Title
a. Approve and adopt a resolution authorizing and directing the General Manager to enter into an agreement with the California Department of Water Resources to obtain a Round 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant pursuant to the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Water Code § 79700 et seq.), for a grant titled “Managing Water Resources for Multiple Benefits in the Greater Monterey County Region”; and
b. Find Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s project in the grant categorically exempt from the California Environmental Water Quality Act (CEQA) under Title 14 California Code of Regulations section 15308 (protection of the environment).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and adopt a resolution authorizing and directing the General Manager to enter into a grant agreement with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to obtain a Round 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant in the amount of $3,462,861.00; and
b. Find Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s project in the grant categorically exempt from the California Environmental Water Quality Act (CEQA) under Title 14 California Code of Regulations section 15308 (protection of the environment).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1) authorized $43 million of Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) grant funds for the Central Coast Funding Area. The Central Coast Funding area component region agreed in 2016 on how to divide the funds up within the funding area. The current grant proposal is approximately half of the implementation funds for the Greater Monterey County IRWM region.
The current IRWM grant proposal consists of 5 projects, with MCWRA being the grant administrator. As the grant administrator, MCWRA will need to enter into funding agreements with the sub-awardees who will be responsible for implementing individual projects. The sub-awardee funding agreements will be developed with the assistance of County Counsel and include, at a minimum, the terms and provisions of MCWRA’s agreement with DWR.
The sub-awardees are Castroville Community Services District, Monterey 1 Water (M1W), Central Coast Wetlands Group (CCWG), City of Salinas, Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC), Salinas River Management Unit (RMU) Association and all the grant amounts are shown in Attachment 1.
MCWRA’s project is a decision support tool that uses the Salinas Valley Integrated Hydrologic Model (SVIHM) to develop flow management scenarios that ensure surface water flows support needed uses (groundwater recharge, agricultural, environmental, etc.). It will also provide information related to the necessary flows to allow steelhead passage and the development of the habitat conservation plan.
MCWRA received the award notification on July 7, 2020, and the Board of Directors recommend the Board of Supervisors approve this item.
CEQA
CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 categorically exempts specific actions that will assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for the protection of the environment. The project includes the evaluation of steelhead passage criteria and flows in the Salinas River.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Castroville Community Services District, Monterey 1 Water, Central Coast Wetlands Group, the City of Salinas, Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, Salinas River Management Unit Association.
FINANCING:
The grant was not included in the approved FY21 MCWRA Budget. Once MCWRA receives a fully executed agreement from the California Department of Water Resources, staff will bring a budget amendment for the amount necessary for current FY21 and include future funds in ensuing fiscal years as this is expected to be a three-year grant.
Prepared by: Elizabeth Krafft, Deputy General Manager (831) 755-4860
Approved by:
Brent Buche, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Table 1: Managing Water Resources for Multiple Benefits
in the Greater Monterey County Region Grant Awardees
2. Resolution