To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Brad Sherwood 707-547-1927
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Programs at Lake Sonoma
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
In an ongoing effort to prevent quagga and zebra mussel infestation in Sonoma County waterways:
A) Adopt a Resolution ratifying the signing and filing of grant applications to the California Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Boating and Waterways, as well as the signing of a Grant Agreement to accept $400,000 to fund a mussel infestation prevention program at Lake Sonoma and take other actions.
B) Adopt a Resolution authorizing adjustments to the Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 for the Russian River Projects Fund in the amount of $325,000 for the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Programs at Lake Sonoma.
C) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Dogs with Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs for the quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma in the not-to-exceed amount of $625,000 in a form approved by County Counsel; term end is 24 months.
(4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
Quagga and zebra mussels are an invasive mussel that, if introduced into a waterway, can devastate the natural environment, clog water and flood protection infrastructure, and cost millions of dollars in maintenance. Mussels are transported between waterways by watercraft, primarily recreational boats.
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) applied to the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program to fund inspection programs at Lake Sonoma and subsequently was awarded $400,000 in grant funds from the program administered through a Grant Agreement.
The prevention program at Lake Sonoma will be managed by Dogs with Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs (Consultant). Consultant will provide multiple inspections at Lake Sonoma as part of an effort to prevent invasive mussels in these bodies of water, greatly expanding upon the seasonal prevention programs currently funded solely by Sonoma Water.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water is a member of the North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium and is working with North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium's partner agencies to implement watercraft inspections at Lake Sonoma. Lake Sonoma is currently mussel free; however, mussels have infested a waterway south of Sonoma County, in San Benito County.
Since 2014, DBW’s Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program has funded prevention plans and implementation activities that help protect California’s reservoirs from quagga and zebra mussel infestation. Until program changes in 2017, Sonoma Water had not been an eligible applicant for these funds due to a requirement that applicants must own or manage a reservoir. In 2017, this was expanded to include the phrase “manage some aspect of the reservoir.” Sonoma Water manages the water supply storage pool and thus became eligible to apply for the grant program.
In 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) applied for and received a grant under DBW’s program for $300,000 in grant funds. The Corps was subsequently unable to perform work during the 24-month grant period and the funds went unspent.
In the 2018 grant cycle, DBW elected to award Sonoma Water $400,000 for its proposal for a Lake Sonoma inspection program. On February 25, 2020, the Board approved the execution of a grant agreement (Lake Sonoma) with a term of 24 months.
For Lake Sonoma’s inspection program, Sonoma Water requires the Consultant's expertise and assistance to continue the inspection demonstrations and to provide training for watercraft inspectors. Consultant has performed prior boat inspections at Lake Sonoma since 2012 and will adhere to the North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium’s prevention plan during the inspection process. Consultant previously contracted with Sonoma Water under the business name Central Valley Detection Canine.
SELECTION PROCESS
Consultant was chosen based on Consultant's knowledge and prior experience implementing boat inspections at Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma. No other consultants provide mussel-detecting canines, and Consultant’s services are used around the country for mussel inspection programs. Consultant provides a unique service that helps meet the goals of Sonoma Water’s prevention program.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed agreement, Consultant will provide quagga and zebra mussel inspections and demonstrations, utilizing a team of specially trained canines to help inspect boats. This will help educate boaters on how to clean, drain, and dry their boats to better protect our waterways from a mussel infestation. In addition, Consultant will provide boat inspection training at Lake Sonoma to inspectors to help develop year-round inspections at the Lake Sonoma reservoir.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Friends of Lake Sonoma will partner with Sonoma Water to implement boat inspections and public awareness at the reservoirs. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will provide law enforcement as needed. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, which provides law enforcement on Lake Sonoma, is also a key partner in helping educate boaters about the importance of mussel inspections.
The cost of services will not exceed $625,000; the term end is 24 months.
The agreement includes two options for Sonoma Water to extend the agreement for a period of one year by providing written notice to Consultant thirty days in advance of the expiration date of the agreement and of the first extension option.
Strategic Plan:
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan: This project aligns with Sonoma Water Goals 1 and 2 to protect the drinking water supply and maintain the reliability of the water transmission system.
