To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Chase Takajo 707-521-1872
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First and Second
Title:
Title
Upper Petaluma River and Upper Sonoma Creek Plans
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the Agreement for Funding of Upper Petaluma River Visioning and Stewardship Plan with Friends of the Petaluma River through July 31, 2023, in the not-to-exceed amount of $40,000 in a form approved by County Counsel.
B) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the Agreement for Funding of Upper Sonoma Creek Restoration Plan with Sonoma Ecology Center through July 31, 2023, in the not-to-exceed amount of $67,000 in a form approved by County Counsel.
(First and Second District)
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Executive Summary:
This item requests authorization for Sonoma County Water Agency’s (Sonoma Water’s) General Manager to execute agreements with Friends of the Petaluma River (FOPR) to conduct planning activities for the upper Petaluma River in Flood Control Zone 2A, and with Sonoma Ecology Center (SEC) to conduct planning activities for upper Sonoma Creek in Flood Control Zone 3A. Both agreements align with the goals of flood protection and climate change resiliency by developing plans to improve channel functioning through management of erosion, sedimentation, land use, and riparian vegetation. The zones’ advisory committees have approved these planning projects.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water is responsible for managing and maintaining flood control projects and flood control works such as channels and drainage systems in Flood Control Zones within Sonoma County. Flood Control Zones 1A, 2A, and 3A have advisory committees comprised of appointed members from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, city representatives, and members of the public. The advisory committees meet annually in the fall with Sonoma Water to review and recommend the proposed budget and projects that will advance flood protection in their zones. In Zone 2A, the Friends of the Petaluma River (FOPR) submitted a proposal requesting funds to conduct planning activities for the upper Petaluma River. In Zone 3A, the Sonoma Ecology Center (SEC) submitted a proposal requesting funds to implement a project that will identify measures and activities that may sustain existing ecosystem services, improve water quality, and minimize impacts to Sonoma Water-maintained flood control channels and infrastructure. The Zone 2A and 3A advisory committees each voted to include these projects in their FY2022-2023 recommended budgets, which were approved by Sonoma Water’s Board of Directors in June 2022.
AGREEMENTS
Each agreement includes two options for Sonoma Water to extend the agreement for a period of one year each by providing written notice to other party thirty days in advance of the expiration date of the agreement and of the first extension option.
Agreement for Funding of Upper Petaluma River Visioning and Stewardship Plan:
In 1996, the City of Petaluma identified the Petaluma River between Old Redwood Highway and Lynch Creek (Upper Segment) as a flood-prone interface of rural, commercial, and residential land uses with an intact vestige of functioning native habitat. FOPR will develop concept-level stormwater enhancement actions for the purposes of flood management, habitat conservation, and land use compatibility for this area. Specifically, the project will identify measures or activities that may sustain existing ecosystem services, improve water quality, and minimize impacts to Sonoma Water-maintained flood control channels and infrastructure. Project work will include landowner and stakeholder outreach, preliminary stormwater and restoration enhancement planning, and development of enhancement opportunities that reduce the contribution of urban pollutants and sediment entering the river.
The cost of services will not exceed $40,000; the term end date is July 31, 2023. FOPR is providing additional funding of $60,000 from other sources towards the project.
Agreement for Funding of Upper Sonoma Creek Restoration Plan:
Sonoma Creek is experiencing high levels of channel erosion and incision resulting in areas of excessive aggradation of these materials downstream. To address these interrelated problems, this project will explore the feasibility of addressing challenges and opportunities for beneficial sediment reuse and develop 65% engineering plans to remove excess gravel from the aggrading reach and beneficially reuse it in incised reaches downstream that lack spawning gravel.
The cost of services will not exceed $67,000; the term end date is July 31, 2023.
County Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 5: Maximize opportunities for mitigation of climate change and adaptation through land conservation work and land use policies.
Objective: Objective 2: Implement land use planning and assessments to address flood protection, including river setbacks and riparian corridors, and make resources available for residents.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Flood Protection, Goal 1: Provide efficient and effective flood protection programs.
Climate Change, Goal 1: Continuing improving our ability to respond and adapt to climate change.
Both agreements align with the goals of flood protection and climate change resiliency by developing plans to improve channel functioning through management of erosion, sedimentation, land use, and riparian vegetation.
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$107,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$107,000 |
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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 |
$107,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$107,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
FOPR: Budgeted amount of $40,000 is available from FY 2022/2023 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone 2A fund. No additional appropriation is required.
SEC: Budgeted amount of $67,000 is available from FY 2022/2023 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone 3A fund. No additional appropriation is required.
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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:
None.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.