Title
Consider recommending that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize the General Manager to execute a Master Agreement for Professional Services for the Groundwater Monitoring Program and Task Order No. 2025-01, with a retroactive term beginning on March 1, 2025, in the amount of $802,536 between the MCWRA and the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA), pending review and approval as to form by County Counsel; and
2. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (FY26) Adopted Budget for MCWRA Fund 111 (111-9300-WRA001-8267), to increase its appropriations by $400,000 and to increase revenue by $199,070, funded by grant revenue and $802,536, financed via a Master Agreement for Professional Services between MCWRA and SVBGSA (4/5ths vote required); and
3. Authorize the Auditor-Controller’s Office to incorporate approved budget modifications to the FY26 Adopted Budget. (Presenter: Shaunna Murray)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Recommend that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize the General Manager to execute a Master Agreement for Professional Services for the Groundwater Monitoring Program and Task Order No. 2025-01, with a retroactive term beginning on March 1, 2025, in the amount of $802,536 between the MCWRA and the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA), pending review and approval as to form by County Counsel; and
2. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (FY26) Adopted Budget for MCWRA Fund 111 (111-9300-WRA001-8267), to increase its appropriations by $400,000 and to increase revenue by $199,070, funded by grant revenue and $802,536, financed via a Master Agreement for Professional Services between MCWRA and SVBGSA (4/5ths vote required); and
3. Authorize the Auditor-Controller’s Office to incorporate approved budget modifications to the FY26 Adopted Budget.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On October 1, 2024, the MCWRA Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 5426 and approved the MCWRA’s Groundwater Monitoring Program (GMP) Manual. Ordinance No. 5426 authorizes the MCWRA to provide groundwater monitoring, data reporting, and groundwater management support services to a Requesting Entity, upon mutual written agreement between the MCWRA and any Requesting Entity, and approval by the MCWRA Board of Supervisors. A Requesting Entity, as defined by Ordinance No. 5426, means “an entity engaged in the management of groundwater resources within Monterey County, either through the monitoring and reporting of groundwater level, usage, and/or quality data; scientific investigations; or in the administration and compliance of a regulatory program(s).”
On August 5, 2025, the MCWRA Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution approving the FY26 GMP Fees of $160.16 per well for Initial Well Registration, $21.86 per well for Annual Well Registration Renewal, $64.82 per well for Groundwater Extraction Reporting, $117.68 per well for Groundwater Level Monitoring, and $73.92 per well for Groundwater Quality Monitoring (Attachment 1). For FY26, the SVBGSA has agreed to offset the approved GMP Fees for all well owners within its jurisdiction.
The MCWRA is proposing to enter into a Master Agreement for Professional Services with the SVBGSA, a Requesting Entity, to establish a framework for the MCWRA to provide services described in the GMP Manual including groundwater level monitoring, groundwater quality monitoring, groundwater extraction reporting, and well registration (Attachment 2). The Master Agreement includes a Scope of Services and Task Order No. 2025-01 that describes activities and deliverables that the MCWRA will carry out to provide the data and products that inform the SVBGSA’s management of groundwater in compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and locally developed Groundwater Sustainability Plans. The Master Agreement has a term retroactive to March 1, 2025, to capture the full period of monitoring that is needed by the Requesting Entity.
The Master Agreement leverages the MCWRA’s expertise with groundwater data collection, monitoring, and reporting while advancing collaboration with the SVBGSA to avoid duplication of efforts between agencies.
This action is consistent with the following goals and strategies from the MCWRA’s 2020 Strategic Plan: Goal B, Strategy 2: Collaborate with local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), define MCWRA’s role, and implement a GSA integration plan; Goal C, Strategy 2: Obtain new funds and support the Agency’s programs and projects that are either underfunded or unfunded so that all programs and projects will have enough staffing and other resources to be successful; and Goal C, Strategy 6: Pursue grant funding and cost saving opportunities from all available sources, including collaborating with the GSA.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel and the SVBGSA provided input during development of the Master Agreement for Professional Services.
FINANCING:
It is requested that the FY26 Adopted Budget of MCWRA Fund 111 (111-9300-WRA001-8267) be amended to increase its appropriation and revenue as it does not have sufficient appropriation to cover this agreement.
The FY26 Adopted Budget of MCWRA Fund 111 (111-9300-WRA001-8267) includes only staff cost needed for the GMP activity and will need to increase its appropriation by $400,000 for contractual services and supplies for the GMP. Expenses of the GMP will be funded through the Master Agreement for Professional Services with the SVBGSA ($802,536) and a subgrant agreement between the MCWRA and the SVBGSA ($199,070), neither of which are included in revenue of the FY26 Adopted Budget.
The total amount estimated for the GMP in the current fiscal year is $1,001,606 in expenses and $1,001,606 in revenue.
Prepared by: Amy Woodrow, Senior Water Resources Hydrologist, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 25-249
2. Master Agreement and Task Order No. 2025-01
3. Board Order