Title
Consider receiving an oral report from the Monterey County Water Resources Agency regarding the status of the Interlake Tunnel project and schedule.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
Receive an oral report from the Monterey County Water Resources Agency regarding the status of the Interlake Tunnel project and schedule.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION
The Interlake Tunnel (ILT) is a project to divert water from Nacimiento Reservoir to San Antonio Reservoir that would have otherwise been spilled at Nacimiento Dam. The Nacimiento River basin produces nearly three times the average annual flow of the San Antonio River basin, therefore, capturing high Nacimiento River flows and diverting those flows to San Antonio Reservoir increases the overall storage capacity of the system.
The study to identify the actual water supply benefit and associated costs has produced preliminary results. The 60% design is being reviewed by Agency staff and the ILT Team. Staff is incorporating the ILT EIR, water rights changes, Proposition 218, and Habitat Conservation Plan in a coordinated plan.
Initially, the intent was to immediately proceed with a Proposition 218 special assessment vote to obtain the funding to begin construction after the completion of the engineering and environmental work. However, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) identified the need to also fund a significant amount of deferred maintenance at the Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams, including potentially replacing the spillway at San Antonio. Staff is preparing the Engineer’s Report for the Proposition 218 special assessment and preparing for a public workshop in the near future.
Agency staff has been working with the Department of Water Resources to extend the Grant period and to clarify tasks under the San Antonio Spillway section. Staff has also been working on identifying the necessary steps that may be required regarding water rights.
The Monterey County Water Resources Agency received this report at the May 18, 2020 board meeting.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
No other agency was involved in the development of this report.
FINANCING
There is no impact to existing budget associated with this project update
Prepared and approved by: ________________________________________________
Brent Buche, General Manager (831) 755-4860