Title
Approve and recommend that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve the Annual Joint Funding Agreement with the United States Geological Survey for stream gaging work in Monterey County in the amount of $159,350;
b. Ratify execution of the Joint Funding Agreement for Water Year 2016-17 by the General Manager, and approve an appropriation to allocate $36,822 to Agency’s funds that finance the USGS agreement as follows:
i. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 113 CW, WRA 003 to increase appropriation by $10,983 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required);
ii. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 116 Dam O&M, WRA 006 to increase appropriation by $13,287 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required);
iii. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 122 Reclamation Ditch O&M, WRA 012 to increase appropriation by $6,276 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required);
iv. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 123 MP/Carmel Valley, WRA 013 to increase appropriation by $3,138 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required); and,
v. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 124 San Lorenzo Creek, WRA 014 to increase appropriation by $3,138 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Approve and recommend that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve the Annual Joint Funding Agreement with the United States Geological Survey for stream gaging work in Monterey County in the amount of $159,350;
b. Ratify execution of the Joint Funding Agreement for Water Year 2016-17 by the General Manager, and approve an appropriation to allocate $36,822 to Agency’s funds that finance the USGS agreement as follows:
i. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 113 CW, WRA 003 to increase appropriation by $10,983 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required);
ii. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 116 Dam O&M, WRA 006 to increase appropriation by $13,287 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required);
iii. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 122 Reclamation Ditch O&M, WRA 012 to increase appropriation by $6,276 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required);
iv. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 123 MP/Carmel Valley, WRA 013 to increase appropriation by $3,138 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required); and,
v. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for Fund 124 San Lorenzo Creek, WRA 014 to increase appropriation by $3,138 financed by unassigned fund balance (4/5th vote required).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Annually, a proposal to continue the Joint Funding Agreement (JFA) with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is submitted to the Board for consideration. This proposal for Water Year 2016-17 covers stream gaging work to be performed by the USGS during the period November 1, 2016 to October 31, 2017.
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 has been used to determine the frequency and magnitude of surface water flow in order 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 ground and surface water models.
Due to budgetary constraints the Agency has, over the last several years, reduced its share of the cost of the program by approximately 30 percent (from $233,900 in Water Year 2013-14). Gages that had been previously funded, either partially or in full by the Agency, have had to be dropped from the program. 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. No other agencies have been involved.
FINANCING:
The total cost of this program ($156,887) reflects an overall 65/35 split; with 65% funding from the Agency matched by 35% funding from the Federal government. The Agency’s FY 2016-17 budgets estimated $120,065 for this agreement and this transaction covers the delta of $36,822. This transaction is financed by the unassigned fund balance from the following Agency funds: 113-CW, 116-2C, 122- Rec Ditch, 123-MP/CV, and 124-San Lorenzo Creek - see Attachments 1 & 2.
Prepared by: Howard Franklin, Senior Hydrologist, (831) 755-4860
Kathy Paladini, Finance Manager II, (831) 755-4861
Approved by:
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Board Order
2. MCWRA Budget Appropriation Revision #3
3. MCWRA Budget Summary Revision #3
4. Joint Funding Agreement for Water Year 2016-17