Title
Receive a status report of 2023 Winter Storm Repairs/Funding Utilizations by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Capital Improvement Committee:
Receive a status report of 2023 Winter Storm Repairs/Funding Utilizations by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Atmospheric river events commencing December 26, 2022, and continuing into March 2023 damaged many of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA, Agency) facilities, including but not limited to portions of the Pajaro Levee; the slidegate and levee road of the Salinas River Lagoon; the Nacimiento Reservoir spillway plunge pool; and other flood control facilities and supporting infrastructure.
On January 31, 2023, the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors (BOS) and the MCWRA Board of Supervisors approved the Advance Funding Agreement in an amount not to exceed $7,000,000 to provide cash flow assistance for emergency protective measure projects mitigating damage to MCWRA facilities caused by the winter storm events and authorized using the strategic reserve to cash flow $7,000,000 of MCWRA project costs. The BOS also requested that the Agency provide periodic updates of the storm repair projects to be made at the Capital Improvement Committee (CIC). This report provides updates of use of the cash flow assistance through April 30, 2024.
On March 26,2024, the County Board of Supervisors approved advance cash aid of $850,000 for the Agency so that repair at Hydro-plant Access Road can be completed in FY 2024-25.
Repairs of the 2023 winter storm events are continuing at the Agency’s facilities. The Agency completed emergency repair work at the Salinas River Lagoon Levee and the Nacimento Dam spillway plunge pool and is currently waiting for FEMA’s review and approval to make further improvements at these two sites as a mitigation project and pursuing alternative funding opportunities. Efforts by the Agency to clean up and repair the Pajaro Levee is in the final phase. The United States of Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed the three critical repair sites in early 2024 and the Agency needs to perform final measures to close out those projects. USACE rejected request of a PL84-99 program rehabilitation assistance for additional repair projects at Pajaro Levee. The Agency will continue to support the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA) in those repairs, through a maintenance services agreement already in place. FEMA approved project scope of work and cost estimates for San Lorenzo Creek, Gonzales Slough and Nacimiento Hydro-plant Access Road repairs. An additional request for repairs at the Salinas River Diversion Facility (SRDF) is under review.
As of April 30, 2024, the Agency spent total amount of $4,154,322 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23. The Agency estimates total amount of $1,866,598 in FY 2023-24 and total amount of $3,047,203 in FY 2024-25, which includes repairs at Hydro-plant Access Road and at SRDF.
The Agency submitted reimbursement requests of $1,248,653.49 to FEMA while claim submissions of $2,090,125.38 for two projects - Nacimiento Plunge Pool Repair and Salinas River Levee Lagoon Rd - are on hold for mitigation opportunities. Of the total expenses, staff estimates that $1,854,485 may be not reimbursable by FEMA which is comprised of salaries and benefits for non-overtime storm response hours and contract payment related to coordinating/facilitating/performing damage repairs at Pajaro Levee. The Agency estimates additional $1,112,439 expenses related to repairs at Pajaro Levee in FY 2023-24 might be also not eligible for FEMA reimbursement.
FEMA has not initiated site inspections and claim submissions for the 2023 March Storm event and the Agency will continue with repair activities in FY 2024-25.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The MCWRA has been working with County’s Office of Emergency Services, PRFMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), USACE and California Department of Water Resources on the storm related projects.
FINANCING:
The Agency is working with FEMA and AECOM, a cost recovery contractor for FEMA reimbursements.
Of $5,158,309 total actual year-to-date expense through April 30, 2024 the Agency submitted reimbursement requests of $1,248,653.49 and is ready to submit additional claims of $2,090,125.38.
Prepared by: Nan Kyung Kim, Finance Manager III, (831) 755-4861
Approved by: Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860