Title
a. Authorize the General Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with West Yost Associates, Inc. for a total contract amount not to exceed $91,294 for hydrologic modeling services to support the Agency’s work on dam safety and operations funding strategies; and
b. Authorize the General Manager to execute up to three amendments to this Professional Services Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% of the contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and do not exceed a maximum aggregate amount of $100,423.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
a. Authorize the General Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with West Yost Associates, Inc. for a total contract amount not to exceed $91,294 for hydrologic modeling services to support the Agency’s work on dam safety and operations funding strategies; and
b. Authorize the General Manager to execute up to three amendments to this Professional Services Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% of the contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and do not exceed a maximum aggregate amount of $100,423.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Water Resources Agency (Agency) has initiated multiple studies to evaluate dam safety and operations funding strategies, some of which require hydrologic modeling to provide data that will inform subsequent economic benefits analyses. The hydrologic modeling conducted by West Yost Associates, Inc. (West Yost) under this Professional Services Agreement will support independent analyses of flood reduction benefits and groundwater recharge being conducted by FlowWest, LLC and One Water Econ, LLP, respectively.
The modeling work conducted by West Yost will utilize the current, publicly available, version of the Salinas Valley Operational Model, which is a different tool than what was utilized for the modeling completed as part of the 2025 Historical Benefits Analysis Update.
The scope of work in the West Yost agreement aligns with the Agency’s adopted Strategic Plan by providing data necessary to inform development of a dam safety and operations funding strategy, specifically: Goal A, Strategy 3; Goal B, Strategy 5; Goal B, Strategy 7, and Goal C, Strategy 2.
At its September 11, 2026, meeting, the Finance and Administration Committee recommended this item for consideration by the Board of Directors.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Agency is coordinating with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) and their consultant, Montgomery & Associates, to ensure that the same modeling tool versions will be applied to this work as have been utilized by the SVBGSA.
FINANCING:
This agreement is financed by fund balance in Fund 1501 (formerly Fund 111). The total amount for this agreement in the current fiscal year (FY) is estimated at $91,294. While this agreement was not included in the FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget, sufficient appropriations are available in Fund 1501 based on current information. A budget amendment is not required at this time to support the proposed agreement; a determination about the need for a budget amendment would occur at a later date.
Prepared by: Amy Woodrow, Senior Water Resources Hydrologist, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Professional Services Agreement with West Yost