WATER SUPPLY PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

ITEM:

ACTION ITEM

 

2.

REVIEW AND CONSider APPROVAL OF RFP FOR Los Padres Dam SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT Study

 

Meeting Date:

October 18, 2016

 

 

 

From:

Dave Stoldt,

 

 

 

General Manager

 

 

 

 

Prepared By:

Larry Hampson

 

 

 

SUMMARY:   The District and Cal-Am are working cooperatively to develop a comprehensive long-term management plan for Los Padres Dam and Reservoir.  In addition, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have a significant role in this effort by providing input and critical review of component studies.

Attached as Exhibit 2-A is a draft Request for Proposals, Los Padres Dam and Reservoir Sediment Management Study.  This RFP focuses on three main alternatives: 1) management of existing and future sediment accumulation in the reservoir; 2) expansion of reservoir storage; and 3) dam removal.  There are also related efforts involving watershed and steelhead habitat modeling that the District will complete in 2017 and that will be used to inform analysis of the alternatives developed in the sediment management study.

 

RECOMMENDATION:   The Committee should review the draft Request for Proposal and provide comments and direction to staff for incorporation into the final RFP.

 

DISCUSSION:  At their March 16, 2015 meeting, the MPWMD Board of Directors directed staff to develop a long-term comprehensive action plan for intervention at Los Padres Dam with a focus on dredging, sediment management, preservation of water rights, and investigations into CEQA, liability, and project costs.

 

Cal-Am’s General Rate Case (GRC) for 2015-2017 authorizes Cal-Am to co-fund studies with the District to develop a long-term management plan for Los Padres Dam (LP Dam) and Reservoir.  Studies are to include evaluating upstream steelhead passage at LP Dam, whether the Carmel River is better or worse with surface storage at Los Padres Dam, and what options exist to maintain physical existing surface storage in Los Padres Reservoir (i.e., manage annual sediment inflow to the reservoir). Also included in the studies would be an analysis of the potential geomorphic effects of a resumption or increase of the natural flow of sediment.

 

EXHIBIT

2-A      Request for Proposals – Los Padres Dam and Reservoir Sediment Management Study

 

 

 

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