The goal of Sonoma Water’s Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Program is to keep non-native invasive quagga and zebra mussel species out of our drinking water reservoirs. In other lakes, infestations have caused millions of dollars in maintenance, cleaning, and filtering costs of drinking water infrastructure systems - costs that are passed down to the consumer in higher drinking water bills. This program aligns with Sonoma Water Goals 1 and 2 to protect the drinking water supply and maintain the reliability of the water transmission system.
Prior Board Actions:
02/25/2020: Adopted a Resolution ratifying the signing and filing of grant applications to the California Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Boating and Waterways, and the signing of a Grant Agreement to accept $400,000 to fund a mussel infestation prevention program at Lake Sonoma and take other actions. Authorized Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Dogs With Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma in the not-to-exceed amount of $625,000 in a form approved by County Counsel (term of 24 months).
08/06/2019: Authorized Sonoma County Water Agency's General Manager to execute the Second Amended Agreement for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Program with Dogs With Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs to provide quagga and zebra mussel inspection and related services increasing the amount by $20,000 with no change to the scope for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $375,000 and no change to end date of December 31, 2019.
10/23/2018: Authorized Sonoma County Water Agency's General Manager to execute the First Amended Agreement for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Program with Dogs With Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs to provide quagga and zebra mussel inspection and related services increasing the amount by $125,000 with no change to the scope for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $355,000 and no change to end date of December 31, 2019.
04/03/2018: Authorized Sonoma County Water Agency's General Manager to execute the Agreement for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Program with Dogs With Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs (formerly Central Valley Detection Canine, LLC) to provide quagga and zebra mussel inspection and related services. Cost $230,000; term end December 31, 2019.
05/03/2016: Authorized the Chair to execute the Agreement for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Demonstration and Training 2016/2017 with Central Valley Detection Canine to provide quagga and zebra mussel inspection, demonstration, training, and related services. Cost $201,100; agreement term end December 31, 2017.
06/23/2015: Authorized Sonoma County Water Agency's General Manager to execute the First Amended Agreement for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspections 2015 with Central Valley Detection Canine, LLC, for quagga and zebra mussel inspections. Cost $52,400 for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $70,000; term end December 31, 2015.
03/03/2015: Authorized Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding between Sonoma County Water Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Quagga/Zebra Mussel Vulnerability Assessment Study and Inspection Implementation Plan for Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma. Cost $125,000.
09/05/2012: Adopted Resolution authorizing Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to (a) make application to California Department of Fish and Game for a grant to partially fund the “Don’t Move a Mussel” public education campaign and (b) to enter into an agreement to receive a grant for “Don’t Move a Mussel” public education campaign
05/08/2012: Authorized the Chair to execute the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Counties of Sonoma, Mendocino, and Humboldt and the Sonoma County Water Agency, North Marin Water District, Marin Municipal Water District, and Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District Regarding the North Coast Zebra and Quagga Mussel Consortium.
01/10/2012: Adopted Resolution identifying potential for an infestation of dreissenid mussels into North Coast waterways and seeking collaboration with North Coast counties to increase public awareness and manage prevention and inspection programs at North Coast waterways.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 21-22 Adopted |
FY22-23 Projected |
FY 23-24 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$300,000 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$325,000 |
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|
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Total Expenditures |
$325,000 |
$300,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$200,000 |
$200,000 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
$125,000 |
$100,000 |
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
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Total Sources |
$325,000 |
$300,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
FY 2021/2022 additional appropriations in the amount of $325,000 are required to process this expense. A budgetary resolution has been submitted with this item. Offsetting revenue in the amount of $200,000 will come from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Boating and Waterways. Non- grant funded seasonal prevention program work is funded under the Russian River Projects Fund.
FY 2022/2023 appropriations will be budgeted in that fiscal year.
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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:
Attachment 1: Resolution ratifying and approving submission of grant application and signing of funding agreement for Lake Sonoma QZ Mussel Infestation Prevention Program
Attachment 2: Resolution authorizing $325,000 budgetary adjustment to Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Russian River Projects Fund for Lake Sonoma QZ Mussel Infestation Prevention Program
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None