution Proclaiming a Local Emergency to Drought Conditions in the Sonoma County Operational Area and Requesting the Governor to Seek a Presidential Declaration.
05-11-2021: Board of Supervisors adopted resolution seeking 20% voluntary water use reductions from al water users countywide. Received Board direction to return on May 18, 2021 and request authorization to receive funds from the County Administrator’s Contingency Funds to design and perform environmental review for a proposed Production Well Activation Project.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$400,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
$400,000 |
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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 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
$400,000 |
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Total Sources |
$400,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Additional appropriations in the amount of $400,000 from the Water Transmission Common Facilities Capital Fund are required to process this expense, and receive $400,000 in offsetting County General Fund Contingency, which will be at $582,000 as estimated available balance, after and if this action is approved. A concurrent budget resolution has been submitted with this item.
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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:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None