Title
Approve and ratify the Annual Joint Funding Agreement between the Monterey County Water Resources Agency and the United States Geological Survey for stream gaging work in Monterey County in the amount of $158,050; and, ratify execution by the General Manager of the Joint Funding Agreement for the term November 1, 2014 and October 31, 2015 (Water Year 2014-15).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
Approve and Ratify the Annual Joint Funding Agreement between the Monterey County Water Resources Agency and the United States Geological Survey for stream gaging work in Monterey County in the amount of $158,050; and, ratify execution by the General Manager of the Joint Funding Agreement for the term November 1, 2014 and October 31, 2015 (Water Year 2014-15).
SUMMARYDISCUSSION:
A proposal to continue the Joint Funding Agreement (JFA) with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is submitted annually to your Board for consideration. Board approval and ratification of the JFA entails an Agency contribution to the USGS this fiscal year of $116,150, and a USGS contribution of $41,900 toward the total contract cost of $158,050.
The cooperative program with the USGS provides quantification of flow and sedimentation on major streams and creeks throughout the County. Services provided by the USGS through this program include the installation and maintenance of equipment, the collection of data using mechanical recorders and USGS personnel, emergency response during flooding and the analyses of data and preparation of the annual streamflow records. Data collected through this program are used to determine the frequency and magnitude of surface water flow, to estimate the infiltration of water and the transport of sediment within streambeds, and to estimate the annual sedimentation into reservoirs. Complete and timely surface water data are essential to the management of water resources and greatly facilitates the utilization of modern tools such as the ground water model.
The Agency share of the program cost has decreased due to budgetary issues at the Agency. Gages that had been previously funded, either partially or in full by the Agency, have had to be dropped from the program to help the Agency work towards a structurally-balanced budget. Other services that were dropped include: sediment calculations at both Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoirs, extra measurements at the Arroyo Seco River near Soledad gage and the Salinas River near Chualar gage (these extra measurements were utilized to increase the accuracy of the data due to ever-changing channel conditions), and water quality measurements at the Salinas River near Chualar gage.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Agency and USGS have collaborated in the development of this Agreement. The Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors approved this Agreement on July 6, 2015.
FINANCING:
Over the last few years, the costs of this program have reflected a 60/40 split, not the traditional 50/50 for gages. Basically, the matching funds that come from the Federal government had remained constant for about 25 years, while all other costs have increased. Again this year, the USGS will not be receiving the amount of Federal matching funds necessary to maintain the 50/50 ratio. The ratio between cooperator and Federal funds could be readjusted to 50/50 when Federal matching funds are increased; meaning this ratio and the work to be performed will be scrutinized annually.
Funds have been allocated within the FY 2014-15 Budget for each Zone to cover these costs.
Prepared by:
Robert Johnson, Deputy General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Approved by:
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
U.S. Geological Survey Joint Funding Agreement for Water Resources Investigations
MCWRA Executed Board Order