To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Hailey Norman (707) 495-7948
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Agreement for Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Program at Lake Mendocino
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Dogs with Jobs, LLC dba Mussel Dogs, in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, for inspection services and training at Lake Mendocino through November 1, 2026, in the not-to-exceed amount of $667,000.
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Executive Summary:
Quagga and zebra mussels are invasive mussels 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. The prevention program at Lake Mendocino is currently managed under an agreement between Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, dba Mussel Dogs (Consultant). This agreement, supported by new grant funding, will continue providing multiple inspections at Lake Mendocino to prevent the infestation of invasive mussels.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water is a member of the North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium and works with North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium's partner agencies to implement watercraft inspections at Lake Mendocino. Lake Mendocino is currently mussel free. However, mussels have infested many waterways in Southern California and, in nearby San Benito County, the San Justo Reservoir (in 2008) and Ridgemark Goldcorse Pump (in 2012) have been infested.
Since 2014, California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) 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 the 2022 grant cycle, DBW elected to award Sonoma Water $400,000 for its proposal for a Lake Mendocino inspection program. On July 19, 2022, the Sonoma County Board of Directors approved the execution of a grant agreement for Lake Mendocino with a term of 24 months.
On September 11, 2024, DWB awarded Sonoma Water $400,000 for its proposal to continue the Lake Mendocino inspection program.
For Lake Mendocino’s inspection program, Sonoma Water requires Consultant's expertise and assistance to continue the inspection demonstrations and to provide training for watercraft inspectors, as needed. Consultant has performed prior boat inspections at Lake Mendocino since 2012 and will adhere to the North Coast Mussel Prevention Consortium’s prevention plan during the inspection process.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
The General Manager determined that the on-going project activities are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15309, Inspections, as project activities are limited to watercraft quagga and zebra mussel inspections and inspection training that help prevent potential for infestation at Lake Mendocino. Sonoma Water filed a Notice of Exemption on July 7, 2022, for the project. The project does not have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, have a cumulatively considerable effect, or cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly, and would not result in damage to scenic or historical resources.
SELECTION PROCESS
Dogs with Jobs, LLC dba Mussel Dogs was selected from a from a federally complaint competitive selection process. Attached is a memo that explains the competitive selection process.
Sonoma Water may seek to amend or enter into subsequent agreement(s) with Board approval if required, relying upon this competitive selection process.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, Dogs with Jobs, LLC dba Mussel Dogs 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 mussel infestations. In addition, Consultant will provide boat inspection training at Lake Mendocino to inspectors to help develop year-round inspections at the Lake Mendocino reservoir.
The cost of services will not exceed $667,000. This agreement covers services rendered from September 28, 2024, to November 1, 2026.
Under the agreement, the General Manager shall have the ability to extend the term of the agreement for up to two additional years by providing written notice to the other party thirty days in advance of the expiration date. The extension shall be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by the parties.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Planning and Infrastructure
Strategy: Conduct planning that integrates and balances operational, maintenance, and infrastructure priorities.
Action: Continue to engage in planning efforts and partnerships to protect and enhance our water supply, and continue to engage in planning efforts to support reliable wastewater and flood management services.
Quagga and zebra mussels are invasive mussels that, if introduced into a waterway, can devastate the natural environment, clog water and flood protection infrastructure, and cost millions of dollars in maintenance. This program aligns with Sonoma Water goals to protect flood protection and drinking water infrastructure and systems.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
02/27/2024: Approved agreement with Dogs with Jobs, LLC, DBA Mussel Dogs for the quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma through January 15, 2026, in the not-to-exceed amount of $667,000.
07/23/2024: Approved second amended and restated agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Mendocino to add $100,000
03/21/2023: Approved first amended and restated agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Mendocino to add $575,000 and extend the term by 18 months.
07/19/2022: 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 Mendocino and take other actions.
02/25/2020: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Mendocino. Cost $590,000; term end 24 months.
08/06/2019: Approved second amended agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma, and Lake Mendocino agreement to add $20,000; no change to end date.
10/23/2018: Approved first amended agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma, and Lake Mendocino to add $125,000; no changed to end date.
04/03/2018: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Dogs with Jobs, LLC, for quagga and zebra inspection program at Lake Sonoma, and Lake Mendocino. Cost $230,000; term end December 31, 2019.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$233,500 |
$333,500 |
$100,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$233,500 |
$333,500 |
$100,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
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General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$140,000 |
$200,000 |
$60,000 |
|
Fees/Other |
$93,500 |
$133,500 |
$40,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$233,5000 |
$333,500 |
$100,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $233,500 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations for the Russian River Projects fund. Offsetting revenues provided by the CA Department of Boating and Waterways. FY 2025/2026 and FY 2026/2027 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal years.
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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: Agreement with Dogs with Jobs, LLC
Attachment 2: Consultant Selection Memo
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None