Title
Adopt Resolution to:
a. Approve a grant application being submitted to the California Department of Water Resources to obtain a ‘Counties With Stressed Basins Grant’ under the Sustainable Groundwater Planning (SGWP) Grant Program for work to be done on the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin Assessment and Modeling project.
b. Authorize the Director of the Resource Management Agency to prepare the necessary data, conduct investigations, file such application, and execute a grant agreement with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). (ADDED VIA ADDENDUM)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution (Attachment 1):
a) Approving a grant application being submitted to the California Department of Water Resources to obtain a ‘Counties With Stressed Basins Grant’ under the Sustainable Groundwater Planning (SGWP) Grant Program for work to be done on the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin Assessment and Modeling project.
b) Authorizing the Director of the Resource Management Agency to prepare the necessary data, conduct investigations, file such application, and execute a grant agreement with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
SUMMARY:
In July of 2014, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (WRA), in cooperation with the Monterey County Resource Management Agency (RMA) began Phase 1 of the Salinas River Groundwater Basin Investigation Project to assess the water resources of Zone 2C of the Salinas River Groundwater Basin. Phase 1 consisted of conducting a short term assessment of the health and status of Zone 2C of the Salinas River Groundwater Basin. The primary objective of Phase 1 was to generate a baseline and to evaluate if immediate steps were required to address current water supply conditions due to the continuing drought conditions in the Central Coast. The report, prepared by the firm Brown and Caldwell, was presented to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in January of 2015.
Phase 2 of the project, which is currently underway, will conduct a five-year study of Zone 2C of the Salinas River Groundwater Basin. The primary objectives of Phase 2 are to:
• Assess the general long term health of the Groundwater Basin, with regards to its ability to provide a sustainable supply of water for land use as projected to the year 2030;
• Evaluate existing seawater intrusion and groundwater level data on an annual basis throughout the five year study period (2014 - 2018);
• Evaluate the total water demand for existing uses and future uses projected to the year 2030 through the development of an integrated groundwater/surface water model of the basin;
• Assess and provide conclusions regarding the degree to which the total water demand for uses are likely to be reached or exceeded for the year 2030;
• Evaluate and provide conclusions regarding future trends and expected changes in groundwater elevations and the extent of seawater intrusion based on historical data and data produced during the study; and
• Review potential climate change impacts and incorporation of climate model results into groundwater/surface water mode.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) currently has a $10 Million competitive grant solicitation open for counties that have been recognized by the WRA as having ‘critically overdrafted basins’. Grant funds are being made available through the DWR Sustainable Groundwater Planning (SGWP) Grant Program. The SGWP Grant Program is designed to encourage sustainable management of groundwater resources by providing Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1) funding for projects that support sustainable groundwater management planning and implementation. The goal of this grant is to disburse the Proposition 1 SGWP funds to Counties with stressed groundwater basins to do the following:
• Update or develop County groundwater ordinances to improve sustainable management of groundwater.
• Update or develop plans that protect basins and their beneficial uses and help facilitate basin-wide sustainable groundwater management or actions that will lead to the update or development of such plans.
County staff has determined that the Salinas River Groundwater Basin Investigation Project is an excellent fit for the ‘Counties With Stressed Basins Grant’ to help offset County costs for Phase 2. This determination is based on Monterey County being recognized by the DWR as having ‘critically overdrafted basins’ and due to the planning and implementation nature of the project. Applications are due December 8, 2015. The County’s proposal is still being worked on and a draft is anticipated late Monday prior to the Board meeting; it will be provided as soon as it is available. Final award notification is expected to be received from the DWR in February of 2016.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Monterey County Resource Management Agency (RMA) is coordinating with the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (WRA). Additionally, the WRA is partnering through a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Geologic Survey on model development.
FINANCING:
The County is applying for $250,000, the maximum award available under this grant program. The County would be required to provide a 50% local funding match ($250,000). Per the SGWP regulations, any project costs incurred by the County since November 4th, 2014 would be allowed to be counted as local matching funds. The Salinas River Groundwater Investigation Project has been funded out of General Fund allocated to Long Range Planning/General Plan Implementation for FY 2014-15 and FY 2015-16. To date, contractor qualifying invoices submitted to the County after November 4th, 2014 total approximately $625,935. No additional matching funds would need to be considered. Should this grant be awarded, there will be an impact on the General Fund to pay for staff time needed to manage the grant. Staff costs are included in the RMA’s Adopted Budget.
Prepared by: Melanie Beretti, Special Programs Manager (X5285) with input from Brandon Swanson, Management Analyst III (X5334)
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, Director Resource Management Agency
Attachment A - ‘Counties With Stressed Basin’ Grant Application Resolution