Title
Consider receiving a report on the status of the Agency ALERT flood warning system and ongoing grant funded upgrades.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Receive a report on the status of the Agency ALERT flood warning system and ongoing grant funded upgrades.
SUMMARY/ DISCUSSION :
In the late 1970's, Monterey County installed one of the first Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time (ALERT) flood warning systems. At the time, the system consisted of a small number of self-reporting remote rain gages in the Santa Lucia mountains. Since that time the system has grown to a network of 50 gages spread throughout the watersheds of Monterey County. The system includes sensors that report real-time rainfall, river stage, reservoir elevation, temperature, and lagoon stage.
The Agency was awarded funding through two rounds of California Department of Water Resources Statewide Flood Emergency Response Grants to upgrade the existing ALERT based flood warning system to the ALERT2 radio protocol. The upgrade will result in expanded capabilities including faster speeds and reduced transmission errors.
The transition to ALERT2 is underway, occurring in the following phases with complete system buildout expected before the end of 2021.
• Upgrade of base station software and computer servers (completed in 2018)
• Creation of a public access web page (completed in 2018)
• Upgrade of radio repeaters to ALERT2 (completed in 2019)
• Upgrade of select field sites to ALERT2 (completed in 2019)
• Upgrade of all remaining field sites to ALERT2 (to be completed in 2020-2021)
The upgrade will result in a modern flood warning system with improved capabilities and more reliable access to hydrologic data for use by Agency staff and the general public.
The public web portal to the Agency flood warning system can be accessed at https://mcwrarealtimehydrodata.com
OTHER AGENCY/COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT:
None
FINANCING:
There is no financial impact in receiving this report.
Prepared by: Jason Demers, Associate Engineer (831) 755-4860
Approved by: Brent Buche, General Manager (831) 755-4860