Title
Adopt a resolution authorizing and directing the General Manager to apply for grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources to complete the migration of the Monterey County Flood Warning System from ALERT to ALERT2.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Adopt a resolution authorizing and directing the General Manager to apply for grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources to complete the migration of the Monterey County Flood Warning System from ALERT to ALERT2.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The mission of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (Agency) is to manage, protect, and enhance the quantity and quality of water and provide specified flood control services for present and future generations of Monterey County. In addition to the structural flood control provided by Agency-owned dams, reservoirs, and pump stations, the Agency also provides flood warning services to Monterey County. Agency staff monitors countywide hydrologic conditions during every significant storm event. A real time flood warning system allows Agency staff to provide hydrologic data to emergency managers and local law enforcement as needed for the protection of life and property in Monterey County.
The current Monterey County ALERT flood warning system is operated and maintained by the Agency. The system consists of approximately 50 remote sites located throughout the major watersheds of Monterey County and two redundant central databases receiving data from the remote sites. These remote sites measure a variety of environmental factors including rainfall, water level, and air temperature that are used to forecast flooding and monitor storm events.
The communications protocol used with flood warning systems has continued to improve and a new standard protocol (ALERT2) has been implemented to replace ALERT. ALERT2 provides a more robust method of transmitting data that dramatically reduces data transmission losses occurring during storms because of competing/colliding rain reports from different remote sites.
In February 2015, the Agency teamed up with Santa Cruz County and the offices of Emergency Services for Monterey County and Santa Cruz County and successfully competed for California Department of Water Resources (DWR) grant funding to start the transition from ALERT to ALERT2. The Agency received $202,024 to establish the backbone of the ALERT2 system consisting of two central base stations receiving data from remote sites, five radio repeaters and a data collector; the Agency also received funding to upgrade 17 of the remote sites.
DWR recently announced another round of funding, and the Agency is planning to team up again with Santa Cruz County to submit a regional application looking to increase its chances of receiving grant funding. With this grant application, the Agency will seek funding to upgrade the remaining 33 sites to complete the transition to ALERT2 technology.
The Agency will apply for grant funding for a full conversion to ALERT2 at approximately $170,000. The grant does not have a funding- matching requirement. A resolution authorizing the General Manager to apply for grant funding is a requirement of the DWR grant. The deadline for submitting the grant is January 29, 2018.
It is recommended that the Agency continues to apply for grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to allow the Agency to fulfill one of its mission components for years to come.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Santa Cruz County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Monterey County Office of Emergency Services, and Santa Cruz county Office of Emergency Services
FINANCING:
None
Prepared by: Germán Criollo, Associate Water Resources Hydrologist (831) 755-4860
Approved by: _________________________________________________
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Resolution