Title
Receive a verbal presentation regarding The Regional Water Management Group: Planning and Funding Water Projects in Monterey County and the 2019 Storm Water Resource Plan.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors receive a presentation on The Regional Water Management Group: Planning and Funding Water Projects in Monterey County and the 2019 Storm Water Resource Plan.
SUMMARY:
In November 2019, Monterey County formally joined the Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) of the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and South Monterey Bay Region. The RWMG is the entity tasked with developing and implementing the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) for the region, reviewing projects submitted to the Plan, and choosing projects put forward for funding.
Research Toxicologist John W. Hunt, Ph.D. with the Department of Environmental Toxicology at the University of California-Davis will provide the Board of Supervisors an overview and share successes of RWMG’s efforts in planning and funding water projects in Monterey County and the 2019 Storm Water Resource Plan.
DISCUSSION:
The IRWM Program is a statewide initiative that encourages local water resource managers to take a proactive leadership role in solving water-management problems on a local level through collaborative regional planning. In 2007, the first IRWMP for our region was completed and submitted to the State so that local water and water-quality projects were eligible for grant funds. The IRWMP envisioned by state legislators and state resource agencies integrates the strategies, objectives, and priorities for projects to manage water resources proposed by public entities, non-profit entities, and stakeholders within a defined Planning Region.
The Greater Monterey County (GMC) IRWM Program is an expanded continuation of the Salinas Valley IRWM Program which began receiving water project funding in 2007. Through RWMG’s active collaboration and planning efforts, substantial state funding has been brought to Monterey County region to implement projects that address water management needs, including water quality improvement, groundwater replenishment, surface water treatment and reuse, flood damage reduction,
habitat restoration and preservation, and creation of community opportunities for clean water, green space, and recreation. Participants in the IRWM Program have brought over $26 million in grant funds for water resource management projects to the Monterey County region. Attachment A discusses the Regional Water Management Group’s role in planning and funding water projects in Monterey County and includes a listing of grants from state bond programs and projects receiving awards from Propositions 50 and 84.
In 2017, the State Water Resources Control Board awarded a planning grant to a team of water resource experts from UC Davis, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Coastal Conservation and Research, Inc., and RWMG. Monterey County Resource Management Agency (RMA) acted as Lead Public Agency for the proposal. The grant’s purpose was to develop a Storm Water Resource Plan (SWRP) for the GMC IRWM region. The recently completed SWRP represents another collective effort to identify and implement coordinated solutions to the region’s water challenges in the face of declining aquifers, droughts, floods, sea-level rise, and increasing population. Collaboration with the IRWM Program and RWMG has been a positive development for the County and Central Coast.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Other members of the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and South Monterey RWMG include: Big Sur Land Trust, California State University-Monterey Bay, Carmel Area Wastewater District, Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, Carmel Valley Association, City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, City of Del Rey Oaks, City of Seaside, City of Sand City, City of Monterey, Monterey One Water, Monterey County Water Resources Agency, Marina Coast Water District, Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, and Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.
FINANCING:
Members may vote on the project prioritization for available IRWM grant funding. RMA staff time to attend RWMG quarterly meetings and to prepare project proposals for grant funding and related reports is funded as part of the FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget for the RMA, General Fund, Fund 001, Environmental Services Appropriation Unit RMA099.
While RWMG members are not required to make a financial contribution to the IRWM Program, members have been asked to consider making a voluntary contribution to the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, which in turn will provide administrative support to fund an IRWM Grant Program Coordinator. RMA recommends that the County contribute $5,000 to support the RWMG Coordinator and will include this augmentation request for other agencies in its FY 2020-21 Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Joining the RWMG is consistent with the County’s commitment to be a leader in solving water and water-quality challenges facing the region. The County’s active participation in planning and implementation efforts for the comprehensive management of water resources in the region promotes the Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives for Economic Development, Administration, and Infrastructure.
X Economic Development
X Administration
Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Dina Northcutt, Management Analyst I (831) 759-6684
Reviewed by: Melanie Beretti, Property Administration/Special Programs Manager
Approved by: Shawne E. Ellerbee, RMA Deputy Director of Administrative Services
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
Attachment:
Attachment A-IRWM-SWRP Overview
(Attachment is on file with the Clerk of the Board)