Title
Consider recommending that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution authorizing execution of a funding agreement with the California Department of Water Resources for Nacimiento and San Antonio Safety of Dam Projects; and authorize the General Manager, and his designees, to accept, execute, and deliver any and all documents necessary or advisable in order to effectuate the purposes of the resolution. (Staff Presenting: Elise Ramirez)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution authorizing execution of a funding agreement with the California Department of Water Resources for Nacimiento and San Antonio Safety of Dam Projects; and authorize the General Manager, and his designees, to accept, execute, and deliver any and all documents necessary or advisable in order to effectuate the purposes of the resolution.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In 2021, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) received a $17 million dollar grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for use on the Interlake Tunnel Project (ILT) Fish Exclusion System (fish screens). Currently, the ILT Project is several years from commencing construction; the fish screens would be a component installed near the end of construction. Therefore, the utilization of these funds would be on a long-term timeline.
The 2023 Budget Act allows for more flexibility in the use of these funds for projects that are more near-term at either Nacimiento or San Antonio Reservoirs. A meet and confer took place on October 6, 2023 and on October 18, 2023, the Board of Supervisors submitted a formal Budget Transfer Request to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The request was for a transfer of the $17 million dollar grant from the CDFW to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for improvements related to Nacimiento and San Antonio dams and spillways.
MCWRA will be required to notify DWR of its determination on which projects to move forward, and the Agreement will need to be amended to indicate the projects funded. DWR will disburse the funds under this Agreement upon receiving invoices and supporting documentation for project progress as outlined in the agreement. MCWRA will perform environmental review on the anticipated projects as they move forward.
MCWRA anticipates utilizing the funds for the following projects:
1. Nacimiento Dam Spillway Plunge Pool Improvements Project
2. San Antonio Dam Spillway Replacement Project
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
DWR as indicated above.
FINANCING:
The reimbursement payments under the Agreement will be forecasted per the project schedules required by the terms of the Agreement, and will be included in estimated revenue of MCWRA’s Recommended Budget.
Those projects identified under the Agreement which are components of MCWRA’s Capital Asset Management Program (“CAMP”) will be removed from estimates of the CAMP’s total costs.
Prepared by: Elise Ramirez, Senior Water Resources Engineer, (831) 788-3216
Approved by: Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Local Assistance Grant, ILT $17 Million
2. Budget Transfer Request Letter, October 18, 2023
3. DRAFT SB 104 Funding Agreement
4. Resolution